Rosarito Ensenada is an award-winning 50 mile bicycle ride along the Pacific Coast and inland through rural countryside from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada, plus a Finish Line Fiesta on the Ensenada waterfront with food, drinks and live music until sunset.

This year the race celebrates its 30th anniversary with a party like we’ve never seen before, so I encourage all my readers to attend, it will be well worth it!

WHEN: September 26, 2009.

If you plan on participating on the race, you can register last minute on September 25th between 4pm and 7pm and on September 26th between 7am and 10am, at the parking lot of the Rosarito Beach Hotel. To register online, visit http://www.rosaritoensenada.org/english/registernow.html

A “Go for the Weekend” option is being offered by Coach America to those wanting to spend that couple of days at the beautiful North Baja area. Coach America is providing round-trips from San Diego with two nights in Ensenada at the Villa Marina Hotel and shuttle to Rosarito start line on Saturday morning. $319 single, $221 double, $188 triple, $171 quad. Price is per person based on how many in your party, so bring a few friends and save! For more info visit http://www.sandiegograyline.com/2009BajaBikeRide.shtml

The legendary Rosarito Beach Hotel is offering the chance to rediscover the resort and the tourist city for $19.25 a night Sundays through Thursdays from Sept. 14 through Oct. 29, 2009.

The rate applies to select rooms in its oceanfront Coronado Tower, one of three at the 500-room resort which, not coincidentally, opened in 1925. U.S. holidays and special events are excluded, and reservations must be made by Sept. 14.

“The $19.25 price is the lowest we have offered in decades,” said hotel Executive Director Laura Torres, a third-generation owner of the landmark hotel. “The weather is perfect and it’s a beautiful time to be here.”

“The price of $19.25 is a reminder of the year we opened,” Ms. Torres said. “More importantly, we want to give people an irresistible incentive to rediscover this wonderful area and the resort. That’s why we’re calling the program Rediscover Rosarito.”

The hotel also will offer lower rates on attractive packages and suites, including the 271 in its 18-story luxury condo-hotel Pacifico Tower, which opened in 2007.

Rosarito, 30 miles south of San Diego, is known for its pristine beaches, surfing, fine dining including the famous Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village, exceptional shopping and original arts.

It also home to Baja Studios, where James Cameron’s Titanic and Master & Commander were filmed and which now offers tours and a museum of Titanic sets and memorabilia.

The city has been so popular with its many visitors that an estimated 14,000 expatriates now call it home.

The hotel opened in 1925 and become the resort for Baja and Southern California, including Hollywood. Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Gregory Peck and John Wayne are among the galaxy of stars who have been guests.

The hotel has a quarter-mile fishing pier, two restaurants, including Chabert’s, the world-class Casa Playa Spa located in the former family mansion, world-class music and dance events, bars and fine shops. It also is a popular wedding destination.

Advance registration is required to take advantage of the $19.25 offer. People can visit www.RosaritoBeachHotel.com or call 1-866-ROSARITO.

The first Rosarito Beach Pro-Am surf contest will be held this Saturday and Sunday with $10,000 in prizes.

A media conference for the event will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday on the second floor of Rosarito City Hall. The event is organized by the city, FDt Marketing and sponsored by Monster Energy Drink

“We have promotional parties set up for Saturday Aug 22 , and beach activities happening during the event,” said Jeff Stoner, president of FDt Marketing.

The event will be webcast live on surfshot.com.

Registration for the contest is open, and spots remain for those interested in competing. Registration is available on active.com (keyword search: Rosarito Beach), or by contacting the FDT Marketing offices directly at 858.272.2191.

Registration fees are $100. Hotel accommodations and discounts are provided by the Rosarito Beach Hotel, and can be made by calling (866) ROSARITO.

Shuttle services will be provided to and from the US Border to the Rosarito Beach Hotel. Passports are required. For more information on the Rosarito Beach Pro-AM surf contest, please visit rosarito.org/surf or call FDt Marketing at 858.272.2191.

Fourth of July brought this seaside city 30 miles south of San Diego its best tourism of 2009, with hotel occupancy at 70 percent on the holiday and some near capacity.

“This is encouraging to us and indicates some comeback, although we remain well below years past and need more gains,” said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.

Concerns in the United States that Mexico’s crackdown on drug cartels has made the area unsafe for tourists have been a main cause of the decline in tourism this year. Most Rosarito visitors come from the U.S.

“But time has shown emphatically that our visitors are not at risk,” Torres said. “We have had no major incident.”

“Our frequent visitors and thousands of expatriate residents are among those who have helped us convey the fact that Rosarito is safer and more welcoming than ever. We know that more needs to be done to convey that message.”

The drop in visitors has had a harsh effect on the economy of the city, which is significantly dependent on tourism.

“We believe that in part because of some unbalanced stories, some people remain uneasy about visiting Baja,” Torres said. “But we hope that responsible U.S. media will join with us in conveying the message that the area is safe.”

“It was so good to see our hotels, restaurants, shops, spas and other attractions busy again,” he added. “Not only are people secure here, they’ll find extraordinary bargains this year.”

