BajaNomad

Accommodations at Bahia de Los Angeles

tfair - 7-27-2006 at 11:52 AM

A group of 6 of us recently drove to Bahia de Los Angeles and stayed at Los Vientos Spa and Resort. We had reserved 2 rooms for 3 men in each. The cost, per room, was $482 for 4 nights. On top of this, there was only 1 key available per room at a deposit of $20.00 per key.
The "resort" advertises itself as having 24 hour electricity, each room is air conditioned, pool with swim-up palapa bar, and restaurant. Here are the facts:
1. There is 24 hour electricity, but they ask you not to run the a/c during the day.
2. That doesn't matter, because the a/c units are way too small for the rooms. During our stay, the outside temp. never got over 100 degrees, and the temp inside the room was not under 90 degrees between about 8:00 am and mid-night.
3. The pool was filthy to the point that on the 3rd day of our stay, they put up signs saying "Danger - do not use".
4. The "palapa bar" was not open at all.
5. While the food at the restaurant was very good, they only serve the dinner meal. There is no menu, so you get what they have.

Also, on 2 of the mornings (out of 4), there was no water in the rooms-in order to flush the toilet, we had to take water from the pool using our small ice chests.
On top of all this, as we were trying to leave at 6:00 am on Monday, there was no one available to refund our key deposits ($40). I have e-mailed and spoken by telephone to everyone I can reach at the "resort" and they say they are going to send me the deposit. It has been almost 3 weeks now, and nothing.
Because of all of this, (the deposit in particular), I would not recommend Los Vientos Spa and Resort to anyone.
Larry and Raquel's place about 1 mile closer to the town is a small hotel that is not very fancy, but the rooms are clean and the food is excellent. Also, it is less than half the cost.

bajajudy - 7-28-2006 at 06:27 AM

Thanks, tfair
I wondered about that place when I saw it. Looked a little over the top for Bahia.
Did you do any fishing?

Bruce R Leech - 7-28-2006 at 06:38 AM

thanks for the report tfair you just saved some Nomads some grief. I wonder when these kind of business are going to wake up to the fact that we live in the www now and they cant stay in business very long while giving poor service and charging high rates.

jimgrms - 7-28-2006 at 07:03 AM

Give us thier e mail address maybe a few of us can contact him and help to change hiw ways of doing buisness

Bruce R Leech - 7-28-2006 at 07:18 AM

good idea Jim I will do that also.

elgatoloco - 7-28-2006 at 08:38 AM

http://www.losvientosspaandresort.com/contact_us.htm

tfair...

BajaCactus - 7-28-2006 at 07:47 PM

Their office is in Tijuana... where we also have an office, and I also happen to know some of the people who work there.

If you wish, I could try to get your deposit back...

Let me know, I will be happy to do so.

Antonio M.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."

Debra - 7-28-2006 at 09:32 PM

Too bad that things have not worked out as they planned (for them) When I was there summer before last I stopped by and met the owners, very nice people.....I have to say I was more than a bit freaked out when they told me that they had built the resort to lure buyers for the hundred plus houses they planned on building out there. I know I'm being totally selfish, but, I hope this puts an end to all that.

capt. mike - 7-30-2006 at 08:04 AM

the owners, whom i met in Chula Vista 2 years ago (the old Bonita Store) while drinking dinner one evening....;) Seemed to have a super Biz plan as they related to me. The 24 hr AC got my attention as i told them i never go to LA Bay during the brutal SOC summer since the town's power goes off just when you need it most!
but i really liked their plan for the airport area which they purchased and planned to sub divide with taxiways and homes, including hangars. I gave Jesse Carbajal (principal and family member) a $5 bill with my name on it as a security deposit on a lot.

These things take time. He is charging way too much this early though, and therefore must be under capitalized, or dumb.....

hope it takes off eventually. Only 2.5 hours from Phx - not bad. Wonder if he spent my deposit, it was supposed to go into an interest bearing escrow!!

BTW - his company has a cherokee 6 at Brown which they use to take people down if you'll stay at the place. First Flight FBO at Brown does their maintenance. Anyone looking for a quick get away to BOLA and doesn't want to drive all those hours :( should give him a call.

bahiamia - 7-30-2006 at 09:28 AM

I guess from the start, the hotel was just a come-on type of deal to get people to buy the lots out behind or to the West of where Los Vientos is located. There is no water out there; the lots as they appear are pretty dang small...you can barely turn a truck around on one of them, and who knows how much they are asking. If they want to make money on lots or homes or condos or anything else out there, it will take a HUGE investment first on their part.

Right now, as conditions exist here, such ventures are not profitable because of the water, power, & other considerations. The bottom line is to make money, but these are losing ventures as of now the way things are in Bahia. The lots, by the way, are in a spot where the winds blow nearly all the time. At the mouth of a large canyon, and quite a ways up from the water. It can be calm in town, and out there it's blowing like the dickens.

