Spring Break 13 Turnout

Well, once again the hype doesnt match the outcome. I've seen the pictures from all over town and had some friends down and have seen their facebook posts and once again the hype didnt match the outcome. When I see pictures from the beach out in front of Las Palomas and there are hardly any people on the beach I just have to SMH. The bi-annual volleyball tourney has been drawing more people than Spring Break. It's a shame, I can't understand it. A far far far far far far far cry from what Spring Break used to be in the early to mid 2000's.

Actually it is packed at the Sea! The pool is full from morning until night with kids having a great time. Have never been here before for Spring Break but I see lots of kids having lots of fun!!

All I know is I haven't seen so many cars/RVs coming down in Years! They're going somewhere...

MIRAMAR said:

All I know is I haven't seen so many cars/RVs coming down in Years! They're going somewhere...

I can assure you the target market for a college spring break isn't traveling in RV's.

sheep3mom said:

Actually it is packed at the Sea! The pool is full from morning until night with kids having a great time. Have never been here before for Spring Break but I see lots of kids having lots of fun!!

I don't doubt that some of the resorts have college age people there but it's pry 10% of the HAY DAY when the street in the Mirador used to look like MARDI GRAS.

Came down today. Tons of cars and RV`s going north.
At 8pm at JJs there are 20 people. I realize its a Monday
but 10 years ago there would have been 60+ people in there. Sad because
since the bars on the Mirador have become not hip I would expect
Overflow there. Times have changed.

I'm not sure what the direction of this thread is going but my 2 cents......when I was here in the past and the Mirador was PACKED! it was way before Sandy Beach was developed. I think that numbers can be high now, but there is such a huge capacity for the crowds to be absorbed into. There are tons of bars at the resorts that will have an impact on JJ's and everyone else at certain times.

When I came out of Mexico on Saturday there were more cars coming into Mexico than going tot he USA. Its an improvement. It may not be like you remember but it is better than we have seen in the last few years! I for one am glad to see the positive flow this year versus what I have see in the recent past. I have more to say but its bed time.

mexicoruss said:

I'm not sure what the direction of this thread is going but my 2 cents......when I was here in the past and the Mirador was PACKED! it was way before Sandy Beach was developed. I think that numbers can be high now, but there is such a huge capacity for the crowds to be absorbed into. There are tons of bars at the resorts that will have an impact on JJ's and everyone else at certain times.

When I came out of Mexico on Saturday there were more cars coming into Mexico than going tot he USA. Its an improvement. It may not be like you remember but it is better than we have seen in the last few years! I for one am glad to see the positive flow this year versus what I have see in the recent past. I have more to say but its bed time.

Let's not get carried away and start using generalizations, please quantify TONS of bars. The swim up bar in the pool at Bella Sirena or Sonoran Sea doesn't qualify as a bar. In saying that, please name one resort bar. I'm not referencing pre resort years so I think your point is invalid. JJ's and the Reef were always the day time hang out spots. The Reef would always be packed and the beach to the immediate east was always full of trucks and suvs that would drive down onto the beach. Endless fun having of all sorts. JJ's would be packed, back patio full to the brim, once again a lot of fun was being had. The beaches in front of the resorts would be full, you could look to the east and see a sea of party goers, fun havers all the way to Penasco Del Sol and to the west, all the way to the reef. I saw pictures from Saturday during the day from the beach in front of Las Palomas and I was thoroughly disappointed. It looked less crowded than some regular weekends during the rest of the year. The same could be said for the grounds and pool areas, hardly that many people for it to be Spring Break. You used to be able to tell if it was a good weekend by just looking down the beach and when I saw these pictures of the beaches, it was clear that Spring Break for all essential purposes was a bust once again. I'm not saying that the numbers aren't up from last year or that people weren't going down this week. I'm sure there was a line at the border going South, I'm sure there were Rv's and cars but it's just crazy to think of how desolate it is compared to the good ol days. Obviously it's going to take time to rebound from all of the bullsh!t but I thought maybe this was the year after an increase of visitors. I know a number of people my age that have returned to Rocky Point in the last year after believing the hype and staying away, which to me indicated that this Spring Break might have had the potential for a decent turnout. Obviously any visitors are good visitors but I had hoped for more. I still don't understand the lack of direct advertising in target markets. Word of mouth isn't advertising. Russ obviously has started to make headway with direct advertising in the RV market but why is there a lack of advertisement in Phoenix and Tucson for other demographics? I credit a large part of the small headway that is being made to Facebook. I think social networking and people's pictures can go a long way. Word of mouth is one thing but when you see someone's trip through pictures it really puts an image to the safety and fun of Rocky Point and that's why I believe people are starting to go back. Once again, I'm not hating, just stating. I started this thread not to be negative but to create conversation, so let's talk, everyone's opinion and or editorial is welcomed.


