BajaNomad - EL CORTEZ IN ENSENADA

EL CORTEZ IN ENSENADA

BajaBlanca - 3-26-2011 at 05:43 PM

wow.... were we surprised last week when we stopped at our usual place of stay in Ensenada, only to find that the rates are a whopping $100 dollares a night ....

so we ate at BUGANBILIA which is their outstanding restaurant and then went on and found somewhere more suited to our pockets to sleep.

DENNIS - 3-26-2011 at 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
wow.... were we surprised last week when we stopped at our usual place of stay in Ensenada, only to find that the rates are a whopping $100 dollares a night ....

so we ate at BUGANBILIA which is their outstanding restaurant and then went on and found somewhere more suited to our pockets to sleep.

They want to be on the cutting edge of economic recovery. :lol:

Bajahowodd - 3-26-2011 at 06:08 PM

What? Did you haggle? It's a tradition.

That said, my favorite for many years is the San Nicolas. Great pool. Casino in the building. Secure parking. A decent restaurant, but if that doesn't float your boat, just a couple of blocks away is a good steakhouse, Broncos.

Currently, I've seen posted rates at San Nicolas in the mid- fifties.

DENNIS - 3-26-2011 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

What? Did you haggle? It's a tradition.

I have forever preferred to believe that nice hotels are far removed from this street-bickering process, being a commodity of need directly sought by the buyer. It's almost an insult to request an item, then chisle at the price.
Do we do that at Safeway?

fishabductor - 3-26-2011 at 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

What? Did you haggle? It's a tradition.

Thats my feeling too, however if I pull into an empty hotel, I have bickered a little and gotten a cheaper rate.

On the drive south we stayed at the Day's Inn in oceanside, ca. It cost me $100, but it was the nicest hotel room I have ever been in, nicer than the $300/night room i stayed in once in seattle during a company party. Granite counter tops throughout and a 52" new flatscreen and 2 new clean queen beds, the reason it cost $100 rather than 80.

[Edited on 3-27-2011 by fishabductor]

DENNIS - 3-26-2011 at 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by soulpatch
God, does that make me a cheap bastard?

No, Frank. Not at all.
There are, however, unwritten rules of respectability for negotiating tariffs in flophouses as opposed to discussing price in commodius lodging.

:lol:

Jes jokin' wija. :lol:

fishabductor - 3-26-2011 at 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by soulpatch

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

On the drive south we stayed at the Day's Inn in oceanside, ca. It cost me $100, but it was the nicest hotel room I have ever been in, nicer than the $300/night room i stayed in once in seattle during a company party. Granite counter tops throughout and a 52" new flatscreen and 2 new clean queen beds, the reason it cost $100 rather than 80.

The next night I stayed in El morro, santa rosillia. it only cost $40, but the room was filthy. I have stayed there over a dozen times and it is definately going down hill. We'll be looking for a new place next time around, any suggestions around that area?

Man, O'side to Santa Rosallia....that's crankin' out a drive.
Gonna check with my buddy, he stayed in Santa Rosallia about 2 months ago at a place he said was clean and inexpensive.

Thats my normal drive, I usually leave o'side at 7am and make santa rosallia around 6-7pm.

first time I came to baja we drove from Seattle to los cabos straight w/o stopping. 45hrs straight!!!!

DENNIS - 3-26-2011 at 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
first time I came to baja we drove from Seattle to los cabos straight w/o stopping. 45hrs straight!!!!

A few more of those "Chicago Turn-Arounds" and you could have made the return trip without blinking. :lol:

fishabductor - 3-26-2011 at 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
first time I came to baja we drove from Seattle to los cabos straight w/o stopping. 45hrs straight!!!!

A few more of those "Chicago Turn-Arounds" and you could have made the return trip without blinking. :lol:

we had 2 drivers and we took turns driving/sleeping. we would have made 40hrs but we lost a transfer case in fresno and it took 5hrs to find one at a junk yard and get a mechanic to install it. I never want to make another drive like that again.

fishabductor - 3-26-2011 at 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by soulpatch
Ouch! I used to hit it pretty hard but all those topes really slow me down. Takes me 10+hours to hit our place in LA Bay now when I'd done it in the past in 8 hours.....
Maybe that's the difference between 38 and 48.....wow, did I just admit that to myself?
Still waiting for a call back from my friend on that place.

