BajaNomad - ANTONIO BAJA CACTUS IMPORTANTE!!

ANTONIO BAJA CACTUS IMPORTANTE!!

Capt. George - 1-3-2005 at 04:24 PM

Yesterday at check in, the senora at the desk (eavy set) about 2 PM, requested I.D. I gave her my passport, Deborah and Daniel were there, said she needed time to copy info and would get it back to me.
Very tired, went to dinner, came back and went to sleep....Got up at 6AM thios morning, got to the border and realized I had left my passport at your office. Please contact the motel ASAP and have them hold my passport safely until I return either on Jueves or viernes...I'll take it for granted that you will take care of this problem for me...No phone # for me to call. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable...no need for us to look elsewhere! Thanks...Capt. George

hello

Capt. George - 1-3-2005 at 05:02 PM

Antonio

surfer jim - 1-3-2005 at 05:31 PM

Saw that passport for sale on E-bay for $100...... :lol:

BajaCactus #

LaTijereta - 1-3-2005 at 07:16 PM

01152-(616)165-1800

Their website has all the phone numbers...

Mexray - 1-3-2005 at 07:28 PM

go here: http://www.bajacactus.com

Also...here's the GPS waypoint I have for the El Rosario PEMEX station...

30-03.602N
115-43.477W

Now you can put it in your GPS unit and tell how soon you'll arrive...

:yes:

[Edited on 4-1-2005 by Mexray]

So glad I could add to the confusion!

Mexray - 1-3-2005 at 09:02 PM

Just thought the numbers on his website would be the right ones...can varify in three weeks when we stop by....

David K - 1-4-2005 at 01:48 AM

Mexray, I have the GPS of the motel (in front of the lobby) at http://vivabaja.com/1104 (first page).

Hose A (and others) both emails go to Antonio: motel and info @bajacactus.com. The phone number is to the motel office in El Rosario.

Everyone, Antonio lives in Tijuana where he has other businesses and a very pregnant wife (Lorenia)... His family is from El Rosario and he is now running the businesses there (Pemex and motel) and has been making fantastic improvements to both operations. He drives about once a week (220 miles one way) to attend to matters. I have seen him in action and it is very professional. The problem is training the locals to work like those in high class city hotels... it will take time.

No worries...!!!

BajaCactus - 1-4-2005 at 05:06 PM

Capt. George...

Do not worry George.... we always store all those documents in very secure files....

I apologize for that misunderstanding.... we have new staff and they are still learning... normally we asked everyone checking in to lend us an ID, we hold it for the night and our staff is suposse to return it on the morning...

You see, we are doing our best effort to assure that everyone feels completely secure while staying with us, spending their time only with honorable, trustworthy, peaceful and respectful people, just like everyone deserves.

This is why, at registration, as a system, my staff asks everyone to lend us a valid photo ID, which will be store in a very secure file, and promptly return at checkout.

I just called my staff in El Rosario to check about your passport and indeed, they are storing it in a very secure file and will keep it that way until I say otherwise...

...so SurferJim... yuo saw it for $100 us dlls... who gives more...

Let me know how I can help to return your passport to you... if you wish you can call me to my personal US cel phone number (619) 664-3585... or you could e-mail me at my e-mail info@bajacactus.com.

I will also send you an e-mail to vikingo1@prodigy.net.mx

Thanks a lot David... as always... very up to date and accurate information...

BajaCactus Motel
From the US (011-52) 616-165-8850
e-mail: motel@bajacactus.com
Km 55 carretera transpeninsular tramo San Quint?n-Punta Prieta, El Rosario, B.C.

Antonio M.

[Edited on 1-5-2005 by BajaCactus]

Capt. George....

BajaCactus - 1-6-2005 at 12:19 PM

Did you get my e-mail and/or message?.... I have not heard back from you...

Antonio M.

[Edited on 1-6-2005 by BajaCactus]

Wouldn't a copy of the ID suffice?

Hook - 1-6-2005 at 01:32 PM

I can see real problems with giving up the actual ID at checkin.

