Pompano
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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A Great Stay At Quintas Papagayos, Ensenada
PAPAGAYOS RESORT - ENSENADA
Almost one month ago we stayed in Quintas Papagayos Resort for two days while northbound from Mulege. I've stayed many times in the past 30 thirty
years, but not in this particular bungalow. It was race week, we had no reservations, and We are full. Sorry, senor. "
... Except for one unit only..the honeymoon suite with a jacuzzi..
...which they would discount a lot to accomodate us. I figured I was lucky to get anything at all during this super busy time.....and was grateful
for the discount. The normal prices at this resort run from $65-$199 night. There are many types of units to choose from. All are nice.
For those of you who don't know Papagayo's location, it's right on the beach next to the marina..just a few minutes north of downtown on the main
highway. 60 miles south of TJ.
I borrowed this map from the hotels' website
This is a photo of 2 Ensenada places where we usually stay. The Corona is okay, too, but getting a little hard to park and enter. I don't like
elevators and inside entrys...a personal thing. Papagayos sign is pretty easy to spot as you drive the malecon.
Quintas Papagayo
Km. 108, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada C.P. 22870
Col. Las Playitas
Tel. (646) 174-4575 y (646) 174-4980
Fax. (646) 174-4155
Ensenada, Baja California México
Email:quintaspapagayo@prodigy.net.mx
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The suites are open and airy...very inviting and cozy. Raised fireplaces. Good vino from the bar.
We were going to make a fire and I noticed there was no firewood. I picked up the phone to order some from the front desk, when the knock came at the
door. Enter Antonio with a wheelbarrow of wood and some kindling..started a fire.. and gave us a nice cozy atmosphere...what a savior. He got a good
tip for reading our minds.
One of my favorite places, sitting in front of a warm fireplace..
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but having a c-cktail on the terrace overlooking the marina and the far-off ocean horizon wasn't bad either.
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fully eqipped kitchen.
The first day I noticed the only defect in the place..but the next day I said it looked better that way.
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There was a California king bed upstairs, large airy bedroom with a jacuzzi overlooking the bay below.
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Great jacuzzi with a killer view...good jets.
A nice bathroom with large shower.
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Right next to our two-story suite is the marina and a nice walkway. nice beach to walk.
In the course of our stay, we took many walks along this shore...so relaxing when you know the fridge is just a few steps away.
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I went outside to get some things from the pickup. "Hello, Pompano." greeted me from a nice guy who introduced himself. He turned out to be a fellow
nomad. It was great to meet him as I've read his posts with enthusiasm for a long time. I asked how he knew who I was..he said he's seen me on the
forum a few times. So..small wonder, duh..it's happened before and it's a good way to meet fellow Nomads.
I never asked if I could use his name here, so I won't. Suffice to say, he knows a LOT about racing and maintaining a crew. Also met his delightful
wife. They, along with their crew, were looking to be having a great time. I wonder how they did that Sunday?...a one-day event they worked hard to
win.
The place was fairly packed with other racing teams and it was an education to talk to these veterans competitors. Everybody looked very professional
and experienced. Qualities needed, I expect, in such a grueling event.
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A watchman has just walked out of camera view when I snapped this photo.
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Here's a little anecdote about security at the resort:
Papagayos has 24-hr security.... and they are way serious about it.
Now this is second-hand info, so we can't attest to it's accuracy. But if it's true, it's a damn good story.
Indeed, we were told by some other guests that the gaurd had just shot a trespasser the night before.
We were told that the gaurd yelled at the interloper to "ALTO..STOP!"..but the hombre starts running away...so the gaurd hauls out his pistola and
drills him, dropping him & wounding him pretty good...but then the guy gets up and makes his escape..limping off with a hole in him. SO we were
told.
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Luckily I still have our flak jackets from the last skirmish through Tijuana...in case we want to take a late walk along the malecon and the
gaurd wants to boost his shooting average.
We practice rolling behind boulders and yelling.."ALTO?..ALTO?..SI!..ALTO!..Si, senor, we are altoed."
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Below, a new friend well met:
Here's a new amigo I met while at the resort. A fellow veteran driver of the Baja Road. Another nomad who was staying at Papagayos told him about us
and how many years I have been making the trip. We had a great visit and laughed at some to the wild things we had seen over the years. Besides
being an over the road driver, he was probably hauling racers or equipment for a race going on that coming weekend...one day only..Sunday, June 6th, I
think it was. Heckuva nice fellow. I kinda think we'll be meeting up again ..out there on The Road.
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A nice treat.
A real plus for Co-pilot and myself were these pretty bouganvillas growing around our suite...and some ended up growing from my pickup dash.
