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No visa needed. Technically you needa tourist card if you go past Maneadero (90 minutes South of TJ) or stay more than 3 days but if you stay in TJ nobody will EVER know if you have been there 3 days or 30. I would not worry about it.
Motel 6, while in a worse location about 3/4 of a mile West across the freeway, is quiter than travelodge (where I used to regularly stay) and of same caliber. TL has a design defect that makes LOUD noise whenever somebody in room above you or next to you turns on the water.
TL used to be $49 Sun-Thur but now they want like $80. Motel 6 is under $50 even on weekends so you save money by staying there and taxiiing it (during daytime it is a nice walk past the outlet stores) . Book in advance on weekends or, failing that, get there early.
I always stay on US side.
BEWARE the LENGTHY WAITS crossing back into the US as a ped. It was NEVER LIKE THIS overr the many years I have been going there. Late at night is not bad but in the afternoons it is HIDEOUS (Sunday is off the chart). Last few trips were so bad it really put a damper on my enthusiasm for TJ visits. There are often only 3 lanes open and a bunch of guys standing around doing nothing (emulating their neighbors to the South).
I always rent a car so I am thinking of driving to Otay Mesa border crossing and then just paying for parking in a garage in TJ.
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Your car in TJ
i drive (and live half the week) in tj, i bring my own car but i have amigos that rent etc. there are a few rules for happy living if you drive your own or a rental in mexico.
rule number one - buy mexican insurance
you are held to account for your responsibility at the time of the accident. you'd better have a method to square things up if you cause an accident. either in the form of readily available cash or insurance written by a mexican insurance company.
rule number two
make sure your rental contract permits you to take the car to mexico. hertz allows it and some others will if it's written into the contract but never drive an illegal rental in mexico. make sure your have mexican insurance on the rental.
rule number three
never park in an unsecured area or on the street. your car and/or your stuff might not be there when you get back, even in daylight. always park in a secured lot. there are many of them in tj, there are several in the zona.
rule number four
traffic laws are strictly enforced against vehicles bearing usa plates. obey all traffic laws, signs and speed limits. you will have a problem if you are caught, forget the 1000 or so cars that ran the sign before you.
rule number four a
pedestrians have the right of way, even against a red light. you can't run 'em over because you had the green. stop before the limit line or if there is none, where it would normally be (and you know where that is, right?).
rule number four b
right hand turns from the left hand lane and left hand turns from the far right hand lane are common in tj, watch the guys next to you very carefully. a lot of drivers in tj actually are brain dead. protect yourself at all times. go when you are clear to go.
rule number five
do not drink and drive. it is not tolerated and i believe it is classed as a criminal offense. (citation needed). tjpd does not have a sense of humor on that one.
country john
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Will be in TJ in two weeks. Do I need a passport to get back to U.S., or is my drivers license good enough to cross home? Will be going to AD and the alley. Thanks for the current reports. My trips down are getting farther and farther apart.
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[QUOTE=Country John]You should have a "tourist visa" (FMT) when you enter Mexico. This is one of those "selective enforcement issues." but technically it's wise to have one. They are valid for 90 days and cost $20.00.
Country John[/QUOTE
Actually, the tourist visa is good for 180 days, and costs $22.50.
I got mine today.
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[QUOTE=Roguesta][QUOTE=Country John]You should have a "tourist visa" (FMT) when you enter Mexico. This is one of those "selective enforcement issues." but technically it's wise to have one. They are valid for 90 days and cost $20.00.
Country John[/QUOTE]
Actually, the tourist visa is good for 180 days, and costs $22.50.
I got mine today.[/QUOTE]
That would be correct. You can enter for "business purposes" and that is good for 90 days.
Country John
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[QUOTE=Surfer]
BEWARE the LENGTHY WAITS crossing back into the US as a ped. It was NEVER LIKE THIS overr the many years I have been going there. Late at night is not bad but in the afternoons it is HIDEOUS (Sunday is off the chart). Last few trips were so bad it really put a damper on my enthusiasm for TJ visits. There are often only 3 lanes open and a bunch of guys standing around doing nothing (emulating their neighbors to the South).
[/QUOTE]
I was there last year, I rented a bike for $7 and was able to cut the line. Can you still do this?
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Hi,
No, you can't cut in line if you have a bike anymore. The Mexican don't even rent bike out to people anymore. I guess if you have a bike you are required to dismount and walk across.
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Remember, the San Ysidro border crossing is the busiest border crossing in the world.
When I'm faced with the busiest anything in the world, I'm ready for a nice long wait.
I always drive back and the wait actually seems to be getting shorter. Maybe I'm just getting used to it.
