BajaNomad

San Quintin Hotel

Hansen - 3-8-2010 at 12:49 PM

I just got back from a three week trip to Loreto and have some information about the Mision Santa Maria Hotel( formerly the Desert Inn-La Pinta-El Presidente). It is located south of San Quintin on the ocean. You turn right (west) at the intersection where the Los Pinos packing plant and new Pemex station is located. This is also the road that leads to the Cielito Lindo Motel. The rooms are very nice and all have a drop dead view of the beach and ocean. I have stayed here many times over the years and much prefer it to staying in either San Quintin or El Rosario because of the beauty and quiet. Seeing dolphins playing in the surf is not unusual. The food in the restaurant is good, especially if they have stone crabs on the menu. The rooms used to cost around $80 but the price has been lowered to about $45 and they accept pets. Enjoy!

bajajudy - 3-8-2010 at 01:18 PM

Cool
We stayed there years ago and loved the location. Hated the hotel.

DianaT - 3-8-2010 at 01:20 PM

With the new price, it is worth another look---and of course, the dog friendly thing is a good thing for us.

I wish someone would do the same thing for the one in Catavina--fix it up a little and lower that awful price.

Thanks for the info

Bajahowodd - 3-8-2010 at 01:31 PM

Hansen doesn't really mention if the rooms had been redone, or if it's more like La Pinta but cheaper. But that price does make it attractive.

Diane- When did you last stay at the Catavina facility? They actually remodeled the rooms there and in San Ignacio a couple of years ago.

tripledigitken - 3-8-2010 at 01:54 PM

We stopped in there to check things out last month.

The common areas have been dressed up and look very nice. We did not get inside any rooms however. The Bar/Restaurant was open with no customers. One car other than ours on a Friday at 3pm.

That beach is "sand dollar city", by the way.

Ken

Hansen - 3-8-2010 at 02:28 PM

I don't know if all the rooms have been redone but the two I stayed in were and they were very nice with good heating and A/C. Additionally, the bathrooms were newly tiled with new fixtures. Not much to complain about except the WiFi was a little weak and virtually no other guests. Problems(?), maybe not.

Bajahowodd - 3-8-2010 at 02:36 PM

Thanks for the response. As I recall, this facility was among the larger in the old La Pinta chain. For years, they used to advertise a package deal for those traveling Baja where they provided a discount for multiple stays along the way. With no apparent affiliation, it would seem to me that unless they do some big time advertising, they are going to have difficulty filling the rooms.

Right here is their best advertising

Fred-o - 3-8-2010 at 04:54 PM

I have stayed there many times, paid top dollar$80 bucks or so, and was hard pressed to wrangle even a 10% senior discount.

However, if you don't count the restaurant, it is a very nice place to stay. My room was as described above. The heat and A/C (different occasions) worked fine. It was clean and comfortable. For 45 bucks and all rooms with that "drop dead" ocean view...It's a winner!

I have never had a good meal there however, so I have not tried it for a long time. Maybe that's better too, I just don't know. Many good restaurants not too far away however.

Bajahowodd - 3-8-2010 at 05:04 PM

My vote would be to go to Jardines to eat.

DianaT - 3-8-2010 at 05:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd


Diane- When did you last stay at the Catavina facility? They actually remodeled the rooms there and in San Ignacio a couple of years ago.


Probably over a year ago in the summer. We needed to stop and it was too hot to stay at Linda's, so we sent for the air-conditioning and paid their expensive price. Opps, A/C did not work, but they did bring us two fans----Guess we are cheap, but 90 bucks is too much for us when we are just stopping for the night.

I am sure they have done more fixing up at San Ignacio recently since it flooded. We stick to our 300 peso hotel---price went up this year; it was 250 pesos.

Bajahowodd - 3-8-2010 at 05:09 PM

My experience has been that the La Pintas have been charging more like $75 recently. But obviously way over your budget.:biggrin:

toneart - 3-8-2010 at 05:16 PM

Hansen-
Thank you for the report. Good information to know.

How far from the highway is it and what is the condition of the road?

DianaT - 3-8-2010 at 05:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
My experience has been that the La Pintas have been charging more like $75 recently. But obviously way over your budget.:biggrin:


For $75.00 even we might spring for that----but the signs in the one in Catavina still say the rooms are more than that. I check everytime we drive through there on my way to the bathroom. :biggrin:

We really have enjoyed some stays at the one in Catavina in the past---but we do prefer to save our nickels if we are just there for the night. Linda's has got a bad review from some, and we had one negative experience there, but if the weather is cool, we think it is OK for a sleep and a shower.

