La Villa has a WEB Site and you can make reservations on line and request the room you wish to have.
http://members.aol.com/hotellavilla/

Are any discounts available at V.Z., or do you have to pay the prices listed on the site? Any advice on which kind to room is the most appropriate to get a good night's sleep both with or without an overnight guest?

I know of no discounts honored @ V.Z., although I've seen tour buses stop quite often ... so ? No problem with bringing a friend to spend the night and I'd say for the best sleep would be one of the rooms in the court yard before the ally. Being I don't watch TV here in the states, I've got hooked more than once watching the movies on HBO. I also take a VCR & a Sony Playstation ... which requires you to tell the girls it's time to leave
Enjoy and be safe .....Turn the page, MuleLip

There are discounts available at VZ, but they are for extended stay and are usually for the people that stay there for business.

IMO the best rooms are in the little open area close to the ice machine - 111-114 I believe. These rooms are about $45 a night. Use your visa or mastercard you get a better exchange rate than US dollars.

There have been problems recently with security trying to shake down the gringos when a girl shows up in a taxi from her bar. These guys claim that you only signed for one person and you must pay more money. This happened twice to me and I just told security to work it out with Luis (office) in the morning - of course he never did.

At night the guys in the office will call you if your friend shows up for you. She just has to know your room number as sometimes they will not let the girls have access to the rooms. My amiga never had a problem getting to my room no matter what hour it was.

Also despite securtity trying to extort extra money for an amiga they do a good job of watching your car.

Okay, guys, I'm going to try to move the VZ thread here, so others can find it in the future.

After looking at the VZ web site, I'm left wondering what the extra $7 buys you between the 'Single Traditional' King room and the 'Single Executive' King room. Anyone know the difference between the two room types?? Other then the price.


StrikeEagle

SE,
The best feature about the Single Executive King Room for my way of thinking is the larger shower. The shower is large enough for three to move around comfortably and it has a little ledge that you can sit on or your partner can use to put to good use. Most of my amigas really get off on the showers as most of these girls do not have showers or do not have indoor bathtubs.

Also the executive rooms usually have a better television and have a desk in the room. One disadvantage I have found is that I think the king size bed in the executives is slightly smaller than the king size in the cheaper room.

El Cochino,

Just so I'm clear, do the rooms at VZ have bathtub/shower combos, or just showers?


SE

SE,
Just showers. They have some large suites in the back and possibly they may have bathtubs, but every room I have stayed in including the mini suites do not have bath tubs.

El Cochino,

Thanks for the info. For me, this situation kinda blows. I personally like sharing some 'bath time' with una chica.


StrikeEagle

Even the full suites just have showers. I was in one last weekend.

I've been staying in the "Deluxe" rooms at the VZ over the last few months. They are just a few dollars more than the "Executives" and worth it IMO. They are newer, more modern, better TV and climate control (oh yeah...lest I forget that extra bottle of water).

2 negatives: no baths and not a comfortable chair in the room. With the price in the mid-$$50's including tax, I'm starting to consider moving up to a $70 standard room at the Pueblo Amigo.

I just stayed in what I assume was a standard room over the weekend. I would clessify the room as equivilent to an old Hotel Six room in the US. So it served it's purpose well, the chica's seemed to be perfect happy there.
However next time I will probably try out the Pueblo Amigo for a bit of an upgrade.

I have stayed there several times, in literally every classification of room they have. Except for a couple of older rundown rooms in the courtyard, there are none that I would classify as low as Motel 6 quality, and certainly none as small as the typical Motel 6. Generally, I would put them on a par with Best Western, Comfort Inn, etc. Pueblo Amigo is definitely nicer, but more expensive and less convenient. Palacio Azteca is also nice, and only costs about $55 a night, about the same as the deluxe rooms at Zaragoza. It all depends on your priorities.

Hey I tried this place out last week...really nice. I was surprised I had to give the desk clerk the name of the "second" person. So I made up a name and told the chica I eventually ended up with that night her name was Michele...she seemed to understand. Also when I was walking in with her that night the security guard asked if I had registered for two and as I was about to reach for the receipt he just said "no problem" and that was that.

My question is has anyone ever had a hassle bringing in a different chica on the same day/night?

