General Reports

[Hargow20]

If you taking the Lyft or cab than it is probably faster. I always walk to the Zona and I find that taking Ped east to be a hassle. I hate having to go take the walkway all the way over to Frontera and double back over to the pedestrian bridge.

I would have to respectfully disagree. The above is not sound advice. Actually it is horrendous advice if directed at a newbie who's never crossed before. Crossing into Mexico on foot, PedEast is rarely congested. Sure, the line at PedWest may be 30 seconds shorter than PedEast, and thus may be preferable to cross at if you're arriving at the border in anything other than the trolley. But if you're taking the trolley, PedEast is BY FAR the superior option. Get off the trolley, walk to the Customs building, get cleared, then walk to the taxis. Why complicate matters and waste 30 minutes in order to save 30 seconds in a slightly shorter line? You have to wait for the shuttle / Uber / Lyft to arrive, then the ride over to PedWest can be quite long during rush hour, and you have to waste money paying for an unnecessary ride. Plus PedWest closes at a certain hour. Additionally, directing someone to walk from PedEast to PedWest if an even worse piece of advice. It's not a short walk, and it's even longer if lugging a duffel bag or suitcase in tow. If you're taking the trolley, do not even think of crossing over at PedWest. It's a complete waste of time / money / effort and you're guaranteed to be worse off for it.

[ClamSlammer]

Personally I recommend taking Pedwest. Pedwest is less congested and is located on the west side of the I-5 freeway. Either walk or take Lyft. Walking is fairly easy just head southwest through the shopping mall and over the bridge. Keep heading towards the arch. This is Revolucion & Primera st. Walking to Tijuana is safe during the day. The only downside is the smell from the Tijuana river.

I would have to respectfully disagree. The above is not sound advice. Actually it is horrendous advice if directed at a newbie who's never crossed before. Crossing into Mexico on foot, PedEast is rarely congested. Sure, the line at PedWest may be 30 seconds shorter than PedEast, and thus may be preferable to cross at if you're arriving at the border in anything other than the trolley. But if you're taking the trolley, PedEast is BY FAR the superior option. Get off the trolley, walk to the Customs building, get cleared, then walk to the taxis. Why complicate matters and waste 30 minutes in order to save 30 seconds in a slightly shorter line? You have to wait for the shuttle / Uber / Lyft to arrive, then the ride over to PedWest can be quite long during rush hour, and you have to waste money paying for an unnecessary ride. Plus PedWest closes at a certain hour. Additionally, directing someone to walk from PedEast to PedWest if an even worse piece of advice. It's not a short walk, and it's even longer if lugging a duffel bag or suitcase in tow. If you're taking the trolley, do not even think of crossing over at PedWest. It's a complete waste of time / money / effort and you're guaranteed to be worse off for it.

[Hargow20]

Personally I recommend taking Pedwest. Pedwest is less congested and is located on the west side of the I-5 freeway. Either walk or take Lyft. Walking is fairly easy just head southwest through the shopping mall and over the bridge. Keep heading towards the arch. This is Revolucion & Primera st. Walking to Tijuana is safe during the day. The only downside is the smell from the Tijuana river.

From the San Diego airport bus number 992 (2. 25 exact change) to America Plaza. Transfer to the trolley "Blue Line" to San Ysidro / Tijuana (buy a ticket from the machine - $ 2. 50) one way, travel time 45 minutes. Get off at the last station of San Ysidro. (This is pedeast crossing not pedwest). Go to Mexico and take a taxi from the official taxi stop only. It is behind the revolving gate. Take a taxi to Hong Kong or Adelita $ 5 one way. Link to San Diego transit www.sdmts.com Taxi from San Diego airport to border can be as expensive as $ 50 one way or more. The traffic can be crazy, yesterday was gridlock for a few miles before entering Mexico on I-5. Trolley is maybe not too comfortable but cheap and a sure way to get to the border.

