BajaNomad - what's your minimum budget for La Paz-border car trip?

what's your minimum budget for La Paz-border car trip?

BajaNuts - 7-9-2009 at 09:30 PM

Here's some details-
traveling by car, 2 adults, 1 nuts0.5

will be staying in lodgings, not camping and eating all meals "on the road"......but that doesn't mean we won't be hitting the markets or whatever for food to go....

5-6 days from La Paz to the border, looking for one spot to hang out for a couple days if it's in the budget.

Driving 250-300 miles/day.....

What's your best recommendations for where to stay with current pricing? I've been searching for many of the recommended locations, and the pricing is out of date.. Anyone with current lodging pricing, please chime in!

I kind-of have a plan, I want to see what others can suggest!

What do you think we can do this trip "per day" for? Lodging and meals?

MitchMan - 7-10-2009 at 11:07 AM

At 300 miles per day you are going to spend $15 USD per day for gasoline if your car gets 40 mpg, $25 if 25 mpg or $45 if 15 mpg.

I highly recommend starting your trip at 6 or 7am and visiting Loreto thoroughly as you can in one day, get something to eat their. Then continue on to Mulege before dark and spend the night there (eat dinner there too). You can find one of many decent motels or hotels their that cost under $35 per night. For the next night, stay in motel in a town just before you reach the pacific side of the Baja. Again you should be able to find a motel for about $35 per night. Make your way to Ensenada or San Quintin for your third night. Not sure what motel costs are there, but I would limit my budget to no more than $50 per night.

As far as eating goes, I recommend taking a small cooler with some ice in it. Stop at a decent food market in La Paz the day before your trip and get some food (enough for two days): cold cuts, fruit, boxed fruit juices, two gallons of water, chips, and avocados . Bring silverware or at least plastic spoons, forks and knives plus a full salt shaker. For two and a half people, that should cost around $15 to $20 USD and will go a long way in reducing restaurant costs and you will be eating good tasty stuff anytime you want. Make sure you visit another Mercado on the second day of the journey to replenish your stock for the cooler - $ about another $10 USD.

I recommend eating one good meal a day in a restaurant (do a lot of price checking and menu reading to make your restaurant selection) to break up the monotony and to enjoy yourself. That will cost about $15 to $25 per day for two people. Buy your beer from a store, don't drink in restaurants or bars and that way you will save alot of money (and still get your enjoyable buzz).

The way I see it, you probably won't "need" to stay in motel a third night, but you might if you travel only 250 miles per day or decide to make the trip longer than three days in total.

I apologize for not giving you specific names of restaurants and motels/hotels, but, the way I travel in Baja is to always mix it up on where I sleep and where and what I eat just for variety's sake alone. I actually enjoy the hunt for a restaurant and the hunt for a motel. That way, I get to see more, get a better sense for the price levels and availability and inventory, and I always get pleasant surprises on the bargains I find and variety of food and eating places. The food-in-the-cooler is great because I love the food I buy (good fruit + good cold cuts + good fruit juices and great avocados with salt). I love it when I launch out on a journey with no hotel/motel reservations, plenty of cash, and a penchant for finding great bargains and enjoying the hunt for the bargains. That way I end up with a large part of my cash at the end of the trip while having the cash gives me all the security I need for disasters and bad luck... Man, I'm covered!

To summarize, I think that you can do the trip on $70 per day for two people for food (using food for the cooler and one restaurant meal a day) and motel/hotel per day. If you want breakfast at a restaurant, that should increase your overall food expenditures by $10 per day (reducing some of the cooler food cost). Gasoline for the whole trip is from $45 to $140 depending your vehicle's gas mileage.

