BajaNomad

Where to stay in San Diego with boat

cbuzzetti - 10-15-2009 at 07:51 AM

Looking for suggestions of where to stay in San Diego while towing a small boat (15').

Close to the freeway (5) is prefered with enough parking for boat and trailer.

We will arrive on a Thursday evening and be departing early the next AM.

Thanks for your help!!

bajaguy - 10-15-2009 at 07:58 AM

We stay at the LaQuinta Inn at the 805 and Bonita (Chula Vista), cross at Otay and take Blvd 2000. La Quinta accepts doggies and has a breakfast bar

bill erhardt - 10-15-2009 at 08:09 AM

The Vagabond Inn at 230 Broadway, Chula Vista, (619) 422-8305, about 4 blocks off #5 at the E Street exit has plenty of parking for trailered boats, Wifi, etc., and also a discount for folks with a Baja connection. The rate with the Baja discount was around $50 US when I was last there in January. From the Vagabond Inn it is about 10 minutes to the border.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 08:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
The Vagabond Inn at 230 Broadway, Chula Vista, (619) 422-8305, about 4 blocks off #5 at the E Street exit has plenty of parking for trailered boats, Wifi, etc., and also a discount for folks with a Baja connection. The rate with the Baja discount was around $50 US when I was last there in January. From the Vagabond Inn it is about 10 minutes to the border.


That place has recently been flushed down the crapper. No more Baja discount and under new management that has been tolerant of nasty behaviour among tenants. A recent account of this crap was put up on the PB message board and the story alone turned me off from ever using the place again.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 08:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
We stay at the LaQuinta Inn at the 805 and Bonita (Chula Vista), cross at Otay and take Blvd 2000. La Quinta accepts doggies and has a breakfast bar


Terry...Do you recall what they charged for an over-night stay?

Clarification needed?

Lee - 10-15-2009 at 09:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
We stay at the LaQuinta Inn at the 805 and Bonita (Chula Vista), cross at Otay and take Blvd 2000. La Quinta accepts doggies and has a breakfast bar


I've never entered at Otay. And I've never had problems at San Ysidro in either direction. Anyone think Otay is an ''advantage'' somehow?

Also, I can't find Blvd. 2000 on a google map. What are the directions through the Otay area to Ensenada?

bajaguy - 10-15-2009 at 09:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
We stay at the LaQuinta Inn at the 805 and Bonita (Chula Vista), cross at Otay and take Blvd 2000. La Quinta accepts doggies and has a breakfast bar


Terry...Do you recall what they charged for an over-night stay?





Dennis.....somewhere around $55-60

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 09:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Lee
Also, I can't find Blvd. 2000 on a google map. What are the directions through the Otay area to Ensenada?


Good to see you, Lee. Let me tell you what I remember. It seems I drive as much by instinct as anything else.
Go through the gate and proceed straight ahead to the first intersection and turn left. There may be a sign at that point directing you to Tecate. Just stay on that road and look for more signs to Tecate. Where the road splits off for Tecate, don't take it and just stay on the road you've been on. Eventually you'll see signs that will tell you you're on the road to Rosarito...Ensenada.
Maybe David will put up a map....please.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 09:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy



Dennis.....somewhere around $55-60



oooooh, that's good for two humans and a dog. Thanks, Terry. I'll look into it.

bill erhardt - 10-15-2009 at 10:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
The Vagabond Inn at 230 Broadway, Chula Vista, (619) 422-8305, about 4 blocks off #5 at the E Street exit has plenty of parking for trailered boats, Wifi, etc., and also a discount for folks with a Baja connection. The rate with the Baja discount was around $50 US when I was last there in January. From the Vagabond Inn it is about 10 minutes to the border.


That place has recently been flushed down the crapper. No more Baja discount and under new management that has been tolerant of nasty behaviour among tenants. A recent account of this crap was put up on the PB message board and the story alone turned me off from ever using the place again.