Oh, someone mentioned the sand dollars at the San Quintin one----even in the early 90s that beach was really covered with the sand dollars, but not so much any more from what I have been told by some of the residents in that area---OK, third hand information and probably not accurate since the people reporting are not nomads. :biggrin:

Also, Jardins and we love that place, but don't forget the restaurant is closed on Mondays.

Bajahowodd - 3-8-2010 at 05:24 PM

Tony- If you are coming from the South, you can take the old highway to the left at the fork. It is well signed. Otherwise, as Hansen mentioned make the turn at Los Pinos by the new Pemex. It's just a couple of miles and the road is in good condition. I will say, however, that whatever improvements they have made, no one should confuse this place with a resort.

Oso - 3-8-2010 at 05:43 PM

Cool. I usually stayed at Old Mill in the past and more recently at Jardines. But that $45 with a great view sounds wonderful. Years ago I had a bad experience at Cielito Feo. For that same price I got a moldy room furnished by Goodwill Industries with a grungy bathroom and lukewarm trickle of a shower. I ain't paying $85 anywhere (not with my own money anyway.)

Bajahowodd - 3-8-2010 at 05:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd


Diane- When did you last stay at the Catavina facility? They actually remodeled the rooms there and in San Ignacio a couple of years ago.


Probably over a year ago in the summer. We needed to stop and it was too hot to stay at Linda's, so we sent for the air-conditioning and paid their expensive price. Opps, A/C did not work, but they did bring us two fans----Guess we are cheap, but 90 bucks is too much for us when we are just stopping for the night.

I am sure they have done more fixing up at San Ignacio recently since it flooded. We stick to our 300 peso hotel---price went up this year; it was 250 pesos.



I do not know first hand. But the San Ignacio hotel was several feet above street level, and I'm guessing they didn't get flooded. Recall that the Ignacio Springs folks took a hit, but they were right down there on the level of the lagoon.

Bob and Susan - 3-8-2010 at 05:54 PM

are the sand dollars worth 13 to one?:biggrin::biggrin:

Dave - 3-8-2010 at 06:45 PM

Don't think I would stay at this place unless they guaranteed the safety of my vehicle. :rolleyes:

DianaT - 3-8-2010 at 07:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd


Diane- When did you last stay at the Catavina facility? They actually remodeled the rooms there and in San Ignacio a couple of years ago.


Probably over a year ago in the summer. We needed to stop and it was too hot to stay at Linda's, so we sent for the air-conditioning and paid their expensive price. Opps, A/C did not work, but they did bring us two fans----Guess we are cheap, but 90 bucks is too much for us when we are just stopping for the night.

I am sure they have done more fixing up at San Ignacio recently since it flooded. We stick to our 300 peso hotel---price went up this year; it was 250 pesos.



I do not know first hand. But the San Ignacio hotel was several feet above street level, and I'm guessing they didn't get flooded. Recall that the Ignacio Springs folks took a hit, but they were right down there on the level of the lagoon.


No, the hotel took a real hit---they are not very high---they are in somewhat of a low spot. Friends in San Ignacio told us that the water was at least 3 feet high in the hotel. In San Ignacio, they refer to it as the 50 year flood, and I sure would not want to see the 100 year flood. The damage from the force of the water is still there. The road was covered and the town was cut off from the outside, except a back muddy road that was and was not passable.

Fortunately, the owner of Ignacio Springs escaped with his life, thanks to his dog. But this is another topic.

I am looking forward to check out the changes in San Quintin.

grmpb - 3-8-2010 at 07:31 PM

villa san quintin has my vote. new rooms everything works, secure parking, decent restaurant. $450p

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-8-2010 at 07:53 PM

hola, last year, i called the la pinta in guerrero negro and they wanted $ 89.00 U.S. for the nite. too rich just to take a shower and sleep.

i keep hearing the rooms at malarrimos is $ 40.00 and aren't bad. plus, the parking lot seems to be secure.

i've heard they had problems at the old la pinta in san quintin ? it's just an open parking lot.

they used to have " tons " of pismo clams on the beach there and the surf fishing wasn't too bad either for barred perch and corbina. i don't see the pismo clam sellers and cleaners on the streets anymore so it's possible they wiped them out as i saw them take 5 gallon buckets after 5 gallon buckets out of there with the hookah gear.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

rts551 - 3-8-2010 at 08:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by grmpb
villa san quintin has my vote. new rooms everything works, secure parking, decent restaurant. $450p


no animals

rts551 - 3-8-2010 at 08:10 PM

GN La Pinta has a sign on the hwy - 500 pesos. Haven't stayed there though

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-8-2010 at 08:28 PM

really ! thanks for the cheap sleep info ! or is it with peso floating the way it is ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Bajahowodd - 3-9-2010 at 02:37 PM

