Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-27-2003
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Some thoughts and observations from the road
A couple of things I noticed during my drive to BOLA and back this time:
1. Fairly light traffic going south through SoCal, the border and to Ensenada on a Tuesday afternoon. Got pesos at the Chula Vista Costco at exacly
10:1. Got the green light but they still ran out in the middle of the road and wanted to check my boat papers and pull the cover off but they gave up
and waved me on after a few moments of fumbling for paperwork and cars honking at me.
2. Stayed at the Joker for the first time. Lots of Federal cops there but they had a few rooms. Security was not going to be a problem as 2 or 3
Feds with automatics always walking around. Do they practice that bored look or what? Ate at the Joker: average meal, the room a little rustic but OK
for me. Wife would probably sigh a little. Sheets varied from off white to off, off white to just plain brown. Estimate thread count at about 50.
3. Plenty of gas/diesel everywhere as far as I could tell.
4. Got some 2X4s and 6 sheets of plywood at the Esenada Home Depot and tried to use my credit card but wouldn't go thru. Used cash and then had to
get more at the bank in the same area and they charged about 10.13:1 but with the 1% fee it came to about 10:1 anyway.
5. Left Ensenada on Wednesday about 4:30am and ate in El Rosario, Baja's Best with Ed. He reports about 40% reduction in business in the general
area this year - folks are hurting all along the hiway. Nearly zero RV Caravan traffic for almost a year. Ed has really spiffed his place up, has
screen doors and no dogs/flies inside. I recomend an additional try for those of you who were put off.
6. Won't go into my time at gecko just to say I worked on my place for 6 days - will post a photo or two in the building section later. I did have
a great pork chop dinner with Beach Bob - just us 2 sitting on the front porch telling lies and eating pork chops and a great salad. Brought over a
bottle of vino but since BB stayed with his stuff I had to polish it off myself. Next day one of the workers commented that I didn't seem to be as
industrious as usual - was I not feeling well?
7. Weather was outstanding - high 80s to low 90s with 55% to 75% humidity and a breeze most times. I slept outside with a small 12 volt fan that I
used only a few nights. 2 days of thunderstorms kept the heat down. By the way, the online weather station that reports BOLA weather must have
something wrong with the hygrometer - it always seems to under-report the humidity by a lot.
8. Trip north I stayed at the Villa San Quintin - I highly recommend this place: new, good furnishings and $350 pesos plus $150 peso tax for a total
of $500 for a single. Is 42.8% room tax right or did I just get ripped off? The resturant is also pretty good and a lot of different stuff: pastas,
salads, steaks, all in a mediteranian style. I had salmon with a tomato/bell pepper/green olive/tomato sauce that was really very good. Nice change
after a week of basic beans/rice/fish. Lots of professional/business types seem to stay here; parking lot full of logo'ed pickups, government and
private. Everybody dressed in polo shirts and chinos.
9. Crossed at San Yisidro on Wednesday morning about 11:30am - 23 minute wait. Glad I didn't listen to channel 223 on XM - they were reporting a 75
minute wait? By the way - what's up with XM and El Rosario? Very spotty reception to just silence for minutes - especially up on the mesa where the
check point is. Anyone else notice that?
10. As I went north through the gate I noticed that the CHP and some other enforcement had every car stopped on I-5 going south about 100 yards from
the border and were checking everyone - never noticed that before. Must of been 300 cars back up with folks milling around looking generally P.O.'ed.
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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hey jim, i allways have a problem with sat radio in that area(millitary bloc). thanks for the pics. we leave in 6 days and hope for good fishing and
weather. i have my new antenna that mounts on the roof for the internet so i will post offten. thanks for the utu
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Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
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Mood: getting ready!
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I have sat radio did not have any probs with it. 6 days Have a great time so luckyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. got back 20th Aug.
READY SET.....................
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64606
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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"8. Trip north I stayed at the Villa San Quintin - I highly recommend this place: new, good furnishings and $350 pesos plus $150 peso tax for a total
of $500 for a single. Is 42.8% room tax right or did I just get ripped off?"
Jim, next time stop 30 miles sooner and enjoy Baja Cactus... no added tax surprise, in room find: awesome king size beds with custom mattresses,
coffee pot, Costco bottled water, heating and air, satellite TV, Internet, telephone... no extra charges! Also, Antonio has put down rock gravel in
the parking area and the big RV/ boat trailer parking lot to stop dust and mud issues.
[Edited on 9-5-2008 by David K]
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aha baja
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Mood: wherever you go, there you are...