[StRobert]

Hello all,

I'm so lost please help. How do I get from San Diego airport to the trolley? Will the trolley take me to the Pedwest crossing? And about how much will this all cost to go from the airport to the border? I think I read something saying if I take a cab or maybe it was a bus to the trolley then my ride on the trolley is free but I don't know. I would appreciate any help on guiding me from the Airport to Pedwest. Or if you know a better way to cross let me know how to do this Please. This web forum has been very helpful and I was a paying member up until about two months ago, Thanks.

From the San Diego airport bus number 992 (2. 25 exact change) to America Plaza. Transfer to the trolley "Blue Line" to San Ysidro / Tijuana (buy a ticket from the machine - $ 2. 50) one way, travel time 45 minutes. Get off at the last station of San Ysidro. (This is pedeast crossing not pedwest). Go to Mexico and take a taxi from the official taxi stop only. It is behind the revolving gate. Take a taxi to Hong Kong or Adelita $ 5 one way. Link to San Diego transit www.sdmts.com Taxi from San Diego airport to border can be as expensive as $ 50 one way or more. The traffic can be crazy, yesterday was gridlock for a few miles before entering Mexico on I-5. Trolley is maybe not too comfortable but cheap and a sure way to get to the border.

[Frank Lucas]

Exact change is good advice. I have a re-loadable card. If you need to buy the card, it's $2. There is an automated MTS machine directly across from baggage claim (in terminal 1, at least). But on a visit about a year ago, on the 992 bus, an exchange student that spoke very little English put a $50 bill in expecting change. She nearly broke down in tears when she understood that was not possible. The driver told her she could write MTS and maybe get a refund in 4-6 weeks. So exact change is recommended. But if you go more than once, I'd suggest the one time $2 fee for a card.

I wouldn't recommend chancing it without paying. I'd estimate at least half of my rides from america plaza to San Ysidro have had the trolley police checking tickets.

Nice ending to the story. Everyone on the bus chipped in and refunded the student her change.

There is an MTS app called Compass Cloud you can load on your phone and then use it to pay for everything even before you get to SD. If transit police question you on the trolley as they did me, just show them your screen. If your battery dies it will be like you do not have a ticket and yes you will be fined, so charge up amigos.

[Dcrist0527]

The cost of the bus is $2.25 I think. Trolley costs $2. 50. You have to pay, there are no free rides. I suppose you can get on the trolley without buying a ticket but you'd risk getting busted by the transit police which would put a damper on your mongering vacation all because you're extremely cheap and tried to steal a $2. 50 service. Bring exact change because I'm not sure you can buy a day pass for $5 unless you already have a MTS card. You may be able to or may not. Just cross at PedEast where the trolley lets off. There's no reason really to complicate matters by crossing through PedWest.

Exact change is good advice. I have a re-loadable card. If you need to buy the card, it's $2. There is an automated MTS machine directly across from baggage claim (in terminal 1, at least). But on a visit about a year ago, on the 992 bus, an exchange student that spoke very little English put a $50 bill in expecting change. She nearly broke down in tears when she understood that was not possible. The driver told her she could write MTS and maybe get a refund in 4-6 weeks. So exact change is recommended. But if you go more than once, I'd suggest the one time $2 fee for a card.

I wouldn't recommend chancing it without paying. I'd estimate at least half of my rides from america plaza to San Ysidro have had the trolley police checking tickets.

Nice ending to the story. Everyone on the bus chipped in and refunded the student her change.

[ScatManDoo]

It may be that this free bus line is no longer running. The link that I provided seem to no longer be active.

I wrote this sentence in error. Unbeknownst to me, my computer was set to block pop-ups. The link, and presumably the free shuttle from the airport to the trolley's green line, are still operating.

[ScatManDoo]

Around ten months ago, in a different thread, I wrote about a new, free bus that took passengers directly between the airport and the trolley's green line. Here's that post:

Yes. There is a free shuttle from the trolley's green line Middleton station to the airport. https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topi...for-commuters/.

I am not talking about the bus route 992, which is not free.

