BajaNomad - reccomend a hotel around Catavina general area?

reccomend a hotel around Catavina general area?

wprsly - 1-10-2013 at 02:34 PM

Been checking the board for hotels and getting lots of good tips. However, and the Desert Inn is booked up for our date.

We are driving north in 2 weeks from Mulege to El Centro CA and would like to overnight approx. 1/2 way. (we have booked Jardines on the way south, but if there is an alternative that splits the difference better, we would try it).
Rosario seems to be down on people's list of overnights...but we could do BajaCactus, altho we do not like the noise (DW is a very light sleeper).

Any suggestions you BajaPros???

MMc - 1-10-2013 at 02:54 PM

Having stayed at the pink hotel, I would NOT recommend it. We used our sleeping bags on top of the bedding. Now we just drop over to Bay of LA to spend the night. If it means a slow drive after dark that's OK

rts551 - 1-10-2013 at 03:10 PM

you can stay at the old La Pinta. Nice but it is around 900 or 1000 pesos per night. discount for some cards

MMc - 1-10-2013 at 03:20 PM

When the whale tours come through you can't get a room there.

David K - 1-10-2013 at 04:11 PM

No longer called Desert Inn ... Now 'Mision Cataviña'. The pink place is called Cabanas Linda or something like that. Warning, a Nomad witnessed beds made using the same sheets, unwashed, after the previous guest left Linda.

desertcpl - 1-10-2013 at 04:29 PM

stay at El Rosario, several hotels

Dk or others can give you the names

rts551 - 1-10-2013 at 04:33 PM

Catavina has way more charm than El Rosario, but fewer choices to eat.

Hook - 1-10-2013 at 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
you can stay at the old La Pinta. Nice but it is around 900 or 1000 pesos per night. discount for some cards

Isnt the Desert Inn/Mision Catavina the same hotel as the old La Pinta? Or, are they different hotels?

Man, it's now been over 7 years since I've been thru Catavina.

DavidE - 1-10-2013 at 04:41 PM

Yep, pay a thousand pesos for a room with 35 degree temperatures in the winter and absolutely no heat. :lol:

rts551 - 1-10-2013 at 05:24 PM

I don't understand David. They had heat when I was there last year. When was the last time you were there?

willardguy - 1-10-2013 at 05:38 PM

probably the same trip he had to drop the ball hammer on that pesky policeman. :rolleyes:

shari - 1-10-2013 at 05:42 PM

another option..but has no heat either but is only 300 pesos....is the small hotel at Sta.Rosalillita beide the store there...we bring an extra blanket...it's only 10 minutes off the highway and very very quiet there...nice bed and clean and you can walk on the beach to stretch your legs...it's our new stopover hotel on our way north or south.

David K - 1-10-2013 at 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
you can stay at the old La Pinta. Nice but it is around 900 or 1000 pesos per night. discount for some cards

Isnt the Desert Inn/Mision Catavina the same hotel as the old La Pinta? Or, are they different hotels?

Man, it's now been over 7 years since I've been thru Catavina.

YES.

Opened in 1974 as an El Presidente Hotel (along with others for the new travelers to Baja after Hwy. 1 was completed, and opened on Dec. 1, 1973

Changed to a La Pinta hotel some years later (along with other El Presidentes in Baja).

Changed to Desert Inn just a few years ago (along with other La Pinta hotels in Baja).

Changed to Mision Cataviña Hotel the past year or so when it and the Desert Inn of San Quintin (now Mision Santa Maria) on Santa Maria Bay was purchased by the Rodriguez family (of Los Piños Tomato growing, and Rancho Grande at Gonzaga Bay).

David K - 1-10-2013 at 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl
stay at El Rosario, several hotels

Dk or others can give you the names

My list of known places in El Rosario:

1) Baja Cactus Motel (next to Pemex) outstanding accommodations, inexpensive, beats most other roadside motels... anywhere. A real treat to get a room here in one of the newer rooms. Some of the older 'commercial' rooms are still available for a lower price.

2) Turista Motel (far south/east end of town, near bridge) good accommodations very inexpensive, newest place.

3) Baja's Best Bed & Breakfast (across from Turista) home style comfort, a but pricier but includes breakfast.

