MANY RESORTS USE the word “luxurious” to describe their surroundings, but One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, delivers on its promise. From its bubbling fountains and bougainvillaea-draped loggias to the 32-inch flat-screen televisions in every room, Palmilla exists to pamper every guest fortunate enough to sleep on its soothing high thread-count cotton sheets. As one of the lucky ones, I found the service impeccable but unpretentious, and the surroundings, well, even a step above luxurious. Call it “ultra-luxurious.”

The 172-room Palmilla was already a tony hideaway, having been frequented by Hollywood greats such as John Wayne, Bing Crosby, and Lucille Ball, when it closed in 2003 for a whopping $90 million makeover. At that time, the resort became part of the One&Only luxury resorts brand owned and operated by Kerzner International, which also has One&Only properties in The Bahamas, Mauritius, the Maldives, and Dubai. And the celebs came back; recent visitors to Palmilla include Oprah Winfrey, John Travolta, and Michael Jordan.

Sensory Overload

They come for the resort's stunning location on a high bluff at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula (the locals describe it as the place where the ocean greets the desert) — and they come for the golf.

For the Palmilla golf course, Jack Nicklaus fashioned 27 holes along the rocky coastline and in the foothills of Sierra de la Laguna, the mountain barrier looming above the Sea of Cortez. Here Nicklaus affords all skill levels a chance to score well with five staggered tees on each hole.

My favorite layout is the Ocean course, an unparalleled desert golf experience with vast canyon arroyos, centuries-old cardon cacti, and unforgettable sea views from elevated tees. With constant trade winds, the challenging Ocean course offers playability and a picturesque golf experience bordering on sensory overload. It's ideal for an unforgettable incentive golf event.

Serious Space

One&Only Palmilla takes full advantage of its awesome setting with exceptional outdoor venues ranging from elegant seaside restaurants to poolside areas to a central courtyard. For meetings, the resort offers a 5,000-square-foot executive conference center with a 3,000-square-foot-ballroom and a dedicated boardroom.

After their meeting or golf game, guests can pamper themselves at a 22,000-square-foot spa with treatments blending Mexican, Asian, and European therapies; swim in one of the two pools; or try their hand at deep-sea fishing for marlin.