It may be that this free bus line is no longer running. The link that I provided seem to no longer be active.

[ClamSlammer]

Hello all,

I'm so lost please help. How do I get from San Diego airport to the trolley? Will the trolley take me to the Pedwest crossing? And about how much will this all cost to go from the airport to the border? I think I read something saying if I take a cab or maybe it was a bus to the trolley then my ride on the trolley is free but I don't know. I would appreciate any help on guiding me from the Airport to Pedwest. Or if you know a better way to cross let me know how to do this Please. This web forum has been very helpful and I was a paying member up until about two months ago, Thanks.

The cost of the bus is $2.25 I think. Trolley costs $2. 50. You have to pay, there are no free rides. I suppose you can get on the trolley without buying a ticket but you'd risk getting busted by the transit police which would put a damper on your mongering vacation all because you're extremely cheap and tried to steal a $2. 50 service. Bring exact change because I'm not sure you can buy a day pass for $5 unless you already have a MTS card. You may be able to or may not. Just cross at PedEast where the trolley lets off. There's no reason really to complicate matters by crossing through PedWest.

[Member #0001]

Thank you for sharing this very important detail. I'm so glad I was able to get this info before my travels.

Could I ask you to also help me with some of my questions I had asked in my original post about hotels / motels? I could use everyone's help to create a travel guide on which hotels / motels are this and that based on some of my inquiries.

What would be some of your favorites and why?

I might not stay in Norte area maybe more East Rio, etc.

[Travv]

Most major hotel chains have joined a "[CodeWord908]" network to report guests to the US Government and NGOs like the SPLC. The major hotel chain employees get training on how to spot "human traffickers". Examples of suspicious activity include: guests who back their car into a parking space. Paying cash for a hotel room. Bringing a girl or girls up to your hotel room. Traveling with foreign women. This profile fits many male guests, so if you do not want to be spied on by the hotel staff and put on a blacklist, avoid major hotel chains. I would be extremely wary of renting a room in a chain like Marriott. Small foreign hotels not part of a US chain of hotels would be preferable.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a complete list of motels and hotels in Tijuana from someone who can also answer some of these questions in detail.

1) Do you have a complete list of motels and hotels that are girl friendly?

2) What motels (IE motel premier) have a weekend 4 hour limit window? And on what days does that start and end?

3) In terms of cleanliness which motels rank the highest and the worst?

4) Any additional comments for each motel or hotel such as where to park, or hurdles to overcome when inviting a girl into the room..

[PowerMan02]

Hello all,

I'm so lost please help. How do I get from San Diego airport to the trolley? Will the trolley take me to the Pedwest crossing? And about how much will this all cost to go from the airport to the border? I think I read something saying if I take a cab or maybe it was a bus to the trolley then my ride on the trolley is free but I don't know. I would appreciate any help on guiding me from the Airport to Pedwest. Or if you know a better way to cross let me know how to do this Please. This web forum has been very helpful and I was a paying member up until about two months ago, Thanks.

It's about a $30 Uber / Lyft ride if you want it easier. If you want public transit, you'll get on the 992 bus to the blue line trolley. Your $5 fare is good for all public transit all day. Including the trolley. If you're not following along on a smartphone map, just sit up front and ask the driver to tell you where to get off for the blue line.

The blue line takes you all the way to the San Ysidro border crossing. It's the older crossing. But you can walk across there as well. If you'the prefer Pedwest, there is a little purple bus that goes back and forth on the us side between the two crossings for $1 or it's about a half mile walk. Just head west along the sidewalk and turn left before the mall.

Allow 60-90 minutes for the trip on bus / trolley. Uber / Lyft will get you there in 30.

[Member #0001]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a complete list of motels and hotels in Tijuana from someone who can also answer some of these questions in detail.

1) Do you have a complete list of motels and hotels that are girl friendly?

2) What motels (IE motel premier) have a weekend 4 hour limit window? And on what days does that start and end?

3) In terms of cleanliness which motels rank the highest and the worst?