Bien viaje.

oxxo - 7-10-2009 at 12:43 PM

We (2 adults but one acts childish sometimes) spend about $125 to $175 a day while traveling (not staying in one place) in Baja for food, accommodations, and fuel depending on how far we travel that day.

buena suerte

Bajahowodd - 7-10-2009 at 01:55 PM

Your 250-300 miles per day is reasonable, and won't wear anyone out. The big problem is that except for Catavina, Highway One connects to towns that were there before the pavement, and they are not necessarily conveniently spaced. The best luxury/ value accomodations along the route, in my opinion, are in Guerrero Negro (Cowboy, Caracoles), El Rosario (saw a sign at Baja Cactus noting a $25US special rate), and San Quintin (Jardines de Baja is a true gem). That being said, Prices are higher for most anything good in Loreto, and anything in Mulege is going to be rustic. Since you haven't really mentioned what sort of activities would captivate you into spending more than one night, hard to recommend. Don't know if you've spent time in Ensenada, but there are plenty of things to see and do there. Trouble is that folks coming North tend to feel like they are close to the border and push on. There are many very good hotels in Ensenada with rates under $60 US. We just stayed in the Hotel San Nicloas for $56 plus four free margaritas! They have a great pool.

The Gull - 7-10-2009 at 02:35 PM

You need a reserve for wheel rim replacement and flats from the potholes and broken pavement along the route.

You also want to replace old hoses and belts before attempting the trip.

You may also need a reserve for the mordida, if you blow through any speed traps.

Keep extra water in bottles in your cooler, so you can give the soldiers a treat when they tear into your car at the stops.

It helps distract them away from your valuables and speeds up the process.

Huge reserve needed for stopping at El Boleo in Santa Rosalia.

BajaNuts - 7-10-2009 at 03:19 PM

Thanks for the inexpensive motel suggestions. That's the kind of info that will help greatly. I'd still like to find a couple $50 or less places in La Paz.

$70/day food and lodging is sounding great. That'll leave a little in the budget for Pacificos! We'll have a cooler, and some other junk in the car.

Was kinda eyeballing Asunsion for a layover. Fishing trip or something. Anyone know any good panga operators in that area?

(JUST KIDDING, Shari :dudette:

)

[Edited on 7-10-2009 by BajaNuts]

[Edited on 7-10-2009 by BajaNuts]

gnukid - 7-10-2009 at 06:50 PM

Double rooms throughout Baja for $25-45/night or less / gaz $2.50/gal Traverse the distance from La Pa' allí TJ para casi nada? pues! With more than two per car the price is less than $100/person.

Bajahowodd - 7-11-2009 at 12:59 AM

El Morro Suites in La Paz.

BajaNomad - 7-11-2009 at 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
El Morro Suites in La Paz.

...are now under $50??? :?:

Bob and Susan - 7-11-2009 at 05:58 AM

gas alone from la paz to the border will be $125usa

side trips means extra $$$

BajaNuts - 7-11-2009 at 01:52 PM

Can anyone confirm the El Morro price question? Or anywhere else in La Paz for $25-40?

We'll be spending a little more on gas for the puddlejumper, but if daily food/lodging expenses can be done for $70-80...accomodations being the biggest chunk of the bill... we can splurge a little for a side trip or two.

Not gonna travel all that way, just to hope in the car and floor it for the border! Gotta make time for some fun along the way.

Thanks for the leads.

it's about 92F in eastern WA right now, going to take the munchkin and his friend (and the yellow lab that doesn't like to swim) to a river-rafting picnic.

mulegemichael - 7-11-2009 at 02:03 PM

nutz...in asuncion use Juan Arces as your pangero...shari is on this forum all the time....the man can catch fish in a sink..and he's fun.

Bajahowodd - 7-11-2009 at 02:05 PM

Actually, Club El Moro's web site lists a standard room at $85. However, when I last stopped in, the posted rate at the desk was $65 for the standard room.

oxxo - 7-11-2009 at 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNuts
if daily food/lodging expenses can be done for $70-80

For 2 people? It's possible, but you will really have to spend time scrounging around to meet that budget in general.

