Travel in Mexico, drug wars, motels, etc.

[bigmutt]

Frankly, most of the hotel de pasos that we've stayed in were of the "check-in in the evening, check-out the next morning at your conveniece" type. I hate paying double just to get a normal night's sleep so I usually just pass on those and try another.
The rates I've paid have usually been in the 200 to 250 pesos range.
And let me be clear about ALL the ones I personally have stayed at: they are newer, cleaner, fancier and more comfortable than almost anything you'll find in the centro. All have king beds, good airconditioning and large-screen TVs, many have seperate sitting area from the bedroom, and if you pay an extra ten bucks you get one with a jaccuzi in it. Otherwise some of the standard ones have marvelous showers: large, with numerous shower jets at different levels.

Yes, if you pay a lot more at a hotel in the centro you can get nice rooms and convenient walking-distance to some of the city or town's attractions; but I guess for my budget and preferences I like the private garage idea better. and yes, some have a big tarp/curtain that they use to hide your car from prying eyes. I guess I like the feeling of privacy.
As for hotels in the centro, in most latin american cities (unlike Europe, for example) the centro is often the seediest and collects the homeless and the ne'er-do-wells at a much higher rate than the suburbs where hotels de paso are usually found. Not that this is always more dangerous, but most of the travelers that I know who've had problems have had them in or around the centro. Where there's a collection of budget hotels, there's a congregation of thieves, I've always found.

[digame]

Probably most of us have a 'motel' story to tell - and I am no exception. My first trip down to Mexico my 4 yr old daughter and I went to Ajijic. At a certain stage, a couple of Canadian friends and I decided we would hit the Pacific Coast ( we were all in the 55 - 60 yr old range) along with my daughter. I had the car and we would share expenses. Well, we were pretty green, to say the least. One night as evening drew near we espied a "motel" which looked pretty nice, on the outskirts of Zacatecas. My Spanish is passable, though certainly not fluent, and we pulled in and looked for the office - duh - there is none with a door for visitors. Only this railed area to talk with the staff member and to pay. First clue. Then we got into the number of hours thing. Finally, we managed to talk them into letting us stay overnight till 9 am versus the 7 am they wanted. Clue 2. Then, as my daughter and I were going to our room, the maid warned me not to put on a specific channel. Clue 3. By then it was pretty clear what we were in. Undeterred we stayed and it was ok - elevated bed and mirrors and all. I must say I was a bit uneasy about just how clean it might be, under the superficiality. Anyway, other than a lot of in and out traffic that night, there were no problems. A few laughs with the boys the next morning and away we went. Since then my daughter and I find actual hotels to stay at but it was an interesting experience.
By the way, pretty much any hotel in el centro has gated parking, in our experience.

[RVGRINGO]

Welcome, and thanks for your motel story. Most folks, coming to Mexico for the first time, may have similar experiences with these unique accommodations.

[jeanneb2000]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Welcome, and thanks for your motel story. Most folks, coming to Mexico for the first time, may have similar experiences with these unique accommodations.

Are these motels safe for a single woman with a dog from Nogales to Ajijic? Also are they located off of HWY 15 and where would a good place be to stop for the night? I plan on stopping for 2 nights. Thanks.

[RVGRINGO]

I suppose a single person with a dog might raise some eyebrows but these motels are very discreet and you will find them on the highway (not the toll roads) on the outskirts of any city. They can be recognized by walls and an entry portal that 'jogs' to obscure a direct view of the motel inside.

[El Toro Furioso]

[QUOTE=HolyMole;123005
Using a ballpark 400 - 500 peso rate for many smaller places in or near El Centro, how do the rates at Hoteles de Paso compare?.....for a full night's sleep, that is.[/QUOTE]

We paid $225 just outside of Mazatlan, no limit to the stay mentioned nor enforced. Drive into the garage and close it. No lock on the interior door needed. Paid for the room through the lazy Susan to the outside. Ordered a Club Sandwich to share, cheap. Could have (should have) paid $50 pesos more for a room with jacuzzi. The place was very clean and the lighting was the best I've seen in a hotel/motel/no-tell in Mexico or almost anywhere else. There was hard-core porn on the TV, of which my wife did not approve. No TV allowed for me. We both look forward to our next stay en un hotel de paso (thanks for the term in Spanish). If you arrive somewhat late and leave somewhat early, nothing could be more safe, convenient nor cheap.

BTW, a Mexican friend told me that the TV fare is to attract single male customers who stay, presumably, for 7 minutes or so alone then leave.

[clarence456]

This is one of the very nice experience ha ha ha..................Thankssssssssss