Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive 01	50		2001/10/25, 12:55 pm
	Archive 02	50		2004/05/28, 05:16 am

I agreed with youngbrig, i honestly try not to use credit cards in Mexico. whenever i go south i make sure i bring enough cash/tc for my mongering needs, concerning Villa Zaragoza, i think nobody should have to put up with their bullshit and nightly shakedowns. i make a point and not go there anymore, now i look for other places. just want to get laid, not buy a house.///

I stayed here when I was in TJ last weekend. It was the first time I ever stayed at the VdeZ. After reading through the above posts, I opted not to guarantee my reservation. It says on their web site that if you don't check in by 3:00, you lose your reservation. I showed up at about 1:30 and my room wasn't ready (the guy at the desk said it still needed to be cleaned). I paid for the room using cash, asked for a receipt and idled some time away on Revo. They didn't have my room ready until after 3:00... which is kind of strange given that they expect you to be there by that time to keep your reservation.

Does anyone have any updates on whether it's advisable to use a credit card to guarantee the reservation?

Having said all that... the rest of my stay at the VdeZ went well, and I won't hesitate to stay there again when I'm back in TJ in a couple of months. But I'll allow for the possibility that my room might not be ready till mid-to-late afternoon.

Farsider, more often than not VZ does not have a clean room to check into until later in the afternoon if they were well booked the night before. Your experience was typical. If you are a regular known to the desk staff you don't have to worry about the credit card guarantee. Otherwise, I'd either show up early as you did or make the reservation with a credit card. That of course is not a risk-free proposition since there is still leakage in their credit card security (they have changed their systems and they are trying), but you know that unless you stay at a luxury hotel in TJ you don't have the convenience of using a credit card for a guaranteed reservation or any other purpose aside from the VZ.

The positive side of being kept waiting for a clean room is that they tend to be lenient about check-out time. It is officially 1PM, but the daytime desk clerk routinely allows me to hang in the room until he gets off at 3PM...one of the reasons the rooms aren't clean early!

If you like the VZ, be sure to cultivate the morning through mid-afternoon desk clerk, Luis. He's a great guy, super competent, and takes good care of the regulars without any expectation of getting his palms greased.

Also, if you arrive early and a room isn't ready, you don't have to be concerned about leaving your luggage in the office, or in the room that they intend to put you in but needs to be cleaned.

Erip, now that you mention it, Luis was the guy I spoke with, both that afternoon and the next morning when I checked out. He seems okay. And he let me put my bag in the closet back in the office while I was waiting for the room. I was a little worried that the bag might not be there when I got back, but I'm just paranoid.

I like the rooms a lot, they are better than I had expected.

The restaurant down the street, Ricardo's, has good food at reasonable prices.

Only other thing about the VdeZ... for someone like myself who's quickly acquiring a propensity for getting around TJ solely on foot (pun intended), it's a loooooong walk to the Zona.

The walk TO the zona (and back, I guess depending on the time) is peppered with all forms of entertainment. From strip clubs to US teens dancing in the clubs above your head, from hot dog stands to restaurants like Tillys that have (IMHO) the best stuffed jalapenos, from a 100+ barkers trying to sell you a gift for your "neighbor's wife" to a very decent cigar shop with some real cuties working in it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the walk doesn't have to be a blind sprint to the zona but a detoured-rich adventure (and sometimes a complete diversion).

I tend to agree with Tjphoenix. The walk is always interesting! Depending on mood, you can go down Rev and listen to the barkers, buy coffee on 7th, laugh at the tourists up and down the street, oogle the honeys in the cigar shop, etc. If you walk straigh down the street, it is all very Mexican. A cruse down the next street over takes you by Angela's resteraunt, some of the best Mole enchaladas I have ever had!
Also, one should be aware that it is pretty easy to get a Taxi-Libre either across the street, or a block over on Rev. The Libres are much cheaper than the guy who hangs out in front, and are a great way to get around town.
Best feature(s) to me is the fact that it is quiet. Luis takes good care of me, and I like having access to the safe deposit box. Needless to say, I am a devoted VdeZ fan!

