BajaNomad

Late night arrival San Jose Cabo airport- safe drive?

baja99 - 5-29-2014 at 08:55 AM

Picking up a couple people from the Cabo airport at 11pm. Two options- I can stay in a hotel close to the airport or drive into town...close to midnight. Normally, we don't drive at night in Baja. I'd rather stay at a hotel in town- more to choose from. BUT, if the drive isn't safe at that time of night, the airport hotel will have to do. We've never been to this airport, or the surrounding area. Thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

weebray - 5-29-2014 at 09:12 AM

That area is as safe or safer than any metro area in the states. Don't be in a hurry, traffic will be very aggressive so pre plan your route. I like to use Google Earth and street view to plan my route in a new area.

apple - 5-29-2014 at 09:31 AM

Drive into what town? I wouldn't worry about driving around Cabo late at night at all. Unless it is a weekend, I doubt there will be much traffic.
Even heading up to La Paz that late on the new highway shouldn't be too bad.

baja99 - 5-29-2014 at 11:37 AM

Apple-
San Jose de Cabo. We'll head out North the next day!

apple - 5-29-2014 at 12:10 PM

Oh yeah, the airport is just north of town, so you'll be very close to whatever hotel you're going to. Don't sweat the drive and enjoy the trip!

baja99 - 5-29-2014 at 12:38 PM

Thanks for the help!

tiotomasbcs - 5-29-2014 at 01:11 PM

Which Hotel? The only place I have ever stayed is The Tropicana, downtown. Nice rooms and restaurant. Any opinions or choices? Oh yea. Take the toll road into San Jose--google it or check out a map. Tio

[Edited on 5-29-2014 by tiotomasbcs]

Udo - 5-29-2014 at 01:32 PM

Just another opinion, Baja99...

If you are driving away from the airport, night driving to La Paz via the new highway, is about a 1.5 hour drive.
You would generally drive toward Cabo San Lucas-Todos Santos-La Paz.
If you do decide to go that direction, the least expensive and very secure hotel (about 25 minutes from the airport) is downtown Cabo.
The hotel is called MAR DE CORTEZ.
http://www.mardecortez.com
There are lots of tourist maps all over the airport, car rental agencies, etc. that show the way to La Paz.
The Mar De Cortez is one of the original old hotels before the megaresorts were built. Very historic, great restaurant, large clean rooms.The hotel is steps away from Cabo Wabo Cantina (across the street).

Gaucho - 5-29-2014 at 03:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja99
Picking up a couple people from the Cabo airport at 11pm. Two options- I can stay in a hotel close to the airport or drive into town...close to midnight. Normally, we don't drive at night in Baja. I'd rather stay at a hotel in town- more to choose from. BUT, if the drive isn't safe at that time of night, the airport hotel will have to do. We've never been to this airport, or the surrounding area. Thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!



What is your ultimate destination? Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo or La Paz?

baja99 - 5-29-2014 at 04:27 PM

Udo, I will look at that hotel.
Gaucho, we are doing a road trip from the Cabo airport up the Sea of Cortez side. Well, my husband and I are driving both ways, but we are flying our older children into Cabo, so they will only drive one way. They would like to do a day in Cabo San Lucas. I had intended to pick them up at the airport and head North...Cabo is not on my list. I'd rather save my days for less commercial areas...but you never know, I may give in to 1 day! Since the flight is getting in so late, I thought San Jose del Cabo might be best for an overnight, then head North the next day.

micah202 - 5-29-2014 at 04:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja99
Cabo is not on my list. I'd rather save my days for less commercial areas...but you never know, I may give in to 1 day!


...ohh,,don't bother giving in to 'stupid'....Cabo's got some good stuff I guess,,but it'd take longer than a day to find it.....Cabo's pretty much a chunk of LA,,dropped at the bottom of baja :barf::barf::barf:


.

[Edited on 5-29-2014 by micah202]

baja99 - 5-29-2014 at 04:57 PM

Maybe I'll just tell the kids, " I can't give in to stupid!" I like that.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 5-29-2014 at 04:57 PM

Hola baja99,

i guess things have changed but a few years ago, a good friend and expat told me that planes do not fly after dark in mexico so your arrival time seems to be a bit strange ?

it sounds like a good idea to find a hotel close to the airport, possibly san jose del cabo as driving in the dark hours is not advised.

once, going home to los barriles around 8 pm from santiago, lots of oncoming traffic with some having their high beams on, i almost rear ended a slow driving mexican car with NO lights at all, none ! lesson learned, AGAIN !

enjoy your trip safely,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Bajahowodd - 5-29-2014 at 05:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola baja99,

i guess things have changed but a few years ago, a good friend and expat told me that planes do not fly after dark in mexico so your arrival time seems to be a bit strange ?

it sounds like a good idea to find a hotel close to the airport, possibly san jose del cabo as driving in the dark hours is not advised.

once, going home to los barriles around 8 pm from santiago, lots of oncoming traffic with some having their high beams on, i almost rear ended a slow driving mexican car with NO lights at all, none ! lesson learned, AGAIN !

enjoy your trip safely,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


That was true about SJD until several years ago.

