General Reports

[Captain Solo]

Is a good pussy day in Tijuana.

May 1 - Labor day?

[Aht169]

Hi All.

Was planning my trek down to the Zona this coming Sunday afternoon. But then realized that Sunday is May 1, Labor Day holiday in Mexico.

So the question, is the holiday going to affect the number or quality of the options down in the Zona? Or Actually might be better?

Granted it is not Christmas, or Easter, but not sure how it will impact things.

Thoughts?

Thanks and stay safe!

AHT169.

[Nothing24]

Have any of you noticed any plain clothes police officers patrolling the zona?

I grabbed some tacos around the corner from Hong Kong Sunday night a little past midnight and noticed a cop in regular clothes with cuffs, a gun, badge and a radio standing on the corner with his head on a swivel. First time seeing this. Of course I thought maybe this is not a cop at all and maybe cartel affiliated. Don't know if he was on a particular assignment or if this will become more of the norm. Maybe they have always been there and I never noticed?

Anyways, while I was eating my tacos a group of early to mid twenties Mexican-American guys were also grabbing something to eat and they were talking in English amongst each other. I acted like I couldn't hear what they were talking about. One of them starts talking to another about how his girlfriend might get mad at him because he told her he would be back home before midnight. His friend said he might come home to his clothes and the rest of his stuff on the front lawn. He laughed and said maybe but she can't get too mad because a couple months ago he had a buddy of his over and I guess his girlfriend got horny and asked if both of them could bang her at the same time. The boyfriend didn't seem fazed at all and told his buddy and his buddy was all for it. He said they took turns hitting her doggy style while the other got some head. I was kind of in awe he was willing to share this info with his fellow monger friends seeing as how they now all know what kind of girl she is. Seems like something I would keep to myself but get this. He goes on to say they just found out his girlfriend recently got pregnant! Oh boy, I would get a paternity test ASAP!

[Routine]

I've done a bit of comparing the rates at different moneychangers, and one of the best can usually be had at the one on the south side of Coahuila, just east of Constitution.

That's if I'm driving. If I'm walking, the changers right next to Ped East, on the USA side, are usually better. But not so much so that it's worth getting off the freeway if I'm driving in. (I haven't figured out how to get to Ped East when I'm driving down the I-5.).

Beware of ATMs. They try to trap you into an unfavorable exchange rate. Some allow you to reject their first offer, and take the rate offered by your debit card company, and some don't.

Thanks. I'm not concerned about getting a killer exchange rate, just reasonable. Plus, I'm not going to be exchanging vast sums. My main concerns are convenience and safety. If I walk over the border I assume I'll want to have pesos immediately to pay for Uber / Van / Lyft / Taxi, etc? If I drive I'll park at a lot close or in the Zone. Where can I go to exchange money there?

[Sol12]

Global Entry also permits to drive over with a registered car. If someone knows the difference between the two, let us know. In terms of current processing, there's a delay with SENTRI and GE is currently taking about 3 months from beginning to end.

Thanks for the clarification, I guess we shouldn't be surprised to have the government just confuse us.

[John Clayton]

Global Entry also permits to drive over with a registered car. If someone knows the difference between the two, let us know. In terms of current processing, there's a delay with SENTRI and GE is currently taking about 3 months from beginning to end.

I applied for GE in early December -- still waiting for the conditional approval.

[Artisttyp]

A friend been waiting forever on passport renewal.

I renewed my passport last month. I paid for expedited service. It took maybe 3 weeks.

[SomeDude321]

I think with Sentri we are allowed to drive over with a registered car so those of us that visit by car or live in Tijuana would prefer paying a little more for this. When they started these at airports they also allow Sentri holders to use them..

Global Entry also permits to drive over with a registered car. If someone knows the difference between the two, let us know. In terms of current processing, there's a delay with SENTRI and GE is currently taking about 3 months from beginning to end.

[Captain Solo]

Sentri is for land border crossing from Mexico; Nexus is for land crossing from Canada. Global Entry is for expedited entry into the US by land, sea, air.

There are half a dozen GE machines at LAX, just walk to one, take mask and hat off for a photo, if the machine approves you are good to go within 30 secs, did not have to take the card out of your pocket. I assume the machines do facial feature recognition to match with travelers with HSI data base. Crossing back from CDMX, I was the only passenger in the GE line. Meanwhile there were 500,600 people were waiting in line for normal entry.

GE also allows cars driven across. Register all your cars in your application for free. If added after, they cost $42 each to add. Most time when driving back to San Diego at night in Sentri lane it takes me only 5-10 minutes to cross; last night only 5 minutes.

Driving over saves a lot of time an energy, sweating, walking, waiting for taxis who are usually very rude and greedy.

