General Reports

[Travv]

Offhand, the advice I've heard is that clubs with shaved head "cholos" working at the door or club are going to be "tough" clubs. What is a "tough" club? Not sure, but I suspect it means it will be "tough" for you to leave the club with your wallet or cash. . .

Dolce Gabbana has great big screen TVs for watching sports, especially football, but in the past, the club usually cranks the music up to "11" during the middle of the game drowning out the sports announcer, causing the sports fans to walk out to a venue where they can hear the game, such as Caliente Casino. Management is oblivious to what the clients want. Basically a ficha bar so the meseros and management will do their best to prevent you from leaving with any chicas, in order to sell you more fichas, and will rapidly barge in on you and your chica in the VIP rooms and demand you buy more beers so you may or may not like this arrangement. Try the club and see if they changed. . . And report back on your adventures.

There seem to be quite a few other bars / clubs outside the major 4 (Hong Kong, Chicago Club, Adelita & Tropical bar). Does anyone have much experience at any of these places? Are any places just regular bars?

What places should definitely be avoided and what are worth giving a shot.

My typical day plan is to take care of morning wood with a Arriba session that could be a street girl or bar girl and then a major club late evening with a night arriba. Thus the whole time in between, say 10 am to 8 pm, I'm looking for other stuff to do. I don't really like the pressure to buy fischa drinks especially since I'm really only looking to do 2 arribas a day -- 1 early and 1 late.

$70-$80 per Arriba is not bad, but could these minor clubs be even less. Any operate more like a USA low-key neighborhood strip club where you can drink beer cheap, observe for a couple hours and tip the dancers you like a few bucks here and there.

[Rainman306]

There seem to be quite a few other bars / clubs outside the major 4 (Hong Kong, Chicago Club, Adelita & Tropical bar). Does anyone have much experience at any of these places? Are any places just regular bars?

What places should definitely be avoided and what are worth giving a shot.

My typical day plan is to take care of morning wood with a Arriba session that could be a street girl or bar girl and then a major club late evening with a night arriba. Thus the whole time in between, say 10 am to 8 pm, I'm looking for other stuff to do. I don't really like the pressure to buy fischa drinks especially since I'm really only looking to do 2 arribas a day -- 1 early and 1 late.

$70-$80 per Arriba is not bad, but could these minor clubs be even less. Any operate more like a USA low-key neighborhood strip club where you can drink beer cheap, observe for a couple hours and tip the dancers you like a few bucks here and there.

[Phordphan]

Could you be more specific about name and location? (Asking for a friend.).

Club Premiere is located on Revolucion, between Primera and Coahuila, on the west side. You can't miss it if it's open. There is a somewhat stiff cover charge for the ladies (or at least there used to be. I haven't been since last year), a much smaller one for the gents. Unless they've remodeled, there is a long "bar" in the center of the room where all the guys in speedos dance. There are chairs in front of it for a ringside view. There are also tables and, for your friend, secluded booths. You tip the dancers $1 and get an extended "lap dance. " AFAIK, when not dancing, the dancers are available to sit at the tables (for fichas), and, presumably, to take upstairs. I have no direct knowledge of this.

[Dogers69]

I think it was called Hawaii. It's in the alley with the tourist themed restaurants that has the concert stage near the trans street woman. I think the guy was naked on stage as soon as I walked which is what left me stunned the next hour LOL. They do go upstairs with woman I was told, and I'd assume if they like men, they can do that to. I didn't come close to throwing up, but the first 5 seconds, were something maybe out of a horror movie so I can see how the poster below threw up. Just the shock aspect. Maybe the mask on the head was part of the creepiness shock value. In general I could care less about nude men I see it at the gym and beach.

[WombatEd2]

Other night, with friends, ended up in Hong Kong version of a club, for chicks and gay men. I thought we were going to a bar. No it was a strip club, with men dancing, men charging fichas, and a few tables of woman, paying to watch, talk, drink, touch these guys. And men as well. I had never seen anything like it, I guess cause I walked in not knowing it was a strip club, but seeing the same exact set up of the men's clubs like HK, Adelitas, but for woman was really funny. It was 2 blocks from HK.

Could you be more specific about name and location? (Asking for a friend.).

[Phordphan]

Other night, with friends, ended up in Hong Kong version of a club, for chicks and gay men. I thought we were going to a bar. No it was a strip club, with men dancing, men charging fichas, and a few tables of woman, paying to watch, talk, drink, touch these guys. And men as well. I had never seen anything like it, I guess cause I walked in not knowing it was a strip club, but seeing the same exact set up of the men's clubs like HK, Adelitas, but for woman was really funny. It was 2 blocks from HK.

When you see what kind of lap dance the girls get for $1, you'll understand what a rip-off a quick grope for $1 in HK truly is.

[Baxter Slade]

Other night, with friends, ended up in Hong Kong version of a club, for chicks and gay men. I thought we were going to a bar. No it was a strip club, with men dancing, men charging fichas, and a few tables of woman, paying to watch, talk, drink, touch these guys. And men as well. I had never seen anything like it, I guess cause I walked in not knowing it was a strip club, but seeing the same exact set up of the men's clubs like HK, Adelitas, but for woman was really funny. It was 2 blocks from HK.