Country John
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[QUOTE=Roguesta][QUOTE=Country John]You should have a "tourist visa" (FMT) when you enter Mexico. This is one of those "selective enforcement issues." but technically it's wise to have one. They are valid for 90 days and cost $20.00.
Country John[/QUOTE
Actually, the tourist visa is good for 180 days, and costs $22.50.
I got mine today.[/QUOTE]
I see you guys talking about visa’s and saying it’s not required. Are passports required yet? I have never used a passport or visa going to TJ and have been going 15+ years. Is it now required? or is going to be required soon? And if so when does this new law kick in?
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[QUOTE=FlapJacK]
I see you guys talking about visa’s and saying it’s not required. Are passports required yet? I have never used a passport or visa going to TJ and have been going 15+ years. Is it now required? or is going to be required soon? And if so when does this new law kick in?[/QUOTE]
Hi Flapjack.
You don't need a passport or a visa to enter Mexico at the San Ysidro Border crossing but you will need a passport to return Stateside soon. If you don;t have a passport, it's a good idea to get going on it. As for now, your drivers license or birth certificate should be ok. Check with the homeland security website for the kick-in dates for passport requirements.
If you travel deep into Mexico you'll need to have a visa, but as for the zona, the only passport you need is your wallet.
I used to have all the dates locked in my memory but beer and latinas tend to make you forget.
Country John
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[QUOTE=Country John]Hi Flapjack.
You don't need a passport or a visa to enter Mexico at the San Ysidro Border crossing but you will need a passport to return Stateside soon. If you don;t have a passport, it's a good idea to get going on it. As for now, your drivers license or birth certificate should be ok. Check with the homeland security website for the kick-in dates for passport requirements.
If you travel deep into Mexico you'll need to have a visa, but as for the zona, the only passport you need is your wallet.
I used to have all the dates locked in my memory but beer and latinas tend to make you forget.
Country John[/QUOTE]
Found this on U.S. Department of Homeland Security web site.
New Travel Document Requirements
For Citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda
Beginning January 23, 2007, citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda will be required to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere
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[QUOTE=Kimbrough]Hi,
No, you can't cut in line if you have a bike anymore. The Mexican don't even rent bike out to people anymore. I guess if you have a bike you are required to dismount and walk across.[/QUOTE]
That sucks, it saved alot of time. Just pay for the bike and ride or walk by all the people on line.
It would save me around 1-1:30.
If I saw the line that long again, I would just go back for another round at AB.
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Cialis Price
What Pharmacy in TJ sells Cialis cheaper than $13.50 ?
Most Farmacias at the border crossing are charging 13- 13.50.
One pharmacy offered me Cialis from a big jar without the package for $10
but I did not trust it, they could be fake sugar pills, or some other shit.
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Passport Requirement
[QUOTE=Country John]Hi Flapjack.
You don't need a passport or a visa to enter Mexico at the San Ysidro Border crossing but you will need a passport to return Stateside soon. If you don;t have a passport, it's a good idea to get going on it. As for now, your drivers license or birth certificate should be ok. Check with the homeland security website for the kick-in dates for passport requirements.
If you travel deep into Mexico you'll need to have a visa, but as for the zona, the only passport you need is your wallet.
I used to have all the dates locked in my memory but beer and latinas tend to make you forget.
Country John[/QUOTE]
If you are crossing into the US by AIR, you will need a passport starting January 23, 2007. If you are crossing by land or by sea (including ferries) then the passport requirement does not kick in until January 1, 2008. This is according to the DHS website.
Those of us who cross at San Ysidro still have some time but it's best to get these things taken care of early.
Blue Nose
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Cialis
[QUOTE=HornyTraveler]What Pharmacy in TJ sells Cialis cheaper than $13.50 ?
Most Farmacias at the border crossing are charging 13- 13.50.
One pharmacy offered me Cialis from a big jar without the package for $10
but I did not trust it, they could be fake sugar pills, or some other shit.[/QUOTE]
Best price I've ever had for Cialis is about $12. You can get this price at the first farmacia along farmacia alley as you walk across (blue and white sign). The pharmacies along farmacia alley have the best prices - avoid the ones on Revolucion.
When the guy offered to sell you a tablet outside the blister pack, he was actually taking a larger count bottle and breaking it down himself (in order to make more money). This is why he could afford to sell for $10. Most medicine is dispensed this way (think of all the time they put meds in the standard amber bottle for people), but I agree with you that it is much easier to fake. Unless you know or trust the guy, I would go with the blister-packed tablet and pay the extra $3.
Blue Nose