BajaNomad

Santo Tomas hotel recommendations

JohnGaltSpeaking - 8-9-2018 at 06:11 PM

hi everyone. was wondering if there were any sort of accommodations in Santo Tomas?

David K - 8-9-2018 at 09:44 PM

Yes, the El Palomar... at the restaurant/bar/curio store next to the gas station... Across the highway is the huge campground, also called El Palomar. Km. 50.

bajatrailrider - 8-9-2018 at 09:47 PM

Do not stay at El Palomar motel nasty bugs in the rooms. All the simi trucks J brakes spend the night in Ensenada or San Vicente.

Ken Cooke - 8-9-2018 at 09:55 PM

I stayed in the El Palomar motel in September 2001 when my pickup trucks transmission left me stranded in the Sierra Mártir. My friends Dan and Andrew (rip) stayed there one night. No bugs at the time. A Mercedes Benz was parked in the back parking lot with some original artwork inside of it. Good memories.

ehall - 8-10-2018 at 04:46 AM

Nickname is the scorpion hotel. Not sure why. Never stayed there.

David K - 8-10-2018 at 05:44 AM

Wow... okay then, San Vicente (Km. 90) is 25 miles south and has The El Camino Motel (left side of the highway, south of town center). There are others, Larry (bajatrailrider) can advise.

bajatrailrider - 8-10-2018 at 07:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
Nickname is the scorpion hotel. Not sure why. Never stayed there.
Most bike riders have reported Scorpions in bed sheets. That's only half the racket from the big trucks. Also in summer Months hell hole of heat.

mtgoat666 - 8-10-2018 at 07:18 AM

El Palomar restaurant is the only place in baja that made me sick. Whoa! 2 days of agony starting 3 hours after lunch there.
Stay away!

bkbend - 8-10-2018 at 07:26 AM

I didn't see any bugs when I stayed there, but hot water was a pipe dream.

chuckie - 8-10-2018 at 07:30 AM

If you stay there hire an armed guard...My dog was stolen while we were eating lunch..returned after paying 200 bucks....WITH ALL FOUR FEET WIRED TOGETHER

rhintransit - 8-10-2018 at 08:00 AM

Palomar...only hotel in Baja that I ever left early. I about froze one February, and despite blankets of questionable cleanliness and the promise of a space heater...delivered around midnight and didn’t work... I left around four am, preferring to take my chances on the road driving in the dark to hypothermia.
I recommend you adjust your timing and stay elsewhere,

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by rhintransit]

ehall - 8-10-2018 at 09:58 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie  
If you stay there hire an armed guard...My dog was stolen while we were eating lunch..returned after paying 200 bucks....WITH ALL FOUR FEET WIRED TOGETHER



wtf? I hope you are kidding.

thebajarunner - 8-10-2018 at 10:27 AM

Spent a night there once, pretty seedy place
We sometimes ate there in the past but it really went downhill in the food department
Stayed at the campground a few times

Jake Brake City!!! The speed bump in front of the place brings out the worst of jake brake moments
and to top it off, the roosters start early, I mean like real early and don't let up.

Sadly, just out the dirt road to the coast about five miles is a great campground next to a seasonal stream, lots of oak trees,
DK reports that it has been fenced off.
Bummer..... it was one of our favorite quiet and safe places to stay

TMW - 8-10-2018 at 10:33 AM

I stayed there once and that was enough, what Bajatrailrider said.

I do have some good memories of the restaurant and bar especially back in the day when the navy chief was cook.

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by TMW]

Tioloco - 8-10-2018 at 10:46 AM

My 2 cents on El Palomar....
Restaurant has been good every time for me. Bar is a nice relaxing place to hang out. Old lady that owns the place is always very nice and friendly. The campground and pools that they own across the road are nice and clean. Pet monkey "Tota" likes to eat chocolate snacks. Rooms looked clean last summer. I plan on staying there soon.
Good luck

soylent_green - 8-10-2018 at 11:14 AM

The Zarcillo Restaurant owner was telling me they have plans to put in some rooms at their restaurant.

Ejido Ajusco, mile north of the Palomar, in the town across from the Sto. Tomas vineyard.

Its not a cheap place - full tasting menu with wine is around $380 pesos. They have breakfast too.

If you haven't stopped there and you are looking for something different than tacos on the road, then you should check it out.


https://www.facebook.com/ZarcilloRestaurant/
http://www.zarcillo.com.mx

-----
funny, Ill pay $380 for a nice meal at Zarcillo, but it peees me off that the Palomar charges double for a Magnum ice cream bar.

