General Reports

[Efjayel]

By the way, for all or you still using a birth certificate and DL, you too are coming down to the wire. Unless the gov pushes the date back again, you are going to NEED that passport this summer.

What's the deal for us Permanent resident holders? Are we going to need more than the Green Card?

[Pablito Diablito]

So I saw somebody asking about passports in the AB thread, but I had a question myself. After driving all the way down to San Ysidro and realizing that I had forgotten my passport, AGAIN! , I want to get that new passport card so that I can just keep it in my wallet at all times. I printed out the application, and am almost ready to send it back in, but I also have to send my regular passport with it, and I tell myself, "one more trip, then send in the paperwork"

Has anyone actually got one of these cards yet? And how long am I going to be without a passport while I am waiting to get it back in the mail from that delightful bureaucracy?

By the way, for all or you still using a birth certificate and DL, you too are coming down to the wire. Unless the gov pushes the date back again, you are going to NEED that passport this summer. I think that I read about some deal on getting a passport card and book for the same price, for first time passport applications.

Travel. State. Gov

Get them while there is still time!

[Sgt Perv]

Thanks!

I'll just have to be sneaky I guess. lol.

I would do it in the open.

You will seem like a tourist looking for places.

Trying to conceal what your doing would look suspicious and warrant closer investigation.

[Efjayel]

Never tried Greyhound. How is the Tres Estrellas? How often do they make the trip per day, how much do they charge roundtrip and do they make stops in between? Intercalifornias Goes straight from the Santa Ana bus depot straight to the border with no stops.

[Dos Lunas]

Efjayel,

There is no comparison to taking the bus than driving. One of the reasons that kept me from going to Tijuana was the long tiring drive, that is, until I started taking the buses from Intercalifornias or Tres Estrellas. Its great being able to re-charge before and after the trips.

Have you tried the Greyhound to Tijuana yet. They reduced their roundtrip to only $20, but they stop in San Diego first. I wanted to know whether they are relatively on time and punctual like the other two bus companies.

[Efjayel]

Do everyone a favor and keep the map up to date and accurate. Jackson posted it in the best possible place so now your obligaton to the membership is to make it as accurate as possible. Of course all this goes without saying.

Thanks!

Yeah, I have to update it. I need to go back and spend a day there just verifying locations and things. Although I get kind of paranoid when I'm in TJ standing around the bars looking and writing stuff down. I figure it's going to catch the attention of Tj's finest and I don't want to have to be explaining what I'm doing. I see the police stop random people all the time and I'd hate to be one of them. I'll just have to be sneaky I guess. lol.

I'm planning a trip for this monday so I have to start making notes on what needs updating.

For longer time, parking on the other side of the road is much cheaper and it is also very close to the border.

I've never tried the other parking lots. I'm usually set in my ways that if something works then I'll stick with it. And since I've never really had any problem with the parking behind Jack in the box, I keep going back to it. I don't go anymore though. I take buses down to Tj instead. I can rest on the way there and back.

Intercalifornias bus. It's a hell lot better than the Amtrak plus trolley option. And it's way cheaper. $28 bucks roundtrip and about 2.5 hours later leaving L.A. I reach Tj. Amtrack plus trolley was like 5 hours each way and tickets where +40 bucks!

[Champak Lal]

I think one of the guys at the parking lot behind jack in the box charged me for going over the time limit of 8 hours even though I didn't. $5 bucks for 8 hours and $10 more if you go over. My fault was that I didn't pay attention to the ticket. And after I paid they kept the ticket so I couldn't check. Ten dollars is no big deal I guess but now I make sure to check the ticket before I pay.

One time I left the parking lot literally like 2 minutes before my time was up.[/QUOTE]For longer time, parking on the other side of the road is much cheaper and it is also very close to the border.

[Sound7]

Yeah, I just noticed my map finally made the Tijuana guide. Joy! : D Thanks to all you guys who used it and also suggested it should be added.

I think one of the guys at the parking lot behind jack in the box charged me for going over the time limit of 8 hours even though I didn't. $5 bucks for 8 hours and $10 more if you go over. My fault was that I didn't pay attention to the ticket. And after I paid they kept the ticket so I couldn't check. Ten dollars is no big deal I guess but now I make sure to check the ticket before I pay.

