BajaNomad - Staying in Ensenada

Staying in Ensenada

tommix130 - 6-20-2011 at 05:13 AM

My wife and I take a yearly trip down to San Quintin to go fishing for a week. We usually go straight through but the wife wants to stop in Ensenada this year. We have our pickup loaded with gear for the week is there a place to stay where our stuff will be safe? I don't want to go out in the morning to find my truck empty! Thanks

Marc - 6-20-2011 at 06:44 AM

Best Western El Cid and Villa Fontana are opposite each other on the main drag. I have used both for inside parking. The Fontana parking is smaller and tight and limited if you arrive late. Note that on weekends the club next door is LOUD. The Joker is south of town and quiet but no restaurant.
El Cid

wilderone - 6-20-2011 at 07:48 AM

Get a large heavy duty cargo net and put a lock on it. or bring everything inside your room. Goes for parking on the street while you're sightseeing too.

DENNIS - 6-20-2011 at 08:22 AM

:lol:

That cargo net will be the first thing stolen. [jes kiddin']
Anyway...I would consider the San Nicolas because they have a fenced and guarded parking lot, a kick-ass bar and a casino. Walk to everything.

Due respect to Marc, but stay away from The Joker. It will be remembered as the low point of your vacation unless the odor of urine brings back memories.

http://www.sannicolashotel.com/

.

[Edited on 6-20-2011 by DENNIS]

bajabound2005 - 6-20-2011 at 10:51 AM

second the motion on San Nicolas. I stayed there with my bike on the rack on the car. In the morning, it was still there!

KASHEYDOG - 6-20-2011 at 11:33 AM

I would recommend Estero Beach Hotel. They are south of town about 7 miles on the highway to San Quintin and have a large private compound with a gated entrance and 24 hour security. Great rooms in the Maya section. A wonderful place to relax, 5 star restaurant on the grounds and a pool area that you won't want to leave once you see it. It's where I stay when we go to San Quintin. See the link below.

http://www.hotelesterobeach.com/home.html

[Edited on 6-20-11 by KASHEYDOG]

dtbushpilot - 6-20-2011 at 11:58 AM

We usually stay at El Rey Sol. It's at the end of the main drag, secure courtyard parking and pet friendly (if that matters). They have a bar and restaurant (across the street), complimentary margaritas when you get there and breakfast in the morning, walking distance to all the tourist stuff and fairly quiet. The rooms are getting a bit "dated" and have a smell of room deodorizer though.
If you don't care anything about the tourist thing I'd vote for Estero Beach.....dt

[Edited on 6-20-2011 by dtbushpilot]

tommix130 - 6-20-2011 at 12:04 PM

Thank you all for your replies! Yeah, the wife said if we didn't stop in Ensenada this year that there would be no more fishing trips. Thanks again for the information, this site is great for Baja info.

dtbushpilot - 6-20-2011 at 12:06 PM

Oh, by the way, welcome to Nomads tommix, post a trip report when you get back......dt

tommix130 - 6-20-2011 at 12:28 PM

Thanks for the welcome dt, we will probably being staying in the touristy part of Ensenada since the wife wants to cruise all the shops. If our pickup isn't full when we get to Ensenada I am sure that it will be when we leave.........or not, depending on whether the security guard is taking a siesta or not.

DENNIS - 6-20-2011 at 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
second the motion on San Nicolas. I stayed there with my bike on the rack on the car. In the morning, it was still there!

Do you think the helper wheels influenced their decision? :lol:

vandenberg - 6-20-2011 at 12:40 PM

I've stayed at the San Nicolas a few times. Recommende it to a friend, who brought a 23 ft boat down, and had promptly the electronics and a fighting chair stolen from his boat overnight. So much for security.
For secure parking I also recommend Estero Beach. Of course not the site to be for sightseeing and/or shopping.

Maybe slip the nightguard at San Nicolas a few bucks may make it safer. :biggrin:

Bajahowodd - 6-20-2011 at 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
I've stayed at the San Nicolas a few times. Recommende it to a friend, who brought a 23 ft boat down, and had promptly the electronics and a fighting chair stolen from his boat overnight. So much for security.
For secure parking I also recommend Estero Beach. Of course not the site to be for sightseeing and/or shopping.

Maybe slip the nightguard at San Nicolas a few bucks may make it safer. :biggrin:

Obviously there is no place that's completely safe. In reviewing the hotels mentioned on this thread, San Nicolas is probably the singular place that has fenced, gate gaurded parking 24/7. Of the others mentioned....

The El Cid, Villa Fontana and Rey Sol have fairly secure parking, with perhaps the El Cid being the most secure.

That said, we have always enjoyed our stay at Rey Sol, having been to the others, it's our preference in this category.

Yet, my absolute first choice in town is San Nicolas for the reasons stated by others.

As for Estero Beach, security there has always seemed a bit sketchy to me. We've stayed there a bunch of times. But, even though to get to the parking lot by the rooms, you must pass through two separate security gates, my experience has been that just about anyone can talk their way through those gates. Just saying.

But since you seem to want to be in town, I would absolutely recommend San Nicolas.

Marc - 6-20-2011 at 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
:lol:

Thanks. I never did stay there so I should not have recommended the place. Just been driving buy it for 20 years.

[Edited on 6-21-2011 by Marc]

Bajahowodd - 6-20-2011 at 06:38 PM

One of the cheapest flops in the area. But certainly not if you are traveling with the family.

But, just for the pop culture given the architecture, someone ought to stay there. :lol:

TecateRay - 6-21-2011 at 08:34 AM

Another vote for the San Nic. If you are really worried about the stuff in your open truck ask if you can park it in the "cage" in the parking lot. Fenced within the fence, kept locked and right across from the guard shack. Great rooms, good prices and good location.

Martyman - 6-21-2011 at 08:47 AM

I like the Mission Santa Isabel. Good location downtown, guarded parking. Try to bargain the price down and pay with dollars as they give crappy rate of 13 pesos/dollar!

bajadock - 6-21-2011 at 09:03 AM

Hotel Joker(pronounced HO-ker here) had a teenage mutant ninja turtle sign attendant in the middle of the street pointing to its restaurant "La Holandesa"(sic?) yesterday at noon.

Will anxiously await a Nomad trip report on either the HO-ker or the HO-landesa experience.

El Cid, Villa Fontana and San Nic' get my agreement on solid value and safe stays in downtown 'Nada.

[Edited on 6-21-2011 by bajadock]

bajabound2005 - 6-23-2011 at 06:14 AM

we've been to the holandesa on Ruiz...it's decent food and a good price. that restaurant the joker has been so many different things since we've been here, it's a joke within itself. Holandesa may be just the answer!