CHOLLA BAY 4 LIFE :party: :mexico:

You have seen nothing, should have been around back in the early 90s for spring break holy **** that was where it was at. Back when you could drive your trophy truck all the way down the beach to playa, strippers, the sand drags, the huge fights at the Reef every night. That was mexico. Now its just a bunch of Jersey shore looking faggots on the roof of Sharkbites.

1. Sprng break just started
2. Agree with MexRuss that they are being absorbed into lots more space and venues than used to be available. Heard first hand that some condos were brimming last weekend in the Sandy Beach area.
3. Nothing bounces back immediately. The media hype instilled fear that runs deep. Some would-be visitors are still jittery. But with a healthy return of visitors, word will travel fast.

A lot of people are still feeling the recession. Do I want to go to Rocky Point or pay my bills? The cost of a 5 day trip is a lot of money these days. Prices on everything are up. What does gas cost you on a round trip to Rocky Point? Have your wages kept up will increases on everything? College peeps and adult peeps are putting off trips. I would think that there would be A 20 % plus increase in people here if they could afford it.

Mexicojoe, I agree with some of your post don't get me wrong. For the sake of argument let's change the word I used regarding the resorts from "bars" to "diversion". I conduct tours with resort owners who say that when the get here they sometimes never leave the compound, why should they they say - everything they want to do is there. So I still feel that the resorts offer a "safe haven" for some of those that are starting to make their way back after years of not visiting. It will come back I am sure. It took time for the Mirador to "dry up" it will take time for it to come back, but come back it will. I am still bullish on this place.

A lot of truth to what Terry says above. Ain't cheap these days, even splitting costs with a group. I miss the days of being able to run down on a Friday with a couple hundred bucks in my pocket and having money left when I got home late Sunday night. But, that's everywhere, not just Rocky Point. Also a function of age and interest -- thinking of the $500 I spent for gas for the boat last weekend. Just the boat. Not the truck (diesel), launching, food, ice, shrimp, room, etc., etc. I can only imagine what it costs to fill one of those beautiful RVs I see rolling up and down the road to Penasco!

Yes, I miss the old days and the big crazy Spring Break crowds on the Mirador. It was fun and we always shared lots of laughs at some of the things we'd see. Sheer entertainment value was priceless! Like Russ, though, I see it evolving and am thinking positively about the future. Will we ever see those old "glory days" of Spring Break again? Probably not as we knew it, but I honestly believe it will draw crowds again, just in different places and different ways than the all night massive rolling Mirador drunk-fest parties we once knew.

For whatever it's worth. :puff:

Been here for most of the Spring Breaks since 85, way wilder back then. Unfortunately our kids want nicer places to hang out compared to our generation, (yes we spoiled them) They don't want to stay in a RV. Many of my kids friends have been down here and loved it but now go to California, Lake Havasu or Cancun if they can afford it. My teenage girls have been coming since they were born and loved it but now I now have to make them go, but only if there is an Internet connection for them to use. How times have changed!
I hope that RP does well this month (and the rest of the years to come), but have to agree with Joe,
it does seem pretty dead here from what I have seen last night and today in town.

Updated at 2PM.

20 RV's on Sandy Beach
Cholla Mall had 15-20 cars there at 12-1PM, spoke with 2 shop owners I have dealt with for many years,
they said busier now but not more than a good weekend. There were a couple of 10+ groups wandering around.
Tienda in town said better but nothing special.
La Choya market said busier, but much less than expected.
Walmart parking lot 1/3 full, Santa Fe market as busy as it was 4 weeks ago, not crazy busy.
JJ's said Fri-Sun good crowds during the day, slower at night. When I stopped there were 50+in there.
House next to me has 15 kids under 25 and said it is ok busy, Baja Cantina is good, The Wreaked was fun,
Changos was slow, Mannys looked closed and Pink Caddy they didn't bother to stop.
Wonder how the fish market bars and restaurants are doing?

mexicoruss said:

Mexicojoe, I agree with some of your post don't get me wrong. For the sake of argument let's change the word I used regarding the resorts from "bars" to "diversion". I conduct tours with resort owners who say that when the get here they sometimes never leave the compound, why should they they say - everything they want to do is there. So I still feel that the resorts offer a "safe haven" for some of those that are starting to make their way back after years of not visiting. It will come back I am sure. It took time for the Mirador to "dry up" it will take time for it to come back, but come back it will. I am still bullish on this place.

