A Corner of Baja I’M Still Dreaming About

Hey babes — Happy Sunday!This weekend I’ve been deep in my camera roll, daydreaming about some of my favorite places I fell for in 2025. A late-night scroll turned into a mini obsession, so I added a few gems I never shared the first time around.

Baja Sur is pure energy. Desert heat, salty air, and ceviche so fresh it rewires your standards. If you haven’t made it to the little surf town of Todos Santos yet, consider this your sign.

👇 Scroll on down for the new snaps!

Cheers & martinis! Frances @GalOffDuty🍸

 Today’s Newsletter Is Glammed Up By MERIT! Makeup you can actually live in. Real talk, babes. MERIT is for those of us who want to look polished without turning our bathroom into a full production studio. Their philosophy is simple and chic: do more with less.

Here’s why we’re obsessed Impossible-to-mess-up essentials that slide right into your daily routine Clean, high-performing formulas that enhance your natural beauty, not mask it Skin-loving ingredients that leave your complexion better after makeup comes off Curated sets + multi-use heroes perfect for busy mornings Clean, vegan, and cruelty-free across the board

Effortless, elevated, and editor-approved. It’s no surprise MERIT has fans like Lauren Graham and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Hotel San Cristóbal, Baja — A Stay I’ll Never Forget

I’ll be honest—I was skeptical about traveling so far to this corner of Baja. It felt like a long way from home, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the moment I arrived… wow. It actually took me a couple of days to figure out how I was even going to write about this experience because it was thatgood. Sometimes words just aren’t enough — you truly have to go and feel it yourself.

There’s something about this place that hits you immediately. The landscape, the stillness, the way the ocean feels endless. And then there’s Hotel San Cristóbal, which somehow captures the spirit of Baja without ever trying too hard.

Another thing I loved: there are so many beautiful spots to lounge around the property — the fireplace, the library room (yes, with a record player), the open-air corners tucked around the hotel. So many designated little spaces where you feel like you have your own private moment. It never feels crowded. Ever.

This is the kind of hotel you can stay at for three days without ever leaving… except to go horseback riding. (And trust me — you have to. Look out for my post about riding here in Todos Santos.)

One of my absolute favorite things? Falling asleep to the sound of the waves. With the doors closed and the AC on. You could still hear the ocean so clearly—it felt unreal. A dream. The kind of detail that stays with you long after you’ve left. Another special memory: sitting by the pool, looking out at the open Pacific, and suddenly realizing whales were playing right in front of us. I had to stop and remind myself this was real life.

And listen… I’ve been to my fair share of beautiful hotels, but nothing quite compares to Hotel San Cristóbal. There’s just something different here—something you can’t replicate. I didn’t want to leave. Truly. And the second we checked out, I was already thinking about when I could come back.

Final thought

And yes— I would absolutely fly hours again to experience this place. It’s that special.

Baja, thank you for surprising me in the best way.San Cristóbal, thank you for making it unforgettable.

Cheers & martinis, Frances @GalOffDuty

ELEVATE YOUR INBOX w/ OUR NEWSLETTER RECOMMENDATION HUB

We made you a lil’ hub of newsletters we’re obsessed with—because scrolling yourinbox should spark joy. Think: style recs, wellness gems, money moves, biz inspo… all curated! New favs drop regularly!