In Guerrero Negro, Malarrimo parking does not, in my opinion, appear to be any more secure that that of the Cowboy Hotel or Los Caracoles. Depending upon how big a rig you're hauling, Malarrimo has a larger lot, however. Rates are comparable at all. Besides, staying at La Pinta in Guerrero Negro isn't really like being in Guerrero Negro. i really could not recommend their restaurant, so one still has to drive into town to get a decent meal.

tripledigitken - 3-9-2010 at 02:43 PM

I don't have experience with the Cowboy Hotel parking, it appears to be tight though. Los Caracoles is not well designed for ingress/egress. Be careful where you park if you are planning an early morning departure, as I have seen cars blocking access to those who are in the north corner of the property. Nice rooms and friendly staff at Los Caracoles.

Ken

Martyman - 3-9-2010 at 03:23 PM

Quote:
Quote:


no animals


Thank God!!!

[Edited on 3-9-2010 by Martyman]

GonzagaChick - 4-6-2010 at 02:30 PM

Does anyone have a contact email for Mision Santa Maria Hotel?

Oggie - 4-6-2010 at 02:41 PM

I think I remember hearing that the owners of Dos Pinos had purchased one, some, or all of the old La Pinta Hotels.

Bajahowodd - 4-6-2010 at 04:13 PM

First, the La Pinta chain changed its name to Desert Inn a few years ago. Second, it's the folks from Los Pinos who bought the property. I can't imagine they wouldn't have a vacancy for walk-ins, as it is one of the larger properties around. That said, if it's the pet issue, you might try calling (616) 165-9008. That was the local number for the hotel under the Desert Inn ownership. I cannot imagine they would have changed their number. Call and ask about pets. Also, adjacent to the Villas de San Quintin is another excellent property called Maria Celeste. Their number is (616) 165-3999. You can call to inquire about the pet thing.

[Edited on 4-7-2010 by Bajahowodd]

bajalinda - 4-7-2010 at 10:12 AM

Has anyone ever actually stayed at the Maria Celeste? I ask because we tried 2 or 3 times to get a room there and they were always booked full. Mind you, we did not have a reservation and just arrived as walk-ins, so figured you really need to have a reservation.

This was before the days of the Villa de San Quintin which is right next door and a place that we like, so we've kind of stopped even thinking about the Maria Celeste - just curious and wondering how it compares to the Villa.

Bajahowodd - 4-7-2010 at 03:13 PM

I can't give you a first person review. However, Trip Advisor has two very good reviews and BajaGringo told me that if he is unable to get a room in Jardines, Maria Celeste is his next option.

irenemm - 4-8-2010 at 12:04 PM

Well if you don't want to go all the way to San Quintin. Stop here at the Posada Don Diego. We have some very nice rooms. We also have a large 3 bedroom house for rent. Give us a try we are off the Hwy and pretty calm. Restaruant open 7 days a week. Coffee pot in all the rooms with some pretty good coffee too.
give us a call or email
been serving the public 40 years this year
Irene

bajalinda - 4-9-2010 at 10:22 AM

Thanks for the info Bajahowodd.

Irene - I have Posada Don Diego on my list of places to stay in your area. We have not stayed there yet, but may well do so on a future trip. For us, it all depends on whether we are heading north or south, what time of day it is when we reach that 'greater San Quintin area', etc...

irenemm - 4-9-2010 at 11:58 AM

bajalinda
i hope you do give us a try. by the way a free margarita with dinner.
thanks irene

misterfeathers - 10-23-2011 at 07:49 PM

Just stayed at the santa maria hotel. Room rate was $49..no discounts available. Room was spacious clean and great views. Parking isn't fenced but does have 24h security. Internet was good. Restaurant was acceptable. I would recommend jardin if available but this was a great second option. Drive about 5 -8 miles south of town take a right at their billboard. Follow the signs can't miss it.

BajaBlanca - 10-23-2011 at 08:23 PM

misterfeathers as in related to feathers ???????????

we stopped at the GN hotel just the other day - it was totally empty and there was not one soul in the restaurant ... beautifully decorated ... I must look for those photos ... they have pottery and other crafts and 3 ancient typewriters (well...not really ancient unless I now have to call myself ancient cause I remember them !!!)