I have never had a hassle bringing multiple girls over a weekend, but then again I was never asked to give a name. When I was with my ex, I did give her name, so that they would let her in if she arrived when I was not there. However, they never bothered to see that I had registered her when she got there, and always called and woke me up instead of just giving her a key. I was never sure if they were too incompetent to check, or trying to cover my ass in case I already had a girl there.

Red,
The security guards have been getting more aggressive - When they comfront a girl coming into the hotel there is always a hassle. The owner's sister told me the only thing is that visitors are not allowed after 9 PM.

But not to worry - make sure your amiga knows your and/or your room number. All she has to do is go to the office and have them call you. The guys in the office are cool and you just come down and take her back to your room no matter what time it is.

Everytime my amiga gets questioned by the guard and winds up with him I get a call from the security shack. Either I go down and pick her up or they bring her to the room. Immediately they ask if I am registered for two people and I say yes. They call me back and say that the front office says no I am not - bull shit.

I have complained to the owner's sister about this and she says to just get the guards name and the time it happened. This guard problem has increased recently but don't let them intimidate you. Twice in my last five visits after they called me at 3 AM I yelled at them to talk to Luis in the morning and hung up.

Possibly the reason for the hassle is that the owner has most of the place covered by TV cameras and he has keeps one guard working 24 hours a day.
He pays attention to how much time they stay in the guard shack and how much time they spend patrolling the parking lot.

And yet they couldn't keep someone from walking onto the lot, breaking into your car, and driving away with it.

Probably too busy keeping tabs on those dangerous women.

Redongdo, apparently things have changed a little since I last stayed there in December.

Red, I never register for two and haven't had any problems from the desk clerks when I bring ladies to the room. The only problem is with the security guards. Some are hustlers looking for some extra dough. They're a nuisance, nothing more. A buck or two and they will go away. Or, if you don't mind the hassle, you can call the front desk and they will "disappear" the guard.

BTW, this last weekend Luis, the day clerk, proudly told me he was giving me one of the "new" rooms. I thought he meant the rooms in the back, which is a later addition. But he meant the "renovations" that had been done on the upstairs rooms: New curtains and lamps. I oooohed and aaahhhed appreciatively, but when I saw the room itself, I just had to chuckle. Same old peeling wallpaper, same old dingy carpet, same old noisy toilet. And those pictures on the wall are circa 1947, when the place was built. But, as promised, it did have new curtains and lamps. Far freakin' out!

Still and all, for the money, it's a clean, quiet, safe place to crash and I have no complaints. And bringing the occasional chica to your room for a rondezvous is a nice fringe benefit. Many thanks to MuleLip for turning us all on to the place.

Redongdo:

I have been staying at the VZ once a week for the past two months and haven't had any problems bringing my chica back...I always register for two and arrive with my chica-- I don't have her meet me there...

What I love about the VZ is that it gets you out of the insanity of the Zona for a little peace and quiet when it comes time to bunk down, PLUS, it is within walking distance of La Coahuila...the walk (always use Constitucion) is great for clearing your head at 6am...the cyber cafe next door (North on Madero) is almost like having a computer in your room, and stays open until 2am...

Also: Ricardo's-- solid and respectable-- a few feet away...Mexico Lindo one block West on Galeana...AM/PM!!...Need I say more?...

I will: for the walk back to the border from the VZ, I always walk East on Galeana, and then push North on Negrete...a nice walk during the day-- tons of little family-owned businesses-- but I wouldn't use it at night...

I'll stop rambling now...

The guards there are a joke! I can count on 2 hands the number of times i walked past them after 2am and found them sleeping on the job!

Johnnyb,
That surprises me. Only because the owner has closed circuit tv around the parking lot and the premises.

I had my car stolen there in March and the owner showed me tapes. Problem was I parked in a dead spot from the cameras - don't know what difference it would make if he or I saw them stealing the car.

Last Saturday morning I was awakened by the office at 4 AM. Someone had used a glass cutter to cut through room 115. The police and security eventually came to my room (114) and searched it.

Later the mexican/american women and her daughter spoke english to me. They had been to several clubs on Revolution and were drinking and dancing. When they came back at 4 AM some money, some papers and their passports were stolen.

Very nice lady and she kept apologizing for disturbing my sleep.

Hmm! So...the first floor rooms are not safe? Should we always insist to stay on the 3rd floor?