Yea, you're creating a diversion by not answering the question. Yea maybe the introverts never leave the "compound" but I know my generation and when you go somewhere for Spring Break you're looking to socialize and have a good time at night, not stay in your room and watch tv/ play charades. The only place that I saw had a decent crowd was Baja. I'm not buying the argument that there are more venues now so that's why it doesnt seem as crowded. There used to be more venues on one street than there are now in the whole town. Once again, word of mouth was mentioned as the main advertising approach to getting people to come back. Yea, word of mouth will work if you're willing to wait 8 years for business to return. I know things will return eventually, just had higher expectations this year and was disappointed to see those expectations not come to fruition.

Hooch said:

You have seen nothing, should have been around back in the early 90s for spring break holy **** that was where it was at. Back when you could drive your trophy truck all the way down the beach to playa, strippers, the sand drags, the huge fights at the Reef every night. That was mexico. Now its just a bunch of Jersey shore looking faggots on the roof of Sharkbites.

My first Spring Break was in 98, so I have a reasonable idea of what it used to be like. I had been every year after that up until 2006. HOOCH, you have a trophy truck? Maybe we can rekindle our relationship and you can take me for a ride sometime?????

CHOLLA BAY 4 LIFE

Terry C said:

A lot of people are still feeling the recession. Do I want to go to Rocky Point or pay my bills? The cost of a 5 day trip is a lot of money these days. Prices on everything are up. What does gas cost you on a round trip to Rocky Point? Have your wages kept up will increases on everything? College peeps and adult peeps are putting off trips. I would think that there would be A 20 % plus increase in people here if they could afford it.

Could very well be true. I've been here at my house on the west end of Encanto beach since Sat. AM and even here it's empty for spring break week. Granted, we usually don't draw a lot of the college crowd out here, but did get some in the past. And I sure expected more of my neighbors to be here and even they failed to come down and stayed home.

Spring Break don't start till tomorrow when the Tucson crowd gets here! Phoenix Breakers more of Las Vegas, Lake Havasu creatures.....

There's also a lot of really good air/hotel packages to Cancun, Cabo, etc. right now that the kids take advantage. Some come out even cheaper than a condo share and driving down to PP for a week.

Villa del Palmar Cancun but i do not see the cheap faires that used to go out of phoenix Hey we are eating our seed corn here in the states in every possible way.Letting the little S*heads fly to Cancun is just another example Maybe a x games type adventure sports event would be a good tie in to get the crowds up and get the right type of future vacation home owners down here to see the play...sportsmen and women 7 dollar drinks?????

I just returned today-Wednesday and the traffic was pretty have heading south.

We will be in Encanto on Friday.:-P:coldone:

Anyone with a border report into USA at this time? Ready to head home, but border wait time site has not updated since noon@ 10 minutes.

Right now at 5:50 my Border Watch app says its 45 minute wait, with 3 of 5 lanes open. Why don't they just open all the lanes? They could have seen this coming.

They cannot see Easter Week coming!

With the fiscal cliff automatic cuts being implimented, there will be less $ for regular and overtime hours so there will be fewer agents to man the check points,
so fewer lanes open. Expect some longer waits. Easter should be a real treat!. LOL

That website is so bogus. All morning up to noon it said 5 lanes open and 10 to 15 minute wait. At 5PM, it got updated finally to 3 lanes @ 45 minutes. I left PP at 5:20PM, stopped to fill up at Sonoyta Pemex and hit the border about 7:45PM. They had 2 lanes open with 3 or 4 cars at each one. As soon as I entered USA, an officer opened another lane to the right and I went right in and out within a minute. Two questions, "Anything to declare?" and "Is this your truck?". Fastest ever we have gone through. One and a half hours prior, my son had a 15 minute with 3 lanes open.

They just ask people now long was your wait then they call it in to the main office in Texas and they update it from there. If that even happens who knows. That's what they told me once when I called them in Lukeville to ask why it was so far behind.