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by soylent_green]

bajatrailrider - 8-10-2018 at 11:32 AM

Does any of you know what air washing towels are. The Palomar motel does.

JohnGaltSpeaking - 8-10-2018 at 12:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soylent_green  
The Zarcillo Restaurant owner was telling me they have plans to put in some rooms at their restaurant.

Ejido Ajusco, mile north of the Palomar, in the town across from the Sto. Tomas vineyard.

Its not a cheap place - full tasting menu with wine is around $380 pesos. They have breakfast too.

If you haven't stopped there and you are looking for something different than tacos on the road, then you should check it out.


https://www.facebook.com/ZarcilloRestaurant/
http://www.zarcillo.com.mx

-----
funny, Ill pay $380 for a nice meal at Zarcillo, but it peees me off that the Palomar charges double for a Magnum ice cream bar.

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by soylent_green]





what did the $380 include? was it a full meal or was it more a bunch of tasting samples?

soylent_green - 8-10-2018 at 12:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JohnGaltSpeaking  
Quote: Originally posted by soylent_green  
The Zarcillo Restaurant owner was telling me they have plans to put in some rooms at their restaurant.

Ejido Ajusco, mile north of the Palomar, in the town across from the Sto. Tomas vineyard.

Its not a cheap place - full tasting menu with wine is around $380 pesos. They have breakfast too.

If you haven't stopped there and you are looking for something different than tacos on the road, then you should check it out.


https://www.facebook.com/ZarcilloRestaurant/
http://www.zarcillo.com.mx

-----
funny, Ill pay $380 for a nice meal at Zarcillo, but it peees me off that the Palomar charges double for a Magnum ice cream bar.

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by soylent_green]





what did the $380 include? was it a full meal or was it more a bunch of tasting samples?
4 course tasting menu, they don't have a regular menu to choose from (except maybe breakfast, I think they have a breakfast menu)
small bites, but definitely left satisfied. Quality over quantity.

Couple hours later your ready to hit the taco cart though

The chef/owner is married to the head winemaker at Santo Tomas Vineyards.

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by soylent_green]

DanO - 8-10-2018 at 01:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco  
My 2 cents on El Palomar....
Restaurant has been good every time for me. Bar is a nice relaxing place to hang out. Old lady that owns the place is always very nice and friendly. The campground and pools that they own across the road are nice and clean. Pet monkey "Tota" likes to eat chocolate snacks. Rooms looked clean last summer. I plan on staying there soon.
Good luck


I've never stayed in the hotel, but my experience with the restaurant is the same as Tio's. If I'm hungry when I'm in the area, I stop in. They do a nice plate of grilled quail on request, if they have any on hand.

DanO - 8-10-2018 at 02:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soylent_green  
The Zarcillo Restaurant owner was telling me they have plans to put in some rooms at their restaurant.

Ejido Ajusco, mile north of the Palomar, in the town across from the Sto. Tomas vineyard.

Its not a cheap place - full tasting menu with wine is around $380 pesos. They have breakfast too.

If you haven't stopped there and you are looking for something different than tacos on the road, then you should check it out.


https://www.facebook.com/ZarcilloRestaurant/
http://www.zarcillo.com.mx

-----
funny, Ill pay $380 for a nice meal at Zarcillo, but it peees me off that the Palomar charges double for a Magnum ice cream bar.

[Edited on 8-10-2018 by soylent_green]


Ditto on Zarcillo. Very good food.

David K - 8-10-2018 at 02:13 PM

At Km. 47, take the signed road for La Bocana and Puerto Santo Tomás... Just west of Hwy. 1 as you come down to the Santo Tomás Valley.

BornFisher - 8-10-2018 at 02:16 PM

Love their fried shredded beef tacos. Also their huevos rancheros.

Goyo - 8-12-2018 at 05:30 PM

I've stayed at Palomar twice. The first time was about three winters ago and the second time was just last winter. Both times were on my way home to the U.S. I stayed the first time because ... well, I just had to know. One of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in. My room was very run down. No hot water and of course no reception for the tiny old TV. It's the kind of place where you don't sleep well because you feel icky.

The second time was not planned. I was hoping to stay at Hotel Paraiso Colonet, but it was mid-week, so the manager had a sign with a phone number to call if you wanted a room. I don't have phone service so I couldn't get a room. So my last option was Palomar. It was just as bad as I remembered. Complete dive. The food in the restaurant is okay. But the place is pretty worn. Too many dusty trinkets strewn around. I'm not a picky person but that entire operation is pretty gross. Next time, I will sleep in the cab of my truck.