Farsider, there just isn't anything in VZ's league in Centro within any kind of walking distance to the zona. With VZ only being a few bucks more per night including free parking than the dumps in the zona, it is an outrageous bargain. You have to pay minimum twice the traditional room rate for the VZ to get anything better.

I love Ricardo's although alot of the food is just so-so. But it is a great cheerful clean & well lighted place with great people watching to come back to at 4am after a night of lunacy in the zona...often has a smattering of zona girls winding down in the wee hours and plenty of colorful characters covering several sexual orientations and identifications from the Revo area. Then of course there are the amusing monger couplings like those that I am sometimes a part of - you know, the fat 50 year old trolls with the 19 year old bonitas who would be dewey eyed if they weren't blasted!

The restaurant in the VZ itself isn't half bad and is VERY inexpensive. The VZ is also really close to Vittorio's (Revo at 9th)...an authentic Italian restaurant operated by a senior couple from Brooklyn - portions are gigantic and the check is small...great Pizza and open into the wee hours on weekends.

I love this place. I sound like a broken 8 track but I will always have nice things to say about the hotel and security staff. The people that work the desk are another thing.

One time the guy said there were no more rooms weft and I looked at the guy and said "Hey look my uncle comes here all the time and he told me to tell you to take care of me" and no lie I told him I was Ronins Nephew and he knew him by name and Erip by name!-lol
He magically found a room for me at around 50 fucks !!

A couple other times I have been turned away bekause of no rooms weft but these were friday and saturday noches at around 10ish so that is understandable.

The only minus is that there is never ever any 37 dollar wooms left. I always get stuck with the 47 dollar rooms and the last time I went there they had only a 50 something room and I told the guy for the same amount I can get a room at the Hotel PA and left and havent been back since.

Again if you want comfort there is no alternative in the zona. You would think by now some drug launderer would say this would be a perfect business and put a Plush Hotel smack dab in the middle of the zona to cater to fat 50 year old trolls willing to dish out 50 fucks for a nice room that is huffing and puffing distance from AB/CC.

Also I have never ever had a problem bringing chikas back to my room with that said I Always make sure I know who security is and will tip him a few phucks and they have seen me with a hot chika (What else do you expect?) and have never said a thing with the exception "Can I get you anything"
To my credit the girls have always looked like my novia and I always check in 2 people myself and my GF.
Hotel Paris and Hotel Beveryhills or whatever that hotel is called above Beveryhills holds nothing compared to Zaragossa and isnt much cheaper.
Besides the credit card problems and the no 37 dollar woom problems I like this Hotel and give it 7 1/2 Milk bottles out of 10 !
Nice large cleen wooms Nice AC and nice security !

I enjoy making the walk back and forth from the VZ to the Zona... once. I ended up doing it four times in one day. That's my own fault though... I didn't do a very good job of time management this trip.

I have a few questions about the Taxi Libre, but I'll carry them to the appropriate thread.

Erip, I've eaten in Ricardo's twice, but never at 4am. I can just imagine the cast of characters that must go in and out of there. Even at 7pm, there's plenty of delectable Latina eye candy.

Milky, I ended up with a $49 room and I made the non-guaranteed reservation about 3 days in advance.

I'll make a mental note to check in for two people if I think I'll even have the slightest inclination to do a TLN.

My gripes about this place are actually very minor, and I'll definitely stay there again.

Well, I did stay there again, and I have no gripes. I arrived at 12:45, and they had my room ready this time. That was totally unexpected, and much appreciated.

Funny thing about the restaurant in the VZ... I don't think I've EVER seen anyone actually eating in it.

The avocado omelet with ranchero sauce at the VZ restaurant is scrumptious!!