A quote from my favorite movie (free beer (ONE!) for the one who nails it)... 'Klaus is a moron, who believes only what he reads in the NY Post.'

Another quote in the same vein... 'An educated man reads the Times and the Post -- the Washington Times and the NY Post'.

Yeah, I know I needs SLEEP!!!

Does Rev. Sun Myun Moon (Moonies) still own the Washington Times? If so, it could have a slight pro-religion bias just as the NY Times always has a pro-Jewish bias to cater to their constituency.

The Washington Times is the conservative counterpoint to the liberal Washington Post...

YoungBrig

Are there safety boxes in this hotel? I'm planning
to make my reservation for the first week of
September.

Thanks

Stayed at La Villa over the weekend. I had to sign for my 'guest' by name, so I don't know how you would bring in a chica ex post facto.

The hotel isn't bad, much nicer than Cascadas, and has a convenient location.

When did the hotel start requiring your guest to be registered by name? I rented a room in July for ten days and told them I was registering for two. No questions were asked then or when I brought different chicas back to the room during the time I was there.

Avltourist,
That seems very strange to me that the hotel would ask that you write the name of your guest.

I stayed in late July and that was not required. The office guys are all good guys and I would be surprised if they asked me to write the name of my chica with a straight face.

Rjc98,
I think they have a safe that is available in the office for use.

This is more of a necessity since the room next to me in June was broken into somewhere between midnight and 4 AM. A mother and daughter had the room but were out dancing when the breakin occurred.

The hotel specifically wanted to know the name of my guest. No ifs ands or buts.

Explorer,

It's no problem. Just right any first name you want to on their sheet. When you bring your chosen amiga in with you just tell her "Your name is Bubba" or whatever you wrote...they understand. I've only had the security guard ask once and as I went to pull out the receipt in my pocket he said "OK" and just waved to me.

Oh and there's no extra charge or anything, just play by the rules....it's really no biggie.

Explorer,
Maybe I understand the confusion. You say the hotel wanted to know the name of your guest.

I was talking to the owner's sister a couple of months ago the next day after I and a couple of other mongers were getting hassled by the security cop when a girl came to my room very late. The sister made a comment that guests were not allowed to visit after 9 pm.

The next day I talked to Luis (day office guy), and he said when a reservation is made it is always for two people and that security never shake me down for extra money.

If you escort your amiga to the hotel it is never a problem, but if you have her try and come to your room after she gets off work it can be a problem. The girl just goes to the office and asks to call your room. The girl must know either your name or room number to do this and there is never a problem with security.

The night office guys have never given a girl a hard time that goes through this.

Also maybe when you check in you should check in as Mr. and Mrs Explorer.

Here are my experiences from 3 separate stays over the past month at VdeZ. I am now looking for a different place to stay due to inconsistent pricing and hassles from the security guards and the night-time clerk regarding chicas .

I first stayed here for 3 nights beginning Friday, 9/14/01. I called ahead, reserved an executive room (king bed) and was quoted 455 pesos (approx. $51 incl. tax). When I checked in, I registered myself and entered a name for a female companion. I did this based on the advice in this thread.

I later arranged an all-nighter. I told the chica what name she would be using if challenged by security. We arrived by taxi at 2AM and were confronted by a security guard. He tried to say that the chica was not registered. I insisted that she was as I had taken care of it during the day. The chica slipped the guard some money (I have no idea how much) and he let us continue on to the room.

The next day, a fellow monger told me about his troubles the previous night involving 2 chicas, security, and the night clerk. He was basically extorted out of $20 by the night clerk even though the rate board in the hotel office clearly shows that the charge for a third person is $7.

The second night, I returned at 12:30AM with a different chica for an all-nighter. The same security guard approached as we exited the cab. I tried to hand him a few bucks but he wouldn't take it. I told him that I had registered my friend earlier with the day clerk. The guard said that I was registered, the chica was not. About that time, a second guard approached. I was adamant that my friend was registered. The second guard told us to go ahead. The chica was quite unnerved by the episode.

The third day I checked out and later checked back in. The guard that had hassled me the previous two nights happened to be at the office at the time. I pointed out to him that I had listed the name of a female on the registration. When I returned with the third different chica in 3 nights, I stopped in the office and told the night clerk that my friend was already registered earlier in the day. I don't know the name of the night clerk. He is thin with salt and pepper hair. He started babbling about something giving me the impression that I still needed to pay more for the chica. I ignored him and walked away. The guard did not challenge us this night.

