BajaNomad

BOLA - Accomodations

Jaybo - 2-7-2013 at 03:06 PM

OK I know I said I had BOLA figured out, but the other thread was for dog friendly which would be fine but perhaps it left out a better place that didn't do dogs? It looks like it will just be a one night thing as we need to be in GN the next day.

Thoughts?

Ateo - 2-7-2013 at 03:11 PM

In my opinion there are no better hotels in BOLA than were mentioned in the other thread. There is nothing better than basic to very average in BOLA.

David K - 2-7-2013 at 03:22 PM

Without looking for the dog thread, my vote is the Costa del Sol if it is just a place to sleep (and eat)... if you get one of the original rooms. It is on the main highway going through town, on the right.

On the paved road going north to La Gringa from the sail boat monument:
Daggett's has rooms, popular.
Villa Bahia is well liked.
Raquel & Larry's Motel and restaurant was a favorite for many years.
Los Vientos Baja Resort, further north, was a 'luxury' hotel, but not sure if it is even open now or changed?

Back in town:
Guillermo's on the beach
Las Hamacas on the paved road near Costa del Sol
Villa Vita also on the paved road in town
Casa Diaz, where the paved road makes a sharp right turn in town (this is the original place to stay from the late 1940's when 90% arrived by plane and there was no town here!

Some other motels also, see them all here: http://bahiadelosangeles.info/accomodations.htm



[Edited on 2-7-2013 by David K]

chuckie - 2-7-2013 at 05:17 PM

HEY! Stop planning it to to death and explore,Baja aint a guided tour....Enjoy it

David K - 2-7-2013 at 05:27 PM

Right... everything works out in Baja!

woody with a view - 2-7-2013 at 05:34 PM

pretty far outta your way for a pillow. ask at the truck stop in Rosarito next to the restraunt.

Jaybo - 2-7-2013 at 09:45 PM

OK, Now I need to find out exactly which place to stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. KIDDING! I know, I am planning it to death. I'd just rather have the info BEFORE I go, so once I get there I may know of a place to NOT go, and what's going to be ok, know what I mean? :)

Woody, you do touch on it being a bit out of the way - I have wondered about that as well, it was just one of those, well if we are going down it is one of those talked about places that would be cool to see and since I am driving by the turnoff... Are you suggesting it isn't that great for just an overnight?

David K - 2-7-2013 at 10:00 PM

It is a great 40 mile side highway through some of the best boojum forests in Baja with an awesome view of the islands. Once there the museum is interesting and the tacos are great but unless you are into fishing, not much else to do. Now a trip out through Mission San Borja with a swing by the Montevideo pinturas rock art and pop out at Rosarito on Hwy. 1 would be fulfilling!

What you see driving in:





What is in that water:


Ken Bondy photo of a Blue Whale in L.A. Bay.

The beach in town, at Guillermos:


Near La Gringa with Smith Volcano on Isla Coronado:


Montevideo painted cliff, you can drive to, Just 2 miles on the San Borja road, off the L.A. Bay highway, take road left ~6 miles throught great desert vegetation in there.











As distant from Spain then, as mars is to earth today! Founded in 1762, with construction going to 1801... adobe then stone cut from the surrounding mesas. San Borja would be the furthest north stone mission built on the peninsula.











21 miles in from either highway, makes a great loop or shortcut to take in so much beauty and history! Unless it rains, an easy 2WD trip in an SUV, truck, or van.






[Edited on 2-8-2013 by David K]

[Edited on 2-8-2013 by David K]

Jaybo - 2-8-2013 at 08:21 AM

How long to drive that 40 mile "detour"?

larryC - 2-8-2013 at 08:30 AM

Depends on how fast you go. I usually make it in under an hour.
Larry

shari - 2-8-2013 at 09:07 AM

since this is an exploratory trip, BOLA is a cool spot to see...that view when you get to the ocean from up top is breathtaking...and dinner at Las Hamacas is lovely...you can stay there too so you are central, get up early, have a nice breakfast there...then you are close enough to make it to GN for our afternoon trip for some whale smooching if it's a nice day.

Yes, it's a bit of a detour....but sure is a pretty one....see you soon amigos!

Jaybo - 2-8-2013 at 09:16 AM

Thanks Shari!