[SomeDude321]

Are there any dispensaries in Tijuana. Or if I wanted to visit where can I get some top notch Mexico cannabis?

Haven't seen any nor any advertisement for them. But since it's decriminalized, I wonder if they're no longer enforcing (I doubt since police will use any excuse for a shake down). I do know that half the time in Hotel Cascadas I smell weed in the hallways so I wonder if staff has simply been paid off.

[Hargow20]

Visa will actually pay for a global entry application fee once every four years. I was really amazed to hear this. One downside to the trolley is that the last trolley leaves San Ysidro at 12:45 am. Street parking is not a issue. I always park on Border village drive.

[Sol12]

SENTRI came first to the scene in the mid 1990's and has served it's purpose to ease travel between Mexico and the US, but IMO it's a relic of the past. For the general traveler, Global Entry is a better value as it serves all the functions of SENTRI and can be used at all pedestrian port of entries. Including Canada. If there's any advantages of SENTRI over Global Entry, I'm not aware of them. Not only that, but GE can be used at all major airports when returning from overseas and one can skip the sometimes ridiculous long lines to get through immigration. Oh, and for whatever reason, Global Entry is cheaper than SENTRI ($100 for GE vs $122.25 for SENTRI).

I think with Sentri we are allowed to drive over with a registered car so those of us that visit by car or live in Tijuana would prefer paying a little more for this. When they started these at airports they also allow Sentri holders to use them. Personally I have only used TSA pre check so others might have better first hand knowledge. I think this has been talked about many times before and I think one poster even said he has Nexus and it's even less expensive. To me the Sentri is great and I love it. I don't use it as much as before but for $25 a year having the ease of going to Mexico and have to concern about waiting a few hours in line to get back is worth it. Also with all the guys that still had to pay during COVID ato cross by foot I didn't have to deal with that since I just drive across. Just my opinion.

[SomeDude321]

SENTRI came first to the scene in the mid 1990's and has served it's purpose to ease travel between Mexico and the US, but IMO it's a relic of the past. For the general traveler, Global Entry is a better value as it serves all the functions of SENTRI and can be used at all pedestrian port of entries. Including Canada. If there's any advantages of SENTRI over Global Entry, I'm not aware of them. Not only that, but GE can be used at all major airports when returning from overseas and one can skip the sometimes ridiculous long lines to get through immigration. Oh, and for whatever reason, Global Entry is cheaper than SENTRI ($100 for GE vs $122.25 for SENTRI).

[Hadez]

Last I spoke with the customer sevice the delay was over 10 months. That was a few months ago. Another non-direct source told me the delay was over a year now.

I think a lot of border type crossing services got crap service since Covid. A friend been waiting forever on passport renewal.

How long does it take to get a decision on your Sentry application? I applied last summer and haven't heard a word.

[Dogers69]

Hi All:

Would welcome your thoughts / recommendations.

I have been reading the posts and the 2 options have pros and cons.

Walking, Pros: quick to get across both ways, don't have to worry about a car. Cons: The possible problems with FMM and cost, Cost of parking if driving to border, dealing with taxis, limited mobility.

Driving: Pros: seems to be easier to get through to Mexico, perceived more flexibility of getting around in Tijuana. Cons: Cost of mexican insurance, border wait coming back to US; and the actually driving in Mexico.

I may be missing something, but this is how I see it. Trying to decide which alternative makes most financial and time sense. Don't want to sit for 2 hrs coming back to the US but not sure if walking is that good of an option..

For majority of guys walking across is much better idea. Who wants to worry about their car while trying to drink, explore, bang chicks, evade robbery, evade kidnapping. You park the car at the trolley station if your cheap and don't have money for border parking, and make sure you have insurance for catalytic converter theft. For either parking lot free or paid. Keep one key in the car incase you lose your other one. Or take a door key with you hide in the car the driving key. I've parked at the trolley 200 nights in 3 years with no problems. The night I got choked out on side of Hong Kong, I walked back to border bleeding with nothing but most of my clothes, (they took my sweater off me while I was passed out), and I still had my car rental key because it was chained to my pants. So even though I had a bad night, I still had my car. Nobody talks about the line to get into Mexico which most nights is long from what I can see and I have read. Driving back without sentri can usually be 3 hours that's 3 hours of moving one foot a minute so you can't just look at your phone unshaven pay attention. Plus its a good idea to take the mexicanb75 cent bus from border to revolucion street. I believe it is a waste to go all the way to Mexico and not take in the culture. The crowded bus, buy a 1 dollar beer on calle revulcion, figure out your plan for the night. Watch the Mexican woman walking around.