General Reports

[Fmojo]

I want to go to Tijuana more often but I'm sick of the long line back to cross the border.

What is the best time of day and day of the week to avoid those lines?

Since the pandemic, crossing in San Ysidro is a crapshoot. It might take 20 minutes or it might take 4 hours.

Either get a GE / Sentri card or cross in Otay.

[Dogers69]

I want to go to Tijuana more often but I'm sick of the long line back to cross the border.

What is the best time of day and day of the week to avoid those lines?

Sunday mornings around 8, 9 am were quiet in August. But it's not reliable because it's up to the staff. Only semi reliable time is probably after 7 pm to 2 am. I would say in this time frame, 90% of the time it's under an hour. Remember if your a senior looking person you can go to the senior line 3 feet to the right and that's very quick.

[Fmojo]

How long have been the average waits been to cross back over the pedestrian line on a Friday early afternoon? When is the best time (during the day) to cross back?

I crossed into the US on foot from Otay on Friday at 1230 p. There was no line.

[ZeroDc4213]

I want to go to Tijuana more often but I'm sick of the long line back to cross the border.

What is the best time of day and day of the week to avoid those lines?

[Hadez]

A girl was stabbed and killed in Adelitas Hotel walkway this spring and since then the security has gone up. Not sure if it is still available but I saw the video on the internet. A terrible thing. Hope the guy is getting ass raped in Mexican jail multiple times a day.

I go to check in with a bag of cloths and other stuff plus 1-2 bags from the pharmacy I just went to. Yes they go through all the bags.

They do not search your person but expect a pat down and there are metal detectors going inside Cascadas and HK. I have learned over the months what sets them off and put these items in the same pocket. Put the things that set off the metal detectors in a plastic bin and they happy. They will ask you put everything in the bin. Last weekend they did seem to be more closely monitoring areas people may hide drugs that were not searched before. Think the areas they were searching were too small for weapons but who knows. Not every door man did this.

All the clubs do some kind of pat down. What annoys me about the patdowns is at Adelitas they seem to find your wallet in the patdown and grab their hand around it trying to feel how much cash you have. I do not notice anything weird about the patdown at any other club or hotel.

So when you check-in to Cascadas now for a reservation someone opens up your suitcase and does a search? Do they search the person as well?

[ActionJacks220]

How long have been the average waits been to cross back over the pedestrian line on a Friday early afternoon? When is the best time (during the day) to cross back?

[Artisttyp]

Yeah. I was there for 5 days this past week so brought a decent sized luggage bag. They opened it up and went through it a bit, feeling through my clothes and looking through the various compartments in my luggage. They also searched the backpack I had. Honestly, it wasn't the most thorough search. It's more of a skim than really searching through every little thing like TSA might do at a secondary airport screening. But they are searching all bags. Search might've been 20-30 seconds at the most.

Yeah, they search the person as well but the person search is similar to how they search anyone entering the HK club. Take all metal out (including cellphone), walk through the screener, and they pat you down if the metal screener sounds. You can leave your wallet in your pocket if you want (I always did) though I image that could set off the detector depending on what you have in it. They never made me take my wallet out of my pocket though, even when I set off the metal detector.

I appreciate the feedback. Thank You.

Definitely something to consider when packing.

[BrotherMouzone]

So when you check-in to Cascadas now for a reservation someone opens up your suitcase and does a search? Do they search the person as well?

Yeah. I was there for 5 days this past week so brought a decent sized luggage bag. They opened it up and went through it a bit, feeling through my clothes and looking through the various compartments in my luggage. They also searched the backpack I had. Honestly, it wasn't the most thorough search. It's more of a skim than really searching through every little thing like TSA might do at a secondary airport screening. But they are searching all bags. Search might've been 20-30 seconds at the most.

Yeah, they search the person as well but the person search is similar to how they search anyone entering the HK club. Take all metal out (including cellphone), walk through the screener, and they pat you down if the metal screener sounds. You can leave your wallet in your pocket if you want (I always did) though I image that could set off the detector depending on what you have in it. They never made me take my wallet out of my pocket though, even when I set off the metal detector.

