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BajaNews
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Spending the night in a Mexican motel
http://acrosstheborder.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/spending-the...
By Anna Cearly
"Across The Border"
January 10, 2009
Motels south of the border serve a quite different purpose than motels in the U.S., which are still an option for budget-conscious families and
travelers. Motels in Mexico - and throughout Latin America - are for people to hook up in. This explains why they are built with large walls, and
sometimes have paying areas set up as booths with reflective glass. The upper-end ones offer garages and private entries while the lower-scale ones
use curtains to cover up your car. Once you realize what they are, you start to see them all over the place. The more extravagant ones take on themes:
There’s one in the outskirts of the city inspired by the Taj Majal.
How do I know this? As a reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune, I once had to go to a crime scene near one of these “love motels” and tried -
unsuccessfully - to get some information from the voices behind a tinted glass booth. Another time, also while on assignment for the Union-Tribune, I
stayed at a motel in Veracruz out of absolute desperation. A photographer and I had arrived there during some national holiday and the city’s hotels
were filled to capacity. A hotel worker suggested a motel. My room was decorated in surreal shades of blue. A plastic black couch faced a television
and mini-bar. Inside a glass nook, fake flowers and arranged stones created a kitschy fantasy ambiance. The pillows were flat, the bed was hard, and
napkin dispensers clung to the walls.
The motels are used by prostitutes and their clients. They are also used by married people who are having affairs. But they are also used by people
who just need a little space away from prying eyes. In Latin America, privacy can be sorely lacking when you are living with your parents, in-laws,
kids, and other assorted family members. These motels are designed to be quick - really quick - get-aways. That night in Veracruz, it became quite
clear to me that they aren’t made for sleeping in as the sound of nearby garage doors opening and closing kept me up all night.
Here’s an interesting El Universal story (in Spanish) of how these quickie love-nooks are offering free car washes or extra time due to tougher
economic times:
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/ciudad/92828.html
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vandenberg
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Reminds me of a trip Barb and I took to the mainland a few years ago. The ferry from Topolobampo was ,as usual, delayed and we decided to take a nap.
On the road to Los Mochis we saw several motels. Checking in, the desk clerk looked at us kind of weird. Walked in front of our car to take us to the
room, pushed a remote, a garagedoor opened, and he disappeared. This garage is the only way in and out of the room. There was a rotating shelf to the
outside and a dancing pole in the center of the room. TV only had 3 channels, all porn. Had a good laugh and took our nap before boarding the
ferry.
Even took a picture of me at the pole, but Barb says not fit to show here. On second thought, TRUE !!
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Woooosh
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I've noticed the many young mexican couples practically live in their cars. They park and spend hours on end talking, eating and napping- anything to
get out of their house and get some privacy. It was weird to see at first- but when I understood the economics of why- it made sense.
Hotels/Motels/Cruise Ships are just gross- no matter how many stars they have. They make full body-cases for travelers that's like a sleeping bag
with built-in pillow made of sheet material- so you don't have to touch anything.
The first thing you should always do is pull the bedspread off and throw it in a corner of the room- never to be touched again. That's the worst
offender for obvious reasons. Second worst is the TV remote control.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Barry A.
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This thread is bazaar!!!! In the last 50 years, or so, I have probably stayed in 50 different motels/hotels in Mexico, both on the mainland and in
Baja CA. I have NEVER encountered any motel similar to the one described in the lead story.
Go figure. (???)
Barry
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BajaNomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
This thread is bazaar!!!! In the last 50 years, or so, I have probably stayed in 50 different motels/hotels in Mexico, both on the mainland and in
Baja CA. I have NEVER encountered any motel similar to the one described in the lead story.
Go figure. (???)
Barry |
There are many (?) in Tijuana and La Paz. Wouldn't surprise me if they were found in Mexicali as
well, but I have spent nowhere near as much time exploring Mexicali as I have the other two cities.
[Edited on 1-11-2009 by BajaNomad]
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
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El Jefe
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There is one in La Paz on the left before the whale tale where all the topes are on the approach to town from the north. I saw many on the mainland on
the road to Mazatlan this summer. Never stayed in one, but my pal Frogg has. He calls 'em "stabbin' cabins".
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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Barry A.
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Sigh-------------I live a sheltered life. (apparently with blinders on) 
Barry
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BajaNomad
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In the USA, I believe the common term is "no-tell motel" - and in Mexico, "Motel de paso".
There are a couple in Tijuana that have - and I've only seen the photos online - pretty nice looking basic rooms, up to incredible suites available.
Take your wife for a night alone, but find a babysitter elsewhere for the kids!!
