By Rob Driscoll Business Edge Publisher

Now that's the kind of business trip I could get used to.

Having attracted advertising interest from a real estate developer in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, I jumped at the opportunity to pay a visit to a place I had heard plenty about, but not yet seen.

After spending a luxurious week at Ventanas Residencial Los Cabos, I am already checking my calendar to plan my next trip and my bank account to see which home I should purchase.

The striking rock formations of Land's End, where the

In fact, I was so impressed with Ventanas, I insisted on writing this feature about my trip even though, as publisher, I haven't written anything for these pages in years. For those of you who are shopping for either your next vacation home or just a rock-solid investment opportunity, I invite you to take out your notepad and join me as I check off every key element of a great real estate investment.

Let's start with the proverbial first three maxims of real estate investing.

Location: Relaxing on one of the balconies of my beautifully appointed three-bedroom home, the view is breathtaking: Land's End, consisting of the most striking rock formations I have seen (in person or on TV), is the ultimate frame for the brilliant blue waters of the Sea of Cortez.

Ventanas sales manager William Scott put it best: "Every one of our homes has a clear view of Land's End, which is where the Pacific Ocean kisses the Sea of Cortez."

Location: Ventanas is just a few minutes' drive from downtown Cabo San Lucas, a beautiful city of about 60,000 people on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. Commonly known as "Cabo", this bustling centre has become one of the world's most prestigious playgrounds. From the magnificent marina to the remarkable range of restaurants and shops, Cabo truly has it all.

Location: Ventanas is perfectly situated as the most affordable high-end development among an eye-popping array of world-class, multi-million-dollar resorts. Portus de Cortes (Ventanas' developer) principal Proto Pena had high praise for his competitors as he guided me on an extensive tour of the region. "All of the developers realize we are part of something very special," he said. "All around us, there are world-class resorts that offer the highest quality in everything from architecture to furnishings to the landscaping."

History: It is believed that humans first came to the southern tip of the Baja 14,000 years ago, but Cabo is a very young city. The Mexican government, which only laid out the basic infrastructure about 20 years ago, has declared Cabo a high-priority international zone and has avoided any mistakes made in other Mexican tourist regions such as Acapulco and the Mayan Riviera. In recent years, city services and development in Cabo San Lucas have improved dramatically, and real estate values have started to soar.

Amenities/activities: With one short week to work with, I was only able to sample a small piece of the incredible menu of outdoor activities. (After all, this was a business trip.) However, I can honestly say I have never had more fun. ATVing on sand dunes; seeing a pod of four grey whales surface about 50 meters from the Portus boat, taking a sunset cruise on the Pacific in the same boat after paying an up-close visit to the seals hanging out on Land's End; playing beach volleyball with fellow vacationers ... er, I mean fellow business people ... on Medano Beach; snorkelling among an amazing spectrum of fish feasting on the nutrients brought to surface by upswellings at the base of the Sea of Cortez; body surfing (I'll try real surfing next time) and then listening to delightful jazz music while sipping on a margarita at Cerritos, just an hour north of Cabo; golfing on a gorgeous desert course (Cabo Real) that took me up into the mountains then down to the beach - can it get any better? Perhaps it will on my next visit when I go scuba diving and see the famous underwater "sand waterfall" and do some cliff diving (OK, jumping). Back home at Ventanas, you have the options of cooling off in your backyard pool or the larger pools at the clubhouse.

People: As soon as I arrived at Ventanas, I noticed the people at Portus, from the developer to the cleaning staff, are very friendly and professional. But as the week went on, I observed that everyone I ran into had the same lofty standard of customer service. It's part of the Mexican culture, I learned, to be very hospitable, and that attitude made every experience that much more enjoyable.

Community: Ventanas is clearly a development designed with a strong sense of community. The elaborate clubhouse, with its business centre, chapel and REAL fitness centre, is becoming a cornerstone of the neighbourhood. That "small town" feel was evident every time I strolled through Ventanas, regularly chatting with my neighbours, many of whom are Canadians or Americans.

Weather: Warm and sunny all year, with the exception of a predictable, short rainy season in late September. The lack of humidity in the desert climate keeps the heat pleasant, and it cools nicely to the low 20s or high teens in the evenings.

Access: Ventanas is just 25 minutes from the Los Cabos airport, to which several airlines offer flights, including direct via WestJet, from Canadian centres. Competition continues to keep flights affordable, particular with advance bookings.

Cost: You can buy in Ventanas, in the heart of one of the world's premier playgrounds, for as little as $99,000 for quarter ownership and up to $2.5 million for the Pelicanos villas, which back on to the 10th hole of the world-famous Cabo Real golf course and are just a 10-minute walk to the beach.

"Portus truly has something for everyone who has an interest in owning a piece of this ultimate playground," said marketing guru Randall White, president of Mind's Eye Marketing. "When you consider Ventanas' ideal location and position in the market, as well as the developer's strong vision and proven ability to execute that vision, you simply won't find better value."

For more information, contact Portus Canada at 888.401.8268 (toll free), 403.401.2288, info@PortusCanada.com or visit www.PortusCanada.com.