BajaNomad

Hotel chain throughout Baja with discount coupons

Wayfairers - 7-16-2016 at 09:46 AM

Last time we drove the Baja was in 2007 and we are planning a return trip. In 2007, there was a chain of hotels that sold coupons for stays and food/drinks that you could only buy on line. Saved us a lot of money. I should have kept notes, but I didn't. I cannot find anything on line for this program. Does it still exist? What is the hotel chain?

TMW - 7-16-2016 at 10:01 AM

I think that was the old La Pinta hotel chain. They have all been sold to different owners. I am not aware of any such deals like that now. The travel clubs do offer discounts on hotels and maybe restaurants.

Wayfairers - 7-16-2016 at 10:09 AM

Thanks! La Pinta does sound familiar. Oh well....it was great while it lasted.

David K - 7-16-2016 at 10:21 AM

The dollar is now worth 18 pesos (+/-) and that gives us a deal!

DENNIS - 7-16-2016 at 10:24 AM



Hotels will be the first to make the money exchange adjustment. I wouldn't be expecting any great deals from them.

David K - 7-16-2016 at 10:27 AM

It would help more if one converts dollars to pesos before paying for things.

TMW - 7-16-2016 at 10:55 AM

Before the tomato plant owners bought the La Pinta hotels in Santa Maria and Catavina the price for a room for two was like $67. Afterwards the Santa Maria hotel went down to about $50 and the Catavina hotel went up to about $95.

When I clicked post for this I see an ad for the Catavina hotel at $86.50. The ad is ionly there for a second or two.

[Edited on 7-16-2016 by TMW]

Bajahowodd - 7-16-2016 at 04:55 PM

The Rodriguez family grows a wide variety of produce, not just tomatoes.

When they bought the hotel in Catavina, they spent a great deal in upgrading the property. That includes providing electricity for this off the grid hotel all day. They also brought in a great chef for the restaurant.

I always remember paying around $90 to stay there long before they bought it. It has a limited number of rooms and during whale season tour operators stop there with their customers.

willardguy - 7-16-2016 at 05:15 PM

I do remember in the early 80's La Pinta offered a deal where if you stayed at 5 of their hotels you got the 6th stay free.....there was always an ad in the AAA book .

Whale-ista - 7-16-2016 at 05:32 PM

You could get a Discover Baja membership for $40/year- that includes discounts at many hotels and other businesses. (They also sell auto insurance.)

Calculate the rates and determine if you would come out ahead.

Whale-ista - 7-16-2016 at 05:35 PM

agreed- they have improved this place considerably.

It now has wi-fi, swimming pools w/wonderful water (esp compared to SQ water) It's still a reasonable rate- and they allow pets (in designated rooms).

Even better if you are a Discover Baja membership- they offer a discount.

Be sure to make reservations during winter when whale watchers are heading north/south.
Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd  
The Rodriguez family grows a wide variety of produce, not just tomatoes.

When they bought the hotel in Catavina, they spent a great deal in upgrading the property. That includes providing electricity for this off the grid hotel all day. They also brought in a great chef for the restaurant.

I always remember paying around $90 to stay there long before they bought it. It has a limited number of rooms and during whale season tour operators stop there with their customers.

LaTijereta - 7-17-2016 at 07:40 AM

La Pinta Hotels= Desert Inns for those years.. Now most privately owned under different names.. Best deal back then was they offered a 30% discount when you showed them your FM3/2 that showed you were a Baja resident..

Nomad Discount???

bajaguy - 7-17-2016 at 09:29 AM

Maybe in their travels, Doug and/or DavidK can approach the various hotels/restaurants in Baja about honoring the Nomads Discount Card??

As far as I know, the only establishment that honors the card is Baja Cactus

David K - 7-17-2016 at 11:38 AM

Baja Cactus is building a restaurant and it will have a professional chef. So you might be both sleeping and eating in style and comfort at El Rosario with a Baja Nomad discount!?

Is there anywhere else you need to go in Baja??? :biggrin:

From the 1991 AAA Baja Guide...

David K - 7-17-2016 at 11:45 AM

TMW - 7-17-2016 at 12:36 PM

The problem with the Ensenada hotel is parking, street side only.

Bajahowodd - 7-17-2016 at 01:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Baja Cactus is building a restaurant and it will have a professional chef. So you might be both sleeping and eating in style and comfort at El Rosario with a Baja Nomad discount!?

Is there anywhere else you need to go in Baja??? :biggrin:


I recall that although Antonio had wanted to build a restaurant, he would not do it out of respect to Dona Anita while she was alive. So I guess the rest of the family doesn't count.

That said, there is actually a Baja Cactus restaurant in Milpitas.

Wayfairers - 7-17-2016 at 02:09 PM

David K: that is it! They were offering a similar deal in 2007 and it worked out great for us. Too bad that is gone.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-17-2016 at 02:56 PM

there is a baja cactus restaurant in los barriles that is not related to the other. great owner and host.

i used to eat there quite a bit when i lived in los barriles until when my teen aged grandson visited, i took him there for dinner and he ordered a beef dish and he got really sick...never went there again. that's the way i am.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

David K - 7-17-2016 at 03:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Baja Cactus is building a restaurant and it will have a professional chef. So you might be both sleeping and eating in style and comfort at El Rosario with a Baja Nomad discount!?

