Rio Rita Hotel is Not Totally Chica Friendly
Booked three nights at the Rio Rita hotel in part because they have Jacuzzi rooms and are limited to adults. The Jacuzzis are especially nice, because they are well designed for two people. Quick to fill and always clean. Water can be very hot. However, the hotel night staff are not the most flexible regarding the rules. This is my fault, but…they could have been a little more flexible. You can be the judge.
In the past, I have brought different girls into my room, staying multiple days, always TLN, but not always the same girl. This time, they wouldn’t let my ATF1 in. The rules that I took issue with are (their funny English grammar, not mine):
- Maximum occupancy for a room is 2 adults registered with GOVERNMENT ID. A THIRD PERSON is allowed in a two-bed room, with extra cost.
So far so good, as there never would be more than two people in my room at a time.
- No visitors allowed, all guests must be registered in the front desk with ID without exceptions. The second person must be the same person during the whole stay. Only the visit is allowed in the common area on the second floor.
Here is where things went a little sideways. ATF2 spent Thursday night with me. ATF1 and I planned to spend Friday and Saturday nights together. Friday night when I arrived with ATF1, she presented her ID and we were told that she could not stay in my room because she is not ATF2. I got a little huffy, because, yeah I read the rules, but I didn’t think that this one would be enforced. I got a little heated when they did not enforce all the rules for everyone. (See #3.)
- The entry or use of weapons is strictly prohibited.
Staying at the hotel, according to the bellman, were 80 federal police officers and a SWAT team from Mexico City. They were there to support the weeding out of corrupt local police officers. Apparently, there is a new Tijuana Police Chief who isn’t Gringo-adverse and was trying to crack down on the Bandits with Badges. They were going in and out frequently carrying heavy weaponry, a violation of the rule that “strictly prohibited” weapons.
I could have gone to another hotel with ATF1, but it was 11:00 pm, all my things were in this hotel, and I was too tired to hunt down another room at another hotel. After some heated back-and-forth about my having read and signed the rules, they finally agreed to let me rent a second room so ATF1 could enter. Of course, they didn’t rent me a cheap room, but another, expensive Jacuzzi room. I told them it is likely the last time I would be staying here. They said that they didn’t care. I had been there before. I had read and signed the rules before and they were not going to let ATF1 pass. I solved the problem by renting another room and stated, that ATF1 was going to be staying in my room. Frowny faces all around, but they didn’t stop me or give me grief during the rest of my stay.
Fortunately, ATF1 doesn’t speak enough English to understand completely what was going on. (ATF2 is completely fluent in English, so it might have been a different story.) ATF1 gets a little “cranky” when she finds out that I have had sex with other women. (I know, a reverse double standard.) I did admit to her having “a friend” in my room the night before, but I guess she chose to ignore it, because she didn’t inquire further.
So yes, I am a bit of an ass for expecting that the staff wouldn’t “strictly enforce” the rules and I am complaining about it. However, I did say that I would not return, so it is unlikely that I will not, despite it becoming my favorite downtown hotel. If I were to return, the next time, my solution will be, if I am going to stay three nights, I will make three separate reservations.
Factor in that I had paid for the room online, so if I did not sign their rules, they would not have let the room to me and it would have been unlikely that I could get a refund. Another thing to factor in is that I always tip the entire staff well when I check out.
Do as you will with this information. A few months from now, I will probably consider it a funny story.
Comments
last commentThe arbitrariness of this rule would've stung me too. Like what if you had the foresight to check out of the hotel Friday morning and check in immediately after. Would that have reset the clock on the ids?
It's a bummer to read because it is hard to find TJ hotels with a Jacuzzi (besides Cas and Rizo.) Ticuán has them but the noise from las pulgas is unbearable. Hotel Quartz has them but they're exceedingly expensive.
On the other hand I am overjoyed to read your reporting on the SWAT team cracking down on corruption. I will still have my head on a swivel on my next venture to TJ, but I will definitely be breathing a little easier.
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@PutaTester
I will play along and comment on your discussion.
You wrote and I quote:
“So yes, I am a bit of an ass for expecting that the staff wouldn’t “strictly enforce” the rules and I am complaining about it. However…”
You think? Just a bit?
You know that “Nothing someone says before the word 'however' really counts”, because in this case you, yourself don’t really believe it.
You know that to them, the staff, you are an Entitled Ugly American A**hole, who gives American Tourists a bad reputation.
Entitlement refers to an inflated view of self-worth and the accompanying sense of deserving to be able to break rules and being treated better than other people.
This sense of deserving more than other people propels entitled individuals to violate social norms that stand in the way of obtaining desired outcomes.
Entitled American Tourists often break rules to improve their travel status, because status fuels their sense of self-worth.
You are supposed to Obey Mexican law, rules and customs, remember Mexican laws may differ from U.S. laws.
Remember, In Mexico, being courteous and respectful will generally lead to positive interactions and hospitality.
Mexicans value politeness and good manners, and making an effort to be respectful will be appreciated and reciprocated.
Let’s be careful out there, so we don’t give American Tourists a bad reputation.
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Ouch. You are right, but ouch.
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I wasn't there to see how you treated the staff, but it's good to 'stress test' these things. PutaTester found their limit and now, he and the rest of us know better than to try and do any TLN set ups there.
Appreciate the information!
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