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Dear All:

I'm planning a trip to Baja (finally!) for mid-August. I'll be staying about 3 days in San Quintin and 3 days in or south of Ensenada. I would appreciate some advice on places to stay. I would like a safe, clean, quiet and cheap room (under $50, if possilbe) in each of these areas. (Note: I only need a SINGLE room, and some hotels, e.g., the Estero Beach have none and charge more than my budget permits.) Details below:

1) San Quintin Area. (I gather the single rooms at Las Jardines aren't very nice, and I don't want to pay double prices.) 2 hotels have been suggested, and I think they are only $35/night: Maria Celeste and Villas de San Quintin. Are they decent, and if so, which is better?

2) Preferably, south of Ensenada, e.g., around Punta Banda. Otherwise, in Ensenada.

Any help will be appreciated!

In San Quintin- While you "don't wish to pay for a double at Jardines", a double is just $50. And it's an extremely pleasant place to stay, with a fine restaurant next door. The other two places you mentioned are both on the main highway, where as Jardines is some distance from it. However, Maria Celeste and Villas are both places we would stay. I also recently read a post on that other site about the Hotel Santa Maria, formerly La Pinta, which was bought by the Los Pinos people and renovated. It is now named after the beach on which it sits. I recall a post mentioning that they were offering rooms for $45.

As for your Ensenada stay- if you really want to be away from centro, you might find that the Hotel Joker would work.

Hi, Odd. Thanks! I didn't realize doubles at Jardines were only $50. But actually, this is sort of a "working trip" -- to look at real estate, and I don't think I'll be in the room much, anyhow. A better question might be: Which is better, a single room at Jardines or a room at one of the 2 hotels I asked about above? (All are $35/night.)

In the Ensenada area, I'll be looking at property around Punta Banda and Puerto Escondido. Is the Joker in that direction? It's not so much that I want to be away from the center of Ensenada, it's that I thought it would be more convenient to be closer to the areas in which I'd be looking at real estate.

You may want to try The Old Mill. It is located just a couple klicks south of San Quintin, there is a big sign at the turn-off. Clean rooms, clean linen, a wonderfull view of San Quintin Bay, and very gracious American host's from Seattle. In June we had three rooms for 4 days at $42 apiece.

I wouldn't recommend "The Joker" to anyone that I would like to keep as a friend, let alone anyone I don't know. Maybe someone from Punta Banda will chime in with a place or a casita on a day rental basis????

Originally Posted by Msterieus

Hi, Odd. Thanks! I didn't realize doubles at Jardines were only $50. But actually, this is sort of a "working trip" -- to look at real estate, and I don't think I'll be in the room much, anyhow. A better question might be: Which is better, a single room at Jardines or a room at one of the 2 hotels I asked about above? (All are $35/night.)

In the Ensenada area, I'll be looking at property around Punta Banda and Puerto Escondido. Is the Joker in that direction? It's not so much that I want to be away from the center of Ensenada, it's that I thought it would be more convenient to be closer to the areas in which I'd be looking at real estate.

If you prefer having a window in your room, then don't get a single at Jardines. As for the comment on the Joker, the price issue is my main reason for mentioning it. I have only heard negatives about it being noisy.

LOL, I wondered about a place called "The Joker." Sounded like it should be in Las Vegas, or else, like a place haunted by a Batman bad guy!

But Bajahowodd -- I DO appreciate your suggestions!

Yes, the former LaPinta also was suggested to me. It apparently is $45/night. All else equal, I'd stay at a $35/night place....

Inasmuch as it is very conspicuous architecturally, you WILL see the Joker, regardless of where you stay.

BTW, I guess Ron is not around right now to chime in, but I can recount that he once told me that the times he was unable to get a room at Jardines, he preferred Maria Celeste over Villas. He said something about preferring the vibe.

Dear all --

I think I have "scored" on a casita in Punta Banda, thanks to El Teniente. Bajahowodd - thanks for the warning about the windowless room(s) at Jardines. I'll wait for further advice about the other two places...

Congrats !!!! Enjoy the drive out there it's a long road and lots to look at along the way scenery wise, be sure to make some time to see the blowhole one thing you need to put on your to do list for sure, besides Sharkeys that is.... LOL

Right in cantu there is a small motel if your casita dont work out. Watch out for the Real Estate people out there real blood suckers.there is a lot of very affordable places on the market right now in that area Best for you if you deal directly with owners if you can.it will save you money in the long run and the so called real eatate people cant really do that much for you except take your money.