Terry C said:

They just ask people now long was your wait then they call it in to the main office in Texas and they update it from there. If that even happens who knows. That's what they told me once when I called them in Lukeville to ask why it was so far behind.

Oh yeah, pretty much useless. Just glad I didn't bolt for home early in the day to beat the backup. One more day in Encanto is never a bad thing.

From what we saw this past weekend , it was very slow. The beach in front of Las Palmas where our friends had rented wasn't any more crowded than a typical spring weekend. Calle 13 wasn't overrun with crazy teenagers. The Mirador was virtually empty. We had a beer at Manny's Friday night, and then again Saturday afternoon, and we were the only ones there for the most part. The few that came in, left quickly due to the deserted feel of the place. (we like Manny's because they don't care if we take our little perrito to hang with us, have a taco and run around the beach). In town, where our place is, in Las Margaritas, near Sam's Club, even the locals were staying indoors apparently, there was very little traffic. Shrimp Plaza (as I call it) was busy, and loads of fun. Did anyone check out the gold and silver mime guys? They were great. The best part of the weekend was the fair rides down by CFE. The haunted house ride broke 1/2 way through and the operator had to pull our electric car through the ride by hand.. fun times! I tried to get my boletos back, but to no avail :( We got to the border Sunday about 11am, with Kindle in hand, expecting an hour of read/go 2 feet/read/go 1 foot etc but it was a 5 minute wait, and all 5 lanes were open. It took longer to get through McDonalds drive through in Gila Bend then all 3 border checkpoints combined. Too bad all these reporters and neigh-sayers don't experience what we do before they spout off their "opinions" as fact to a large audience...

I think I haave noticed that there are many more Mexican plated cars in town for Spring Break than I recall from the past. Just a warm up for Semana Santa.

When forced to stay that extra day in RP is always a GOOD thing!!:sunny:

Hooch said:

Same here, him and his head douchebag Holder selling guns to the cartels doesn't help the tourism industry in Mexico, they should both be tried for Treason.

Yea this program started years before Obama but I still blame it on ODUMBO.

Hooch said:

Same here, him and his head douchebag Holder selling guns to the cartels doesn't help the tourism industry in Mexico, they should both be tried for Treason.

Maybe we can start over, rekindle our relationship and take me for a ride in your Trophy Truck?

Orrrr you could fork out some cash, I could bend you some 1.75 DOM tube, get you some FOA res shocks out of vegas, run your a bedcage, brace the engine, run some shock hoops with coilovers enforce your a arms, run you some heims on the upper arms, link the rear and get that Yota 15 feet in the air in front of Bella Serena. Ill bring my pipe bender and welder down next week, then we can weld together our own super Panga from all the boats laying around in peoples front dirt lots, ******* pirate ship ****.

Some general comments from several joints around town from last night indicate that while things were a little better for most it still was not comparable in any way to the old days. No info from Sandy Beach so might have been better there. I'm guessing Semana Santa will top all records. BTW they are patch paving Calle 13 and Fremont and have fixed the craters that Mexico Joe was complaining about on the street parallel to Calle 13.

I have pics from princesa and soronan spa, the only place happening was by the entrance to the east side of sandy beach. . .

I saw lots of young kids in the Spa, Princesa and Casa Blanca area most of them very young, coming to Mexico for the alcohol more than anything else, most others as their parents flip the bill they basically go where mom or pop tell them to go, where they think it is safe, I guess they mean anywhere as far away from Mexico Cartels.
However it seems that in general SB is getting smaller and smaller by the years but the crowds are coming back on a weekend basis more and more, which is better to have the stream of tourists in a constant pouring that will increase as the time passes than just once a year event. IMHO

Wow, these picture show a big turnout for Spring Break/Semana Santa:

Semana Santa in Puerto Peñasco! | Rocky Point 360

MIRAMAR said:

Wow, these picture show a big turnout for Spring Break/Semana Santa:

Semana Santa in Puerto Peñasco! | Rocky Point 360

When I see playa Hermosa that crowded all I think of is dirty diapers and how much trash didnt get thrown away! Looks like fun though and is that the guy from Duck Dynasty?!

What's hard to remember is that 1985 was TWENTY-EIGHT years ago. To compare today's spring breakers to then can't really be done. When we were in our 20's, gas was cheap. There was no bad "cartel' press. The drinking age was 18 anyway. We weren't against "roughing it" in RV's, tents, or far from luxurious places. We didn't have cell phones (HA!) attached to our palms. We all had summer jobs and finding a job after college was easy.