One time I left the parking lot literally like 2 minutes before my time was up.

Great map update with pertinent info regarding Tijuana visit.

LOL the new parking sign. Being one minute over 8 hours. No exceptions $10. 00

A zero tolerance parking lot and only one with quick access to fwy for $5. Eight (8) absolute hours. $10 & $15 options.

[Country John]

Yeah, I just noticed my map finally made the Tj guide. Joy!
Thanks to all you guys who used it and also suggested it should be added.


I think one of the guys at the parking lot behind jack in the box charged me for going over the time limit of 8 hours even though I didn't. $5 bucks for 8 hours and $10 more if you go over. My fault was that I didn't pay attention to the ticket. And after I paid they kept the ticket so I couldn't check. Ten dollars is no big deal I guess but now I make sure to check the ticket before I pay.

One time I left the parking lot literally like 2 minutes before my time was up.

Do everyone a favor and keep the map up to date and accurate. Jackson posted it in the best possible place so now your obligaton to the membership is to make it as accurate as possible. Of course all this goes without saying.

[Efjayel]

Yeah, I just noticed my map finally made the Tj guide. Joy!
Thanks to all you guys who used it and also suggested it should be added.


I think one of the guys at the parking lot behind jack in the box charged me for going over the time limit of 8 hours even though I didn't. $5 bucks for 8 hours and $10 more if you go over. My fault was that I didn't pay attention to the ticket. And after I paid they kept the ticket so I couldn't check. Ten dollars is no big deal I guess but now I make sure to check the ticket before I pay.

One time I left the parking lot literally like 2 minutes before my time was up.

[Firedsup]

Congrats Buddy,

Hope all newbies, and others will use this to their advantage.

Happy and safe hunting

[Lazyboy]

Always leave enough money in you car to pay the parking fee. Do the worst case. If the fee is $7 then leave 25 in the car. This way if you are detained or robbed you can still get your car out of the parking lot. Also some lots change the rates on you. Having a few bucks for gas in also a good idea. This tip actually came from a lot guy! No money no get car out period.

[Country John]

Your map is now immortalized in Brockton O’Toole’s Tijuana Guide.

I am very glad your dream came to light after all your hard work.

With your map and the guide a newbie should have no troubles.

The addition of the map to Brockton's guide will be an asset to newbies who want to see the "lay" of the land (pun intended) and plan their route. So thanks, Jackson.

Note to all GPS users out there: I just upgraded to the microsoft streets 2009 pgm from streets 2004 and sabes que? It has street level navigation capabilities for cities and towns in MEXICO, including Tijuana right now now.

So thanks to Jackson and thanks to Bill Gates.

[Sgt Perv]

Your map is now immortalized in Brockton O’Toole’s Tijuana Guide.

I am very glad your dream came to light after all your hard work.

With your map and the guide a newbie should have no troubles.

[El Flaco]

...
With all the reports of the violence in tj, I didn't see any, and this trip felt no different than any of my past trip to this city.

We don't see it but four bodies (one was a policeman) have been found last week only. In this case the cartel took care of leaving an explicit written note.
That not to say it is actually dangerous to be there as the media and the US Gov.nt apparently wants you to think. Perhaps they don't want you to start asking why food (among other things) is 50% less expensive there.

...
Before I forget, I exchanged my money just after you past through the first set of turnstyles. The exchange rate was 13.4, I past by a couple of places around Rev. the exchange rate was pretty close. The highest I saw was 13.6, the lowest at 13.2

I found that the exchange rate is accurately tracked at least twice a day by the most competitive booths, e.g. the one next to the police station. But the difference between a most competitive and an OK one is just 5 cents to the dollar, for example one is able to exchange at 13.70 with the absolute best dealer, and a close 13.65 at most others. Of course since the most competitive ones tend to be always the same, just check the spread and use that as an absolute reference to remember where it's preferable to go. Like, 15 cents of peso spread is an excellent value.
Of course just ignore the ones showing like 13.075 as mentioned elsewhere these are just meant to confuse and screw you.