La Paz hotel

ChicoTerri - 7-11-2009 at 09:26 PM

We have stayed a few times at the Hacienda Bugambilias (Bougainvilla) Hotel. The rooms are luxurious by Baja standards, set around a beautiful pool and the location is handy to the malecon and downtown. The website states current rates as $56 US but I'll bet you could do better at the desk.
I agree with carrying a ice chest of food and water with you...Baja towns are irregularly spaced and you will find yourselves miles from towns when you are hungry. Keep an eye out for Rostizado chicken places if you like chicken, a chicken to go is great ice chest food. Rostizado is the style of cooking (baked) and not the actual name of the restaurant! Enjoy your trip!

bajadock - 7-11-2009 at 10:18 PM

1. Find Baja Nomads who welcome chance strangers. Punta Banda has several. My email works as of this evening. Our location is not ideal for drive time, but, Punta Banda Nomads are lots of fun. My 2 guest bedrooms can be had for Pacificos and/or $5 wineS from T-Joe's. Notice that I don't specify quantities, so buyer beware.
2. My 2006 trip to La Paz, excluding gasoline, was FAR less than $100/day. Ask my neighbors. I'm cheap/frugal and know how to create gourmet treats at a market. Take me along for a first-hand tour guide on how to save money. Cheese, sausage/meat, salsa and tortillas with favorite adult beverages and a sunset on the water are available.
3. Adventure is in the unknown. JUSTDOIT, GO4IT.

FUN CHALLENGE. "I spent no money at a hotel on my Baja Trip, staying only at NOMAD accommodations in exchange for quenching my hosts' thirst."

Hmmmm, this could be a fiscal miscalculation?

BajaNuts - 7-11-2009 at 10:29 PM

oooooo........rooms in exchange for drinks............

It sounds tempting, but it could REALLY backfire :lol:

!

Now, if they were all as heavy of drinkers as LongLegs, THAT would be a good deal!!! A couple of Sprites, and a cup of tea, good to go!

Thanks for all the tips, Chico and everyone.

Bob and Susan - 7-12-2009 at 07:23 AM

we were in la paz a couple of weeks ago and the new

"no-tell-motel" had a sign in front 300 pesos a night

looked real safe and clean

its pretty new too

no "reservations" required

i dont know the name but you cant miss it
as you first drive into town from the south

longlegsinlapaz - 7-12-2009 at 08:48 AM

Depending on the dates you're planning on being in La Paz, there's a possibility that my spare bedroom might be available to nice upstanding people of good character, with NO signs of socially repugnant character traits! :yes:

NO drunks, NO drugs, and absolutely NO underwear snapping, tugging, tweaking; absolutely NO handling/touching/readjusting of anyones (other than ones own personal underwear) allowed! Availability is dependent on when the current Nomad occupants depart the premises! It comes complete with a "very comfortable"; according to the current occupants & the owner (separately!)

; firm pillow-top king-sized bed, clean sheets, pool, two mildly obnoxious house dogs that 0.5 might enjoy cavorting with, one occasionally seen house cat & 2 thoroughly obnoxious noisy attack conures (birds)....oh yeah, and 1 delightful resident house-mother to oversee it all! :lol:

The rates are very affordable to the right tenants....gratis! And it's Squirt....not Sprite! :rolleyes:

There's also a brand new place on the right just after you pass the PEMEX at the edge of Chametla, heading out of La Paz, near the airport road, which I THOUGHT was named Paradise Suites & Room, but no website results appeared when I Googled it. I'll see if there's a web-site on the sign next time I go that direction. I'm totally at a loss as how to determine a "no-tell-motel" from a tourist motel, so will not vouch one way or the other, but I can personally guarantee that there won't be any women of questionable repute cavorting scantily-clad throughout the halls of the first referenced property! :lol:

In response to the originally posed question....I ALWAYS make the run to/from the border in 2 days; no night driving; and have spent as little as $180 pesos for lodging at a place I can't remember the name of, in a little town I can't remember the name of which does have a secure parking lot....it's one of those "I'll know it when I'm getting close" kinda places! :bounce:

$70-80 a day, if you're including gas in that figure, MAY be doable....just barely & only if you bring your own cootie treatment & eat sparingly....but 0.5 might not appreciate the starvation diet!! :no:

BajaNuts - 7-12-2009 at 09:02 AM

Squirt! ...not sprite.........

I was thinking grapefruit something..... Thanks for the offer! That would be AWESOME if it works out.

I made the trip down by myself with one stop in Guerrero Negro, but we'd never be able to do that with everyone else.

Thanks~ EVERYONE!