This last trip I drove down a 2001 prerunner f150 that I just bought to replace the dodge 2500 I just sold. The f150 is a 2wd with a 7.5" long travel lift, it has 14 inches of travel on the front end with 2.5" wider upper/lower A-arms per side, for a 5" wider front end. Those topes where not so intimidating this time around. :lol:

dennis... I forgot to ask what a chicago-turn-around is?

[Edited on 3-27-2011 by fishabductor]

DENNIS - 3-27-2011 at 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
dennis... I forgot to ask what a chicago-turn-around is?

Dope...of some kind. Truckers used to [maybe still do] take the stuff when leaving the West Coast, drive to Chicago and return before the effects would wear off.
So they say, anyway.

fishabductor - 3-27-2011 at 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
dennis... I forgot to ask what a chicago-turn-around is?

Dope...of some kind. Truckers used to [maybe still do] take the stuff when leaving the West Coast, drive to Chicago and return before the effects would wear off.
So they say, anyway.

awe...mini-thins, ephedefrine was the main ingredent. They sold them at all the gas stations in MT. It is the main ingredent in meth. I knew people who took them, I did one night to study for an exam and I was bouncing off the walls.

I am amped when sober, so speed is the last thing I need or want.

I can't even drink coffee in the afternoon for fear of not sleeping.

Bob H - 3-27-2011 at 01:48 PM

There is a much better deal staying at the El Cortez in Las Vegas, on Freemont Street! One of the greatest dives I've ever stayed, and $2 craps with 10-times odds!

When playing craps, leave a big tip when you order your first drink and the others will be well worth it!!

http://www.elcortezhotelcasino.com/index.php

Oh, and penny slot machines! :lol:

Bajahowodd - 3-27-2011 at 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
dennis... I forgot to ask what a chicago-turn-around is?

Dope...of some kind. Truckers used to [maybe still do] take the stuff when leaving the West Coast, drive to Chicago and return before the effects would wear off.
So they say, anyway.

So, that's where the term, "Get your kicks on Route 66 eminated from?"

btw- any idea just how many "rates" hotels have? Sure, if you're going to the Four Seasons, that's one thing. But by and large, there are several rates available at just about any hotel, and one is foolish to not at least inquire. Last time I stayed at the San Nicolas, I ultimately saved $30 off the rate quoted to me when I walked in. I got the so-called business rate.

That said, I do have my limits. I mentioned on another thread that if Antonio's rack rate at Baja Cactus is $35, I would be embarrassed to haggle on that price.

BajaBlanca - 3-27-2011 at 10:08 PM

there are some really nice cabanas called CABANAS (so I was told) for $65 in santa rosalia (double occupancy) ... and the owner is a really nice lady called Wendy (so I have been told).

Bajatripper - 3-27-2011 at 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

What? Did you haggle? It's a tradition.

You're right, unless you take the "dickering" to the Internet and such sites as Priceline.com. My sister and her family get some pretty nice rooms for (relatively) cheap when they submit a bid. Even nice places have empty rooms they want to fill, they just don't want to do it in the open. I've seen a similar site advertizing on Mexican television lately, but have no idea if the service is comparable.

I, on the other hand, can only afford flea-bag places, and they don't bother with the Internet.

Bajatripper - 3-27-2011 at 10:33 PM

When I feel like pampering myself in Santa Rosalia (boy, you guys spelling it with the "ll" are really pushing it--David K will be reporting in for an arshchewing at any moment!), I like to stay at the historic Hotel Frances up on the North Mesa. I had the "fortune" to know the place back in the '60s, when it was a crap-hole with a common bath at the end of the corridor, so I can really appreciate all of the effort that went into making the place respectable. At least, nice by my standards, which, as I have said, aren't very high.

Their website says it's a national historic monument, if that means anything to anyone

http://www.baja-web.com/sta-rosalia/frances.htm

Martyman - 3-28-2011 at 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H
There is a much better deal staying at the El Cortez in Las Vegas, on Freemont Street! One of the greatest dives I've ever stayed, and $2 craps with 10-times odds!

When playing craps, leave a big tip when you order your first drink and the others will be well worth it!!

http://www.elcortezhotelcasino.com/index.php

Oh, and penny slot machines! :lol:

Too bad the Caliente casinos don't have craps. Work three numbers at all times.

Bob H - 3-28-2011 at 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martyman

Quote:

Too bad the Caliente casinos don't have craps. Work three numbers at all times.

Which three numbers? The Six and the Eight and which other number?