Sounds like you discovered Premire mens club. When I was led there by an amigo who was meeting a female friend there. I was disgusted and threw up in my mouth 3 times.

And then I thought about it and figured there are probably a ton of people out there who are totally disgusted by our behaivor in HK.

Jajajaja.

[Dogers69]

Other night, with friends, ended up in Hong Kong version of a club, for chicks and gay men. I thought we were going to a bar. No it was a strip club, with men dancing, men charging fichas, and a few tables of woman, paying to watch, talk, drink, touch these guys. And men as well. I had never seen anything like it, I guess cause I walked in not knowing it was a strip club, but seeing the same exact set up of the men's clubs like HK, Adelitas, but for woman was really funny. It was 2 blocks from HK.

[Goyo61]

Trying to text Chica in a texting app that does translation automatically. Any suggestions?

Google translate just translates and then I need to copy it to WhatsApp and send it which is a pain.

[LuvMexicanas]

Let me help. First, the wikitravel entry is outdated. What they state used to be the policy, but is no longer. All people entering Mexico are "supposed" to have an FMM. The hard part to enforce is people who drive in. There's no good way to force them to have one, but they are supposed to. I only drive in, but I have one because I stop and get them from time to time, but that's beside the point.

The process is that when you walk across for the first time you will fill out one of the FMM cards. The person at the desk will process it and ask how long you'll be in Mexico. You'll say 6 days, they'll write an expiration date on it and charge you nothing. Now you're good.

Normally one would surrender his FMM when leaving Mexico, but Tijuana is the exception. You may cross back on land and retain your FMM for use later. So, you may theoretically cross back into San Diego daily. When reentering Mexico you will use the Mexican Nationals lane and skip the lines.

You might want to reconsider crossing back into San Diego. Others who cross on foot can expand on this, but some days the lines to reenter the USA are reasonable, other days it can be a multi-hour wait. That is, unless you're crossing rather late at night. In other words, when you cross back into the USA allow yourself plenty of time. Border wait times can be highly unpredictable.

Yes, Mexico will stamp your passport.

If you only intend to visit Tijuana for several hours, they may just waive you through without stamping your passport.

[Phordphan]

Hi Guys, I'm a newby here to Tijuana and hope if someone here might help me with this! I am travelling on a EU passport but don't require a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

I will travel to Tijuana next week and I will firstly fly into the USA to Los Angeles before travelling south and crossing the border at San Diego San Ysidro to Tijuana. What I am reading about is the Tourist Card formally known as a Forma Migratoria Mltiple (FMM). I have 9 days in total for the trip and have 6 days accommodation booked in Tijuana and I am planning to spend my last night in Los Angeles before my early morning flight home. I have a European Passport so don't need a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

However I read some conflicting information, The Mexico Tourist Card (FMM) costs $533 peso but I read it is free for trips under 7 days and entering by land, (I fall into both of these categories). Is this true?

I read this on wikitravel; "All visitors to Mexico, with the exception of those arriving by land and staying within 20 kilometres of the border for less than 72 hours, are legally required to obtain a tourist card. ".

As I will be in Tijuana for the 6 nights I am also planning to return to the US side and explore San Diego for a daytrip and return back to my hotel in Tijuana again later that night, I might even do this twice, however if I had to buy a new Tourist Card each time for $533 peso I would only make the one trip. I have six nights upon arrival in Tijuana, the final night in Los Angeles prior to my early morning flight home and I have two nights as of yet undecided, I could extend longer in Tijuana or just stay in San Diego if I had to pay $533 each time I cross into Mexico. Will the Mexicans stamp my passport when crossing into Tijuana? I am hoping they will as it just purely a travel quirk I like.

Thanks for the help guys.

Let me help. First, the wikitravel entry is outdated. What they state used to be the policy, but is no longer. All people entering Mexico are "supposed" to have an FMM. The hard part to enforce is people who drive in. There's no good way to force them to have one, but they are supposed to. I only drive in, but I have one because I stop and get them from time to time, but that's beside the point.

The process is that when you walk across for the first time you will fill out one of the FMM cards. The person at the desk will process it and ask how long you'll be in Mexico. You'll say 6 days, they'll write an expiration date on it and charge you nothing. Now you're good.

Normally one would surrender his FMM when leaving Mexico, but Tijuana is the exception. You may cross back on land and retain your FMM for use later. So, you may theoretically cross back into San Diego daily. When reentering Mexico you will use the Mexican Nationals lane and skip the lines.

You might want to reconsider crossing back into San Diego. Others who cross on foot can expand on this, but some days the lines to reenter the USA are reasonable, other days it can be a multi-hour wait. That is, unless you're crossing rather late at night. In other words, when you cross back into the USA allow yourself plenty of time. Border wait times can be highly unpredictable.

Yes, Mexico will stamp your passport.

[Hargow20]

Since you are going making several trips to Tijuana you only need to declare the length of each individual trip. My guess is that if you simply tell them you are going for a week or so they probably won't require you to get a tourist card. My understanding is that they only require a tourist card if you travel far south into Mexico or staying for a extended period time. The police don't check in Tijuana in any case. You might be better off simply staying in hotel or Airbnb in the US side and walking over. So worst case is that you will have to purchase a tourist card for your longer stay.

