South of the Border

[n2099x]

Happy Holiday’s to all

We just returned from another trip south of the border. This time it was to the Hacienda De Los Santos in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. Owned by Jim and Nancy Swickard. For those that attended AOPA, Jim spoke and their Turbo 206 with a pod was a couple of planes away from Todd & Jo’s display. Jim and Nancy have remodeled and built a wonderful Hotel, Spa, Resort. The resort is only a couple of miles from the Alamos airport that is attended 24hrs, and they have their own large hanger that is on a space available basis. Alamos is located about 500kts Southeast of Imperial, Ca. and less from Arizona.

There are no locks on the doors no TV basically no phones. They have very good security room safes and a theater for weather and movies. The food is excellent and the staff will make sure you have everything. The Spa ran by their daughter Jamie has a full menu of treatments. We were there at least once a day. They have 4 or 5 pools and several different courtyards and sitting areas.

We went through customs at Ciudad Obregon on the way down and Hermosillo and Calexico on the way back. The customs agents in Mexico and the U.S. were very friendly. We had our U.S. sticker and our U.S. arrival report already filled out so U.S. customs took about 3 minutes. Mexico takes a little longer because you have to go from office to office hand carrying the paperwork that they fill out for you. I have made a copy of all my aircraft documents and license and medical in color on one page, which saves a lot of shuffling. I like to have my Mexican insurance from Baja Bush Pilots so they know I am a member. I think your association with the BBP helps to insure you are charged the correct fees and don’t get jacked around.

I think the Hacienda De Los Santos would make a good south of the border fly-in. Are any members interested?

Glen

[N735GH]

That would be a lot of fun....Also Hotel Serenidad @ Mulege...t

[Mike Sullivan]

Glen,

Is this the resort in Los Alamos where you stayed?

http://www.haciendadelossantos.com/index1.html

I met Glen at the Auburn airport Friday morning for breakfast and be ate and gabbed for hours. He got me all "fired-up" about flying into Baja. El Centro is only 16 miles north of Calexico so it wouldn't take much for me to get South of the border.

This mornings Travel Section in the San Diego Union has some good articles about activities and places to stay in Baja. Here are some of the web sites they recommend. I'd be really interested in having a "fly-in" somewhere in Baja in the Spring.

http://www.bajaoutpost.com/english/

http://www.lapintahotels.com/

http://www.loretobaja.com/

http://www.mexicocondores.com/

http://www.rosaritobeachhotel.com/

http://www.2gobaja.com/

http://www.hoteloasis.com/

http://www.gotoloreto.com/

Enjoy!!

Mike

[Mike Sullivan]

Here are the Baja articles in the Union-Trib.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/sun/travel/

Mike

[Mike Sullivan]

Hey I just noticed, I turned into a Senior Member on my 50th post. Does that mean my white hair, wrinkles and achy bones aren't going to go away? :)

miguel

[Mike Sullivan]

Another thing we talked about is the "Cayman Caravan". In case you don't know about it, it's a fly-in from Key West over cuba to the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Caravan - organized in conjunction with International Aviation Week - flies every June. Since I'm not IFR yet, I can't go. :mad:

Here's the web site: http://www.cayman-caravan.com/

Mike

[n2099x]

Yes that is where we stayed, Haciennda De Los Santos. It's about 450kts from you and a great place to go. It was good to see you again. To bad Kevin couldn't make it. 99X is down for annual so I'm without wings for a few days. So don't get to excited about going to Mexico untill next week.

Glen