Folks:

Decided to check-out Hotel America this past Sat-Sun as procuring a room at the VZ on the weekends has become rather troublesome...perhaps the VZ's popularity on this board is affecting its weekend occupancy levels?...yo no se...

Anyway, I will breakdown my findings into a pro-con format:

Pro:

1. 430 pesos for a sencillo...plus twenty pesos mas for a key deposit...450 pesos total...pretty reasonable price, I thought...

2. Very clean, well-appointed room...relatively new artwork on the wall and a nifty sink alcove...

3. Nice, modern bano-- approaching the deluxe at the VZ but smaller...sparkling clean white tile...

4. Very sharp-looking recepcion with a uniformed staff...

5. Strong and powerful A/C...

6. Relative to the VZ or Motel Leon, the walk from the border is much easier...after crossing the lovely TJ river simply turn left and walk South on Negrete to 4th and then turn left again and walk East 1/2 block...its between Negrete and Ocampo...

7. The walk from the Zona is much easier...For instance, I woke up at Cascadas at 10am on Sun Morn and was back at Hotel America at 10:20am...

8. For cash-strapped mongers like myself: yes, tarjetas de credito are accepted...

9. Rather sophisticated-looking restaurant area...

Con:

1. Limited selection on cable...Am I the only monger that gets bored with that "Hoy" show that seems to run 24 hrs/day on the Xijuana/Tijuana channel?

2. The showerhead in the bano is of the Cascadas/Coahuila variety

3. Fairly hi-profile security presence had me developing contigency plans for bringing my chica back to the room...not to worry, as per our typical M.O. we wound up getting a room (231) together at Cascadas...:-)

4. Room was a bit small...I am used to the Executive and Deluxe at VZ which allows for a little more breathing space...

5. 12 noon checkout time...:-(

Conclusion:

Hotel America definitely rates over the Single and Traditional at VZ, but does not top the Deluxe...at 450 pesos, tho, it may from a value perspective...

From any perspective, it unquestionably rates over the Motel Leon-- unless you happen to be a hardcore jacuzzi guy...

YoungBrig

Nice report. And don't go dissing my favorite TV show!

Young Brig,
I have seen the jacuzzi rooms at Hotel Leon and was impressed. The reason I went over to check out the rooms at Hotel Leon is that my favorita told me about them -- she doesn't get impressed very easily. She went on and on about the jacuzzi room and dinner at La Costa. My problem was that the gringo that took her there paid her about double what I pay for an overnighter.

My question is what do you think about the rooms at the Hotel Leon - both jacuzzi and non jacuzzi? I have heard from old timers that the place is dirty - it did not appear to be from my brief tour. The office guy told me that they did not charge to bring girls up to the room. My visit to check the place out was in August of last year and the rooms Jacuzzi rooms were $85.

I liked the underground parking at Hotel Leon - did Hotel America have any accomodations for parking?

I went there and found them to be $85. Have you ever stayed here or in the regula

What is the address of Hotel America?

Hotel America is located on 4th and Ocampo. From the zona, go south on Rev. on 4th st make a left. I beleive 4th turns into Diaz Miron or something like that, anyways stay on 4th st. Hotel America is located on the left hand side of the street look for the yellow bldg. At the counter ask for a discount on the room, they usually give you about five dls. off, which I use to tip the security guard. The staff is pretty cool with you bringing chicas back to the room. I always get th tumbs up when I bring the chicas to the room. One guy even told me "Bon Appetite" on the way to the room.
For further details on Hotel America, search thru the old postings on REDSNAKE.COM

El Cochino:

I stayed at the Motel Leon two weekends ago...

One problem in particular with Motel Leon is that it is too close to Revo and thus on weekends it is pretty noisy all the way until daylight...kind of like Cascadas...

My room at the Leon was the opening price-point Sencillo but I did note that they offer a remodeled Sencillo which may have some potential...for instance, my room did not have A/C but I noted that the rooms across the hall had units...

My room at the Leon was unclean-- but perhaps not egregiously so-- and was sparely appointed and frankly reminded me of Cascadas-- which I consider to be a pretty lame hotel from a creature comfort standpoint...

At the desk the Jacuzzi rooms were listed at 900 pesos so I of course passed but would be curious to check them out...I don't doubt that they are pretty nice altho the general feel of the place is rather lo-rent to me...This contrasts with Hotel America which makes a big splash from the standpoint of exterior "newness" and "niceness"...

The desk attendants at Leon are easy-going and friendly...

Hotel America has drive-in parking with 24-hr security-- rather similar to the VZ in this regard...