Hi Guys, I'm a newby here to Tijuana and hope if someone here might help me with this! I am travelling on a EU passport but don't require a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

I will travel to Tijuana next week and I will firstly fly into the USA to Los Angeles before travelling south and crossing the border at San Diego San Ysidro to Tijuana. What I am reading about is the Tourist Card formally known as a Forma Migratoria Mltiple (FMM). I have 9 days in total for the trip and have 6 days accommodation booked in Tijuana and I am planning to spend my last night in Los Angeles before my early morning flight home. I have a European Passport so don't need a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

However I read some conflicting information, The Mexico Tourist Card (FMM) costs $533 peso but I read it is free for trips under 7 days and entering by land, (I fall into both of these categories). Is this true?

I read this on wikitravel; "All visitors to Mexico, with the exception of those arriving by land and staying within 20 kilometres of the border for less than 72 hours, are legally required to obtain a tourist card. ".

As I will be in Tijuana for the 6 nights I am also planning to return to the US side and explore San Diego for a daytrip and return back to my hotel in Tijuana again later that night, I might even do this twice, however if I had to buy a new Tourist Card each time for $533 peso I would only make the one trip. I have six nights upon arrival in Tijuana, the final night in Los Angeles prior to my early morning flight home and I have two nights as of yet undecided, I could extend longer in Tijuana or just stay in San Diego if I had to pay $533 each time I cross into Mexico. Will the Mexicans stamp my passport when crossing into Tijuana? I am hoping they will as it just purely a travel quirk I like.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Dogers69]

Hi Guys, I'm a newby here to Tijuana and hope if someone here might help me with this! I am travelling on a EU passport but don't require a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

I will travel to Tijuana next week and I will firstly fly into the USA to Los Angeles before travelling south and crossing the border at San Diego San Ysidro to Tijuana. What I am reading about is the Tourist Card formally known as a Forma Migratoria Mltiple (FMM). I have 9 days in total for the trip and have 6 days accommodation booked in Tijuana and I am planning to spend my last night in Los Angeles before my early morning flight home. I have a European Passport so don't need a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

However I read some conflicting information, The Mexico Tourist Card (FMM) costs $533 peso but I read it is free for trips under 7 days and entering by land, (I fall into both of these categories). Is this true?

I read this on wikitravel; "All visitors to Mexico, with the exception of those arriving by land and staying within 20 kilometres of the border for less than 72 hours, are legally required to obtain a tourist card. "..

You don't need to buy anything. Tell Mexico you are going to Tijuana only, and for couple nights. Then come to San Diego. The fee, allows you to save 10 minutes in line each trip back to mexico, and stops additional stamps in your passport. So I get one stamp every 6 months. So I buy the 6 month pass to not ruin my passport. Anyway, you do not want 6 nights in Tijuana. San Diego is best city for a vacation. 45 dollar hotels now on weekdays in San Diego. So much to see here. Tijuana, exploring, on your own, being new, wandering around Tijuana, as a European, really not good idea if you can do the same in San Diego.

[Winthorp]

Hi Guys, I'm a newby here to Tijuana and hope if someone here might help me with this! I am travelling on a EU passport but don't require a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

I will travel to Tijuana next week and I will firstly fly into the USA to Los Angeles before travelling south and crossing the border at San Diego San Ysidro to Tijuana. What I am reading about is the Tourist Card formally known as a Forma Migratoria Mltiple (FMM). I have 9 days in total for the trip and have 6 days accommodation booked in Tijuana and I am planning to spend my last night in Los Angeles before my early morning flight home. I have a European Passport so don't need a visa for either the USA or Mexico.

However I read some conflicting information, The Mexico Tourist Card (FMM) costs $533 peso but I read it is free for trips under 7 days and entering by land, (I fall into both of these categories). Is this true?

I read this on wikitravel; "All visitors to Mexico, with the exception of those arriving by land and staying within 20 kilometres of the border for less than 72 hours, are legally required to obtain a tourist card. ".

As I will be in Tijuana for the 6 nights I am also planning to return to the US side and explore San Diego for a daytrip and return back to my hotel in Tijuana again later that night, I might even do this twice, however if I had to buy a new Tourist Card each time for $533 peso I would only make the one trip. I have six nights upon arrival in Tijuana, the final night in Los Angeles prior to my early morning flight home and I have two nights as of yet undecided, I could extend longer in Tijuana or just stay in San Diego if I had to pay $533 each time I cross into Mexico. Will the Mexicans stamp my passport when crossing into Tijuana? I am hoping they will as it just purely a travel quirk I like.

Thanks for the help guys.

[KC Questor]

It would be so nice if there were more to do in Tijuana during your "downtime" Such as a movie theater, shopping mall, gym to workout or even an arcade.

If only this modern city of two million people had a movie theater or shopping mall. Imagine, if they only had a gym or even an arcade!

I swear, some people think Tijuana is nothing but strip clubs and donkey shows.