The only person I have ever seen in the VZ restaurant is tuff guy Jesse

Actually, they usually do a fair enough mid-week lunch business. Good bargain too at $3-4 for an entree with salad and fruit drink concoction. The food is good enough overall but they often don't have items listed on the menu. They also do a healthy trade in room service. Those waitresses who deliver food to your room have really seen it all!

AlleyKat 13 Staging

I stayed there Wednesday, checked into an "Executive" room for about $40.00 and was happy that the basics were somewhat clean and the bed was comfortable. No problem with the front desk, no problem bringing a girl in (at about 1AM). Not a bad spot really considering the aternatives and what we're really all about anyway. I'll stay there again. LOTS of California plates in the parking lot. We need to stick a note on our door with our handles, sure would be nice to hook up with a few fellow mongerers!!

Country John

Man, I paid $55 for my room, and I don't think it was an Executive room. I'm sure they're cheaper in the middle of the week, though.

That's what I have to do next time... bring a girl in.

Hey Farsider sorry we didnt hook up this time.
For an extra 4 fucks wqhy dont you go all out and get a nice room at the Hotel PA. All the Libres know where this hotel is at.
Last time I booked I room here with the peso conversion and the gamblers rate I got a room for 55 fucks !!!

It is like night and sday compared to the hotel VZD and they don't fuck with you over the chikas.
try it out, if you need help getting the rate let me know and i will get it for you
take care
Milk

Yep, I know where the PA is... passed by it several times. Just a hop, skip, and jump from the border crossing. I didn't know they had rooms that cheap there. One question... is that a mid-week rate? I've been making Sunday-Monday trips and I'm pretty much limited to that for now, because I ain't got much vacation time.

I'd definitely consider the PA over the VZ if I thought I was gonna do an all-nighter, because I imagine most chicas would love to go there.

Hi Farsidester

That is the gamblers rate which is available on a first cum first serve basis. I have used it 3 times, 2 times on a friday and wonce midweek. I would call first and then when tell me yes they have rooms avialable for gamblers rate I would secure the letter and get the room.

yes chikas lub it plus the hotle is very chika friendly.

Good Luck
milky

Milky,

I checked out the PA and the best they could do with AAA and Gambler's comp was $90 for a Friday night.

Is that the going rate for a Friday? Like the V del Z, but the PA is nicer. But I figure that it is twice as nice. Do you have a discount only given to people in the milk family?

During my years of staying at the PA, there has never been an "even" set price. A few years ago, there was a manager named Ricardo who always gave me a $55 rate. He even gave me his signed business card which afforded me the rate when he wasn't present. After that, the price always was different. The last 1/2 dozen of times I've stayed there (the most recent in April), I've paid about $100/day out the door. Now, this has always been for a suite and almost always a "10" room (410, 510, etc.) which are even larger suites.

Is it worth twice the VZ's rates. That depends on you. To me, the PA's bathrooms are worth the price of admission AND the chicas love the place. I like the area (Senor Frogs, Boleros, Luxor Massage) and the staff has always been great.

Stayed there and had no complaints. Room was a like a motel 6. If you expect worse than a motel 6, you will be ok. If you expect better, you might be unpleasantly surprised.
Didn't have a chica so I will report more the next visit.
But, remember this: I had a taxi libre who didn't know where it was and never heard of it. To them, they know it as the La Villa hotel, not anything with the name Varogoza in the name. The reason is obvious if you think about. Look at the picture of the hotel's sign.
Luis seems like a no nonsense kind of guy until he gets to know you. Which is not bad as I would rather have a guy run a tight ship in the front office, especially with potential credit card fraud going on there.

The internet cafe, good street food and Ricardos makes this seem like a good location. The walk to Revo seems like it is not a problem, but looked over my shoulder the entire way just to be safe. They were also cool about holding my bag for me. Just remember who will be there as several shifts are on the weekend and the guy you left the bag with might not be the the guy who you see when you come back.