Ken Bondy - 7-30-2006 at 10:19 AM

I wrote this in a log of a trip we made in 2004:

"On the way back in with Joel we
passed the new hotel near Larry & Raquel?s
called Los Vientos. Joel told us it was open so
we checked it out. It is truly open,
substantially completed, and it is rather
spectacular. The rooms are luxurious, the
pool and tiled site work beautiful. There were
no guests; a condition I suspect will persist for
some time. We were met and taken on a
guided tour of the place by Salvador Juarez, a
personable young fellow who is on site as the
manager. Someone has sunk a ton of money
into this place; I wonder if they will ever see
any of it come back."

++Ken++

jimgrms - 7-30-2006 at 10:42 AM

I am not a buissnessman but if you open a resort even to sell lots and charge the money they charge every thing should work

capt. mike - 8-1-2006 at 04:46 AM

Ken. i remember your report. sounds like it was in better shape 2004 than when this other fellow stayed there, too bad - oh well, that's baja for you!
a travel poster -

when you want it now, and you want it broken, go to baja!! haha...

Accomodation's in Bahia de Los Angeles

Catalina - 8-7-2006 at 12:06 PM

Villabahia is a really nice, clean and comfortable place to stay. The owners Roger & Jean are very nice people and will make sure your stay is a great baja experience!!. Have stayed their for the last two year's and in less then a month going back for our third. Villabahia is our home away from home. :bounce:

tfair - 8-11-2006 at 08:14 AM

To all of you who responded to my posting of "accomodations at Bahia de Los Angeles" regarding Los Vientos Spa and Resort.- I finally got my deposit back (about 1 month after beginning to raise hell!
However, everything I said about the place is the absolute truth. Too many promises and too little to offer.
Someone asked about the fishing. We did fish 3 days with panguero Marcos Blanco. We caught about 100 yellowtail (3 fishermen for 3 days), and shared our catch with Mr. Blanco. The only problem was the fish were small - about 8 to 9 pounds each, with one fish 20 pounds.

Roberto - 8-11-2006 at 05:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tfair
We caught about 100 yellowtail (3 fishermen for 3 days), and shared our catch with Mr. Blanco. The only problem was the fish were small - about 8 to 9 pounds each, with one fish 20 pounds.


So, that's at least 900 pounds of fish.

1. do you realize you are overlimit?
2. that's not fishing, it's butchering, precisely the kind of practice that has put us where we are today.

I'm sure you've heard this kind of thing before, so I have no hope to get through to you. Did you at least have fishing permits?

I can only hope the fish was dogfood by the time you got back home. :barf:

[Edited on 8-12-2006 by Roberto]

Oso - 8-11-2006 at 08:13 PM

Aw gee, and I was looking forward to some kinky fun with the "Bath Ropes in each Suite", swimming with the "Shark Whales", warming up by the "Launge Fire Place and Cupula" and some TM in the "Meditation Outdoor Area" (I think it's called 'the desert') where I could "Glaze at the Stars".:lol:

Al G - 8-11-2006 at 08:49 PM

tfair, Seems you are not the only one who has had a bad experience at Los Vientos Spa and Resort.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150770-d151972-r...
reports like this do help.
Good ones do too.

sanfelipeguy - 9-27-2006 at 04:54 PM

I too have stayed at Villa Bahia and the place is great. Efficiency style place with air conditioning that works - they have their own power plant. And their rates are reasonable. It's not the Hilton but it's everything you'd want in Bahia. I haven't met Jean or Roger but I have been in touch via e-mail and they are really nice people. I look forward to meeting them on our return trip in November.

As for the guy that caught 100 yellowtail on his trip - I hope you put at least 70 of those fish back unharmed. If you didn't then I hope you never fish anywhere again because that is just the type of mindset that is destroying the eco system in the Cortez. If you're a real sportsman then you'll change your ways, if not I hope they catch your sorry butt one day so you can do some toilet fishing in a Mexican jail!

viabaja - 9-27-2006 at 07:27 PM

Dude, 100 Yellow Tail is really EXCESSIVE!! Stay back in the States P-nche. We all are seeing the SOC being fished out. Quite frankly I'm surprised you posted it. But then, that tells me you have NO CLUE. Even the locals would say WTH!

100 mossbacks

pargo - 9-28-2006 at 08:13 AM

Dude! shame on the pangero for lettin' that s@#* fly and shame on you for not being a little more hip to the fact that fisheries all over are in trouble because of just that sort of fish mongering that you just demonstrated. The fact that,as you said, they were all firecracker sized fish should have given you a clue bro! Yes, this pales in comparison to the longling and such, but that doesn't mean that their can't be a positive impact by collectively practicing a little catch-n-release and some good stewardship on the part of us all. aw'man...sorry folks for venting off this way, thats a real touchy subject for me!!