Dennis.......Your post piqued my curiosity, so I called the Vagabond Inn. I was advised that there has been a recent change in management, but that they still offer a discount for those with a Baja connection. Normal rates for one night are around $70, but with the Baja discount it is a little less than $50, just as it was when I stayed there in January. I then read the manager your account of the place being "flushed down the crapper" and now "tolerant of nasty behavior among guests". He said that there was an incident in which a female guest claimed that another had thrown coffee on her car. She became hysterical and may or may not have had a nervous breakdown on the premises. An account of that incident was apparently written up on the Internet (maybe the PB message board you refer to?). He knows of no other incidents between guests under the new management. Are there other incidents of which you are aware, or perhaps personal experiences of your own upon which you base your emphatic opinion about the Vagabond Inn?

cbuzzetti - 10-15-2009 at 10:26 AM

Thank you all for the info.

I placed my reservation with the La Quinta. Rates were $65+ tax.

Free cont breakfast, free wifi and pet friendly.

Yes they have parking for oversize vehicles as well.

Thanks again.

Otay and Blvd 2000

bajaguy - 10-15-2009 at 10:54 AM

To cross at Otay from the LaQuinta....

Southbound on the 805........if you need to pick up any last minute supplies, exit at Palm Blvd, make a left at the top of the ramp, pass over the 805.......there is a Vons supermarket, a Home Depot and a Wal-Mart on your right.

Anyway, south on the 805, exit and east on the 905. Stay in the middle lane.....pass Brown Field (airport on your left). The 905 veers to the right and the border crossing.

After you clear the gates, proceed southbound for 1 mile to the first stoplight controlled intersection. This is Industrial Blvd. There is a tire shop on your left corner.......Turn left (east) here.

NOTE: About a month ago, there was construction at this intersection.......just make your left turn and stay completely to the right...(doesn't look like it, but trust me)

Follow Industrial Blvd for about 5 miles........you will be seeing signs that indicate TECATE.....at about the 5 mile mark, the left lanes veer off toward Tecate and the toll road, the right lanes veer off toward Rosarito and Ensenada.

Once you take the right lanes, you are on Blvd 2000. Just watch for cross traffic and pedestrians trying to cross the road for about the first 5 miles.........

Clear sailing for about 26 miles, then you come to a "T" intersection. This is Popotla and you are at the "free road"

Turn left and follow the free road till you get a clear on ramp to Ensenada. About a month ago, the Puerto Nuevo on ramp was closed for construction......just proceed a little farther south to Cantimar........

No problems

[Edited on 10-15-2009 by bajaguy]

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 10:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
Are there other incidents of which you are aware, or perhaps personal experiences of your own upon which you base your emphatic opinion about the Vagabond Inn?


Others in the PB area have mentioned the discount being removed. That's "Others"....as in plural.
The little old lady, by her account was being threatened, even with a phone call, by some a-hole who had decided where and how she should park her car. The office would do nothing about the incident. She called the police and they said they've had numerous complaints on the place recently and that's all they did. There has to be a dead body involved before they'll do more.

Bill...I'm listening to a little old lady, like I said, and I think you're listening to damage control. It would be nice if it went back the way it was.

I miss Harry and his wife who used to run the place.

So, I guess it's up to you, Bill, to stay there and give us an updated report.

bill erhardt - 10-15-2009 at 11:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Bill...I'm listening to a little old lady, like I said, and I think you're listening to damage control. It would be nice if it went back the way it was.

I miss Harry and his wife who used to run the place.

So, I guess it's up to you, Bill, to stay there and give us an updated report.


Dennis........Fair enough. I don't plan a trip north in the near future, but when I go I will give the VI another try and report back. Maybe, as is often the case, the truth behind the unfortunate incident is someplace between the account of the aggrieved guest and the damage control. In his defense, however, the new manager volunteered the information about the Baja discount before mention of this thread.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 11:47 AM

Bill....I'm sure you're right. Having not been there, we'll never fully know although I'm thinking the discount issue has been morphing.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your stay when the time comes.