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Baja Cactus is the bomb! New, clean and better than many hotel/motels I have been to.Fuel, food and mercados within a minute walk. Best bang for the
buck (or peso!)
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David A.
Nomad
Posts: 120
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Angelus Oaks, CA./Gecko, Bahia de Los Angeles
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My XM does the same thing in that area. 
Your place is looking good. 
Thanks for the pictures. I see my place looks like it was high and dry.
We will be back on the 16 of November for two weeks. More work to complete this time.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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Ya cain't fish in El Rosario (baja cactus)!!
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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Yes you can.....ask Ed at Baja Best..
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-27-2003
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Just to be clear re: Baja Cactus: when I leave BOLA in the afternoon going north I try to make the north end of San Quintin. While it may not seem
like much, it takes an hour to drive from El Rosario to the north side of San Quintin in the early morning because of all the traffic. That hour gets
to be real important the second day after driving 15 hours to get home. When we go south - we stay at Baja Cactus for the same reason.
Now - no one has answered the question regarding the $150 peso room tax - was this bogus as I assume?
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
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Location: The Valley of the Moon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
Just to be clear re: Baja Cactus: when I leave BOLA in the afternoon going north I try to make the north end of San Quintin. While it may not seem
like much, it takes an hour to drive from El Rosario to the north side of San Quintin in the early morning because of all the traffic. That hour gets
to be real important the second day after driving 15 hours to get home. When we go south - we stay at Baja Cactus for the same reason.
Now - no one has answered the question regarding the $150 peso room tax - was this bogus as I assume? |
You were ripped off .... Big Time
The room tax is 13% as set by Hacienda
CaboRon
[Edited on 9-8-2008 by CaboRon]
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
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Location: California Delta
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Mood: Baja Time
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There was probably an Amber Alert...
...up in California, and the cops were checking faces, etc. of someone thought to be 'running' south...what a pain to have to get cought up in that
kind of a mess!
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Bajajack
Banned
Posts: 370
Registered: 5-20-2007
Location: Arizona
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Hey Ron
| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
Just to be clear re: Baja Cactus: when I leave BOLA in the afternoon going north I try to make the north end of San Quintin. While it may not seem
like much, it takes an hour to drive from El Rosario to the north side of San Quintin in the early morning because of all the traffic. That hour gets
to be real important the second day after driving 15 hours to get home. When we go south - we stay at Baja Cactus for the same reason.
Now - no one has answered the question regarding the $150 peso room tax - was this bogus as I assume? |
You were ripped off .... Big Time
The room tax is 13% as set by Hacienda
CaboRon
[Edited on 9-8-2008 by CaboRon] |
 I
think you're forgetting the 30% Greengo Tax.
[Edited on 9-8-2008 by Bajajack]
\"take what you can, give nothing back!\"
We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the
American people.\'
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
We can have no \"50-50\" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3502
Registered: 8-27-2003
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FYI: thanks Cabo Ron - I have emailed the hotel's corporate office and will report whatever happens - I sent them a link to this thread hoping that
may do something. yeah, yeah, I know - don't hold my breath.....
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3502
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Well - OK - I'm the one that screwed up. Here is the email from Villa San Quintin. My appoliges to them.
Dear Mr. Heath:
It seems this was just a matter of miscomunication, if you add up what you paid up-front minus the deposit it will come out to the amount for the cost
of the room:
350.00 plus tax 12% = 392.00
deposit 150.00
-------
Payment up front $542.00
I think the receptionist was trying to explain that the additional amount he was requesting was to complete the amount due for the deposit. You paid
$545.00 pesos total upon arrival and were returned the complete $150.00 pesos at check-out, so unless we did not return any change we owe you $3.00
pesos total.
If you agree with this explanation or still have any doubts, please do not hesitate to e-mail us or call. Also, if you feel this resolves the problem
to your satisfaction we would greatly appreciate if you let you friends at Nomads know.
Hope to see you back soon,
Management
Hotel Villa de San Quintin
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64606
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Jim... nice to confirm another honest establishment.
Have you tried the Los Cirios Motel nearby?
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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I've found recently that a few hotels/motels in Baja require a deposit for the remote control usually $10-$15. That was the case when I stayed at
VDSQ. They told me if they don't, they never see them again.
By the way they had free HBO when I stayed there. It is a very clean and new operation (less than 2 years old) with a very friendly staff.
Ken
ps Remember to clean the remote control, reputed to be the dirtiest item in a motel room, that seldom gets cleaned.
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