David K - 2-8-2013 at 11:27 AM

Well, figure 2 hours driving and 2 hours seeing (the rock art and the mission).

KurtG - 2-9-2013 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Without looking for the dog thread, my vote is the Costa del Sol if it is just a place to sleep (and eat)... if you get one of the original rooms. It is on the main highway going through town, on the right.

On the paved road going north to La Gringa from the sail boat monument:
Daggett's has rooms, popular.
Villa Bahia is well liked.
Raquel & Larry's Motel and restaurant was a favorite for many years.
Los Vientos Baja Resort, further north, was a 'luxury' hotel, but not sure if it is even open now or changed?

Back in town:
Guillermo's on the beach
Las Hamacas on the paved road near Costa del Sol
Villa Vita also on the paved road in town
Casa Diaz, where the paved road makes a sharp right turn in town (this is the original place to stay from the late 1940's when 90% arrived by plane and there was no town here!

Some other motels also, see them all here: http://bahiadelosangeles.info/accomodations.htm



[Edited on 2-7-2013 by David K]


It would be helpful to quote the rates on these various places. On the link above I only found one place that listed their rates. In general I have found BOLA room rates higher than other areas.

woody with a view - 2-9-2013 at 10:37 AM

rooms seem to be around $60-80.night for a decent bed.

to me there is no reason you can't make the drive another 2.5ish hours to GN! BOLA is an awesome place but you need some time to enjoy it. do what feels right.....

MMc - 2-9-2013 at 11:20 AM

BAY of L A is a great place! I spent 1 night there with my brother in-law. Got to town about 3:00 in the afternoon and left about 10:00 the following morning. He still raves about the place, wants to winter there.
Jaybo really doesn't a need to go there with all the photo's. Kinda like rock art.:lol::lol::lol:

David K - 2-9-2013 at 12:22 PM

Kurt, the last two times we stayed at a motel there, they were in the $60-$70 range: 2006 at Las Hamacas (Dibble shower, would be a $25 room anywhere else) and 2009 at Costa del Sol (new building, worse mattress in Baja).

The price is based on three things: Location, location, and location!

Baja Cactus is a $100 quality room motel but, only in the $35-$45 range... location, location, location!

TMW - 2-9-2013 at 12:48 PM

We stayed at the Costa del Sol over New Years and it was $65 cash no credit cards.

KurtG - 2-9-2013 at 02:15 PM

I enquired about rates since it seems to me that prices have risen quite a bit more in BOLA than other areas. If customers are willing to pay then I am happy for the hotel operators. Unfortunately my travels are somewhat budget limited so I look for good value. I like the location of the old Casa Diaz rooms near the water and last time I stayed there it was $20.00 but that was about 7 years ago. I also miss being able to camp at Camp Gecko, that place suited me perfectly.

tripledigitken - 2-9-2013 at 02:54 PM

To see that view of the islands after you crest that hill, is worth the detour to go to BOLA.

shari - 2-9-2013 at 03:53 PM

Kurt & I are on the same page....we always stay at Casa Diaz...right on the beach...very baja rustic but only 300 or 350 pesos...good bed...killer view! big room....but very rustic.

David K - 2-9-2013 at 04:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
Kurt & I are on the same page....we always stay at Casa Diaz...right on the beach...very baja rustic but only 300 or 350 pesos...good bed...killer view! big room....but very rustic.


From Larry Hahn's Baja Dreams Flying page ( http://www.bajadreams.com/flybaja.htm ):

This was my first trip to Baja. We went as far as Los Angles Bay. There were no
Wac charts at the tine. All we had was a AAA road map showing the Islands of Baja to see
how far down the Peninsula we had traveled. We stayed with Papa Dias little hotel
for $5.00 dollars per day, 3 meals and a cot. The fishing was super...



Papa Dias Hotel at Los Angles Bay-----5.00 dollars per day per room and board what a deal! Among other things, they used to serve turtle tacos. Dr. Coleman, a dentist from Banning, flew here often in his bright yellow Cessna with supplies and candy to work on the children's teeth.
===============================================

More photos on his page.

My first time to Casa Diaz was in 1967, and planes still could taxi up and park by the rooms. The Diaz runway was closed in the 1980's.