General Reports

[Sorento]

Hey guys,

It's been a long time since I've posted here, due to having a GF. Well now that's all done with, I'm going to be heading south for some are&are. I was wondering what hotels near the zona are worth staying at that are fairly cheap. I used to stay at Ticuan all the time, but I'm on a very tight budget this upcoming trip. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

You can try Caesers. Maybe $50 on weekdays.

[ClamSlammer]

Hey guys,

It's been a long time since I've posted here, due to having a GF. Well now that's all done with, I'm going to be heading south for some are&are. I was wondering what hotels near the zona are worth staying at that are fairly cheap. I used to stay at Ticuan all the time, but I'm on a very tight budget this upcoming trip. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Hotel La Carreta is in the alley and fairly new. I haven't checked in a long time but rates should be around $30 dls. Velario is a block and a half from the zona although the walk can be sketchy at night. Also fairly new, rates around $30 dls as well.

[LuvMexicanas]

Hey guys,

It's been a long time since I've posted here, due to having a GF. Well now that's all done with, I'm going to be heading south for some are&are. I was wondering what hotels near the zona are worth staying at that are fairly cheap. I used to stay at Ticuan all the time, but I'm on a very tight budget this upcoming trip. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

It's only one block from Ticuan and runs between $30-35.

[Watnow78]

Hey guys,

It's been a long time since I've posted here, due to having a GF. Well now that's all done with, I'm going to be heading south for some are&are. I was wondering what hotels near the zona are worth staying at that are fairly cheap. I used to stay at Ticuan all the time, but I'm on a very tight budget this upcoming trip. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Asting]

The only ATM in the Zona that I would use to withdraw money is the ones inside hotel Cascadas.

[LovesToSploog]

Perfect place to do so since most of us think with our little head in height of the moment. Now, I just take out money exclusively at the major banks like Bannamex, Bananorte, BBVA Bancomer. I haven't had an issue withdrawing money from there with my CS card.

My ATM card got skimmed too by the ATM in the back alley near the back entrance to HK. Sucks. Someone withdrew $200 but luckily BofA reimbursed me since it was fraudulent.

[SpikeBites1]

The CS checking account is free and they reimburse any fee from atms. However I would recommend not using it at Coahuila since my card got skimmed at the atms by Hong Kong.

My ATM card got skimmed too by the ATM in the back alley near the back entrance to HK. Sucks. Someone withdrew $200 but luckily BofA reimbursed me since it was fraudulent.

[LovesToSploog]

The CS checking account is free and they reimburse any fee from atms. However I would recommend not using it at Coahuila since my card got skimmed at the atms by Hong Kong.

How often will you come and how much will you spend per trip? Unless you are going to spend a lot of money or make many trips, I would recommend against opening a special account. Too many headaches with having more accounts than you need. Fidelity has same type of ATM card available.

It is definately beneficial to pay in pesos, that saves some money. My first 30 or 40 trips I just exchanged money in San Ysidro, which is a better deal than changing in Tijuana.

You might find that access to these Schwab and Fidelity ATM cards requires substantial deposits, I don't know.

[WombatEd2]

Tried to find my answer in earlier posts but no luck. I have not been to Tijuana since the formal border was activated. Is it satisfactory to use a passport CARD to cross over and back? I did read about having to buy a visa at the border, this is new to me.

I cross about twice a week, usually by car, but I've also walked many times.

If you cross by car, or on foot, the passport card works. (But not by air, or by water.).

If you're walking, you will need to clear the visa checkpoint, where they may make you get a visa. Visas are free if your trip will be for 7 or fewer days, and cheap otherwise.

Or you can get your visa online, ahead of time, to save time at the walk-through checkpoint. If you have a, skip the "foreigners" line, and go straight to the "Mexican Citizens" line, where you'll get through almost immediately.

[HorseTrader]

I am thinking of starting a Charles schwab account. I have always used USA Dollars in mexico. Do you save enough money using pesos? On SG? Hk chicas? Other bg? Everything else in Tijuana. Thank you for any advice.

How often will you come and how much will you spend per trip? Unless you are going to spend a lot of money or make many trips, I would recommend against opening a special account. Too many headaches with having more accounts than you need. Fidelity has same type of ATM card available.

It is definately beneficial to pay in pesos, that saves some money. My first 30 or 40 trips I just exchanged money in San Ysidro, which is a better deal than changing in Tijuana.

You might find that access to these Schwab and Fidelity ATM cards requires substantial deposits, I don't know.

[LovesToSploog]

I was going to ask you folks this, not that I need the passport, but that damn visa. I went there with a family member and since she was staying for 7 days, they told her it was mandatory because she will get checked if she travels in Mexico. I ended up giving her 550 pesos so she can get that 180 day pass. I feel like we were shook up but I'm not too familiar with Mexican law to say it's true. I didn't have to pay since I was coming back in two days. This was last Friday, I'm guessing since it's spring break and Friday then that's why they were checking everyone. I usually just pass when I go alone, since they don't even check me. My friend who lives there says I should have requested I speak to someone from the US embassy, I was too tired to even argue so I paid it.

Tried to find my answer in earlier posts but no luck. I have not been to Tijuana since the formal border was activated. Is it satisfactory to use a passport CARD to cross over and back? I did read about having to buy a visa at the border, this is new to me.

[Artisttyp]

Tried to find my answer in earlier posts but no luck. I have not been to Tijuana since the formal border was activated. Is it satisfactory to use a passport CARD to cross over and back? I did read about having to buy a visa at the border, this is new to me.

YES. The card works fine.

[ClamSlammer]

Tried to find my answer in earlier posts but no luck. I have not been to Tijuana since the formal border was activated. Is it satisfactory to use a passport CARD to cross over and back? I did read about having to buy a visa at the border, this is new to me.

Yes you can use a USA Passport card to cross into Mexico and back to the USA When entering Mexico on foot, you will be asked the duration of your stay. If you state 7 days or less, you will be granted a free 7 day visa. If you state more than 7 days, you will be required to purchase a 180 visa for approximately $25 dls. Even if you are staying more than 7 days, you can always state less than 7 days and not pay for the 180 day visa. Once you cross into Mexico no government agency ever asks to see your visa.

[Ak233]

Tried to find my answer in earlier posts but no luck. I have not been to Tijuana since the formal border was activated. Is it satisfactory to use a passport CARD to cross over and back? I did read about having to buy a visa at the border, this is new to me.

[Baxter Slade]

I am thinking of starting a Charles schwab account. I have always used USA Dollars in mexico. Do you save enough money using pesos? On SG? Hk chicas? Other bg? Everything else in Tijuana. Thank you for any advice.

SG's for sure a lot of them still use the scale $20 is equal to 200 pesos. A huge savings using pesos. Other things not so much.