Driving around town?
Early AM departure?
Someone accidently takes the keys home where the IDs are secured?

I would not want to surrender any ID that, by law, is supposed to be in your possesion at all times.

David K - 1-6-2005 at 02:23 PM

Hook, I felt the same way (never let go of passport), but when I toured Europe, I saw it was quite standard procedure for the hotel front desk to hold your passport until the morning checkout...

bajalou - 1-6-2005 at 05:21 PM

Some islands in the Carabean are the same - passport to hotel at checkin - returned at checkout.

:biggrin:

Baja Cactus Motel

Capt. George - 1-6-2005 at 08:22 PM

The best!

Just got home, pickes up the passport today...thanks everyone...

My fault, my irresponsibility.....passport was not necessary, a license will do...Took
the easy way w/ the passport...DUH!

Antonio, will be staying again on the 17th of Enero, and possibly the 19th...

GREAT ROOM, A dance in shower!!!!

Forget anywhere else...Capt. George

Girlie Truck

Capt. George - 1-7-2005 at 08:49 AM

We were shocked at the filth covering your toy!! What is becoming of you!

Owe you some dinero, gonna keep the runners and try them.....sorry we missed you, plenty of water coming in!!

Deborah handles all the rough stuff for the older folks, even willing to help you out..... Seen Hot Dog in San Diego down by his boat...shocked him...back to SD on the 19th for a "1 hour" visit...VA

Soon amigo, no more commuting!

Vikingo

marla - 1-7-2005 at 05:10 PM

Hi Antonio. Hope all is well with you. Just want to let you know that, while I was looking forward to trying out your hotel, I would never stay anywhere where they insist on keeping my travel documents for the very reason that Capt. George just experienced. Also in case of fire or other emergency, I don't want to be trying to get my credit card or license or passport back later. Nor do I wish to worry about it being stolen. I have travelled all over the world and never given a hotel my ID or my credit card to keep. So I hope you change that policy! Regards, Marla

[Edited on 1-8-2005 by marla]

E-Bay

capn.sharky - 1-7-2005 at 05:28 PM

George---I noticed on e-bay that the high bidder saw your picture in the passport and revised his bid to .50 cents. The others withdrew all bids after seeing the photo. I can't say I blame them. :lol:

Roberto - 1-7-2005 at 08:20 PM

I agree with Marla, and I would like to know what the reason for keeping that kind of ID is.

[Edited on 1-8-2005 by Roberto]

David K - 1-7-2005 at 08:59 PM

I am guessing that it is collateral, since you are from out of town/ out of country... to insure you pay your bill, or don't steal the towels? :lol:

As I said before, I saw this done in Europe way back in 1985. I am surprised Marla didn't experiece it.

Roberto - 1-7-2005 at 11:46 PM

In Europe, it's done because it's the law. What does that have to do with Mexico?

Antonio, if it's for collateral, I'm sure people would be happy to pay ahead of time.

David K - 1-8-2005 at 12:10 AM

Robert, I said I was just guessing... Antonio has not read this thread yet.

Do you know why is it the law in Europe? Why didn't Marla experience that when she was in Europe?

Knowing Antonio, it wouldn't surprise me if exceptions were made for any clients that are desturbed by this policy. I cannot tell you how much this man goes out of his way to provide great service to tourists.

Oso - 1-8-2005 at 02:13 PM

By both preference and economic circumstance, I have almost never stayed anywhere in Mexico that accepted credit cards (or had a phone in the room), so I am quite accustomed to paying cash in advance. In these days of "Identity theft", I would be very reluctant to entrust my ID, especially a passport, to anyone anywhere.
As a matter of fact, I've even contemplated "losing"

my Driver's License and getting a duplicate so I'd have a "spare" to leave with the P-nches mordelones de la policia if forced to do so.

For years now, I've known the El Rosario Pemex to be the most honest gas station on the peninsula. I would certainly consider staying at the motel. But not if this policy is mandatory.

ID....