This "basic" room (with walk-in marble shower) in Tijuana is 370 pesos/night/single:
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
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Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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BajaNomad
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As the room gets more interesting, so do the rates...
...for your info and amusement:
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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BajaNomad
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This multi-floor unit seems the most interesting one I've found online, with a pool, jacuzzi, saunas, bar, dance-floor and nearby round (faux?)
brown-leather mattress - all downstairs (the two bedrooms are upstairs):
[Edited on 1-11-2009 by BajaNomad]
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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2-tie-dye-4
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Sounds like Bangkok.
We\'re all here cuz we\'re not all there, mountain stranded time
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bajabound2005
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doug....does your wife look at this site?
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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BajaNuts
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"bazaar"....bizarre....
it could be fun if the kiddies weren't in tow............
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BajaNomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
doug....does your wife look at this site? |
Yes.
Would it be your opinion that I need to change the wording of what I stated somehow, or are you concerned that she'd be appalled over my awareness of
these establishments, or ???
I was pointing out these motels to her in La Paz when we were just there (and I've shown her the pics of the places in Tijuana previously). I went by
one "hotel" in La Paz, asked the man at the front desk if they had Internet - when he replied in the negative, I asked if he could refer me to
somewhere nearby that did have Internet... and he referred me to a brand spankin' new motel about a half-mile down the road. When I got there, I
realized what "type" of motel it was, and left before I could ask about their Internet availability. I explained to Michelle why we were heading
elsewhere as we drove off.
The Motel Villa del Sol is also in the same vicinity, and is one I noted online many moons ago:
http://escapist.com/baja/lapaz.htm
Michelle and I also noticed the Automotel Hacienda del Mar along a busy road in La Paz as well:
http://www.automotelhaciendadelmar.com/english/
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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BajaNomad
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Interesting to note... on the website for this
location, they have rates as a "Motel" (8 hours) and as a "Hotel" (1p check in and 12p check out):
http://www.automotelhaciendadelmar.com/english/reservations....
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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Mango
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I've seen and been to a few of these hotels throughout Mexico. Sometimes they can be a great deal. They are usually on the outskirts of town or in
bigger cities. It can be quite comical to see who comes and goes. I stayed at one hotel on the mainland a few times before I "figured it out" when I
kept seeing couples checking out in the late afternoon.
As vandenberg pointed out. Some of these you can only enter/exit though the garage door which seems very weird to me; but, I guess it makes sence if
you want to sneak off with the secratary for the afternoon.
I'd also recommend taking taking Woooosh's advice to heart about ditching the bedspread; but, I do this at every hotel anyways. Overall this type of
hotel can be pretty nice for what you pay if you stick with the higher end ones and stay clear of the truck stop variety.
Usually, I like the older historic hotels in the center of town; but, I have stayed in every type of motel imaginable over the years. If it is safe
and clean, I'm happy. I usually travel with a bug net and silk sleep sack.
I don't quite stay in as many budget places as I did in the past. Of course sometimes hotels I used to stay in for 70 pesos a night now charge $70
USD. Owch.
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNuts
"bazaar"....bizarre....
it could be fun if the kiddies weren't in tow............ |
You know Nuts, I have to thank you for that spelling lesson-------I looked it up, and of course you are right. I have been spelling it wrong
(bizarre) all my life, and did not even know it, and spell check never corrected me since I was using the wrong word.
Now about these "special" motels----------Hmmmmmmmm. (???)
Barry
Barry
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaNuts
"bazaar"....bizarre....
it could be fun if the kiddies weren't in tow............ |
You know Nuts, I have to thank you for that spelling lesson-------I looked it up, and of course you are right. I have been spelling it wrong
(bizarre) all my life, and did not even know it, and spell check never corrected me since I was using the wrong word.
Now about these "special" motels----------Hmmmmmmmm. (???)
Barry
Barry |
Barry,
We have not seen a town of any real size in Mexico that did not have at least one of these "motels" on the outskirts. They are easy to spot---dark,
and at least a curtain covering where one parks their car.
Driving to Central America once accompanied by a family with young children, they stopped outside of Vera Cruz to check out one---looked pretty nice,
but the mother came out screaming that her children were just not old enough to see the pictures on the wall. We moved on down the road. 
Diane
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Barry A.
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Diane----------
I must have just instinctively avoided them (dem No-tell, Motels) without really knowing why. 
Once again BAJA NOMADS is bringing me up-to-speed on ALL the happenings in Mexico (as well as a mini-spelling lesson)
Thanks all.
Barry
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ELINVESTIG8R
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Ahhhhhh... them "No-Tell Motels." I would not know a thing about them!
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