San Jose del Cabo and La Paz
Dec 21st, 2010, 03:44 PM
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San Jose del Cabo and La Paz
My husband and I are planning a 2 week trip to Baja to visit friends late Jan. and early Feb. So as not to out-stay our welcome, we were thinking of staying a day or two in La Paz and doing the same in Cabo before we return home. Fodor's website offers some suggestions, but they are at least $200/night with a 2-3 night minimum stay. I was hoping for something around $100/night. Private accommodations are fine. We don't need swimming pools or other such amenities. Just some place clean and safe. We'll rent a car from the Cabo airport, so we don't necessarily have to stay in the heart of town in either La Paz, San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas. We are active seniors who don't smoke or have pets.
I would also appreciate any insight into renting a car out of Cabo airport, especially since our auto policy does not include any foreign coverage.
I would also appreciate any insight into renting a car out of Cabo airport, especially since our auto policy does not include any foreign coverage.
Dec 21st, 2010, 03:52 PM
#2
http://www.clubelmoro.com/
I *loved* this hotel in La Paz. It does have a pool and some ammenities like a little restaurant & certain is 'clean and safe' and is under $100/night for the basic rooms. It's at the edge of town along the highway. Sorry I've never rented a car, but I spent two weeks at this hotel in La Paz awhile back and had a great time.
I *loved* this hotel in La Paz. It does have a pool and some ammenities like a little restaurant & certain is 'clean and safe' and is under $100/night for the basic rooms. It's at the edge of town along the highway. Sorry I've never rented a car, but I spent two weeks at this hotel in La Paz awhile back and had a great time.
Dec 21st, 2010, 04:19 PM
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You might consider hiring a car & driver. We hired one for under $100 a day to take down the East Cape, on to Jan Jose del Cabo, Cabo & back through Todos Santos then back to La Paz. So I am sure you can do reverse or just one way & taking the bus the other. The Malcon in La Paz has a number of small Inns, guest houses & hotels on it or near by.
There is no real beach in own but lovely ones a few miles out of town.
There is no real beach in own but lovely ones a few miles out of town.
Dec 21st, 2010, 05:39 PM
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<b>I would also appreciate any insight into renting a car out of Cabo airport, especially since our auto policy does not include any foreign coverage</b>
We've rented cars several times in Baja, I think the simplest way is to use National since their quotes we've been given off the web site were always exactly what we ended up paying (lot of places leave off the tax and fees in the original quotes so the rate you pay ends up being much higher than what you were first quoted). Also they explain the insurance options well instead of springing it on you when you get there.
http://www.nationalcar.com.mx/en/ ... note they offer three levels of insurance coverage, you probably want the full deal (or at least the middle deal) since the laws are much different down there.
As an example in January for a week the basic rate I just saw on their site is $228 rental, plus $30 airport fee from the SJdC airport (you may be able to skip this if renting off-site), plus $36 tax. Insurance is $10-18 per day depending on the coverage you select (the site explains it well).
For places to stay, can't help you with La Paz ... we always went down either for the fishing or to relax in smaller towns and La Paz has relatively poor fishing and is very big, so we skipped it other than a couple of day trips.
Going clockwise from La Paz I'd recommend the East Cape for a quiet, 'away-from-it all' vibe, you can find cheap places near Buena Vista and Los Barriles. This is on the Cortez side of the penninsula, about half way to San Jose. Most of these places cater to fishermen and won't be busy in January ... here's a cheap place for about $75 ... http://losbarrileshotel.com/ ... here are three places we've stayed at that are a bit more expensive, in particular Punta Colorado is way out on a point isolated from everything (Palmas and Playa del Sol are near the 'action' in Los Barriles) ... http://www.vanwormerresorts.com/index.htm ... I think meals are included in the price at Punta so it's a good deal. We've had several great trips at Punta.
Next is San Jose, here's a link to a map and also a link to a list of the more expensive hotels ... http://www.loscabosguide.com/maps/mapsjc.htm & http://www.loscabosguide.com/hotels/sanjose.htm ... we've stayed at the Posada Real (now a Best Western) on the (lousy) beach and it was an OK hotel. I'd also recommend the Tropicana downtown near the square ... there were cheaper beach hotels, you can get their names from the map and search for them.
Next Cabo, the best inexpensive place there is Mar de Cortez, which is downtown and caters to surfers and fishermen and bargain hunters ... http://www.mardecortez.com/ ... just now checking the site I see rooms start at $50, up to $67 for a suite ... the suites are about 4x larger and very quiet since they are in the corners, we always got a suite and I'd recommend that. Note that like most of these prices there are additional taxes and here a service charge (24% total at the Mar de C). Anyway, for Cabo this is a great bargain and a relatively nice place.