BajaCactus - 1-8-2005 at 04:23 PM

Thank you very much Capt. George for your nice comments on our motel... I am very glad you liked it.

Marla, Roberto, Oso... there are many reasons of why we ask for any official photo ID to ALL our guests (it does not have to be the passport) .... not only out of the country people... also mexicans... specially mexicans...

I guess the main one is the safety of EVERY guest staying with us... you see....in those areas like El Rosario it is common for people trying to rent a room and use it for illegal activities, like selling drugs, prostitution, etc...WE DO NOT WANT that kind of business...and specially I do not want anyone staying with us to be exposed to those enviroments...

The other reason is, like David said, collateral... every motel/hotel has the right to ensure their property inside the rooms (mirrors, TV sets, blankets, etc). The rate for the night is the least to worry about. Usually they ask for a credit card number in order to do this, we have not done this yet and we DO NOT accept the actual credit card as an official ID...

Anyone trying to make any illegal business and/or thinking in stealing something, will not want to stay with us if we ask for and official ID... and that is precisely what we are hoping.

Now, David mentioned something important.... we do not ask for an ID when we already know the person staying with us is honorable, honest and responsible...in fact, we welcome that kind of guests.... the problem is getting to know them...

We would like nothing better than to know all our guests so we coud avoid this procedure, but that is almost next to impossible.

We do not want to offend anyone nor steal any identities.. we just want to have a safe, honest and secure place for you to stay while traveling thru Baja.

And finally... as I said.... all this hassle is for your own SAFETY... whenever you are staying with us, rest assure that EVERYONE in our rooms is either a known trustworthy friend or someone whom ID is at the frontdesk...

Antonio M.

Bad Policy...

Herb - 1-8-2005 at 05:21 PM

I'm afraid I'm with Oso and Marla on this one. Antonio, I hope you'll reconsider your policy because I do believe your intentions to be good.

In this day and age I cannot do business with ANY business that requires retention of my license or passport or social security card (even a photocopy.) Even though I believe Antonio to be honest, it is impossible for him to guarantee that every person that ever works for him will be....

Not good for business w/ gringos!

Dave - 1-8-2005 at 06:32 PM

Having met Antonio and his wife, I would feel MUCH more comfortable giving him my ID than to a Mexican bank, Migra or the policia.

[Edited on 1-9-2005 by Dave]

Ideas...

BajaCactus - 1-8-2005 at 06:55 PM

Well... unfortunately I have not found any other way to deal with this and even though it may seem like a bad policy it has worked wonders for us...

There are three motels in El Rosario at the moment. We all have been dealing with unwanted guests for a time now....

Well, fortunately, all those bad people (drug dealers, prostitutes, thieves, drunks, etc) have been avoiding us since we began asking for official photos ID...they go to the other two motels...and I prefer it that way.

If you guys have a better idea in how I can acomplish this same effect without asking for ID's, I welcome the input.

At this point in time, I can assure you that BajaCactus Motel has the safest enviroment in El Rosario... even if I had to loose a few good customers....that is the price to pay for a nice comfortable place to stay overnight...

Now, in the other hand... Marla, Roberto, Oso, Herb and all the BajaNomad family... I know for a fact that most of us in this forum are fine, responsible persons... so I will tell you what... if any of you guys wish to stay with us and this policy really bothers you... just e-mail me prior your arrival and I will make sure no ones asks you for any ID....

Antonio M.

Vikingo's Mistake?

Capt. George - 1-8-2005 at 07:33 PM

I think that the idea of identification is totally necessary, especially when paying in cash. I don't believe anyone wanted to keep my I.D., just needed to copy the info,
no problema...."I" chose to use my passport and shame on me for not asking for the return of it..I would not even think of staying in another motel in el Rosario.
It's incredibly comfortable...Look forward to meeting you one of these days Antonio.
Will be staying for a night on the 17th Enero.....Capt. George

Roberto - 1-8-2005 at 08:34 PM

Antonio, the issues is not with ASKING for ID. I have no problem with that whatsoever. Hanging on to said ID is another matter, and as long as you keep that policy, I will choose to stay elsewhere. Your hotel sounds like a nice place to stay, but there we are.

