Gaucho
Nomad
Posts: 405
Registered: 11-7-2008
Location: Laguna Beach/East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemia por favor...
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Discover Baja vs. Vagabundos del Mar
I've been a member of both in the past. Mainly for the ease of getting car insurance and a Mexican fishing license. I'd be interested to get other
people's opinions on both.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Gaucho
I've been a member of both in the past. Mainly for the ease of getting car insurance and a Mexican fishing license. I'd be interested to get other
people's opinions on both. |
I was previously with Vags for about 10 years but now I'm with DB and have so for the past 12 years, they're good people and have good services. They
have a great annual vehicle rate and we insure our home in Baja with them as well.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Discover Baja is better for four wheel explorers and the Vags are better for the motorhome people.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Gaucho
Nomad
Posts: 405
Registered: 11-7-2008
Location: Laguna Beach/East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemia por favor...
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Thanks for the feedback. I'm about 20 years away from the motorhome circuit (kinda look forward to it though  ). I definately fall into the 4WD/surf/dive/fish/explore category.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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We've used DB for the past 5 or more years and enjoyed the service and response time.
For our truck, camp trailer and boat; fishing licenses and FMTs.
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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Once around a campfire in Baja, one of the participants remarked that everytime he saw one of the Vagabundos Del Mar magnetic signs on the door of a
camping rig, that the people were almost always jerks. I thought that a rather rash statement but wondered why he might make that kind of a
statement. In a trailer park it sees that you get to see a good cross section of baja travelers and while I can not say for sure that he was 100%
accurate, there was some truth to the matter.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65286
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I was a charter member of Tom Miller's Mexico West Travel Club (1974+) and after Tom passed away, followed Shirley Miller over to the new Discover
Baja Travel Club when it got started, with her assistance...
They are in San Diego, have a Baja book and map store at their office, open 6 days a week... they sell to anyone, but members get a discount. So, it
is a nice friendly place to do business or just chat with others. If you aren't near San Diego or passing by, then everying is available online http://www.discoverbaja.com including their quarterly newsletter. See the Fall, 2009 edition  here: http://www.discoverbaja.com/pdf/fall09.pdf
[Edited on 2-23-2010 by David K]
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
Member Is Offline
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I started out with DB in the mid 90's because they offered multi-year memberships for one cheap upfront payment. I bought a five or six year
membership and after it expired and the price increased I went to Vags. I was also annoyed with DB because I would often call for various information
and the girls/ladies who answered the phone NEVER answered my questions. They just didn't have the Baja knowledge. (hope I don't pee anyone off) And
it was always a hassle getting rushed docs such as fishing licenses and insurance. In my experience VAGS are much easier to work with for these items.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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They both offer about the same services. I've been a member of DB for about 16 years, and the Vags for two.
Joined both to see if I received anything different between them.
The Vags have amonthly printed newletter that gets mailed to you every month. DB's newletter is emailed every three months.
Both services are basically the same (books, FMT, insurance, etc.).
I have yet to meet a Vag, but spoken and met with 6 DB personnel. And if Graham Macintosh endorses DB, his word is gospel (just like DavidK's).
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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I'm not really sure of the cost/benefit of belonging to either. I get my insurance online and buy my fishing license from Squidco. I belonged to
Vags many years ago (1997ish) but now don't see the need.
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dtutko1
Nomad
Posts: 341
Registered: 8-26-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
Once around a campfire in Baja, one of the participants remarked that everytime he saw one of the Vagabundos Del Mar magnetic signs on the door of a
camping rig, that the people were almost always jerks. I thought that a rather rash statement but wondered why he might make that kind of a
statement. In a trailer park it sees that you get to see a good cross section of baja travelers and while I can not say for sure that he was 100%
accurate, there was some truth to the matter. |
I've been a vag member for 6 years, fairly satisfied with there service. I take exception to the sign observation. I have the signs and consider
ourselves goodwill ambassadors sp from the US. The signs always eliscite at least a smile and sometimes a salute from check points in Baja.
Dorado Don
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65286
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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One thing nice about Vags, is that they made an effort to honor a great friend of the Baja travelers...
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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I belonged to Vagabundos for years, I would put their magnetic decals on my truck doors and get waved through all check points. When they lost the
ability to do tourest visas, I went to DB they were great, and now the Vag decals don't work anymore. I met a guy in Manhatten beach that had a
problem with the Vags at their campground in Cabo, he told me the real name was Fagabundos.
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AcuDoc
Nomad
Posts: 331
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: The Seven Seas and Thailand
Member Is Offline
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I met a guy in Manhatten beach that had a problem with the Vags at their campground in Cabo, he told me the real name was Fagabundos.
anybody making such a statement to me would be the problem and a bigot...just my opinion
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Just for the record, it was not me AcuDoc was talking about!
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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AcuDoc
Nomad
Posts: 331
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: The Seven Seas and Thailand
Member Is Offline
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I don't know the persons name and don't really care to know. I'm not really big on people that use racist, bigoted terms and hate speech. I'll call
anyone out for doing so...friend or foe...
and no I was not talking about Howard.
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DeMinimis
Nomad
Posts: 271
Registered: 1-7-2008
Location: Orygun
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Neal Johns
Discover Baja is better for four wheel explorers and the Vags are better for the motorhome people. |
Wait, you mean there's a difference between four wheel explorers and MH people
You gonna eat that?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65286
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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VIVA CALAMAJUE!
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