Leon does have plenty of rooms available, tho...My particular hall contained 6 rooms and I was the sole occupant...this was a Saturday to Sunday stay...

La Costa is alright-- not fantastic considering the prices-- but going there impresses the chicas, I think...especially if you are with una Jaarocha from Veracruz as these little babes are totally into mariscos...

YoungBrig

Porker:

As for your fave show, if I ever again have to sit thru its trotting-out of that Chef dude (the one that looks oddly like an an ex-member of Garibaldi) to mix-up yet another motherfetching ensalada, I will be forced to strap-on my Doc Martens and implant a jackboot deadcenter into the color television screen...

This despite the fact that YB, frankly, is as mild-mannered as they come...

Just say no to "Hoy"...

YoungBrig

YB and Cityog, thanks for your reports on Hotel America. VZ is pricing itself out for me and last time there the deluxe room was in fairly serious disrepair...unacceptable at the current price. Lately I've been staying at Cascadas...it was a fresh experience at first, now the thrill is gone. I need new lodging and been considering Hotel America.

2 questions for ya YB:

You mentioned that Hotel America rooms are superior to standard rooms at VZ. I've stayed in the Execs and Deluxes, but looking inside the "traditionals", they look older, but no less comfortable - basically identical. I guess I'm asking what's wrong with the VZ "traditionals"?

Is "Hoy" on TV Azteca...mixture of news, entertainment and talk shows? Since I'm addressing YB, I'll say that I love that fetching station...wouldn't leave the house if we had it in L.A. Last week the morning talk show hosted by three "fetching" chicas was discussing the mysteries of the female orgasm and how do you know if you've given her the big O...talk and some video that is almost too hot for late night U.S. TV. Fully half the small studio audience appeared to be children under the age of 13.

Erip:

The major problem with the "Traditional" rooms at the VZ is that their bathrooms are rather lame...in addition to being small and cramped, the shower stalls invariably leak and the stall doors will not close...

The "Executive" rooms' bathrooms have a tiled bench inside the stall and thus are bigger...unfortunately, however, they have the same issues as the "Traditional" rooms in regards to leaking shower stalls...

The "Deluxe" at the VZ, however, has newly-tiled, spacious bathrooms with a ledge around the shower stall that prevents leaking...the bathroom also has one of those timer-activated overhead lamps-- which is a nice touch and provides me with memories of home...

In addition, the "Deluxe" room has an overall sense of "newness" and "modernity" not extant in the Traditional and the Executive...

Thus, it is somewhat surprising to hear that you found your Deluxe room in disrepair...you're positive it was a Deluxe and not an Executive? The Deluxe rooms are in the "overflow" section of the VZ, East of Callejon Madero (which empties onto Galeana) and contains room #s 117-122, 237-242, 307-312, 243-245, and 313-315...I just happen to have my trusty VZ map laying on my bookcase here...:-)

As for "Hoy," if you didn't see an ex-Garibaldi member trotted-out to mix up a motherfetching ensalada during the hour that you were tuned in that morning, then the show you were watching was not "Hoy"...frankly, I don't think 20 minutes ever passes before he comes strolling out...

"Hoy" often utilizes Laura Flores (the telenovela actriz y cantante) as a host...do you know who she is?...If she was on the show you are referring to, then you have indeed had the distinct disprivilege of tuning into what has to be one of old Mejico's most mind-dulling and inconsequential Television offerings...

YoungBrig

YB, I'm a frequent flyer in the VZ deluxe rooms and have been in the execs a few times. You correctly pointed out the differences between those two levels...deluxe has better bathrooms and the rooms are new and more modern overall. I've never really had any serious complaints about the deluxe, but my last two stays the rooms were in a state of deterioration (heat didn't work, window was broken, trashed carpet, et al.)...but thank St. Adelita that TV Azteca still comes through nice and clear! I hope these are isolated incidents and not an indication that they are lowering maintenance standards.

The traditionals have a basically identical look to the execs and if that's the case, I'd switch over to those on any visit unless I'm planning something special. So aside from the better shower, do you know any other differences between exec and traditional?

And what about that motherfetching Rooster - anyone ever have problems with that boy? On recent visits except the last, this fowl creature who resides somewhere close by in the neighborhood, begins doin' that thing that roosters do in the pre-dawn hours (around the time I'm getting to bed) and keeps going straight through until close to noon. I am an animal lover, but I want to see that bird inside a tasty soft corn tortilla underneath a lovely green sauce.

Erip:

The executive rooms are bigger, plus they contain a big motherfetching desk where you can spread out all of your business items and papers to work on during your down time in TJ...

