General Reports

[Artisttyp]

I called the hotel they say they are open now for business. I'll stick to Uber and taxi when going to and from la zona. I'll check out the container club nearby that sounds like a lot of fun too.

I saw in Volaris Magazine that IBIS is running a promo price. I forget the exact price but it seemed enticing. You may want to ask if they allow visitors before you book.

[Daweiwang88]

I drive past the Ibis Hotel daily. It is in Zona Rio near Costco, which is one of the wealthier areas of Tijuana. In my opinion it is too long to walk to the Zona. An Uber should cost under $3 dls. Near Ibis Hotel is a good taco joint called Tacos el Franc. Also good is Taconazo. There is a civie club called LE Container nearby which is loaded with young civies on weekends. All are a very short walk from Ibis. However, I'm not sure if Ibis is open yet. Last time I took a good look and it didn't seem to have opened yet. Perhaps by the end of June it will be ready.

I called the hotel they say they are open now for business. I'll stick to Uber and taxi when going to and from la zona. I'll check out the container club nearby that sounds like a lot of fun too.

[ScatManDoo]

Quite peculiar behavior. Too timid to ask the cashier a pertinent question so you end up buying something you don't really need just to find out their exchange rate. I just man up and ask them if they don't have it posted. I've never gotten any dirty looks just for asking. If you're getting dirty looks you're doing something else wrong.

I don't buy anything I don't need or want. And I was not suggesting that to anyone else.

When something in Tijuana is shown at a cost only in one currency, with no posted exchange rate, I would rather test the merchant with an actual transaction. I find that more desirable than asking a clerk for their exchange rate. That's for small items, as I previously said.

Of course, you have to be disingenuous when trying to make points in a discussion, in this case by bringing in an example of a car purchase.

My guess is that you get lots of irritated looks by experienced vendors, who know to show them to other customers, but behind your back.

[ClamSlammer]

You have a real hard-on for me don't you?

I constantly read about mongers leaving Tijuana and trying to not bring pesos back into the United States. We know what the dollar price for Cazadores is at the duty free store thanks to StRoberts reporting ($15) as opposed to stores in the US. I've never been inside that duty free at the border, despite passing by it scores of times. I don't know if they post their current exchange rate or not. I often make small purchases in Tijuana stores to find out exchange rates, rather than just be an annoying hyper-questioning tourist.

Maybe its just my observation of Tijuana vendors, but I've seen them look at act annoyed by questioning tourists who have no intention of buying anything. Maybe you've never noticed.

Quite peculiar behavior. Too timid to ask the cashier a pertinent question so you end up buying something you don't really need just to find out their exchange rate. I just man up and ask them if they don't have it posted. I've never gotten any dirty looks just for asking. If you're getting dirty looks you're doing something else wrong.

[DramaFree11]

Newbies should keep it as simple as possible even if one has to pay a couple of dollars more. I would use dollars only. I would stay at one of the hotels right in the middle of the red light district. I would eat in a sit down restaurant in the red light district. I would leave all contraband in the USA (guns, drugs). I would not drink excessively because I know that my waiter, chica, and local police would line up to steal my money if I was drunk. I would use Uber / taxi for transportation. I would avoid walking as much as I can especially in the dark. I would avoid all locals that speak perfect English (desperate deportees that can't find a job). I would screw only bar chicas only at the main clubs like Hong Kong, Adelitas, Chicago, Chubelas, Tropical. I would never follow anyone anywhere because they seem like nice people. And lastly l, I would avoid the waiters.

Wow one of the best reports ever written, well done. You should post this in the HK Pages as well, real all pages.

[ScatManDoo]

Why would one actually have to buy a bottle in order to find out whether or not it is advantageous to pay in pesos? The exchange rate should be posted, and if it isn't one could ask the cashier. Then convert the dollar amount into pesos by using the in-house exchange rate. This level of mathematics is taught around 2nd grade I believe. If you were at a dealer and just curious about a new car, would you actually buy the car just to figure out if it's cheaper using pesos?

You have a real hard-on for me don't you?

I constantly read about mongers leaving Tijuana and trying to not bring pesos back into the United States. We know what the dollar price for Cazadores is at the duty free store thanks to StRoberts reporting ($15) as opposed to stores in the US. I've never been inside that duty free at the border, despite passing by it scores of times. I don't know if they post their current exchange rate or not. I often make small purchases in Tijuana stores to find out exchange rates, rather than just be an annoying hyper-questioning tourist.

Maybe its just my observation of Tijuana vendors, but I've seen them look at act annoyed by questioning tourists who have no intention of buying anything. Maybe you've never noticed.

[Jackie888]

Newbies should keep it as simple as possible even if one has to pay a couple of dollars more. I would use dollars only. I would stay at one of the hotels right in the middle of the red light district. I would eat in a sit down restaurant in the red light district. I would leave all contraband in the USA (guns, drugs). I would not drink excessively because I know that my waiter, chica, and local police would line up to steal my money if I was drunk. I would use Uber / taxi for transportation. I would avoid walking as much as I can especially in the dark. I would avoid all locals that speak perfect English (desperate deportees that can't find a job). I would screw only bar chicas only at the main clubs like Hong Kong, Adelitas, Chicago, Chubelas, Tropical. I would never follow anyone anywhere because they seem like nice people. And lastly l, I would avoid the waiters.