4) Las Cabañas Motel at Mama Espinoza's (next to Baja Cactus) older motel, not as kept or clean as others, inexpensive.

5) Sinahi Motel (between Mama Espinoza's and Turista Motel) more suited to 'commercial traffic', small rooms, very inexpensive. (I have not checked it out since Primo bought it and maybe fixed it up)

MMc - 1-10-2013 at 06:17 PM

Shari, that is a great idea!!! Prefect what 20 mins down from the turn off. good road and a on the water! Thank you, we'll that for sure.

willardguy - 1-10-2013 at 06:19 PM

I've heard way more positive reviews of cabanas linda than ive heard bad. why not just carry a set of sheets and give lucy's place a shot?

David K - 1-10-2013 at 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
I've heard way more positive reviews of cabanas linda than ive heard bad. why not just carry a set of sheets and give lucy's place a shot?

With the pavement, how long before another hotel is built on Gonzaga Bay, do you think? Rodriguez has had that resort master plan inside the Rancho Grande store for a dozen years? Now that Los Piños owns the San Quintin and Cataviña hotels, how long before they build the 'Hotel Mision Gonzaga'?

willardguy - 1-10-2013 at 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
I've heard way more positive reviews of cabanas linda than ive heard bad. why not just carry a set of sheets and give lucy's place a shot?

wouldnt surprise me. alfonsinas is expanding (they booted out the folks on the spit) some kind of eco resort I hear. and there was talk of malcolm smith building a rider friendly resort there.....who knows?

Marc - 1-10-2013 at 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MMc
Having stayed at the pink hotel, I would NOT recommend it. We used our sleeping bags on top of the bedding. Now we just drop over to Bay of LA to spend the night. If it means a slow drive after dark that's OK

I sleep in my bag at every hotel / motel when driving. Actually two bags; one under one over. Also, a set of flat sheets fits in the suitcase nicely if flying. I would not expect any of those cheapo hotels to change sheets after every guest.

David K - 1-10-2013 at 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
I've heard way more positive reviews of cabanas linda than ive heard bad. why not just carry a set of sheets and give lucy's place a shot?

Interesting...
Gonzaga Bay has a special place in my heart, as it was the first place in Baja I went to for camping and fishing with my folks, via Jeep, in 1965! We camped on the beach just down from Alfonsina's little set of shacks then.

1955: Arturo Grosso first to make road to from Chapala to Gonzaga to San Felipe.

1960: Mexican government builds new road between San Felipe and Gonzaga Bay, very steep grades south of Puertecitos. Many deaths following the opening.

1974: With Hwy. 1 now paved, commercial traffic for Gonzaga no longer uses the terrible road south from Puertecitos and it is no longer maintained. By 1979, it is nearly impassable except to the best off road vehicles and drivers.

1987: Graded Dirt Highway built from Puertecitos is completed. The first time 2WD cars can easily get to Gonzaga.

Nov. 2005: Graded highway badly damaged from weather (and some say the Baja 1000), travel by passenger car no longer 'easy'.

2007-2013: Paved Super Highway built from Puertecitos

desertcpl - 1-10-2013 at 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
I've heard way more positive reviews of cabanas linda than ive heard bad. why not just carry a set of sheets and give lucy's place a shot?

I smell Time Shares,, coming soon to Gonzaga

woody with a view - 1-10-2013 at 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl

With the pavement, how long before another hotel is built on Gonzaga Bay, do you think? Rodriguez has had that resort master plan inside the Rancho Grande store for a dozen years? Now that Los Piños owns the San Quintin and Cataviña hotels, how long before they build the 'Hotel Mision Gonzaga'?

I smell Time Shares,, coming soon to Gonzaga

i know a guy who's wifes uncles family owns Pinos and was kidnapped a few years back. $$$ was paid and he was freed. they own a rather large chunk of Gonzaga.

it's the guy i put you in contact with a while back.....

vandenberg - 1-10-2013 at 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
I sleep in my bag at every hotel / motel when driving. Actually two bags; one under one over. Also, a set of flat sheets fits in the suitcase nicely if flying. I would not expect any of those cheapo hotels to change sheets after every guest.