I actually liked the walk to the zona as it is an interesting walk all the way for people watching.

I stayed here for 2 nights when Cascada said they were full for 2 nights. Nice and quiet. Planning to have my gf stay with me one night. Do you guys pay for 2 people when you bring chicas back or register for 1. Paid $48 for 2 people one bed. Seems a little pricey.

The basic price is always for double occupancy. However, even if you check in without your chica, it is good practice to write her name (or any mexicana name) in the registration. It is TJ so some of the people who work there at the desk and security guards may try to scam you if you bring in a chica who isn't registered, but the price is good for a couple.

Technically they will charge you extra if you bring back chica after chica, but they seem to be lower key about this these days than before - so long as you are reasonably discreet. I have never had any kind of hassle there but the joint was home away from home for many years and everybody knows me there.

There are lower priced rooms. Specifically ask for a "traditional" room. Those are $35 before tax, about $40 after tax. They are older rooms but they are just fine (luxurious compared to any other hotel room in Centro or ZN). All traditionals have huge King beds, AC/Heat, TV with remote, carpeting and reliable plumbing. The higher priced rooms have fancier bathrooms, more modern climate control systems, and maybe some better furnishings. They sell out of traditional rooms by late afternoon/early evening on most days and all weekends, so if you want to be certain of getting one, make an advance reservation.

It isn't my experience because of the familiarity factor, but apparently if you don't ask for a traditional room, gringos are automatically steered into the higher priced "executive", "double" and "deluxe" rooms. If they don't know you they may tell you that is all they have left even when there are plenty of traditionals. That's why making a reservation is preferable. You can do that online, but they are predictably unreliable about processing their online reservations. Call to be certain of getting what you want.

Translation: "They're fucking greedy thieves who will stick you for all they can, but since Erip is a vet at countering their scams, he only gets fucked by them occasionally".

This could be repeated about just about every business in TJ, IMO.

"This could be repeated about just about every business in TJ, IMO."
Text

That is true and the reason why I always counsel that it is a waste of time, energy and good times ever to get exercised about scam attempts in TJ or any red light district. You have knowledge in TJ, you will never be scammed...use your knowledge and embrace the scammitry - the true symbol that you are fortunate enough to have some leisure time and cash to spend in a flesh market! Now where the fuck are those flower girls? C'mon over here you sweet things.

I always register for one, make reservations ahead of time (but don't guarantee them with a credit card). I always reserve one of the traditional rooms, with the online price quoted at $41 or thereabouts each time. However, they always claim that the traditional rooms are sold out when I arrive, and steer me toward the nicer ones priced in the $48-51 range. It's only a few bucks, and not worth getting excited about IMO, but what's the trick to getting the cheaper rooms?

I wish I knew!

Last time I called ahead, made a reservation, was VERY CLEAR about what I wanted, and.... got stuck with a $51 room.

Farsider, I suppose the familiarity is a key factor in terms of my own success, but I think if you make your reservation by phone instead of online, and give them a credit card guarantee, that will help. Yes, they had credit card ripoffs there for a few years - but the problems appear to be alleviated (they even made a couple of simple changes that I suggested). I've been using credit there again with no problems for the last year.

Another thing that helps is to specifically deal with Luis when you make the reservation. Call during his 6 day a week shift (roughly 6am - 3pm). Ask for him when you connect. When you get him on the phone tell him that you have been reserving traditionals and getting stuck with higher price rooms and you want him to see to it that you are booked into the traditional - that and the credit card guarantee should do it.

If anybody ever told you my walking around name, use it! THAT will assure you VIP treatment!

Luis is the guy I've dealt with most frequently. He does appear to recognize me at this point, and in fact, gladly stowed my travel bag away in the office for several hours after I checked out last time, allowing me to cruise through TJ without lugging the thing around.

Maybe you're right, I'll make reservations by phone next time. I've been doing it over the net. The credit card aspect concerns me, but maybe I oughta get over that hump. If you've had no problems for a year, that's reassuring. BillFromR suggested that I use a card as well... he never had any problems.

