BajaNomad - Ensenada now - what to expect?

Ensenada now - what to expect?

Muyhuevon - 12-17-2009 at 03:39 AM

Wife and I plan to spend a week in Ensenada around the New Year's. Are the hotels and restaurants full with customers or empty rooms and tables? We'll be arriving Ensenada by bus, and we'd like to stay in a centrally located luxury hotel within walking distance to seafood restaurants. Any recommendations?

bajaguy - 12-17-2009 at 07:42 AM

ElCid puts you right downtown, walking distance to all "attractions"

Check your u2u, upper right corner of screen

Martyman - 12-17-2009 at 02:27 PM

San Nicolas is nice. We stay at Santa Isabel but I wouldn't call it a "luxury hotel"

Bajahowodd - 12-17-2009 at 02:35 PM

I guess one would have to understand what the term "luxury" means to you. In my opinion, there are no luxury hotels in and around the downtown tourist area. That said, there are a number of very nice places. El Cid, Villa Fontana and Posada El Rey Sol are probably the most centrally located. Hotel Corona is closer to the water. As mentioned by Martyman, San Nicolas is very good. We tend to choose the San Nicolas when in town. It is several blocks away from the center of the tourist area, but is very well maintained, has a huge pool, and a newly remodeled Caliente Casino is located within the building.

Woooosh - 12-17-2009 at 02:45 PM

If you stay drunk all New Years weekend you'll find it a wonderful experience, you will enjoy the tropically-warm pool water, and won't see a sign of any of the "bad" problems some Nomads complain of. Then again- the Nomads one step away from a liver transplant seem to enjoy it down here more than the rest of us do.

[Edited on 12-17-2009 by Woooosh]

tripledigitken - 12-17-2009 at 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
If you stay drunk all New Years weekend you'll find it a wonderful experience, will enjoy the tropicalyl warm pool water, and won't notice any of the "bad" problems some Nomads complain of. Then again- some of those expat Nomads who complain are one step away from a liver transplant yet they seem to enjoy it down here more than the rest of ous.

Now that will encourage newbies to come to Baja to give it a try!
:lol:

Bajahowodd - 12-17-2009 at 02:52 PM

The biggest problem will be trying to find a crowd.

bajabound2005 - 12-17-2009 at 03:49 PM

two must try restaurants for you: Muelle Tres (on the malecon just north of the fish market) and La Cocedora de Langosta (on the street directly across the parking lot from Muelle Tres).

susanna - 12-17-2009 at 03:57 PM

We stayed at Best Western right downtown close to everything. Ask for a room with a window facing the main street.

For Clarification

Bajahowodd - 12-17-2009 at 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by susanna
We stayed at Best Western right downtown close to everything. Ask for a room with a window facing the main street.

The El Cid is the Best Western.

arrowhead - 12-17-2009 at 05:52 PM

If you've never been in Mexico before on New Year's Eve, be advised the Mexicans love to fire their guns into the air at midnight. Best to be indoors and under your bed.

:rolleyes:

David K - 12-17-2009 at 05:58 PM

Maybe pick up the new guidebook I reviewed this morning? : http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=43117

[Edited on 12-18-2009 by David K]

Muyhuevon - 12-18-2009 at 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
The biggest problem will be trying to find a crowd.

Really? Based on the fact that i can't get get a room at el cid and villa fontana, i thought there might even be a new year's crowd.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

Muyhuevon

David K - 12-18-2009 at 07:49 AM

If you show up in person, they may just 'magically' have plenty of rooms available!

Back in 1979, the night (late) before the Baja 1000... We got a room at the Bahia Hotel, no problem (when earlier the town was filled up)...

New Year's May Be Different

Bajahowodd - 12-18-2009 at 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Muyhuevon

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
The biggest problem will be trying to find a crowd.

Really? Based on the fact that i can't get get a room at el cid and villa fontana, i thought there might even be a new year's crowd.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

Muyhuevon

But, the last few times we were there, the town was dead. Even on the weekend.

Bob H - 12-18-2009 at 04:11 PM

I've stayed at the San Nicholas a couple of times. A very nice hotel well within walking distance of the main drag. It's one of the hotels in Ensenada on the more luxurious side, nearer the main part of town. There are other hotels a few miles North of town on MX-1, on the ocean that are more luxurious, but not within walking distance to town.

http://www.sannicolashotel.com/

Here are some reviews...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150770-d154503-r...

Bob H

Bajahowodd - 12-18-2009 at 05:06 PM

It may mean nothing to you, as it means the same to me, but many folks would absolutely love the fact that in-house there is a Caliente Casino with over 300 slots and sports book at San Nicolas.

Woooosh - 12-18-2009 at 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arrowhead
If you've never been in Mexico before on New Year's Eve, be advised the Mexicans love to fire their guns into the air at midnight. Best to be indoors and under your bed.

:rolleyes:

My family has never been allowed to use the upper floor or roof deck on New Years Eve in Torreon- too many bullets coming back down to earth.

My TASER just makes a pop and sprays a thousand tiny bits of numeric confetti all over the place- not as much fun.

DENNIS - 12-18-2009 at 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
My TASER just makes a pop and sprays a thousand tiny bits of numeric confetti all over the place- not as much fun.

I know what you mean. I don't want to be shooting pepper spray straight up in the air either.

DENNIS - 12-18-2009 at 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

But, the last few times we were there, the town was dead. Even on the weekend.

If hotels are booked for New Years Eve, it may be the Mexican clientele. I would imagine there are some price deals available.

Udo - 12-18-2009 at 05:33 PM

This place is not within walking distance of downtown, however it is within three miles of the malecon. It' called Quintas Del Papagayo. It is somewhat a luxury place that has waterfront cabins, plus some other rooms. It's very quiet, and very inexpensive. Parking at the malecon or downtown won't be a problem. About a third of the downtown shops are closed and deals are easy to be had on almost anything. The tourists are just not there anymore.
Bajaguy is having a New Year's day (Resolution Day) party at Baja Country Club (for a small fee), and many Nomads will be attending. The club is about 6 miles below Ensenada.
The Papagayo is best that you make a reservation for the waterfront cabins, otherwise the rest of the place is generally wide open. The place is owned by Papas & Beer bar downtown.
Bajabound is right-on as far as the restaurants. Freshest seafood in the entire town. They are right next door to the famous fish market, which is a destination on it's own.