[Artisttyp]

Just came back from Tijuana earlier this week. Pretty good trip. Main thing I noticed was security at the entrances of the hotels and clubs is a bit tighter than the last time I was down here (back in May), especially for HK, Adelitas, and Tropical. At Cascadas they will search your bags / luggage, which they never used to do before. They were doing searches the last time I was there but the searches are less half-assed than they used to be (though are still mostly half-assed).

So when you check-in to Cascadas now for a reservation someone opens up your suitcase and does a search? Do they search the person as well?

[BrotherMouzone]

Just came back from Tijuana earlier this week. Pretty good trip. Main thing I noticed was security at the entrances of the hotels and clubs is a bit tighter than the last time I was down here (back in May), especially for HK, Adelitas, and Tropical. At Cascadas they will search your bags / luggage, which they never used to do before. They were doing searches the last time I was there but the searches are less half-assed than they used to be (though are still mostly half-assed).

Also noticed at Adelitas a lot of turnover from the girls I saw just this past May. Only recognized a couple of girls. Many of the girls are from non-Mexican Latin American countries like Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, etc. Seems they got rid of a lot of the older women I recognized for years.

For the girls that conceal their line of work at the clubs, I wonder how good they really are at hiding it all from their relatives? Was speaking to a girl at HK. She's in her 30's and from Sonora, but now lives in Tijuana with her mom and teenaged daughter. She spoke fairly good English and said she was in graduate school in Tijuana (might've been law, can't remember). She says no one in her family. Including her mom and daughter who live with her in Tijuana. Know she works at HK and if they did she would be beyond horrified. She tells them she works late at a regular nightclub on the other side of Tijuana and also uses being immersed in her studies as an excuse for why she's out at late hours. But I don't know. While she's a little bit older. She's a woman with a very curvy body, enhanced with implants in her ass and tits. If I took one look at her on the street even in regular clothes, I'd suspect she's a sex worker just in the way she looks LOL. She's very adamant her family has no clue but just wondering how true that can be and how long she's be able to keep that kind of secret. Her family obviously knows her well and I would think might be able to figure it out. She also mentioned having to leave work early very recently once because she saw someone she knew from Sonora at HK and didn't want that person to recognize her.

[Hadez]

This is a very good point. It sounds simple but there are signs given off by a girl getting $1 tips. I will usually hold multiple 1's (as much as I am willing to tip her) and see how she reacts to getting tips. I have actually seen a girl not even make eye contact or make effort to get the tip. She did come by after the stage dance but it felt weird so I passed. Have also seen girls willing to take my finger and rub it on their pussy. Over the years a couple girls have put my finger in their pussy.

The varying degree in which a girl responds to the tip can lead to indications about how much fun she will be in the room.

While you can get change down there I normally stop at the bank up in the US and get a wad of $1 bills. At times the bars do run out of just giving out change for a $20 etc.

I have found browsing the bar giving out $1's to grope the girls I like is a good introduction to see if there is any chemistry. The mesero's will be on you quick asking if you want to buy her a drink, just say not yet or something to get them off your tail for another few minutes if your just seeing if there is any chemistry. Yes. You can blow through $10 fairly quickly but its so wonderful to grope the girls with a little sample of there body just to experience a bit of their bodies with out needing to take them upstairs.

For those you find a little chemistry. You can have a drink for the $9 or $10. I have not done but heard others have. When the girl is done with their drink and the mesero asks if you want to buy her another drink, you could say no thank you. And when he leaves ask her if she just wants $5 to stick around a bit longer. If you do this upstairs where there are less mesero's you may get some extra time with her. We all need to support the club and buy drinks of course. But it could give the girl more money and you get more time with her. Just a thought.

G.

[BrotherMouzone]

Is there anything else do you recommend that I do on my visit? It seemed like some bars in the area had some interesting live mariachi-type music and there was a bullfighting ring in Playas. Is it possible to pick up civilians there?

Thanks!

Just some of the places I go to while I'm out there (most recently just last week):

If you like breweries, Tijuana has a shitload of breweries where you can try cheap, but very solid craft beer. My favorites are Lúdica Artesanal, Border Psycho, and Norte Brewing (the latter two are within walking distance from Zona Norte off Revolucion). I like to hang out in the breweries, most of them also serve good food.

