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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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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.
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Helpful
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ID....
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.
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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Herb
Nomad
Posts: 202
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: Torrance, CA
Member Is Offline
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Bad Policy...
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!
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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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]
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Helpful
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Ideas...
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.
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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Capt. George
Super Nomad
Posts: 2129
Registered: 8-21-2003
Member Is Offline
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Vikingo's Mistake?
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
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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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.
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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| 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.
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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.
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Herb
Nomad
Posts: 202
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: Torrance, CA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Oso
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.
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Once again, what he said!
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Helpful
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BajaCactus membership ID...
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.
[Edited on 1-13-2005 by BajaCactus]
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65198
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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WOW!
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!!  
Gracias Antonio!
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marla
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 10-29-2003
Location: Long Beach
Member Is Offline
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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.
If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a
speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen. Henry David
Thoreau
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