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The Playa Elegante Newsletter contains photos, images and tidbits not published on this website.
Easy In, Easy Out
Traveling from the U.S. to Playa Elegante in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora,
Mexico is speedy and effortless. The border crossing at Gringo Pass/Sonoyta (Highway 85) is uncomplicated and simple. Because Puerto Peñasco is in the Zona Libre, or Free Zone, you don’t need to register your
vehicles at the border, and visas are NOT required for American visitors.
We do however strongly encourage you to purchase an auto or RV insurance policy that will provide coverage for your rig
while in Mexico. They may be purchased from any one of several reputable companies located in Phoenix, Tucson or at agencies in Ajo, Why and Gringo Pass.
Angels in the Park – Tom & Jackie Young
There is a place in heaven for two of Playa Elegante’s most
selfless angels – Tom and Jackie Young. Founders of the Saturday Soup Kitchen, an institution that provides countless nourishing meals for some of Puerto Peñasco’s most disadvantaged citizens, and now the
organizers of the Casa Hogar monthly benefit raffle.
The Soup Kitchen was conceived after a devastating hurricane swept through Rocky Point in September 1997 and its prime directive was to help
feed those most affected by this catastrophe. One of the hardest hit areas was the Colonia Nueva Barrio just north of the Cholla Bay Road. Hundreds of people in this community were without food or shelter for many
weeks. Under the leadership of Tom and Jackie Young, and utilizing the combined efforts of many of the winter residents of Playa Elegante, a weekly soup kitchen was launched with the purpose of feeding hot meals to
the people in this neighborhood.
Each Saturday, during the winter months, for the past three years Tom and Jackie, along with their willing and able helpers prepared and served hot soup,
oranges, crackers and cookies to an average of 200 children and adults in Colonia Nueva Barrio. Additionally, they held a monthly raffle which raised thousands of dollars, the proceeds of which went to fund the soup
kitchen. It also provided monetary support to Esperanza de Vida (Connie and Alan White’s Mission of Hope for Life), and many other worthwhile Puerto Peñasco organizations.
This past year,
through a similar monthly raffle, Tom and Jackie collected over $5,000, which they have donated to Casa Hogar, Rocky Point’s only elderly care facility.
Now, after four years of preparing and
serving thousands of hot meals and organizing and raising thousands of dollars of donations for various charitable Puerto Peñasco organizations, Playa Elegante congratulates Tom and Jackie and their many volunteers
for all their hard work and unselfish efforts. Salud!
News Flash
The Sonoran Government has opened a Tucson office at 4625 E. Broadway #100B from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, which promises to cut travelers time waiting for documents to enter Mexico.
Tourists can start their paperwork in Tucson up to 30 days prior to their trip by filling out the forms necessary to get an “Only Sonora” vehicle permit.
Those who
request the vehicle permit in Tucson will have it waiting for them when they arrive at the checkpoint 21 kilometers (12 miles) south of Nogales. A special line will be dedicated to those who have ordered their Only
Sonora permits in Tucson. For questions call (520) 784-0055 or (520) 784-0059.
You Spoke, We Listened…
Customer Survey Responses
This past season Playa Elegante distributed over 900 customer surveys via direct solicitations and the October 2000 Newsletter. Amazingly, over 320 of these surveys were completed and returned!
We received excellent feedback and suggestions from respondents, both in areas that they felt we were doing a great job and in others they’d like to see an improvement. Categorically our
guests were most satisfied with the levels of customer service from our housekeeping, reservation and security staff. We also received excellent marks on the cleanliness of the park and all of the respective
facilities. Additionally the improved water pressure system, expanded recreation hall and upgraded electrical service seemed to be well received by the majority of the respondents.
All in all,
most of the responses were thought provoking and enlightning and have allowed our stadd to focus and attend to the areas most important to you this season. Many thanks to those of you who completed and returned the
survey forms. We have been able to implement many of your suggestions and hope to continue to improve your Mexican experience when visiting Playa Elegante this season.
A Big Round of Applause for All the Volunteers at Playa Elegante
Muchas gracias to all of you who volunteered and helped make the past
season here at the park so enjoyable. Looking back, the 2000 Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were a great success along with the many smaller get-togethers held over the last holiday season. Many thanks also to
Nick De Carmen, et al…for their efforts in sustaining the line dancing, craft classes, etc…Without this unselfish volunteerism many of our regularly scheduled activities would not take place or be nearly as
entertaining.
Also a big hug and warm fuzzies to all of you who took it upon yourselves to get involved in the local community through food and clothing donations, adopting families and various
other philanthropic activities. It is sometimes hard to appreciate what each of us has been blessed with in the U.S. and Canada until we see the absence of governmental safety nets/services that have been cast upon
some of the less fortunate citizens in Puerto Peñasco. Once again, thanks for all your donations and generous involvement.
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