Yeah, right...

Actually, the big desk comes in handy when you bring back those cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and jugos de naranja from Am/Pm...

As for the rooster, I know that I was awakened one fine morning in TJ by the crow of an authentic Mejican gallo, but I was thinking that this had occured in the Los Cumbres neighborhood of our fair city, rather than in the vicinity of Galena y Madero...

YB's memory isn't quite what it used to be, tho, so he will continue to think about this one...

YoungBrig

Stayed at this place last week to check it out. I think at one time it was a pretty nice place. Now it is a little run down, especially in the restaurant area. The room was clean and very ok as I was not going to bring anyone back. Had a king size bed and they quoted $53 but agreed to $42. Food was good, Had a cheesburger and fries room service style. Was quick and good. They did not take credit cards for the room so was cash. Would stay again. It is not the Pueblo Amigo or Grand Hotel but less than half the price.And they had secure parking in their enclosed courtyard for my car.

Just looked through the thread and I see there are other hotels refered to even though this thread is the Hotel American. That is what I was posting about, the Hotel American

Jose:

I tried to get a room there on New Year's Eve and that's what I found, too: they are no longer accepting credit cards...

I walked up to Rio Rita and stayed there, instead...

It remains a good El Centro option-- I still prefer it to the VdeZ basic and executive rooms, but the VdeZ deluxe rooms are better...

It sucks, tho, that they will not take credit cards anymore...I am always strapped for efectivo...

YoungBrig

Where is the Hotel America? This place was recommended to me by an American SG. She says it's relatively new and cheaper than La Villa Zaragoza.

It is on Calle Cuarto between Ocampo and Negrete. Did not look relatively new to me but was clean, had decent food, and secure parking for my car. Quotes 53 but accepted 42 for a room with king size bed. Their phone number is 88 27 19 or 88 27 11 or 88 27 31. I think the local prefix is still 66. Look for the large yellow building as it is easy to miss. Does not take credit cards

Jose

I think the actual name is the Americana, but I'm not positive. Sounds like the same place from the directions. I've taken a couple of favoritas there for TLN sessions and was pleased with the accomodations. Good beds, clean, good bath facilities, etc. Air-conditioning was some of the best in TJ!!!
ECJuan

There may indeed be a Hotel Americana but the place I stayed at on Calle Cuarto is the Hotel America.

Jose

Jose's right on all accounts. I got stuck by a taxi driver who told me he knew a "better" place than Hotel America.

Hotel America is the "Plymouth Rock" of monger Hotels.

Fellow hombres, think that the hotel America IS the place to stay in TJ, "VZ, eat your heart out".///

Is there a way to make reservations? Sounds like my kind of hotel!

Sandy

I hope all you guys stay at HA since VZ has been too damned crowded and tough to book this summer. However, I think this hotel is a bad deal all around compared to the Villa Zaragoza. You can qualify or disqualify my opinion considering I haven't stayed at HA for over a year.

When I stayed there the room rate was at least as much, but I believe more than a VZ "traditional" room. The room was 1/3 the size, inferior/shabbier appointments all around, a much less desirable and "happening" neigborhood and just as long a walk to the zona norte as VZ. It had a "Motel 6" feel as opposed to the "Holiday Inn Express" feel of the VZ. Then they'll centavo and peso you for little things like drinking water...you actually have to purchase your own drinking water at this hotel.

The place looks good from the outside and in the lobby, but IMO it is separated from being the same kind of dump that 99.999% of the other centro hotels are only by the fact that it has A/C, TV and parking.

I haven't stayed at America, either, for some time, but as of 2001, I considered the America rooms to be nicer than the VZ tradicional but perhaps not as good as the VZ deluxe...

In regards to ambience, I have never been one for room service so I am unable to comment on Erip's points about drinking water, but at least at America I was never looked at with disdain and basically told to 'f-off' when trying to acquire a room...I think the VZ sucks...

The best budget Centro opcion, IMHO, is by far the Rio Rita, but no one ever seems to listen to me on this point...

Perhaps its just as well...

YoungBrig

One word YB.....

Air Conditioning!

Ok, I lied - it's TWO words!

After almost suffering heat stroke, I vowed: never again during warm weather would I stay in TJ with A/C in my hotel room!

"The best budget Centro opcion, IMHO, is by far the Rio Rita, but no one ever seems to listen to me on this point..."

Youngbrig, I've always kept your recommendation in mind in case I ever feel I don't need AC, or if VZ ever pisses me off.

