BajaNomad

Dunas Motel in GN...pretty darn good!

shari - 5-27-2011 at 04:59 PM

Many years ago I stayed at the Dunas cause it was only 150 pesos and well...it wasnt worth more than that and really pretty crappy...never went back. Somebody here said it was pretty good so I decided to check it out and asked to see a room first.

I was so surprised...all the rooms have been completely re-done and have nice beds, clean rooms, not bad pillows even and nice smelling bedding, tv. and excellent WIFI....all for 250 pesos!!!!!!



I'll be staying there again for sure...the rooms upstairs at the end were pretty quiet and you can park outside your door and the parking lot is huge for boats and stuff.
The big supermarket is next door where you can do a beer and munchies run right quick too.

Bajahowodd - 5-27-2011 at 05:50 PM

Thanks for the post, Shari. Seems to me that competition is what's helping to upgrade the properties.

Face it, it wasn't all that many years ago that Raul built Caracoles. That not only sparked other development such as Cowboy, but caused others such as Don Gus to upgrade.

No doubt that the choice of lodging in GN is much better than it was 5-6 years ago.

Somewhat sad that aside from the salt works, the town is really dependent on the seasonality of the whales. But, I imagine that throughout the world, there are tourist destinations that are totally seaon-dependent.

shari - 5-27-2011 at 06:05 PM

Alot more goes on in GN than people realize....because it is central...many travelling salespeople stay there year round as well as tourists and folks from neighbouring cities and villages go there for business and shopping as well.

KurtG - 5-27-2011 at 07:40 PM

I've been staying there since the days when it cost $7-8.00/night. The only problem used to be the generator that ran all night for the market but it is long gone. Stayed there twice last month, good motorcycle parking on the concrete slab under the clothes lines and as you said, the upstairs rooms are quiet. Also very nice people running the place. Clean and always lots of hot water.
Kurt

Ken Bondy - 5-27-2011 at 08:13 PM

We stayed at Dunas in March of 1986 on a Baja Bush Pilots whalewatch trip, thought it was pretty horrible, bad enough to remember after 25 years :). We cut the trip short and headed over to Loreto for a few days. Glad to hear it has improved.

[Edited on 5-28-2011 by Ken Bondy]

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 5-29-2011 at 12:54 PM

Hola Shari,

i thank you for your recomendation.

although i have been to guerrero negro many times over the years on my way south to los barriles, i am not very familiar with the town itself. i realize there is the main drag through town to the old pemex.

what is the location of Dunas Motel and would you have contact information ?

i thank you again in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Lauriboats - 5-29-2011 at 03:24 PM

Thanks for the post, we are always looking for decent accomodations.

shari - 5-30-2011 at 01:43 PM

La Dunas is in the middle of town on the right side going into GN ...look for the big supermarket Tianguis that used to be called La Ballena...the only bib market in GN and the entrance to the hotel is right in the market parking lot...look for the mural I posted here.

here is a website I found for the Dunas Motel...dont think you need a reservation and the night watchman is on duty all night too if ya get there late....615-157-0650 s the phone #.
http://www.dunasmotel.com.mx/

David K - 5-31-2011 at 11:45 AM

We stayed at the Dunas Motel in 1973, before Hwy. 1 was finished... and it was the only motel on the road into town, back then. No negative memories... but I was only 15!

Bajahowodd - 5-31-2011 at 03:55 PM

Reviewing their web site, it's obvious that they have upgraded the property.

That said, the rooms still are quite spare-looking.

However, if they are clean, lacking mold and mildew, so common in a climate such as GN, given the price, it sounds like a good value and a good choice.

Not to mention, that I assume they are also the owners of the market, It's a very short walk to buy "the essentials".:spingrin:

DianaT - 5-31-2011 at 04:09 PM

At the bottom of the reservation page, under Políticas del Hotel is the following:

Política de Mascotas: Disculpe, no se aceptan mascotas.

Dang---looked like another possibility when we are in GN.

shari - 5-31-2011 at 04:42 PM

I actually liked the sparseness...more room for your stuff...the bedstand and night stands are just concrete so easily cleaned...no dust...very clean room and smelled nice instead of pinosol-y. the closet had a place to put your suitcase and there is a big mirror in the room with a shelf for putting stuff on...the wifi was great too.
Ya never know about doggies till ya ask...most places will say no pets to try to keep the number down but many will take them or in certain rooms.
And the market is fantastic and even has a little food court and often a taco carne asada going on at the front door outside.

Bajahowodd - 5-31-2011 at 04:46 PM

:lol::lol:

Lo Siento. Just seems to me that the hoteliers in Baja have learned as far as their guests are concerned.

A total guess here, but given that the whale season is the bread and butter of this town, it just might be that these owners are courting the blue haired tourist crowd.