Farsider,

I have also been using my credit card for over a year here also, and never had a problem. I usually make my reservations by phone also, and they have always had my room waiting.

I book the cheapest room and tip the security guard $5 whenever I bring a girl back to the room. He's also brought me condoms to my room when I needed them. One of the girls taught me to tip the guard and I've never had any problems.

If Erip tipped the guard every time he took a chica back to his room.... well, let's just say that the tips would cost more than the room!!

Curious, you know that I can't handle and don't do quantity...I just slow baste a handful of chicas for extended freshness and flavor. You kidding me?...if it wasn't for the visibility of some of my amigos of questionable virtue, the VZ staff would think that I'm a Bible salesman in Baja.

Seriously though, I won't tip anybody in TJ to leave me alone. That feels like a mordida. I do tip for tangible services provided (I would tip generously for condom room service if I ran out at a lousy time to run out).

But that's just me. It is natural and useful to grease palms in funseeking havens like TJ.

Sorry all, I guess I missed something. Who got exorcised?

I don't bring to many chicks back to La Villa. Just every once in awhile. As I recall, you can bring anyone back to the room until 9 PM. Then you have to pay the $8 guest fee and register the guest. So it's cheaper for me and less of a hassle for me to take care of the security guard. I just tell him that someone will be coming to my room later.

My somewhat checkered history with this hotel took an ugly turn this past weekend.

I arrived in town on Saturday at 11pm. I had known ahead of time that I'd be far too late to make the 3pm cutoff for holding non-guaranteed reservations at the VZ. So I decided to gamble and hold the room with my debit card. (note I said debit, not credit) Several mongers I respect have reported using credit cards there in the recent past with no problems.

Nonetheless, I was paranoid enough that upon my arrival I paid my room bill at the VZ in cash, $96 for 2 nights.

To further set the stage for this sad story, my usual way of handling money on these trips is to bring along nothing more than cash and a single debit card connected to an account containing only extra funds if needed. However, carrying large amounts of cash on my person has always made me nervous. I know many counsel leaving the debit/credit cards at home and carrying only cash, but to me it's risky either way, and debatable which is the more prudent.

Therefore, this time, I decided to make use of the ATM's at the am/pm and in the Mexicoach terminal, both of which I've found to be reliable and safe in the past. I left the remaining money in the bank account, served by the same debit card I'd used to reserve the room at the VZ, and figured I'd tap into it as necessary. Well, hindsight is 20/20...

I first became aware that something was amiss when I tried to use the ATM on Sunday morning at the am/pm and got an insufficient funds notice. It wouldn't even let me withdraw $20. So I hoofed it over to the internet cafe, brought up the transactions record from Wells Fargo's web site and discovered a mysterious transaction that had entirely drained my account and left it about $20 in the red. A series of phone calls informed me that that transaction, indeed, originated from the Villa de Zaragoza.

Long story short, I spent all Sunday afternoon and into the evening dealing with this mess. I had barely enough cash in my pocket to even make it back to the SD airport the following day, let alone practice any mongering or even eat. The resolution included a trip back across the border to find a Wells Fargo ATM in San Ysidro that would allow me to make a withdrawal against a (supposedly) negative balance. I was able to pull some cash out of that ATM, enough to barely sustain myself for the remaining 24 hours of my visit, but not as much as I'd have liked.

I requested that they cancel my card and issue a new one. I'll have to wait 7-10 working days to find out if the dispute will be resolved in my favor, and I'll also have to do without my debit card till they get around to sending me a new one.

The final step of the resolution occurred when I walked into the office at the VZ and gave the guy, a short stocky guy in a suit and tie whom I've never seen before, a piece of my mind. This guy was not Luis, who I've usually dealt with.

These trips involve a lot of planning and anticipation on my part. I don't get to TJ nearly as much as most of you. I basically lost over half of this visit because of this f***ing screw-up.

