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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Driving in Cape/La Paz; + question on CDW for rental car
Greetings all,
The Nomads have convinced me that we'll need a rental car, so I wanted to figure out a couple of things. I searched but didn't find these on the
board.
- In practice, do credit cards like Visa really cover the rental car for collision/damages (CDW)? I know they claim to, but I wondered how that has
worked out in practice - anyone have experience with that? (I know PLI is required; FYI, we're renting through Alamo at SJDC airport)
- How is Highway 1 in the Cape area? My wife gets a bit queasy with tons of hair-pin turns and really windy roads. Looking at the maps, it looks like
the road winds quite a bit, but I wanted to hear first-hand about that.
- How easy is it to drive in La Paz (traffic, crazy drivers, etc.)? I'm guessing in the Cape area, it's fairly laid back. We're staying at Posada Luna
Del Sol, near the Malecon, for four nights, so I wanted to get a sense of what to expect.
Thanks in advance for any info.
[Edited on 8-19-2013 by jay045]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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A word of advice
When you rent the car, do a complete damage inspection inside and out to include the trunk (spare tire and jack). Complete this inspection with an
employee of the rental company.
During the inspection take photos of any damage, and overall photos of the car (in the event the rental firm claims damage)....also include the rental
car company employee in the photos..........this will solve any problems when you turn in the car.
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
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the only really windy part of the road down here is from about 5 miles south of the La Paz- Todos Santos-San Jose bridge heading towards Los Barriles.
The paved road winds over, throughand down the mountains for about 1 hour passing El Triunfo, San Antonio, San Bartolo then dropping down to Los
Barriles finally. After Los Barriles its not that windy anymore. San Jose to Cabo is straight. Cabo to Todos Santos is paved, 4 lanes, mostly straight
with a few twists here and there but not really full of curves. The dirt East Cape road from Cabo Pulmo to San Jose is mostly straight too.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Are you still going to Todos Santos your first night?
If so, take the toll(cuota) road to the end. Take a right and you will be on your way to TS. Good road not too many turns.
Coming back from La Paz take #1...stop in El Triunfo, go to the piano museum. You can stop in Santiago(Blanca's suggestion). This is a windy road
but by making some stops maybe your wife will be ok.
You might want to take the Las Ventanas road out of La Paz....you could stop there as well. This road will dump you out on #1 at San Antonio, another
interesting little village.
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Thanks all! That answered several of my questions. Thanks BFS and Judy, I have a better sense of the road and the conditions.
Judy, we are planning on going to TS and will take your suggestion about the toll road. And we'll take your suggestions on #1, El Triunfo and as many
of the other towns. We are so looking forward to this and appreciate the guidance.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3572
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Online
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
When you rent the car, do a complete damage inspection inside and out to include the trunk (spare tire and jack). Complete this inspection with an
employee of the rental company.
During the inspection take photos of any damage, and overall photos of the car (in the event the rental firm claims damage)....also include the rental
car company employee in the photos..........this will solve any problems when you turn in the car. |
Only thing I would add is when you're doing the walk around with the rental person, have him/her make a note in writing of scratches, dents, anything
that you could be charged for. And x2 for the photos.
Driving in La Paz: Mexicans, generally speaking, do NOT stop for Stop Signs. They roll through them slowly. They roll through Amber Lights.
Tailgating is allowed in town. I always think there is lots of traffic in town and people drive too fast. Eventually, you get use to all
this. Ignore traffic offenders and stop completely at Stop Signs, don't go through Amber lights.
If stopped by a traffic cop, plead ignorance.
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RnR
Senior Nomad
Posts: 839
Registered: 5-1-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jay045
- In practice, do credit cards like Visa really cover the rental car for collision/damages (CDW)? I know they claim to, but I wondered how that has
worked out in practice - anyone have experience with that? |
My Mastercard covered collision damages.
I declined CDW at the rental agency (Avis at SJD), found hit and run fender bender damage on the rental car a few days later, had to pay for the
damage upon return of the rental car (via credit card), Mastercard reimbursed the damages in about four days after turning in the damage claim upon
return to the US.
Read your individual Mastercard/Visa agreement for details PRIOR to renting the car.
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Lee, thanks much - that really gets at what I was trying to understand about La Paz. Great advice on the rental car walk through.
RnR, thanks so much for the insight (and sorry for your experience). That gives me some piece of mind, and I'll check into the exact language on the
agreement.
Alamo takes a $700 deposit as part of the rental, and I feel more confident knowing that credit card processors with CDW protection do follow through
(plus, I'll definitely do a careful walk through, take photos of damage, etc.).
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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We have a late flight on a Monday (4:55pm). Is it feasible to spend the night at Los Barriles, and go directly to the SJD airport (we'd probably start
heading in that direction no later than noon)? Or are there variables that make staying at a hotel in San Jose Del Cabo the smartest thing to do? I
can imagine it's an easier piece of mind, but it didn't look like a particularly hard drive between LB and SJD.
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danaeb
Senior Nomad
Posts: 991
Registered: 11-13-2006
Location: San Diego; El Centenario
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Mood: groovy
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Here's a link for some fun maps of the areas you'll be visiting. La Paz can be confusing for the first-timer. Many downtown streets don't have street
signs and to add to the confusion, they are mostly one-way.
http://www.gotbaja.mx/destinos.html
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake every time you repeat it.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3572
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Online
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jay045
We have a late flight on a Monday (4:55pm). Is it feasible to spend the night at Los Barriles, and go directly to the SJD airport (we'd probably start
heading in that direction no later than noon)? Or are there variables that make staying at a hotel in San Jose Del Cabo the smartest thing to do? I
can imagine it's an easier piece of mind, but it didn't look like a particularly hard drive between LB and SJD. |
Personally, I would stay here first night. If arriving on a later flight, you've been up and traveling awhile. On arrival, think margs, great MX
food and a pool.
http://www.hotels.com/ho417039/best-western-aeropuerto-los-c...