El Museo is a restaurant not too far from the Arch on Revolucion with great margaritas and very good food.

Giuseppis is a solid Italian restaurant chain. One of their locations is on Revolucion. Last week I had a good-sized plate of spaghetti and meatballs with lemonade for 120 pesos ($6).

Favorite taco spots: taco stand around the block from HK, Tacos El Franc (Zona Rio), Taconanzo (Zona Rio), Tacos Casa Sonora (Playas. They feature delicious bbq rib tacos and ribeye tacos). Tacos Casa Sonora and Tacos El Franc are currently my favorites.

Favorite non-taco food spots: Churrasco do Brasil, Mr. Pampas, Las Espadanas. All are in Zona Rio. First two are all you can eat Brazilian steakhouses where you'll pay like a third of the price you'd pay at a comparable steakhouse in the States.

There are numerous small Caliente casinos throughout Tijuana, including one in Zona Norte (alley across from HK). But the biggest, nicest one is the one off Agua Caliente next to the soccer stadium and dog track. I'd recommend checking that one out.

The CECUT is Zona Rio is worth checking out at least once. I found the Museo de las Californias exhibit interesting (spent a couple hours looking through it. Basically a history of Baja California) and it only cost $2.

You can get down to Rosarito, which has a slightly nicer beach than the one in Tijuana, for as cheap as 22.50 pesos ($1. 25) is you're willing to take the taxi de ruta shared taxi out there. I've used it a few times with no issue. Real easy to get back and forth between Tijuana and Rosarito that way. I believe there's even a route out to Ensanada but haven't figured that one out yet.

[BrockStar]

While you can get change down there I normally stop at the bank up in the US and get a wad of $1 bills. At times the bars do run out of just giving out change for a $20 etc.

I have found browsing the bar giving out $1's to grope the girls I like is a good introduction to see if there is any chemistry. The mesero's will be on you quick asking if you want to buy her a drink, just say not yet or something to get them off your tail for another few minutes if your just seeing if there is any chemistry. Yes. You can blow through $10 fairly quickly but its so wonderful to grope the girls with a little sample of there body just to experience a bit of their bodies with out needing to take them upstairs.

For those you find a little chemistry. You can have a drink for the $9 or $10. I have not done but heard others have. When the girl is done with their drink and the mesero asks if you want to buy her another drink, you could say no thank you. And when he leaves ask her if she just wants $5 to stick around a bit longer. If you do this upstairs where there are less mesero's you may get some extra time with her. We all need to support the club and buy drinks of course. But it could give the girl more money and you get more time with her. Just a thought.

G.

I'm more about slipping 20 P notes to a gal onstage or walking by than I am lady drinks. Its a cheap thrill, kinda like a peep show, but way better. Its also a great way to pre-screen them and get a good feel if she's friendly or not to see if I'd consider getting her a lady drink.

Going to go to the Zona tomorrow night, kinda late probably going to get there at around midnight (I live in Tijuana and work grave yard so I'm very much night owl). If anyone's' down to grab a drink, swap stories, pinch fannies, etc. Etc. I'm down.

[Fmojo]

There are no ride share services that will cross the border. You'll need your passport and have to walk.

The cabs from Otay are not $5. Uber's the best bet. The gold / white taxis are the worst bet. A taxi libre will be in the middle. Probably in the $10 range.

Phordphan is right. The gold / white taxis are the closest to the entrance and the most expensive. It's $18 to Centro. If you walk down the street to get a taxi libre, it's $10. Uber is about $6 but you also have to walk down the street and I've had to wait up to 15 minutes.

[Gregyyr]

Planning on heading back down for 2nd trip in a few weeks. Are there any recommended spots for parking your car overnight for 72+ hours? Without paying $20-40+ a night.

Last time I was there Wed night - Fri morning and I just parked a trolley station no problem. However from what I can find, it doesn't seem recommended to park at a trolley station for more than 48-72 hours.

Planning on being there Sun night - Wed morning.

Appreciate any tips.

Other thing I have done is find a nice neighborhood 10 minutes from the border. Park your car on the street and call uber to get a lift to the border.

I did a weekend trip down to Mexico this way and it saved me a few bucks.

G.