There are several lessons here, but the one germane to this thread is... do NOT give your credit or debit card number to anyone connected with the VZ. However, I'll stop short of refusing to stay there again, as I still think it's the best all-around choice in the downtown area. Just keep your plastic away from them.

I'll post here again as soon as I learn how this situation is resolved.

There's an earlier post by Erip with the same problem.

Farsider, you got buds. Look, don't let this shit happen again. You get to town, you got a problem, you need help, let one of us know. No sense in flying half way across the country to have this shit happen. I would have helped you out. I'm not a rich guy but jeez, I could have WU'd a few bucks.

Did the hotel deny w/doing or just refuse to help?

Country John

Just wanted to mention that the security guards now offer "room service." If you want "some company" they will make the arrangements and get the girls for you. Just tell them what you are looking for. Their tip is $5 bucks. The night-time desk clerk can take help you out as well.

Just wanted to mention that the security guards now offer "room service." If you want "some company" they will make the arrangements and get the girls for you. Just tell them what you are looking for. Their tip is $5 bucks. The night-time desk clerk can help you out too.

How much are room rates per night these days?
Also, is it possible to get a room here w/o RSVP and is it easy to deal with the employees if you dont speak english?

The room rates go up and down with the peso. Right now they are about $44 plus tax = approx. $49 for the most inexpensive or "traditional rooms". These rooms far exceed the standards of any other hotel room you will find in Centro or Zona Norte.

Everybody at the front desk speaks reasonably good english with one totally fluent speaker (Alejandro). The owners Ray and Nancy Nelson (brother/sister) speak perfect unaccented English.

You definitely need a reservation for the weekends and need to use a credit card to hold rooms past 5PM. During the week there is usually no problem without a reservation, at least if you arrive early. The later your planned arrival the more advisable it is to make a guaranteed reservation. During the summer months it is probably always advisable to make a reservation if you don't want to take any chances.

The credit card problems reported in past years (and I was one of the victims) seems to be under control. They are being vigilant to keep it from reoccurring.

I think they tend to run out of the less expensive rooms and generally most of my friends end up paying around $60...I haven't been there in awhile but I have not thought it to be any nicer than Hacienda de Santiago across from La Tropa.

If you believe that a room that has wall to wall carpeting, big comfortable King bed, heat and air conditioning and extended cable TV and daily maid service (without asking) isn't any nicer than a room lacking those amenities, I would have to disagree.

As I always have said, staying in zona norte hotels is more like camping than the comfort we've come to expect from hotels/motels in the U.S. Hacienda de Santiago is certainly the nicest in the zona norte and a welcome addition to the zn campsites, but it is still a zona norte hotel. Villa Zaragoza is like a U.S. roadside motel.

I did express that it is risky to come in late and expect to get one of the cheap rooms. I recommend a reservation if you come in later specifying that you want a "traditional" room. Otherwise, you may well end up in one of the more expensive rooms as Sampson suggests. You don't have to use a credit card to reserve your early arrival and insure a cheap room, but you do if you will arrive late.

As a guy who always drives to TJ I am also gratified to have free parking at my door.

I typically arrive between 4-5PM with a reservation - but I can readily see that all or most of the traditionals are gone by those hours even during the week.

Erip, I know you have much more experience than I do when it comes to this hotel..I don't really get too excited about their carpeting, but would probably enjoy the AC....

HDS does offer an estened cable package and of course maid service, and free parking.

I would guess most would prefer to be closer to the action like in the HDS, but each person can make their own choice.

I've seen the rooms at HDS and stayed at Zaragoza around 10 times and must say it is night and day.
Especially the newer part of Zaragoza. The bathrooms are huge and 10x times nicer than the HDS bathrooms.
People who want convienence and don't care about no frill rooms will enjoy HDS.
People who like quality and security and a good night sleep will enjoy Zaragoza

That is my opinion