Rosarito under Torres’ leadership in the past 18 months has created a special Tourist Police Force, city office for tourist attention and special ombudsman to assist visitors.

I posted about the new Border Fast Pass a few weeks ago, and today I want to add some updated information, such as where you can get your Border Fast Pass, etc.

How do I get a Fast Track pass?
Certain merchants in the city of Rosarito, Ensenada and Tijuana carry the Border Fast Pass. As the program develops, more will be added.

If you are visiting Rosarito, you may obtain your Fast Track pass by visiting these establishments:
o Grand Baja Resort
o Las Rocas
o Rosarito Beach Hotel
o Festival Plaza
o Calafia Hotel
o Brisas del Mar Hotel
o La Casa de la Langosta restaurant
o Puerto Nuevo II restaurant
o Fausto Polanco hacienda furniture
Check with the hotel for specific requirements. Some will offer the pass with a package and others for visiting the spa, restaurants, etc. at the hotel and spending about U.S. $70 ($1000 pesos).

If you are visiting Ensenada, first obtain your Ensenada Distinguished Visitor Card. The card is $12, but the discounts you will receive will pay back the cost of the card quickly. The Ensenada Distinguished Visitor Card may be purchased from our website. You may then obtain the Border Fast Pass by visiting the merchants who are participating in the Fast Track program and spending about U.S. $70 ($1000 pesos). We advise to confirm with the hotel or venue first that they offer the Fast Track and how to get it once you are there.
Program participants:
o Posada El Rey Sol
o Estero Beach Hotel
o Adobe Guadalupe Hotel
o Desert Inn Hotel
o Best Western El Cid
o El Cortez Baja Inn
o Hotel Santo Tomas Baja Inn
o El Rey Sol restaurant
o Sano’s Steak House
o Playitas Club del Mar

Establishments in Tijuana offering the Border Fast Pass:
o La Casa del Mole - Playas de Tijuana
o Real del Rio
o Corona Plaza Hotel
o La Carnicería
o Vivamex Health Care
o Caliente
o Vita Spa

What border crossings have a Fast Track lane?
Only the San Ysidro border crossing has special Border Fast Pass lane at this time.

Where is the Fast Track lane located?
If you are heading to the border from the scenic toll road, once you are near the border line on Calle Segunda, you will take the far right lane that is sectioned off by concrete dividers and parallels the regular border line. Look for the blue signs that say “With Pass Only” and the blue signs that say “Medical Services.” After going up the bridge, you will see a booth with an official who will take your Fast Track pass and give you access to the lane. What a breeze!

How much does it cost to get a Fast Track pass?
The pass is free once you have met the requirements mentioned above.

Currently the Border Fast Pass program is a pilot program. If the lane is a success, more lanes will be added. This lane will significantly reduce your wait time to get back into the U.S. Reports say the wait on average is 30 minutes or so, but officials say the goal is a 15 minute wait. This line is is similar to the SENTRI in that you can cross the border faster, however there is no background check and the pass is only good for one crossing.

Residents from the United States now have a toll free number to complaint against common and organized crime within the Mexican territory.

The number 1-866-201-5060 is for both, residents of California and the rest of the United States, who can provide the authorities in Baja California, in an anonymous way, information about organized crime and common crime located in Mexico.

Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, Secretary of Public Security in Baja California and Mexican Consul Remedios Gomez Arnau, presented the new toll free phone service 1-866-201-5060 at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego; which can be used to expose criminals located in Mexico or to report if they have been the victim of a crime when transiting through Baja or while living here.

De la Rosa explained that when a caller dials 1-866-201-5060, the call comes into the program 089, operated by the state government of Baja California, specializing in bilingual telephone operators who immediately transfer the complaint to Mexican authorities for their attention. The service is 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

The program is configured to block phone numbers from which the calls are made, they are not recorded and the telephone operators may not ask the complainant’s personal data.

This service will be introduced in coming days in the consulates of Mexico located in Calexico, California and Yuma, Arizona, to spread mostly among the Hispanic community in these cities and their surrounding regions.

Note that the anonymous reporting service via toll-free number 1-866-201-5060 is available for use from any phone located on the mainland and islands of the United States, including Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska.

Las Rocas Resort in Rosarito Beach, Baja, has announced their latest available specials:

$69* dollars
Round transportation for two from San Ysidro,CA - Las Rocas -San Ysidro,CA** plus One Night in a Standard Room (191 sq ft) - With 180 degrees ocean view, private balcony and some of them with terrace.

$89* dollars
Round transportation for two from San Ysidro, CA - Las Rocas -San Ysidro,CA** plus One Night in a Gaviotas Suite (267 sq ft) - Unforgettable romantic rooms, some of them offer high brick dome ceilings. All of them with 180 degrees ocean view, fireplace and private balcony.

For More Options and Details & Reservations Please Call 1 888 527 7622 and 1 866 445 8909
Attention Hours: Mon-Sun 9am - 5pm PDT

*Plus tax. Valid for Stays between June 5th and 7th. Two Nights Minimum.
** Transportation by Mexicoach