Bajahowodd - 5-29-2014 at 05:03 PM

Tropicana is a fine place to stay and go firth from. Excellent rooms. Great restaurant. And the toll road is absolutely the way to connect to the airport simply because the old free road has tons of traffic lights. That said, we have never encountered anything in that whole area that would make us feel unsafe.

micah202 - 5-29-2014 at 05:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by baja99
Maybe I'll just tell the kids, " I can't give in to stupid!" I like that.


...in my books at least,,a night in Cabo rates about as high as a night in Tijuana.......I avoided even stopping in TJ for years,,finally gave in to visit an associate,,had my van stolen within 2 hours :(

...I should say,,,,there's lots more of interest in San Jose del Cabo at least,,just wayy too many commercial interests of the -lowest- denominator in Cabo itself....you could play dumb and take the kids to del Cabo,,,,they likely wouldn't know the difference and would have a great time,,,,there's craft shopping there like nowhere else in Baja,,,,good eating,,bars,,,etc


edit oops,,meant San Jose del Cabo




[Edited on 5-30-2014 by micah202]

El Jefe - 5-29-2014 at 05:15 PM

Here is what I would do, and I live here near San Jose del Cabo. Stay at the Tropicana as suggested above. It is a nice boutique hotel in beautiful San Jose. Close to the town square. A nice way to start your trip. Take a walk around downtown San Jose in the morning, get breakfast at the French Bakery on the "up street" (ask around) and then head north. You and your kids will love it. I promise.

Before the kids arrive you can check in and do your own walk around, see some galleries, get a meal etc. This is the real town down here, not the tourist creation that Cabo has become. And Cabo is just fine for the party atmosphere if that is what one is looking for.

There is a toll road to and from the airport that enters San Jose right at the Mega Supermarket roundabout. Makes it an easy and safe 15 minute drive to the airport. Since you are arriving before the kids you can have it all sussed out ahead of time.

Driving around town and on the toll road after dark is perfectly safe, as is the four lane road from San Jose via Cabo to La Paz. The old two lane hwy 1 going directly north out of San Jose to La Paz is another story once you leave the town. Typical baja highway I would not drive at night.

windgrrl - 5-29-2014 at 05:47 PM

Toll road, Tropicana, Riviera bakery (chic new decor) and an afternoon stroll through the streets around the town square...my kind of day in town! Lots of shops and places to explore. I'd skip Cabo any day for SJD. If your crew is looking for some thing flashier, the hotel Cabo Azul and mall across the street also make for an few hours of lux diversion.

Bajahowodd - 5-30-2014 at 04:54 PM

Inasmuch as we have been going to Cabo since the mid-eighties, we stayed at Tropicana way back then. There has been an ownership change, and a major upgrade. However, everything that has happened to the property since the change of ownership has been really good, except maybe for the increased prices.

Perhaps there is still nothing to match the street scene at their out front seating.

The molcateje in their restaurant is to die for. And, interestingly, last time we were there, our waitress was the same wonderful, beautiful lady that served us in the mid-eighties. Kudos to the owners for retaining the staff.

durrelllrobert - 5-30-2014 at 05:07 PM

Last year when we down there we also stayed at the Tropicana and we only drove into Cabo once and that was because my wife's Canadian relatives wanted to go whale watching. We were on the EXPENSIVE boat for 3 hours and only saw one whale. When we got back to the dock they wanted to shop so I said I'd wait in the EXPENSIVE bar and grille. Everything on/near the dock is EXPENSIVE and when they came by the bar/grill to tell me they were ready to go to the car they had spent over $500 on EXPENSIVE trinkets and one photo.

baja99 - 5-30-2014 at 07:01 PM

I think we will be skipping Cabo San Lucas, it's sounding just as I'd imagined! We only have 10 days to get back to the border....and I can think of sooo many other things to do/ places to explore! The Tropicana is a great suggestion, loving the pics!

Bajahowodd - 5-31-2014 at 04:46 PM

However, in my case, I can never go that far and not drive down to the end of Mex 1. Although you don't have to stay there, you really ought to check it out.

Bajahowodd - 5-31-2014 at 04:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Last year when we down there we also stayed at the Tropicana and we only drove into Cabo once and that was because my wife's Canadian relatives wanted to go whale watching. We were on the EXPENSIVE boat for 3 hours and only saw one whale. When we got back to the dock they wanted to shop so I said I'd wait in the EXPENSIVE bar and grille. Everything on/near the dock is EXPENSIVE and when they came by the bar/grill to tell me they were ready to go to the car they had spent over $500 on EXPENSIVE trinkets and one photo.


I'm going to guess that the dock to which you are referring was on the West side of the marina where the newer cruise ship dock was built. Over on the other side outside the Wyndham hotel is there are a number of VERY affordable restaurants and bars. Brian Solomon's namesake Solomon's Landing is there and I cannot imagine anyone calling it overpriced.