[JeraldoRivera]

So a question for you newbie mongers. What sounds better to you?

1) Get off trolley, cross at PedEast, take $2 Uber and arrive safely in ZN. (ClamSlammer).

OR.

2) Get off trolley, wait for $1 shuttle to PedWest, cross, then walk a mile with your bags and a pocket full of cash through one of the most dangerous sections of the #5 murder capital of the world in order to save $1. (ScatMan).

Uhhhhh, yea. Ill take clam slammer for a dollar!

[Hargow20]

Unless you cross on a early weekday morning before 9 am then crossing should not be a problem. I cross Pedwest it is a 10 minute wait at most when I cross.

Came back to Tijuana after 5 years.

Waiting in Marriott Hotel for Angie from MusasTJ.

I have a flight to catch from San Diego tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm.

Any suggestions on what time I should head over to San ysidro border pedestrian line?

5 years ago it used to be an hour max in normal pedestrian line.

But with current immigration issues in US, I need advise.

Report of Angie to follow in a couple of days.

[IndieFriend]

Came back to Tijuana after 5 years.

Waiting in Marriott Hotel for Angie from MusasTJ.

I have a flight to catch from San Diego tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm.

Any suggestions on what time I should head over to San ysidro border pedestrian line?

5 years ago it used to be an hour max in normal pedestrian line.

But with current immigration issues in US, I need advise.

Report of Angie to follow in a couple of days.

[ClamSlammer]

Been searching in the forum, has anyone stayed at the ibis hotel Tijuana? From the map it's a 25 min walk to Hong Kong and 7 min car ride. Is it too far away from center of the action? Plan to visit Tijuana for the first time end of June, any feedback about this hotels location and it's neighborhood is greatly appreciated.

I drive past the Ibis Hotel daily. It is in Zona Rio near Costco, which is one of the wealthier areas of Tijuana. In my opinion it is too long to walk to the Zona. An Uber should cost under $3 dls. Near Ibis Hotel is a good taco joint called Tacos el Franc. Also good is Taconazo. There is a civie club called LE Container nearby which is loaded with young civies on weekends. All are a very short walk from Ibis. However, I'm not sure if Ibis is open yet. Last time I took a good look and it didn't seem to have opened yet. Perhaps by the end of June it will be ready.

[ClamSlammer]

If someone were to buy the same bottle, but pay in pesos & report back, we would find out if it is advantageous to instead pay in pesos at that location.

Why would one actually have to buy a bottle in order to find out whether or not it is advantageous to pay in pesos? The exchange rate should be posted, and if it isn't one could ask the cashier. Then convert the dollar amount into pesos by using the in-house exchange rate. This level of mathematics is taught around 2nd grade I believe. If you were at a dealer and just curious about a new car, would you actually buy the car just to figure out if it's cheaper using pesos?

[Phordphan]

Been searching in the forum, has anyone stayed at the ibis hotel Tijuana? From the map it's a 25 min walk to Hong Kong and 7 min car ride. Is it too far away from center of the action? Plan to visit Tijuana for the first time end of June, any feedback about this hotels location and it's neighborhood is greatly appreciated.

25 minutes walking? I guess if you walk kind of fast. But 7 minutes by can isn't all that far. I guess it depends on what "center of action" you mean. There's lots going on in that area, but nothing in the way of hookers. Frankly, I wouldn't stay in a Zona hotel on a bet, but that's just me. I'd stay at the Ticuan and walk, or cab, depending on your fear level.

The Ibis isn't even open for business for another week. I've seen the pix and the prices. The rooms are new, but seem incredibly small. The price is an indication. I see between $40 and $50 per night. That is at the low end of the spectrum of Tijuana hotels. For your first time, I'd get a room at Ticuan. It'll cost you double, but it will probably be worth it.

[Aviator400]

Been searching in the forum, has anyone stayed at the ibis hotel Tijuana? From the map it's a 25 min walk to Hong Kong and 7 min car ride. Is it too far away from center of the action? Plan to visit Tijuana for the first time end of June, any feedback about this hotels location and it's neighborhood is greatly appreciated.

Is there a reason that you do not want to use a hotel in the Zona? If it was not your first time, I would suggest that you simply verify that the hotel is puta-friendly. However, you cannot beat the convenience and benefits of having a room in a Zona hotel.

And I recommend that you do not walk anywhere outside the Zona after dark, and there is a lot of fun to be had after dark. Taxis are cheap and fairly safe, even if you are going short distances it is cheap insurance. Uber is also available.

[Daweiwang88]

Been searching in the forum, has anyone stayed at the ibis hotel Tijuana? From the map it's a 25 min walk to Hong Kong and 7 min car ride. Is it too far away from center of the action? Plan to visit Tijuana for the first time end of June, any feedback about this hotels location and it's neighborhood is greatly appreciated.