Now going up the Pacific side there's Todos Santos well to the north, a small, quiet town that feels very classy compared to the chaos of the timeshare hawkers and bars in Cabo. I've only stayed at the Todos Santos Inn ( http://www.todossantosinn.com/ ) which is probably a bit more than you want to spend, but there were a couple dozen other lodging options and some looked very reasonable ... http://www.todossantos.cc/accommodations.asp
If you want to get away from it all then East Cape and Todos Santos are the two places to stay ... if you want to feed your wild side then Cabo is the best spot for sure. San Jose is OK but given how inexpensive the Mar de Cortez is I'd pick Cabo instead for a night.
We've rented cars several times in Baja, I think the simplest way is to use National since their quotes we've been given off the web site were always exactly what we ended up paying (lot of places leave off the tax and fees in the original quotes so the rate you pay ends up being much higher than what you were first quoted). Also they explain the insurance options well instead of springing it on you when you get there.
http://www.nationalcar.com.mx/en/ ... note they offer three levels of insurance coverage, you probably want the full deal (or at least the middle deal) since the laws are much different down there.
As an example in January for a week the basic rate I just saw on their site is $228 rental, plus $30 airport fee from the SJdC airport (you may be able to skip this if renting off-site), plus $36 tax. Insurance is $10-18 per day depending on the coverage you select (the site explains it well).
For places to stay, can't help you with La Paz ... we always went down either for the fishing or to relax in smaller towns and La Paz has relatively poor fishing and is very big, so we skipped it other than a couple of day trips.
Going clockwise from La Paz I'd recommend the East Cape for a quiet, 'away-from-it all' vibe, you can find cheap places near Buena Vista and Los Barriles. This is on the Cortez side of the penninsula, about half way to San Jose. Most of these places cater to fishermen and won't be busy in January ... here's a cheap place for about $75 ... http://losbarrileshotel.com/ ... here are three places we've stayed at that are a bit more expensive, in particular Punta Colorado is way out on a point isolated from everything (Palmas and Playa del Sol are near the 'action' in Los Barriles) ... http://www.vanwormerresorts.com/index.htm ... I think meals are included in the price at Punta so it's a good deal. We've had several great trips at Punta.
Next is San Jose, here's a link to a map and also a link to a list of the more expensive hotels ... http://www.loscabosguide.com/maps/mapsjc.htm & http://www.loscabosguide.com/hotels/sanjose.htm ... we've stayed at the Posada Real (now a Best Western) on the (lousy) beach and it was an OK hotel. I'd also recommend the Tropicana downtown near the square ... there were cheaper beach hotels, you can get their names from the map and search for them.
Next Cabo, the best inexpensive place there is Mar de Cortez, which is downtown and caters to surfers and fishermen and bargain hunters ... http://www.mardecortez.com/ ... just now checking the site I see rooms start at $50, up to $67 for a suite ... the suites are about 4x larger and very quiet since they are in the corners, we always got a suite and I'd recommend that. Note that like most of these prices there are additional taxes and here a service charge (24% total at the Mar de C). Anyway, for Cabo this is a great bargain and a relatively nice place.
Now going up the Pacific side there's Todos Santos well to the north, a small, quiet town that feels very classy compared to the chaos of the timeshare hawkers and bars in Cabo. I've only stayed at the Todos Santos Inn ( http://www.todossantosinn.com/ ) which is probably a bit more than you want to spend, but there were a couple dozen other lodging options and some looked very reasonable ... http://www.todossantos.cc/accommodations.asp
If you want to get away from it all then East Cape and Todos Santos are the two places to stay ... if you want to feed your wild side then Cabo is the best spot for sure. San Jose is OK but given how inexpensive the Mar de Cortez is I'd pick Cabo instead for a night.
Dec 21st, 2010, 07:47 PM
#5
In San Jose, we have stayed at Hotel Posada Terranova. Cheap, simple, no frill, but has a pretty nice restaurant.
Many cheap options, just depends on what amenities you need or want.
You may also want to check Alamo rental car.
Many cheap options, just depends on what amenities you need or want.
You may also want to check Alamo rental car.
Dec 22nd, 2010, 08:46 AM
#6
Ditto the recommendation of Mar de Cortez. I didn't realize from the original question that you might need a hotel there. I was there last year in February, great place. Get at least a 'Terrace' room (not the standard). I paid $67/night and thought is was a very good bargain. Right in downtown CSL.
Dec 22nd, 2010, 02:36 PM
#7
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I appreciate all the input. Very helpful. I knew the "Fodorites" would come up with some good suggestions. I'm intrigued with the idea of hiring a car/driver out of Cabo.
Stewbear--how did you make contact with the driver? Are they available at the airport?
Stewbear--how did you make contact with the driver? Are they available at the airport?
Dec 23rd, 2010, 07:47 AM
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We actually met him in La Paz taking his cab from El Centro to our hotel on the beach South of town. He became our regular driver. On the all day trip he drove a large van taking the 5 of us.
He actually lived in San Jose but "commuted" daily to La Paz. Unfortunately I have misplaced his card.
He actually lived in San Jose but "commuted" daily to La Paz. Unfortunately I have misplaced his card.