I went down 2 weeks ago on Saturday. I called ahead and guaranteed my room. When I arrived, the rate was listed as 535 pesos (about $58). When I questioned this, I was told that it was because the room was in the new building in the rear of the hotel. I mentioned that this was not a posted rate on the board. It didn't matter. The room was newer but only contained a queen bed. I did not have any chicas back to the hotel during the two nights there on that trip.

I went down last Thursday. After being up all night, I went to VdeZ at 7:30am to obtain a room. The only room available was a suite and I was quoted $80. When I challenged the rate as being more than what the rate board listed, I was told that the quote included tax. I registered for 2 people in a suite with 2 beds at a cost of 705 pesos (about $78). I did an afternoon session with a fave that went unchallenged by security.

At 11:15pm, I checked out. I told the night clerk I wanted to pay in cash in pesos rather than leave it on my credit card. He tried to charge me 770 pesos. I produced my pink copy of the registration which showed the rate of 705 pesos. He feigned surprise, "Oh, you didn't have 3 persons in the room?" What a dick.

There is no doubt in my mind that the night clerk and the security guards are trying to scam guests bringing chicas back at night whether you've registered for two people in the room or not.

Sounds to me like it's time for us to remind the staff of VZ who the guest is. Perhaps it's time that the Club Hombre community makes an effort NOT to stay at VZ.

Given the current economic conditions, I would suggest that even if our little group only accounts for one room per week, it WILL be felt by the ownership.


StrikeEagle

I've never encountered these problems but I know they happen all the time with the night staff at VZ. Rather than silently not patronizing the hotel which will not enable them to detect the reason that their business is down, it might be more effective if all of us CH VZ regulars were to Email our intention to explore other options if these hassles don't dry up immediately. I will certainly do that.

The problem with just boycotting the place is that VZ fills a niche in the El Centro area that only Hotel America can match. I much prefer the location of VZ to Hotel America.

Jocannon, you got stuck in a "Deluxe" room in that new building which does go for $58 (though I've only seen King Beds myself). However, if they confirmed the Executive reservation they should have given you the Deluxe for the Executive price.

You might want to consider the lower price "traditional" rooms which are $44 including tax. They really are completely comfortable and adequate in all respects....unless your chica requires a TV remote so she can channel surf while you're going down on her.

Any chica who 'channel surfs' at a time like that, will find the door damn quick with me! LOL How rude.

As for your plan of action, I like it. I have zero experience with VZ, so I couldn't speak to your type of idea. However, your method is what's generally accepted as a plan of action for things like this.


StrikeEagle

Oh yeah, might help if I post the E mail address: HotelLaVilla@aol.com

Many of us who stay at VZ have become acquainted with members of the family that own this Hotel. I've had a few conversations with them...and initiated by them where they would inquire about my satisfaction with the hotel or specific aspects of it's operation. They seem like very decent people and I think they'd regard our feedback with some seriousness.

In my experience, the best way to approach even the most serious consumer complaints is with calm diplomacy. Tell them why you like the place before getting down to what you don't like. Most businesses just toss away complaints that come packed with hothead attitude.

Damn, one more thing. The owners speak PERFECT 100% fluent English as if they were raised in the U.S. Don't worry about your efforts being in vain due to inability to understand any of what you write.

Erip,
I agree with you completely. I could never understand how mongers were hassled by the security guards even though I felt it must happen.

I know the owner and his sister and I know the office guys. They are all good people and have never ever had a problem with them. This is despite having a car stolen and the room next to me broken into and the mother daughter being robbed while they were out on the town.

I did get in a hassle with the security guard a couple of times with the security guard but I just kept walking. He told me my amiga was not registered and I said she was. As we walked he was right behind him and I told him just talk to Luis (day guy) in the morning.

After I closed the door on the security guard he actually called me on the phone. I told him to talk to Luis and hung up.

For me the hotel is perfect. I do know that the owner is concerned and has been concerned about business being down. He lives in San Diego, but he says it is not just 9/11, but the recession also.

Mexicans are not travelling and americans are not coming down. He points out that the businesses in the US close to the border are dying. Not because of 9/11, but because mexicans are staying at because of the recession.

