BajaNomad

Recent Guerrero Negro motels...REVISED

Pompano - 9-29-2009 at 07:24 AM

Yup, had to revise....Oh Gawd, this is fun.


On two separate occasions this month we made it as far as Guerrero Negro before we got tired of pulling a 28ft cargo trailer. Now I have been staying at Malarrimo's since I can't remember..way back into the early 70's for sure, so this time I was disappointed to find it was full.


So, on that first trip heading south, I got a room at Los Caracoles. We had stayed there once when Nomad Serinita was working at the desk a few years back.

My report: parking was cramped for a cargo trailer, interesting 'visitors' to rooms thru the night, sparse room, hard mattress and pillows, no sleep control on tv remote (okay, so it's a personal pet peeve), luckily I found a fantasy tv channel..called CNN, easy to find & handy location, friendly desk staff, computer room in office, NO airconditoning, price was $450 pesos. Okay for an emergency, but doubt I would rent there again unless Malarrimo's is full.

Did not try the adjoining Los Caracoles cafe, due to bad report from mulegemichael.

LOS CARACOLES.




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MALARRIMO'S MOTEL
The second trip heading south about 1 week later, I had made reservations at my old stomping grounds, Malarrimo's.

My report:
Mucho better with AC, heat, fan, nicely furnished rooms, quiet, private entry, good restaurant & bar, secure parking for large rigs. SLEEP FUNCTION ON REMOTE CONTROL! Friendly staff, excellent bartender, great wine selection, & don't tell the ladies about the adjoining gift shop. Free coffee thermos fillup next morning.

Price is $350 pesos plus $100 peso remote deposit. Be sure to ask for that refund. :rolleyes:
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MALARRIMO'S
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That was my experience. Good luck with yours and safe travels.
Quote:
Originally posted by mulegemichael
we second rogers recommendation; malarrimos all the way...yeah, i got so sick from eating at caracoles thought i was gonna die..never again..


Quote:
Originally posted by Bajaboy
Very informative report.....except for the biased CNN comment. I'd be curious as to what channel you'd recommend for the management? CNBC?


Quote:
Originally posted by wessongroup
Seems like a really good deal for a place to stay... thank you very much




Quote:
Originally posted by Pacifico
First to stay on track with this thread, I agree that Malarrimo's is a decent hotel in G.N. - I've only stayed at one other hotel down the street before when Malarrimo's was full. Don't remember the name, but was somewhat of a dive....

As far as the news channel debate, I agree that that you have to take everything with a grain of salt and make up your own mind. There is so much propaganda out there on both sides of the fence. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle....I do like Fox however - they have good looking female anchors!!!:lol::lol::lol:


Quote:
Originally posted by Beachgirl
Hey Rog, I am with you all the way! Plus, when we were heading down and stayed there feeling pretty blue about what we were going to have to face in Mulege, their lovely gentlemen musicians played all my favorite old songs. I wiped a tear off my face and remembered how wonderful my life is with my husband, my family, my friends. The steaks we ordered were out of this world, the c-cktails came in handy...medicinal you know....just wish we had stayed there on the way back. Mulegemichael was dog sick, no kidding...then he caught my cold!


Me too, Roz, to the nth degee.

Ambiance, charm, and nostalgia mean everything to us. We have had many memorable times at Malarrimo's over the years....which are turning into decades now. :wow:

Meeting old friends and making new ones at this old Baja lodging has become a welcome routine for our trips up and down this wonderful peninsula. A nice break in the road routine, eh?
Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
I had a hot tip from a major baja babe that across the street (south side) is new place called "Cowboys" that is good. Will try it out next time. If I recall the story, the owner started out with a taco stand on the location and over the years has built a motel and restaurant. It looked real nice from the outside. Anyone stay here?


Santiago, I pulled into Cowboys to check it out on my last trip north..around Sept. 17 or so...and it seemed okay. Good cafe there, parking adequate, rooms clean but pretty spartan, price was 450 pesos I think. I didn't stay though, so can't really rate it. More important: What is the name of the hot babe and what are her gps coordinates?
Quote:
Originally posted by jorgie
Roger , the gift shop !!! now you have given it away . Thought that was gonna be kept a secret ....................:?:


Sorry about that, jorgie..I guess the cat's out of the bag?

I have quite a collection of 'stuff' from that gift shoppe. Why don't they sell really important items?.. like fishing tackle.
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Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Roger,

Couldn't agree more with you on Malarrimo. Since my first stop there in the 80's and the Abalone meal, which I can remember as if it was yesterday, it has been a favorite stop in Baja for us.

Another note on Malarrimo. A few years ago we had a breakdown north of GN. We ended up having the truck towed into the Mallarimo. They arranged for the tow and the mechanic to fix it. They really came through for us in a time of stress. Great people.

We too have always moteled there except when they were full up.

Scallops and Clams.......................delicious!

Ken



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Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Cowboy and Caracoles are just about the same, value and accomodations. In my opinion, if you aren't going to stay, or cannot stay at Malarrimo, they are the second best choices. Most everything else in town falls into the "emergency-only" category. As for the 'taco stand", Asadero Cowboy has been there for years. they built the hotel behind it and updated the front to blend. The restaurant is usually packed with locals. They have a big selection of grilled stuff at very low prices. As for the Caracoles restaurant, I can understand someone not wanting to return to the scene of the crime. But truth is that you can get food poisoning anywhere you eat. I've only eaten breakfasts there. I have a problem with their "turnpike coffee shop" ambience when it comes to dinner. That said, their breakfasts have been among the best I've had in Baja.

BTW- Caracoles hotel has three larger semi-suites available for about $10 more. They are nicer than the standard rooms.

[Edited on 9-28-2009 by Bajahowodd]


[Edited on 9-29-2009 by Pompano]

Santiago - 9-29-2009 at 11:11 AM

We (two 50ish guys) had an weird experience at Caracoles last month; pulled in to an empty parking lot about 4:00pm and walked into the office; young man behind the desk and a gringo surfing the 'net. With our lousy Spanish we said we wanted one room (index finger help up) with two beds (index and middle finger help up, like the peace, er, victory sign) for one night (back to index finger only). Young man looked at us and said the only rooms he had were one bed, singles. Huh? My friend and I turned to look at a completely empty parking lot, back to the young man and asked "No two beds?" (both fingers back up). He shook his head and looked like he wouldn't mind breaking those fingers off. We ended up at Malamar (that's what I call it 'cause I like the cookie) and wondered why anyone would build a motel with only singles. Later we were told that we either did not understand him (very likely) or he was trying to get us to buy two rooms.

Pompano - 9-29-2009 at 11:49 AM

Santiago, I think I finally clued in to what the obvious 'single' bed situation is at Los Caracoles in certain section. Sometimes my bulb shorts out. I blame it on a No-Pacifico diet I stupidly entered upon.

The last time I was in a single there, the fellow next door had a pickup with no muffler. Not so bad if he had used it only once, but this guy was muy ocupado..very busy all night. He used his pickup 3 times at my count...bringing and returning 3 different gals. Lots of sound effects, plus the muffler.

If I ever see him again, I've got a trophy for him.

Hmm...Oysters, do you think?

Bajahowodd - 9-29-2009 at 04:10 PM

Roger- Curious about the "had to revise" statement. I note that all the posts about restaurant cleanliness were removed. I don't get it, since the original post mentioned staying away from Caracoles restaurant.