We just came back from the Cancun area. My kids are 13 and 14 and already have traveled more than I did through my 20's. Where we were (south of Cancun by about 30 minutes) was more of a family location, away from the bars and clubs of the bigger towns of Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Lots of Mexican nationals as well as Americans and Canadians, and very low key and quiet. Good Friday and Easter Sunday services on the beach. You couldn't have paid me to stay in a Cancun resort. But if I was 20 again, I'd be bored at a quiet place and want the crowds. I suppose this is the same reason why some condo/home owners in PP stay home that week to avoid the mayhem and nonsense.

It's like this in lots of places with the 45+ year old crowd. You don't find many New Yorkers going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade or the Times Square New Years Eve bash. San Diego adults don't whip down to Tijuana for a night of clubbing and belly shots on the bar. New Orleans homeowners stay away from Bourbon street for the Mardi Gras/Carnival festivities.

It depends on which demographic you want to market to. "Stay here--right in the middle of the action" or "Stay here--away from all the crowds and noise" Spring break kids have the money from their folks, and don't mind spending it on watered down club drinks. People our age had to work for that money and probably prefer Don Julio to well tequila. Spring break kids will eat street tacos and drink beer as a food group for a whole week, older visitors will actually sit in a restaurant and spend some real money. I can bet lots of carloads of kids hit the stores, stocked up on chips and liquor, and never stepped foot into a restaurant. Places need to have a cover charge because the kids are already coming in half-drunk.

The times we live in now has changed so much that we can't compare. "It's a dawn of a new era."

DeniseAck said:

What's hard to remember is that 1985 was TWENTY-EIGHT years ago. To compare today's spring breakers to then can't really be done. When we were in our 20's, gas was cheap. There was no bad "cartel' press. The drinking age was 18 anyway. We weren't against "roughing it" in RV's, tents, or far from luxurious places. We didn't have cell phones (HA!) attached to our palms. We all had summer jobs and finding a job after college was easy.

We just came back from the Cancun area. My kids are 13 and 14 and already have traveled more than I did through my 20's. Where we were (south of Cancun by about 30 minutes) was more of a family location, away from the bars and clubs of the bigger towns of Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Lots of Mexican nationals as well as Americans and Canadians, and very low key and quiet. Good Friday and Easter Sunday services on the beach. You couldn't have paid me to stay in a Cancun resort. But if I was 20 again, I'd be bored at a quiet place and want the crowds. I suppose this is the same reason why some condo/home owners in PP stay home that week to avoid the mayhem and nonsense.

It's like this in lots of places with the 45+ year old crowd. You don't find many New Yorkers going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade or the Times Square New Years Eve bash. San Diego adults don't whip down to Tijuana for a night of clubbing and belly shots on the bar. New Orleans homeowners stay away from Bourbon street for the Mardi Gras/Carnival festivities.

It depends on which demographic you want to market to. "Stay here--right in the middle of the action" or "Stay here--away from all the crowds and noise" Spring break kids have the money from their folks, and don't mind spending it on watered down club drinks. People our age had to work for that money and probably prefer Don Julio to well tequila. Spring break kids will eat street tacos and drink beer as a food group for a whole week, older visitors will actually sit in a restaurant and spend some real money. I can bet lots of carloads of kids hit the stores, stocked up on chips and liquor, and never stepped foot into a restaurant. Places need to have a cover charge because the kids are already coming in half-drunk.

The times we live in now has changed so much that we can't compare. "It's a dawn of a new era."

Good points Denise but roughing it was most likely the catalyst that got you traveling with your own kids. the middle of nowhere is a great place for kids to learn nature skills,physical fitness related skills,problem solving and having the chance to really feel what a cool thing doing absolutely nothing can be in small doses.

jerry said:

Good points Denise but roughing it was most likely the catalyst that got you traveling with your own kids. the middle of nowhere is a great place for kids to learn nature skills,physical fitness related skills,problem solving and having the chance to really feel what a cool thing doing absolutely nothing can be in small doses.

I agree wholeheartedly! Somehow staying in a luxury condo and swimming up to the pool bar doesn't quite constitute "roughing it"! The 20 somethings now have more than we ever did, and I think there are many of them moving back home after college. It's very easy to want the luxury on someone else's (the parents') dime, a lot harder when you have to work for it yourself.

I'm curious--how many 23-28 year olds do you think are visiting PP? The group after college, but before having kids? Opinions?