Is there anywhere else you need to go in Baja??? :biggrin:


I recall that although Antonio had wanted to build a restaurant, he would not do it out of respect to Dona Anita while she was alive. So I guess the rest of the family doesn't count.

That said, there is actually a Baja Cactus restaurant in Milpitas.


Yes, so true... however the town is in great need of a real, professional style restaurant. Mama Espinoza's continues to raise prices as it is a tourist highlight spot (while we were eating breakfast some guy was taking photos of the various racers on the walls).

The next choices are Primo's Sinahi Motel Restaurant (formerly La Bocana Beach Restaurant), Ed's Baja's Best Restaurant and Bar, and Hugo's Tacos Misión, along with several others.

The new restaurant at the Turista Motel (across from Ed's) didn't stay open, and most of the others are not consistent. If Ed is not there cooking, then the food is not the same. Primo and other places only have local housewives available to cook and with no staff or constant customer base, it can take an hour for a simple meal to be prepared.

Antonio believes a true restaurant at his property will better serve his motel guests and those traveling through El Rosario. He will have professional restaurant food service with quality food. I can't wait to see it happen. Everything else Baja Cactus has done in El Rosario has been great!

David K - 7-17-2016 at 03:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Wayfairers  
David K: that is it! They were offering a similar deal in 2007 and it worked out great for us. Too bad that is gone.


I kind of thought so! I think maybe the El Presidente chain also had a deal like that for the Baja hotels (before they sold them to La Pinta Hotels).

Alm - 7-17-2016 at 05:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Wayfairers  
Last time we drove the Baja was in 2007 and we are planning a return trip. In 2007, there was a chain of hotels that sold coupons for stays and food/drinks that you could only buy on line.

Every time I had to stay in hotels and wanted to save money - and rest assured that I always want this - I inevitably concluded that online booking, coupons etc is an inefficient approach in Mexico. Firstly, online prices in $US are often higher than prices in pesos (even before the recent drop). Secondly, you save the most when staying in hotels that have no website at all, they are cheaper to begin with.

As to saving anything on restaurant food and drinks, this is a long shot, IMO. The biggest savings in this area come from carrying a can of instant coffee and a few packs of instant meals (not frozen), and using a hotel microwave or $5 immersion heater. Local mercado will always have something for a salad or desert as well. Making sandwich is easier than you think.

Bajahowodd - 7-18-2016 at 03:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Baja Cactus is building a restaurant and it will have a professional chef. So you might be both sleeping and eating in style and comfort at El Rosario with a Baja Nomad discount!?

Is there anywhere else you need to go in Baja??? :biggrin:


I recall that although Antonio had wanted to build a restaurant, he would not do it out of respect to Dona Anita while she was alive. So I guess the rest of the family doesn't count.

That said, there is actually a Baja Cactus restaurant in Milpitas.


Yes, so true... however the town is in great need of a real, professional style restaurant. Mama Espinoza's continues to raise prices as it is a tourist highlight spot (while we were eating breakfast some guy was taking photos of the various racers on the walls).

The next choices are Primo's Sinahi Motel Restaurant (formerly La Bocana Beach Restaurant), Ed's Baja's Best Restaurant and Bar, and Hugo's Tacos Misión, along with several others.

The new restaurant at the Turista Motel (across from Ed's) didn't stay open, and most of the others are not consistent. If Ed is not there cooking, then the food is not the same. Primo and other places only have local housewives available to cook and with no staff or constant customer base, it can take an hour for a simple meal to be prepared.

Antonio believes a true restaurant at his property will better serve his motel guests and those traveling through El Rosario. He will have professional restaurant food service with quality food. I can't wait to see it happen. Everything else Baja Cactus has done in El Rosario has been great!


I totally agree with you about Ed's. Problem for him for many years is that if he doesn't go up North to California to visit his elderly mom, she will drive down to El Rosario to see her son.

He remodeled his place a number of years ago, got rid of the old resin furniture and made it a very welcoming and comfy place.

Food is very good.

So, I have to wonder if Antonio is going to have a more upscale place. Have to say that between Ensenada and Loreto, the best restaurant is the one operated by Esmeralda and Carlos at Jardines. Although, I do have to recognize El Muelle in Santa Rosalia if for nothing else than their widely diverse menu. Antonio gonna do better?

David K - 7-18-2016 at 05:14 PM

Antonio does it better, or not at all. ;)

Bajahowodd - 7-19-2016 at 04:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Antonio does it better, or not at all. ;)


Just two questions.

Do you pay when you stay there, and do you have an intimate relationship with Antonio?

Just sayin' that for years, you have posted a crapload about how great Baja Cactus is and how great Antonio is. Just seems weird to me.

David K - 7-19-2016 at 05:36 PM

Good businesses in Baja deserve praise. Antonio not only runs good businesses he also gives back and helps others... I am sorry you don't have friends in Baja you can promote or just talk nice about without insults.