Originally Posted by J.P.

Right in cantu there is a small motel if your casita dont work out. Watch out for the Real Estate people out there real blood suckers.there is a lot of very affordable places on the market right now in that area Best for you if you deal directly with owners if you can.it will save you money in the long run and the so called real eatate people cant really do that much for you except take your money.

Thanks, JP! I imagine you went through something like that, yourself. At this stage, I am just looking. Unless I really cannot resist something, I expect I'd rent down there before buying anything.

don't think I'm really ready to buy. Also, I KNOW I'll be better off renting

Not at all I bought my place from the builder owner directly. I know people that went through the grinder dealing with some of the so called real estate people. If you buy a place on leased land you only need to deal with the owner of the land and with the owner of the improvments.
make sure the lease is drawn up legaly.

Originally Posted by J.P.

Not at all I bought my place from the builder owner directly. I know people that went through the grinder dealing with some of the so called real estate people. If you buy a place on leased land you only need to deal with the owner of the land and with the owner of the improvments.
make sure the lease is drawn up legaly.

Ditto J.P. so many "realtors" here are not actually what they say, yes they earn ones trust, but have no clue what they are doing and just looking for a fast buck, have found in my experiences with 3 homes here the American realtors are the worst of the batch, then again, that is "my experience" .....

In the early 90s I was able to recive a California Real Estate Apraisal license.After which I moved to Springfield MO. and obtained a Missouri Real Estate Brokers license and joined one of the largest Firms there. Through that experince I learned that most all Real Estate law is written to protect the unscrupilous performance af the agency not the client as one would expect. The one benifit from that experince was I became more knowledgable of the inner workings of the trade.Which I put to use buying and selling Real Estate for myself. It is my opinion The majority of the people in the Real Estate buisness are nothing but bottom feeders.and the ones that wind up in Baja werent crooked enough to make it in the States and the worst of them use the tearm REALTOR.with thier name.

Yikes -- scary about the state of realtors (there and here)!

PJ - as No Prob. may recall, I won't buy a house on leased land. I probably would get my own attorney if and when buying a property (depending on quality of realtor).

OK -- it's done! I have booked a trip. Will be in Punta Banda area on 8/19 - 8/22 and S. Quintin area 8/23 - 8/25. No Prob: ready for brunch?

I am just waiting for more input on the hotel choices in S. Quintin. I'd better bug Baja Gringo about it...

Originally Posted by J.P.

In the early 90s I was able to recive a California Real Estate Apraisal license.After which I moved to Springfield MO. and obtained a Missouri Real Estate Brokers license and joined one of the largest Firms there. Through that experince I learned that most all Real Estate law is written to protect the unscrupilous performance af the agency not the client as one would expect. The one benifit from that experince was I became more knowledgable of the inner workings of the trade.Which I put to use buying and selling Real Estate for myself. It is my opinion The majority of the people in the Real Estate buisness are nothing but bottom feeders.and the ones that wind up in Baja werent crooked enough to make it in the States and the worst of them use the tearm REALTOR.with thier name.

There are many of us Realtors in California who take our fiduciary duty to our clients very seriously. Since you've never taken the California Real Estate exam, I'll have you know that it is the toughest of all 50 states. Only 49% of those who take it get a passing score. I've worked with many fine agents who adhere to California Real Estate Law and whose main concern is helping clients purchase a home that they can afford. I've also known a few bad apples but sooner or later they forfeit their license and the Benzo. You are correct about most of Baja Real Estate agents though, I've had nothing but problems in my dealings with them for American clients.

Originally Posted by Msterieus

I am just waiting for more input on the hotel choices in S. Quintin. I'd better bug Baja Gringo about it...

I gave you my advice but you didn't like it. So you want me to change my advice???

Originally Posted by Msterieus

Yikes -- scary about the state of realtors (there and here)!

PJ - as No Prob. may recall, I won't buy a house on leased land. I probably would get my own attorney if and when buying a property (depending on quality of realtor).

OK -- it's done! I have booked a trip. Will be in Punta Banda area on 8/19 - 8/22 and S. Quintin area 8/23 - 8/25. No Prob: ready for brunch?

I am just waiting for more input on the hotel choices in S. Quintin. I'd better bug Baja Gringo about it...

Ready when you are !!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

I gave you my advice but you didn't like it. So you want me to change my advice???

Testy?