Next to the airport, get's good reviews and read somewhere the food is good.
If you can err on taking more time, or pushing on, take the time. Relax, have fun, and don't hurry.
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Thanks Lee, totally makes sense.
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
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Mood: alegre
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Posada Luna Sol
Very nice property, clean, decent beds and centrally located. Say Hola to Ricardo, the charming owner....safe enclosed parking, and very near the
Chedraui superstore...I use Luna Sol for my La Paz pit stop when I travel down from Loreto to deal with my fideicomiso and other banking....love it!
So easy to find, on a side street
nice view from the upper patio
a relaxing quiet corner
Don Ricardo, the charming owner
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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volcano
Nomad
Posts: 348
Registered: 3-5-2007
Location: Cave Junction, Oregon and Boca Del Salado area, Ea
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Mood: always pining to be there
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the road section El Triunfo, San Bartolo, though mountainous and windy, is one of the most special, cultural, and unique areas of Baja Sur.
Rental Car damage experience: I had gotten an american express card just for the purpose of car rental damage protection..if needed. On my trip last
year.. a young woman backed into my car in a tienda parking lot, on my entry day into my area. She had a borrowed truck, and no coverage. Headlight
and fender damage. When I had the chance, I called am.xpress...and asked the process of filing claim, and I exchanged the car with the rental co.
they of course took photos, had me write a report, etc. Am.xpress gives you unlimited time to file the claim (months).....in my case they reimbursed
my card with costs the rental car co charged at the end of my contract. they do however require total documentation.....so you or the rental co. must
provide copies of everything..including estimates etc. flat, damaged, or unfixable tires are not included.
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RnR
Senior Nomad
Posts: 839
Registered: 5-1-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jay045
We have a late flight on a Monday (4:55pm). Is it feasible to spend the night at Los Barriles, and go directly to the SJD airport (we'd probably start
heading in that direction no later than noon)? Or are there variables that make staying at a hotel in San Jose Del Cabo the smartest thing to do? I
can imagine it's an easier piece of mind, but it didn't look like a particularly hard drive between LB and SJD. |
Los Barriles or San Jose are both good choices.
Barriles is less than an hour from the SJD airport. Hwy 1 is a very good road, 60+ mph, essentially straight and flat with just a few curves thrown
in.
From downtown San Jose, it may take you 30 min to get to SJD even though it is only about ten miles. Depends how far into San Jose you stay. Lots of
stop lights and city traffic.
The Best Western at the airport is very nice, with a very good restaurant, and about $80 USD. Walking distance to your terminal. A good choice if
you have an early morning departure.
With a late afternoon departure, stay somewhere offsite and experience one more night/day of the Baja experience.
For the Baja experience, I'd choose the Los Barriles area. San Jose is beginning to tend more towards the Cabo experience. 
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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Awesome, thanks for the photos!
| Quote: | Originally posted by Loretana
Posada Luna Sol
Very nice property, clean, decent beds and centrally located. Say Hola to Ricardo, the charming owner....safe enclosed parking, and very near the
Chedraui superstore...I use Luna Sol for my La Paz pit stop when I travel down from Loreto to deal with my fideicomiso and other banking....love it!
So easy to find, on a side street
nice view from the upper patio
a relaxing quiet corner
Don Ricardo, the charming owner
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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Thanks! We switched up our itinerary a bit and decided to stay in San Jose (we'll have plenty of time on the East Cape prior to that). We're planning
to stay at the Marisol in town; since we leave later in the day, it just seemed like a better bet. But I might flip on that and switch to LB, since it
might be a culture shock going to SJ after being on the East Cape (Cabo Pulmo).
| Quote: | Originally posted by RnR
Los Barriles or San Jose are both good choices.
Barriles is less than an hour from the SJD airport. Hwy 1 is a very good road, 60+ mph, essentially straight and flat with just a few curves thrown
in.
From downtown San Jose, it may take you 30 min to get to SJD even though it is only about ten miles. Depends how far into San Jose you stay. Lots of
stop lights and city traffic.
The Best Western at the airport is very nice, with a very good restaurant, and about $80 USD. Walking distance to your terminal. A good choice if
you have an early morning departure.
With a late afternoon departure, stay somewhere offsite and experience one more night/day of the Baja experience.
For the Baja experience, I'd choose the Los Barriles area. San Jose is beginning to tend more towards the Cabo experience. |
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
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"We enjoy cultural activities, history, and local flavor..." "We're both intermediate level Spanish speakers, and our travel Spanish is pretty good."
Based on this statement you might want to avoid Los Barriles altogether...
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Thanks BFS. We actually decided not to stay at Los Barriles; we'll be at Cabo Pulmo for two nights instead, and then one night in San Jose.
We actually are going to do the itinerary you suggested almost verbatim - I am so appreciative of the guidance, and great detail you provided!
| Quote: | Originally posted by BFS
"We enjoy cultural activities, history, and local flavor..." "We're both intermediate level Spanish speakers, and our travel Spanish is pretty good."
Based on this statement you might want to avoid Los Barriles altogether... |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65102
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Stop for dried mangos or mango candy in San Bartolo. If pitayas are being sold along the highway, try them!
In Mexico, the green traffic light blinks before turning amber the red is much sooner to come. So consider a green blinking signal the way we in CA
consider an amber... stop if you can safely, pass through if you are too close to the intersection to stop smoothly.
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