A-C obviously is a plus, but frankamente, I do not really recall the A-C over in the VZ deluxe, like, freezing me out...But yeah, the rooms have A-C...So do some of the rooms at Cascadas, if you get my drift...

I never suffered from heat-related discomfort while staying at the Rio Rita-- in particular, the rooms opening toward Revo have great ventilation...The rooms are new and well-kept...Bathrooms are modern and clean...

Structural peculiarities within the building in which the Rio Rita is housed lend a certain uniqueness of structure and, I daresay, a distinctness of personality to many of the rooms...Noise is a non-issue unless you take the rooms closest to the recepcion desk because they sit directly above Beverly Hills Club...

Also: Whenever I stayed there, staff members and the supposed dueno of the place referred to me as 'Senor YoungBrig'...

I liked that...

YoungBrig

Looking for some room service chicas? Read on...we were in town for a bachelor party and I took my friends to this place because our usual haunt, the Villa Zaragoza, was full. A bad mistake on my part because they found several roaches in their rooms, and pubic hairs on the sheets. Ok, that was the bad part. Here is where it gets interesting. Both of the night managers offered us "girls for $150 dollars for two hours." The $150 included one girl for one guy. She would be with him for a full two hours in his room and he would get "two pops" or orgasms during that time frame. We told the first night manager (who worked until 11 pm) that we were interested in what the girls looked like. He sent 2 chicas to our room and they were about a 7-8 in looks. Not bad. We were on our way to Chicago Club and told the manager that we might be interested when we got back. At around midnight, we spoke to the next night manager and he told us that he had called for a cabful of girls. We saw the cab pull up, and 4-5 girls piled out. All around 6 to 8 in looks. We took a pass because we had done the deed at the Chicago Club and were dead tired. Just wanted to share this information to all the mongers out there as another option for you. My gut tells me that when the massage places were shut down, a lot of these girls decided to go this route and deliver "room service" to the monger clients at certain hotels. This is certainly one of them now. The night managers are probably getting their cut as well.

I would be willing to wager that these girls advertise in the masajes section of El Mexicano and the night managers just add their commission to their fees.

I've gotten that offer at several hotels in Tijuana. Among them The Grand (Twin Towers), Pueblo Amigo, Parador, Palacio Azteca. I must have the monger look. But then again, when the bellboy or others see you check in and at 10 or 11 at night go out and ask for a taxi, they've got a pretty good idea what you are looking for. So I guess they figure why not ask. The only time I took any of them up on it was when the Pueblo Amigo was still the Holiday Inn PA. They sent up a girl from Ruth's massage, she was not bad looking at all. Cost was $50 or so for the massage and $60 for the servicios for an hour, they even called up and asked if I wanted to pay $50 for another hour.

Thanks for the info. I never got this offer at La Villa Zaragoza, so this was new for me. The night managers at Hotel America were rather aggressive about soliciting for these girls. It's nice to have options!

Anybody stayed here recently as I'm sick of LVZ and I need a secure place to park the car and a decent not to expensive room in town.

thanks

First time staying here. I had family members with me, so I stayed for a whole week. I couldn't risk getting a hotel anywhere near the Zona Norte, as I didn't want anyone within my family to discover my secret "hobby."

I was impressed with the cleanliness of the hotel. Cable TV, quiet, peaceful. The Hotel provides round the clock security, which means if you think you're paying too much at $49 per night, think of it as you're paying for safety.

Although it has somewhat of a family atmosphere, meaning, I saw many families with small children, it's so nice you can bring one of your high-class whores from the Chicago Club here and not feel embarrassed.

Will definitely stay here again. Highly recommended.

Master Bates.

I've posted before that I hope everybody goes to the HA this time of year because VZ is difficult to book on short notice in the summer.

But I have to say that there is just no comparison between the two hotels. VZ has got every edge on HA if you want to stay outside the zona norte but not too far outside. HA is like an upscale zona hotel whereas VZ could win a AAA listing if it was a roadside motel alongside a U.S. Interstate.

You get the same safe, secure free parking, the rooms are 3 times the size with decent carpeting, extended cable TV, modern heat and air conditioning, King size beds in every traditional room, excellent bathrooms (well, some of the showers do lack weather stripping and flood - but fewer of the rooms have this problem now). The VZ's traditional rooms are actually cheaper at $45 including tax.

You might think that the VZ is further from the zona than the HA. If it is, it is by about a half block. VZ is on Calle 7 and HA on Calle 4, but HA is a couple of long blocks further east so it all comes out the same.

HA also a scarier neighborhood to walk to after dark IMO.