So, now if there is any questionable stuff on the sheets/bedspread it will be on your sleeping bag, to take with you to the next destination. :?:

TMW - 1-10-2013 at 09:03 PM

The Mission Catavina hotel has the latest heating and AC in the rooms with remote control. The rooms were upgraded when the new owners (the tomato owner in San Quintin) took over. The rooms for 1 or 2 people is $95 US but a Discover Baja card gets you a 10% discount. They are really nice rooms just pricey.

Barry A. - 1-10-2013 at 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg

Quote:

So, now if there is any questionable stuff on the sheets/bedspread it will be on your sleeping bag, to take with you to the next destination. :?:

-----better it be on the outside of your bag than on the "inside" next to you. My sleeping bag has lots of strange things on the outside of it. :lol:

Barry

Marc - 1-11-2013 at 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg

Quote:

So, now if there is any questionable stuff on the sheets/bedspread it will be on your sleeping bag, to take with you to the next destination. :?:

-----better it be on the outside of your bag than on the "inside" next to you. My sleeping bag has lots of strange things on the outside of it. :lol:

Barry

DITTO

rts551 - 1-11-2013 at 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
The Mission Catavina hotel has the latest heating and AC in the rooms with remote control. The rooms were upgraded when the new owners (the tomato owner in San Quintin) took over. The rooms for 1 or 2 people is $95 US but a Discover Baja card gets you a 10% discount. They are really nice rooms just pricey.

Thanks TW. AfterDavid's post I thought I might of gotten a special room. :lol:

Last time I talked to the owners, they stated that given the distance to haul fuel for the generator, food for the restaurant, etc. that they had no choice if they were to keep up a first class place. They have a point.

wprsly - 1-11-2013 at 08:26 AM

these threads do wander, don't they?
but many thanks to all, wonderful input.

After listening, I have solved the problem (I hope!) of the noisy Baja Cactus by booking a room at Baja Best B&B....unless you tell me of problems there?

take care all. love this board and people who care so much that others have a good time...
Willy

woody with a view - 1-11-2013 at 08:39 AM

don't listen to anyone else. tell us how you did after you get back. i like the Cactus and the brakes don't bother me. every place has its +'s and -'s....

sleep tight!

Bajaboy - 1-11-2013 at 09:13 AM

A nomad once reported about incessant flies in the restaurant at Baja Best....

but I agree with Woody...things change...make the most of what you find...go check it out and report back....

rts551 - 1-11-2013 at 09:17 AM

Used to be cigarettes, pets, flies, etc in the kitchen and dining room...but maybe that has all changed. Like others have said..write a review

Martyman - 1-11-2013 at 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wprsly
these threads do wander, don't they?
but many thanks to all, wonderful input.

After listening, I have solved the problem (I hope!) of the noisy Baja Cactus by booking a room at Baja Best B&B....unless you tell me of problems there?

take care all. love this board and people who care so much that others have a good time...
Willy

Try to get them to turn off the Fox News at Baja Best

And why the blasting of the pink palace hotel in catavina? What's a few pubes between friends?

DavidE - 1-11-2013 at 01:14 PM

Yeah it's been a few years since I stayed at the La Pinta. Glad they now have heat but I wonder how reliable their generators are? A guy by the name of Stan Duke of Mariposa told me a story 26-years ago about paying $50 for a room (then) jumping in the shower, soaping up then the lights and water pressure quit when the La Pinta generator died.

I just cannot see paying DOUBLE Motel 6 (Flea Farm) room prices for a room that has 60% of the amenities of a flea farm, four dollar an hour maids*, and freezing or sweating my butt off. Paying eighty dollars to close my eyes in pitch black tiled quaintness no es mi copa de te. A clean room, with clean linens, and a gringo-grade bed plus a carry-on electric heater is the way to go IMHO.

*I'm b-tchin' about their exploitation not their service. I usually leave a 50 peso tip.

willardguy - 1-11-2013 at 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martyman

Quote:

Try to get them to turn off the Fox News at Baja Best

And why the blasting of the pink palace hotel in catavina? What's a few pubes between friends?

martyman is dead on. besides, you never know who stayed there the night before. :coolup:

Martyman - 1-11-2013 at 03:06 PM

OMG!