Hotel Nelson
Av. Revolucion 721, Tijuana, BC, Mexico
$50 US

The Hotel Nelson is located in the heart of downtown TJ, on the tourist drag, Avenue Revolucion.

On the first floor, off the lobby, there is a barbershop and a cafe. The rooms run around 45 or 50 bucks. While the rooms are a bit frayed and worn, in my few times at this hotel, I have found them to be clean. Getting a good, long night's rest is probably not going to happen at the Nelson: the street noise, the bars and the music and the craziness of TJ goes on into the wee hours, but that's one of the reasons I choose to stay in TJ---the people-watching, the street-life, the excitement of that.

At the Hotel Nelson, you are a few steps from the red zone area of street prostitutes and brothel bars along Coahuila and Constitution, etc., and if you frequent those streets, please do so with some caution and common sense. Don't be stupid by breaking the law, being drunk in public, etc., and you will most likely be OK.

I know there are regular troubles with cops and scams, but I've not run into problems personally, and "watching your back", not letting your guard down, is a good idea.

The Hotel Nelson has been a good place for me to stay: to enjoy TJ and not have to scurry back to the border. Staying the night can be fun and the Nelson's location is right in the heart of it all.



The Hotel Nelson is a big pink thing on a noisy corner. You can see it in one of those Cheech and Chong movies. They do speak english at the counter. The elevator is very ancient. Very sketchy on whether they have ice or not. Bathroom is very small. Never seen a cock roach there. They have rooms with up to three beds in them. The street noise can be incredible till the wee hours of the morning. It is fun to hang out at the window and watch the world walk by.

--From an anonymous source.

I often get private requests for information about places to go in Baja, and this is a thank you note from one recent visitor:

Kenito,

It was really great to meet you and the gathering at Siete Mares was really lovely! We would have stayed longer but poor (----) with little or no fat on his bones -- was freezing! Needless to say, he heated back up when we got home, so at least one bone was still warm!!

We ended up having dinner at Los Pelicanos, which really is a stunning place. The medium-rare ribeye is one of the best I have ever had, as were the quail I had at lunch. Also, the bean soup, served with everything, could really be a meal in itself and the broth is excellent. The flour tortillas are of the best I have had in Mexico, too. Really a sweet find, so thank you for the introduction. And, very gay friendly. We had no problems.

We ended up spending most of today in bed and by the pool, and then got back to Tijuana in time for (----) to see his first drag show (he really is only 20 the poor boy!) at Hawaii something or other. He took to it like a duck to water and was waving 20-peso notes at the girls like the best of us! Oh dear, what am I sending back to Hermosillo! His mother is gonna kill me! TJ and Baja ain't exactly Paree but, if you're from Sonora, once you've seen it....you're done for!

Thanks for making us both feel so welcome in Baja and all the best to you.