4) Any additional comments for each motel or hotel such as where to park, or hurdles to overcome when inviting a girl into the room.

5) Which motels have garages?

6) Which motels do not have an in and outs policy?

7) Which motels have open windows and which ones are more secure feeling?

I have only stayed at Motel Premier. I like it but I'm ready for a change. And I sometimes don't like the no in and out policy. It's fine for me but when I bring friends I'd be nice if I could stay in a regular place like a Marriott or a Hyatt.

[VegasGambler9]

Hello all,

I'm so lost please help. How do I get from San Diego airport to the trolley? Will the trolley take me to the Pedwest crossing? And about how much will this all cost to go from the airport to the border? I think I read something saying if I take a cab or maybe it was a bus to the trolley then my ride on the trolley is free but I don't know. I would appreciate any help on guiding me from the Airport to Pedwest. Or if you know a better way to cross let me know how to do this Please. This web forum has been very helpful and I was a paying member up until about two months ago, Thanks.

[RikyMichaels7]

Had last Thursday and Friday off. Got into the linea at Otay at around 4 pm. For reasons unknown to me, I decided to head over to La Cueva Del Peludo. I had been here before and it wasn't anything to write home about. I sat down and ordered a Tecate Light from a female waitress. She kept hounding me to buy her a beer and I declined. Anyway, the first dancer hits the stage and she is a knockout. She proceeds to dance to a couple of Bon Jovi and AC DC tunes, which was a nice change from that shitty ranchera. She finishes dancing and heads over to the barstools. I quickly winked at her and she came over to my booth. Much to my surprise, she spoke very good English. We had a good time chatting. She told me she used to work in Hong Kong but got deported to La Cueva because she drank took much. The term she used was castigo or castigated. I had about 5 beers with her and headed over to Adelitas and Hong Kong. She called me at about 2 am and asked me if I wanted to go to Rosarito with her the next day. I told her that I would and to meet me at my hotel Aqua Rio at 11 am the next day. At 11 am sharp, I get a call from her telling me she is at the hotel. She comes up and drops her bags off. The good news was that she had her own car. We head over to Starbucks to get a coffee first and then head over to Papas and Beer. When we get seated, we order a couple of clamato preparados. She proceeds to take her sundress off to reveal this bikini which made me just about lose it. My God what a body. As soon as she did this, just about every waiter came over to get a closer look. LOL. We take our drinks down to the water and she proceeded to run and jump in the ocean. She then tells me, let's go get some tequila. So we walk along half the stores with her still wearing this bikini. Unbelievable. So we eventually head back to Tijuana where I tell her about Zacozanapan. She practically begs me to go with her so we do. We get in the bar and she starts asking the waiters where we can buy some pot, of which they got kind of mad. So some locals hear her and tell her they will sell her a couple of doobies of which she bought. Had a good time listening to music and toking.

We next head over to Tijuana Tillys to get some food. There was a live band playing and we went out and danced and had a good time. We head back to our hotel and I had a wonderful time with her magnificient body. The next day we head over to Playas. We walk the beach, get some coffee, drink several glasses of wine in a great little outdoor bar and then head over to a restaurant that she says is good. It is on the malecon in Playas. My God, the food was great. We ordered pasta, pizza and raviolis and I swear it was fantastic food. We get a hotel in Playas which was nice. I told her that I was going to take a shower. When I got out of the shower, she was sitting on the bed with a dildo buzzing in her twat. She says to me, are you ready Riki? I couldn't say no. LOL.

What is interesting is that she paid for some drinks and a meal, of which I told her not to. But she demanded to do so. I have never had a woman in Tijuana buy me anything. Come to find out, she had a gringo boyfriend and a son and they lived in Cabo. He apparently began beating her and then he went back to San Diego. She has no Visa and her ex boyfriend refuses to let her see her son because she works in a bar. She is trying to get a Visa to live in California. Anyway, she was a blast. You never know when a gem like this will appear out of nowhere, especially in a crappy bar like La Cueva Del Peludo. Cheers.