David, the reason it is the law in Europe is that hotels are mandated by the police to request and hang on to ID that qualifies as proof of legitimate travel. For a foreigner, that is an international ID card (in the EU), and passports for others. The freedoms we enjoy here are handled differently over there. Not politically correct to say, but these are police states in the sense that the police has authority behyond anything we can imagine here.

Oso - 1-8-2005 at 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaCactus

Now, in the other hand... Marla, Roberto, Oso, Herb and all the BajaNomad family... I know for a fact that most of us in this forum are fine, responsible persons... so I will tell you what... if any of you guys wish to stay with us and this policy really bothers you... just e-mail me prior your arrival and I will make sure no ones asks you for any ID....

Antonio M.

OK Antonio, I just may take you up on that.

I don't mind a hotel taking an impression of my credit card at check-in to be sure I don't leave the mini-bar empy (if there is one) or run up LD calls. That's standard practice in the states (some places won't take cash and won't rent you a room without a card). I don't mind showing my driver's license or anyone writing down the number. As far as my SSA card, the gov't says it's not supposed to be used as official ID, although the practice is so widespread they might as well tatoo them on our forearms. If necessary, I don't even mind leaving a cash deposit. But I just get antsy not having my ID on me. What if I go out to dinner after checking in and get stopped by a cop?

I wasn't aware that Rosario was having the same kind of trouble as TJ, LA or Phoenix.

And, one more time, thanks for the honest pumps and attendants.

Herb - 1-9-2005 at 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oso

OK Antonio, I just may take you up on that.

And, one more time, thanks for the honest pumps and attendants.

Once again, what he said!

BajaCactus membership ID...

BajaCactus - 1-11-2005 at 11:52 PM

OK.... I will tell you what guys....

Everyone we have met thru this forum has turned out to be the most honest, peaceful and respectul people we have ever met...always positive and willing to go one step further in the name of friendship....

We even had the opportunity and luck to personally meet some of you guys at the BajaCactus Cultural Fiesta 2004, and we feel honored we can call many of you friends....

So,.... regarding this policy of ours, we will create a personalized BajaCactus "Special ID photo membership" and send it via mail to anyone who wishes one.

For starters, with it, whenever you stay at Bajacactus Motel, just present it at the frontdesk and that is it... no ID holding.

In the future we will have special gifts, deals and promotions, to whomever holds a membership.

Anyone who wants one, just let us know via e-mail at info@bajacactus.com, we will return a small questionaire (name, address, etc..). You fill it up, return it to us and with that info we will have your membership made and sent back to you...

Capt. Goerge, thank you very much.... I also look forward to meeting you...

Antonio M.

:bounce:

[Edited on 1-13-2005 by BajaCactus]

WOW!

David K - 1-12-2005 at 08:06 PM

That is really something... you would do all that to comfort the few who are nervous about leaving passport with the front desk!

'Baja Cactus Travel Club' I want to join!! :tumble:

Gracias Antonio!

marla - 2-3-2005 at 07:33 PM

That is very kind of you Antonio and as you know I have a very high regard for you. I would not have any problem with showing anyone my passport or drivers' license so they can copy down the information. I just don't want them to keep it. This was reinforced when I was on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico recently and I put my wallet in the hotel safe while we went to the beaach. Now, when I did that, I thought to myself, I will FORGET MY WALLET. I know I will forget my wallet. I should not put it in the safe. But I did it anyway. Well, guess what. On the ferry on the way back to the main island, oops, I realized I forgot my wallet and it was too late to go back and get it. Luckily I had extracted my drivers license so I could still get on the airplane home and also luckily the proprietress mailed it back to me, but still that is the kind of situation I would want to avoid by not leaving my ID anywhere. I know for a fact I would forget it and/or there would be a situation where it could not be retrieved whwhen I needed it.