Pargo-----you are right on target-----

Barry A. - 9-28-2006 at 10:05 AM

----and I am betting that most NOMADS feel that way.

Thanks for saying it.

Bajachief - 9-28-2006 at 04:33 PM

The guy writes that they "caught" 100 yellowtail. Is it a sure thing they kept 100 yellowtail? We don't know. To jump in and b-tch about overlimits with out all the facts is a joke.
What if their captain caught fish also?
(3) guys+ (1) captain x 3 days = 8.33 fish per guy per day. Does not look so "overlimit" now does it?
Assume they caught and kept their Mexican limit of 5 fish per day and released the other 3.33 fish. Have they done something wrong?

When I tell people about a fishing trip I went on I also tell how many I caught.
Barrett Lake - I caught 40 bass. Kept ZERO
Two day outerbanks caught 20 Dorado, but I only kept 4

Tight lines.
Chief

Bajachief------

Barry A. - 9-29-2006 at 10:05 AM

-----point well taken, but I am thinking that everybody already KNOWS the "ifs, ands, and buts" to the claim-------I think that the real point is that he did not say what happened to the fish, so of course it was an opportunity to state what many feel----that we MUST do something to protect this declining fishery, or so it seems to me.

The guy has ample opportunity to come in and explain what happed to the fish---------and so far hasn't.

I am thinking that your apparent "PC attitude" would keep many people from saying what they think, and I think that is wrong-----------this IS a very serious subject.

Cypress - 9-29-2006 at 02:03 PM

Oso!;) Roberto!:yes: 900lbs. of fish requires refrigeration/ice or it will turn to garbage/chum in a couple of hours.:rolleyes:

Bajachief - 9-29-2006 at 10:25 PM

PC attitude??? Look at yourself for being PC.

My original calculations were off by three anglers.

6 guys x 5 fish a day x 3 days = 90 Legal MEXICAN limits
Did they fudge the numbers to say 100 or maybe the Pangueros caught 10 or maybe again 10 fish were released. We don't know.

Fact - these anglers look to have obeyed Mexico's fishing regulations pretty close.

What did Mexico get for this "Serious Subject" of overfishing?

$1000 in hotel visits
$900 + tips in chartered boats (two pangas x 3 days 150/ day)
$$$ Food
$$$ Fuel
$150 Fishing license
$126 Tourist Permits

Looks like Mexico did pretty well for the deal

One last thing - 100- 8 to 10 pound fish do not equal 900 pounds of fillets.
Maybe a 60% yield which would equal each guy going home with TEN whole pounds of fillets for three days fishing. Wow that really is a "serious subject"

No, I was not on this trip.
Chief

Baja Chief------

Barry A. - 9-30-2006 at 01:55 PM

----from what you say I assume that you do NOT think that the Sea of Cortez is in "serious" trouble from over fishing?????

Interesting!!!!!! Comparing what the SOC used to produce 50 years ago, we DO have a problem, I am thinking, and perhaps you are part of it?? I have been there, done that, for well over 50 years-----and I know what I have seen happen over the years.

jimgrms - 9-30-2006 at 02:51 PM

i enjoy fishing . i do not go to baja to catch fish for my entire neighbor hood, according to what i read you can only have 10 in your possesion and 10 10 lb ers will filet out to about 50 lb after that catch and release ,

Bajachief - 9-30-2006 at 03:54 PM

Barry A - I do agree that the sea of Cortes has a seriouly changed. I do not agree the "WE" do have a problem since I and I guess you are not Mexican citizens. It is not our country.
You say "I" am part of it? Screw you!
My point in all of this is that it is not the tourist fisherman who is to blame for the decline of the Sea of Cortes but overfishing from Mexican themselves (Gill Netting)and foreign commercial fishing corporations (Japanese) who have created this huge decline. Serch for the info amigo and I am sure you will find this to be true.

If the tourist fisherman cannot come and spend $2000 + to follow what are the regulations then the "local" population will need to find another way to survive. Those 100 fish that brought $2000+ to the local Mexican economy will only bring $200, if that, when sold as a commercial catch. So now the fishermen will catch 5x the fish to equal the same "income". Then we get the serious problem.

BChief-----

Barry A. - 9-30-2006 at 05:25 PM

-------and when the fish are gone????????????? (relatively speaking)

Then what????????????

Bajachief - 9-30-2006 at 05:58 PM

When the mexican have gillnetted the last fish out of their sea, then there will be a total collapse

We are on the same page. My whole point has been that 6 guys who started this post got bashed for what looks like following the rules.

I agree other stupid gringos have taken way too much.

Mexico needs the tourist angler. With out them, what tourism there is will collapse and then you will see a speedier decline.