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Final say about our stay...
Quintas Papagayo has indescribable sunsets. Every suite has a balcony overlooking the blue pacific.
'Best-time-ever' recommendation..pour a tall iced-down gin ricky, hang a slice of lime on it to get you in that Hemmingway mood, sit down in a
comfy cushioned wicker armchair out on the deck... and look for the Green Flash.
If you missed tonight?.....well, there's always tomorrow.. right, tesoro?
[Edited on 7-3-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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KurtG
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That was a regular stopover for us back in the 70's and 80's before it got spiffed up. Used to rent one of the houses for $20-$25/night and put 6-8
people in it. Juan Hussong was the proprietor back then, a good guy. Also his brother Walter was sometimes there who had lots of great Baja stories.
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DENNIS
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Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
The normal prices at this resort run from $605-$199 night. |
HUH ?????
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Ken Bondy
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Great memories Roger. I spent my rookie honeymoon at Quintas Papagayo in 1963. Gracias por los recuerdos. ++Ken++
carpe diem!
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Ken Bondy
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Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
The normal prices at this resort run from $605-$199 night. |
HUH ????? |
Dennis I think Roger means $65-$199, that's what the QP website says.
carpe diem!
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DENNIS
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Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Dennis I think Roger means $65-$199, that's what the QP website says. |
Thanks Ken....Thas mo betta.
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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the best time I EVER had in Ensenada was staying at Papagayos for a Reggae Fest...it was da bomb!
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irenemm
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Walter and Johnny still own it. Johnny has the International Chili Cookoff every year in Oct..
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Bob H
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Quote: | Originally posted by irenemm
Walter and Johnny still own it. Johnny has the International Chili Cookoff every year in Oct.. |
Yes, fantastic chili cookoff every year Oct (sometimes in Sept, I think).
Roger, great report and pictures (as usual).
Bob H
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wessongroup
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Thanks for the super show... who won? with what?
[Edited on 7-3-2010 by wessongroup]
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Pompano
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Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
The normal prices at this resort run from $605-$199 night. |
HUH ????? |
Opps..dunno how that zero got squeezed in there, Dennis. The hour was late..the wine was bueno. Ken's right..the rates range from $65 to $199. I
went back and edited it correctly. Did read a little weird, eh?
The first time I ever stayed at Papagayos I asked the manager if I could buy a couple of patio chairs from our bungalow..because they were so comfy
and also so nostalgic of another era. A combo of wicker and Adirondack styling is just part of it's character and charm.
Anyhoo...ever since then it's been a relaxing experience and I've always recommended the place. Over the years I've received many thanks from friends
who stayed and enjoyed themselves. One such thanks was from a Baja amigo who has been making the trip for 30 years and was amazed that such a place
existed.
One of the things folks like me, Ken, and my new trucker friend like..is the ample parking available for trucks, trailers, boats, etc.
Of course, we can't forget about that great 'security' gaurd...
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wessongroup...afraid I can't help you there. All I know is..it was an off-road race on wheels... I'm a horse fan.
[Edited on 7-3-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Dewey
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Not bad surf during the right kind of conditions and swell before the marina.
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Bajahowodd
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I really appreciate the photos, Roger. They actually have changed my mind about the place. I've posted before that Tripadvisor can be deceiving with
their reviews. But, what I saw didn't exactly rev my engine about staying there. That said, it appears that there's nothing since 2008.
.http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150770-d577882-Reviews-Quintas_Papagayo_Resort-Ensenada_Baja_California.html
[Edited on 7-3-2010 by Bajahowodd]
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Pompano
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Bajahowodd...you can believe what you want, but from my own experience and from what Tripadvisor posts...we are world's apart.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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capt. mike
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how would that place compare with say - the Estero beach resort?
in price and amenities?
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering
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Desertbull
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Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
how would that place compare with say - the Estero beach resort?
in price and amenities? |
Capt. Mike - DB says no way, I have lots of other stories bout that place, abort landing amigo!
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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Bajahowodd
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Which one, DB?
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elgatoloco
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My parents spent the first night of their honeymoon in a casita in 1951. They had their picture taken at dinner, the 5 x 7 black and white photo was
later presented in a leather bound folding album for what my father recalls was about 3 dollars US. Good times.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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capt. mike
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confused....
Quote: | Originally posted by Desertbull
Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
how would that place compare with say - the Estero beach resort?
in price and amenities? |
Capt. Mike - DB says no way, I have lots of other stories bout that place, abort landing amigo! |
do you mean negative on Estero Beach or the Papagayos place??
hey - is the 1000 running south again this year??
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering
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Desertbull
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Papagayos.
Yes.
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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