There have been a huge number of posts pro and con about pets, I have to go with the side that protects those who have real allergies.

As someone who fell prey to a mold-induced disease in Cabo last year, I can only say that had I not had a rescue inhaler at that time, I would not be posting here today. Thought I was gonna die.

I have absolutely no rancor toward pet owners. I believe we should be able to co-exist. The best solution is similar to what happened in US-based hotels, whereupon they created smoke-free rooms or smoke-free floors.

I only hope that Mexican hoteliers have the integrity to actually provide rooms that are pet-free, as well as rooms that are pet friendly.

Just wanted to make the point that there are many among us who just cannot tolerate the dander and hair of our most favorite pets.

Marc - 6-1-2011 at 06:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
At the bottom of the reservation page, under Políticas del Hotel is the following:

Política de Mascotas: Disculpe, no se aceptan mascotas.

Dang---looked like another possibility when we are in GN.


It's getting harder to find motels that don't accept pets!

Skipjack Joe - 6-1-2011 at 06:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari

And the market is fantastic and even has a little food court and often a taco carne asada going on at the front door outside.


That has to be the best supermercado between Loreto and Ensenada.

..................

We've been staying at Dunas for years now. Never found fault with it and posted several times on nomads how much we liked it. It was recommended by a local.

vgabndo - 6-1-2011 at 10:20 PM

We have always been partial to the salsa casera at the old Ballena which they repackage in plastic drinking cups, sometimes with plastic wrap for tops. We make a habit of arriving with an empty one quart salsa container ready for the next part of the trip. It is also a great place at mid-peninsula to pick up a whole frozen chicken before accessing the more remote parts. They also have smoked pork chops which they'll slice to your specification. Oh, and most importantly, to my co-pilota, the only spray can whipped cream for m i l e s.

Smells like a Mexican market should too.

EdZeranski - 6-6-2011 at 07:12 AM

but caused others such as Don Gus to upgrade.

No doubt that the choice of lodging in GN is much better than it was 5-6 years ago.

Yep, quite a bit better. We've staying at Don Gus for years, cvlean but simple and they remember us. We will be back at Don Gus on Wednesday.

EdZ KG6UTS

KurtG - 6-6-2011 at 08:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vgabndo
We have always been partial to the salsa casera at the old Ballena which they repackage in plastic drinking cups, sometimes with plastic wrap for tops. We make a habit of arriving with an empty one quart salsa container ready for the next part of the trip. It is also a great place at mid-peninsula to pick up a whole frozen chicken before accessing the more remote parts. They also have smoked pork chops which they'll slice to your specification. Oh, and most importantly, to my co-pilota, the only spray can whipped cream for m i l e s.

Smells like a Mexican market should too.


25-30 years ago I used to buy machaca de abulon at that market. Great in my breakfast scrambled eggs while camping. Never saw it anywhere else in baja.

DaliDali - 6-6-2011 at 03:54 PM

For those so inclined......there is a bar directly across the road that has, from time to time, company to "chat" with.;D

Bajahowodd - 6-6-2011 at 04:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EdZeranski
but caused others such as Don Gus to upgrade.

No doubt that the choice of lodging in GN is much better than it was 5-6 years ago.

Yep, quite a bit better. We've staying at Don Gus for years, cvlean but simple and they remember us. We will be back at Don Gus on Wednesday.

EdZ KG6UTS


If memory serves me, about ten years ago, we stayed at Don Gus (and I know they have since upgraded), and found a hard core porn channel on the TV in our room.

No big deal as the screen was only about twelve inches as I recall.

:lol::lol:

Skipjack Joe - 6-7-2011 at 07:01 AM

It's still there. They told us (Alex was 14) to avoid it.

güero - 6-7-2011 at 08:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DaliDali
For those so inclined......there is a bar directly across the road that has, from time to time, company to "chat" with.;D



Welcome Dali,
Refreshing to see that your first post is of personal experience rather than a question. I like that!

Jack Swords - 6-7-2011 at 09:53 AM

We've been staying at Don Gus twice a year for the past 15 years. We have never encountered a porno channel on the room TV. We have stayed at Don Vicente a couple of times and they do indeed have one porno channel on their in-room TV. Don Gus is owned by a very classy lady, a widow, who would probably avoid that form of entertainment. Don Gus has an outstanding restaurant with seasonal decorations provided by the owner. Good strong Margaritas, dinner, and a short walk to your room.

Skipjack Joe - 6-7-2011 at 04:21 PM

I meant we were told to avoid the channel, not the motel. At the front office they gave us the keys with the warning.

It was awkward (sp?) to dial clockwise to 34 and then dial counterclockwise past 0 to 36.

I don't remember which Don it was. The one on the right before you get to the supermercado. All cement. No vegetation.

The only Don I remember well is Don Diego, brother of San.