Tight lines
Chief

10-4 Chief------you are so right.

Barry A. - 9-30-2006 at 07:22 PM

------barry

BChief

pargo - 10-1-2006 at 08:44 AM

You should change your name to Bajachef. Because it sounds like you see fish as simply "meat". The original meat monger who boasted 100 yellow clearly says he shared his catch with his capitain. So, unless this just some tall fish-tale, we can only assume he did indeed catch 100 fish..and keep'em. Whether the guide actually fished is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that if you even come close to 100 fish, it's excessive no matter how you slice it (or fillet it). I don't think that anyone on this post cares how much you spent in Mexico, thats a personal matter and no one will pat you on the back for it. You, me, and everyone go to Baja because we love it, not to go and rape it's resources because you spent X amount of money there.

Cypress - 10-1-2006 at 09:12 AM

Overfishing. Various studies indicate that as many as 50% of the fish released after catching die.:no:Some species are tougher than others, some fisherman are more careful, so there are other factors involved. Most recreational fishermen invest more money in equipment and other related items than the value of any fish they catch.:)

Bajachief - 10-1-2006 at 01:20 PM

Pargo- read the whole thread.
I was not there
There were 6 anglers
Pointing out how much was spent, is to show the value to Mexico for recreational anglers versus Commercial fishing

Go back to sleep now.

bajachief-----

Barry A. - 10-1-2006 at 07:17 PM

----just sort of easing your way peacefully on the NOMADS board, are you??? :lol:

You might as a "newbie" want to rethink this "attitude",-------just a thought.:light:

[Edited on 10-2-2006 by Barry A.]

aha baja - 10-1-2006 at 07:33 PM

This thread is about bahia de los angeles accomodations... maybe its just me but isn't it a wee bit off topic:?:

Paulina - 10-2-2006 at 07:34 AM

Back on topic, I recieved an email from a friend who lives in town saying that the gov. closed the place down. This message is about three weeks old now, so things might have changed by this point.

P<*)))><

Bajachief - 10-2-2006 at 08:45 AM

Newbie? Remember the old board? Remember the UCR board that was started and continues before the "Old board"
I have just stayed out and watched the "chicken coop group" and now that I posted, I know why I stayed out.

Make sure your folks jump all over those "illegal" shellfish takers in another thread, or is that something you condone and will say nothing.

Catch and Kill

Adios
Baja "Chef"

pargo - 10-2-2006 at 09:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by aha baja
This thread is about bahia de los angeles accomodations... maybe its just me but isn't it a wee bit off topic:?:


Agreed...lot of breath wasted on futility

4baja - 10-2-2006 at 06:51 PM

soulpatch, your killing me:lol:. what a card. take a week off and lets go!:coolup:

4baja - 10-3-2006 at 06:28 AM

ouch:(

Cypress - 10-3-2006 at 11:17 AM

soulpatch, Have been in a wringer a time or two. Keeps you from getting too relaxed.:lol:

aha baja - 10-8-2006 at 12:29 PM

" Leaders don't pick their followers,......followers pick their leaders"

Fatboy - 10-9-2006 at 09:25 AM

Quote:

Overfishing. Various studies indicate that as many as 50% of the fish released after catching die.


WOW! Immortal fish!
I would have thought 100% of the fish die after being released!


Twice now I have stayed at Casa de Sol and while it seems a little pricey for Baja at $65 a night, they are nice rooms and 2 out of the 3 rooms stayed cool in 100 degree heat and the food was good too.

Mike Supino - 11-5-2006 at 12:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
Back on topic, I recieved an email from a friend who lives in town saying that the gov. closed the place down. This message is about three weeks old now, so things might have changed by this point.

P<*)))><

We stayed there Friday the 3rd. of November.
They are open, the food was great, the pool was very clean and covered at night.
The rooms were very nice and the A/C worked fine. (The A/C units do seem a bit small and may not be adaquate for the summer months.)
Also a bit pricey by baja standards....but remember that the "Nautical Scale" will be there "soon":lol::lol::lol:

[Edited on 11-5-2006 by Mike Supino]

elchinero - 11-6-2006 at 11:07 AM

We were at Los Vientos 2X a month ago. Most issues resolved.
Brought in a REAL chef from Ensenada. Shrimp cerviche then entrees to order. Quite good.
Pool fine.
Beer cold.
ACs OK unless you MUST have the room at 65F. Still marginal @ T(amb) = 100F.
Water in toilet WAS off in the AM. Nice "surprise" for second in line!!
Had breakfast to order.

Ruben - 6-24-2007 at 08:05 AM

I wonder if Los Vientos is still crappy. The only reason I was even interested in Los Vientos was AC and a POOL because I'm coming down in early July. Who else had the pool? But I heard it's usually empty?