I have stopped using the hotel because I was hassled by the night security just like you. I refused to pay them off and they kept calling and banging on the door because I had a girl in the room. I will not go back until the night security, who are worthless if you had your car stolen, get a clue and cater to the customers. The loss of my business is substantial, so the owner should run a tighter ship. If you know him have him read these messages it might help us if the night security crooks are cleaned up.

I just used the VZ Monday night, no probs. Here's my general strategy,

1) Register for two, make up a girls name and make sure you tell your amiga her "new name" before you get there.

2) Make nice with the security guards, I just greet them. Monday night the guy was cool, even though I had never seen him before. After I talked to him for a sec he told me his name (which I promptly forgot!) and he told me to call him if I needed any help.

The other guard who does recognize me will actually say "no senorita tonight?" if I come in at night solo. YSGMV. Your security guard may vary.

3) I keep the receipt in my back pocket. The only time I ever got hassled by the security guard...months ago...he asked something about being registered for two. I simply said "si" and reached in my back pocket and pulled out the pink receipt...didn't even get a chance to unfold it when he said "ok" and that was it.

Guys use common sense. Don't depend on verbally countering the guy, you could be lying as far as he's concerned. Your words alone don't have any impact. Pull out the document with the big number "2" on it and your girls name and what can he do?

Erip: I agree my complaints should be addressed to the owners. Since you know him, do you think he will be sympathetic about issues surrounding chicas being brought to his hotel under false names, especially different chicas on the same day or successive days. etc? I have no intentions of making either a fave or amiga nueva show ID in order to simply list an accurate name on the registration.

If you think he'll truly do something about it, I'll send him an e-mail. Or perhaps you could suggest he take the time to read this thread if he's so inclined.

BTW, I did take your advice and stayed there again recently reserving the traditional room (king bed) for 390 pesos (about $45). I did not have any chicas back there on this occasion. No problems with the night clerk since I checked in/out during the day. I didn't even see the regular guy at night. Either it was his off day or could we be so lucky that the owner has read this board and got rid of him? I am still convinced that the regular late-night clerk and the security guards have been running a scam.

If someone could straighten out the night security guards by educating the owner, I would love to use the place again. (I am somewhat concerned about vehicle theft though)

Robertsol,
Vechicle theft is a major problem everywhere and particularly in Tijuana. I wish I could remember how many cars get stolen a month in Tijuana but the policeman I talked with when I turned in my stolen car report quoted me a very high number.

In talking to the owner at the time he had one guard 24 hours a day and now has changed to two guards 24 hours a day. He shrugged his shoulders to me and asked what more can he do.

hi

i am one the few that believe you can equip your car so it will not be stolen !!

i have worked in and out of new jersey for about 5 months and have worked in new york and always traveled to the worst parts of boston.

car alarms are a joke - even the best ones

clubs are a lot better than an alarm
brakelocks that also tie up the steering wheel are even better.

you may think this is funny but i know lots of people that worked in boston that have boots in their trunks and when in a bad area apply the boot to their wheel.

i know 2 people in tj that apply boots to thier trucks.

i have a suped up truck with system and rims i use only a club and have traveled in and out of tj about 12 times and live in southbay - never a problem.

in , mass they have a huge cinemas where most of the cars are stolen and they do not touch the cars with clubs or steering locks , but take the cars with alarms instead.

my friend had his 2000 mustang stolen just a few weeks ago - i told him to get a club but he opted to get a viper ( i think thats the name) alarm system - it was 300 smacks.

the car was stolen from national city a week after the alarm was installed

thats my 2 cents

milky

I have stickshift, use an alarm and a club. I usually park at lots that have attendants. I have never been concerned when the lot is attended. It was mentioned that a car was stolen at VZ and we know the night guards are on the take, so my concern is really them. If the guards were honest I don't see how a car could be stolen from the small lot at VZ.

FWIW,

Car thefts at the VZ happened quite awhile ago didn't they? I don't recall when the last post appeared reporting a car theft.

I did ask the desk clerk about the car thefts maybe...oh 3-4 months ago and he shook his head yes and from what I could make out claimed they were a thing of the past.

El Cochino said he had his car stolen in March above, that is where I got my info. It had to involve the complicity of the night "guards" to have this occur. What has changed if the "guards" are still hitting on the customers. Again, it would be great if the place was under new and better management.