General Reports

[Jackie888]

Hey guys,

Are there any recommended ATMs near the boarder or HK to withdraw Pesos? I heard the rate is best at the ATM and not the money changers in San Ysidro.

I've not use them since I prefer USA ones. But near HK, there is: one inside Las Chevelas next to HK, one at Adelitas, and one new one in the alley next to Valentina. Personally I stay away from all ATM on the Mexican side for security reasons.

[SaltShaker]

This is the exchange I go to on the US side. Name: " Baja-Mex". It is located off of the last USA exit. Turn right and you can see it on the left hand side. They have drive through and lobby service. HK has an ATM in the lobby entrance. Other members can give you there opinions.

Hey guys,

Are there any recommended ATMs near the boarder or HK to withdraw Pesos? I heard the rate is best at the ATM and not the money changers in San Ysidro.

[Captain Solo]

Scotia ATM, next to Adelita, seems to offer very high exchange rate to pesos. It charges only 9.5 pesos terminal fee. Bank of America charges no international fees, at least for business accounts or accounts with balance exceeding certain thresholds. That's for debit cards. The banks or ATM operators usually charge $10 fee for withdrawals from credit cards.

I was getting 18.7 peso to the dollar from debit cards at the Scotia ATM, after all fees.

Hey guys,

Are there any recommended ATMs near the boarder or HK to withdraw Pesos? I heard the rate is best at the ATM and not the money changers in San Ysidro.

[Sdho1]

Hey guys,

Are there any recommended ATMs near the boarder or HK to withdraw Pesos? I heard the rate is best at the ATM and not the money changers in San Ysidro.

[Donorita]

Its actually 30 min on the weekends for trolley and bus. Also it's cheaper to not buy the card. $2.25 bus for one way fare. $2.50 trolley single one way ticket. Plus you don't have to worry about keeping a card you will probably barely use. Time is 45 min to 1.5 hours from SAN to San Ysidro Border.

I've had the same card for 5+ years. The card is easier IMHO but go for what ever saves you a buck. I prefer to pay once and be done. Either choice is a good option. Getting there is what matters.

[Mack 10]

Don'tworry about the times. The buses show up about every 15 minutes and the same with the trolley. Just know that the max wait time is usually about 15 minutes. You need to get the "card" which probably cost a buck or two and pay the $5 one day pass fare. I come from Texas and have been using this mode of transportation many times. From the time you get off the plane until you hit the boarder will be about 1:15. Getting into Mexico now takes longer than getting out (even with a Sentri card). Have fun and don't rush into anything.

Its actually 30 min on the weekends for trolley and bus. Also it's cheaper to not buy the card. $2.25 bus for one way fare. $2.50 trolley single one way ticket. Plus you don't have to worry about keeping a card you will probably barely use. Time is 45 min to 1.5 hours from SAN to San Ysidro Border.

[NDsg0911]

If you travel to different countries and do not need to buy sim cards for portable wifi, then this is the high end portable wifi you can without buying a sim card. The costs are a little higher for using it but no hassle for running around to get a sim card. You can get a local sim card too and use it if you are going to be in a place for a long time.

Pocket WiFi: the GlocalMe G2. You can buy it from Amazon.

It has a "virtual SIM" that can connect to virtually any network on the planet without having to purchase a local SIM card. The rates are a bit higher than you would get from a local SIM, but saves you so much hassle on short trips. However, it also has two SIM card slots for adding local SIMs if you are going to be in one spot for a while. Best of all worlds in my opinion. Tested the virtual SIM capabilities in PI, Singapore, Thailand, and Canada with no problems. Only place I had issues was in the USA. Also running it off a SmartBro SIM in PI now. Great 4 G connections.

Google has been rolling out a new cell phone service plan using its latest technology for almost 2 years now (more info here https://fi.google.com/about/plan/ ).

With this new technology your phone will try to connect to available free/public Wifi first before getting on the cell phone network. Per Google your calls/texts are encrypted so that they are secured in public Wifi environment. In the US this service currently uses ALL 3 networks from T-Mobil, Sprint, and US West Cellular (and more in the future) so the coverage is quite good.

Unlimited calls and texts are $20/month + $10/GB of data per month. HOWEVER, you ONLY pays for the data you actually use NOT the flat rate $10/GB. If you use your phone exclusively with home/work/public Wifi then you end up paying only $20 + tax per month.

Another major cool thing about this plan is that you can bring your same phone almost anywhere in the world WITHOUT signing up for new local services. The same $10/GB of data still applies as in the US using the participating local cell phone services. This service is available around the world. Your same phone practically works as is without new SIM card or anything, AND no long-term contract required ever. I have been using this phone with free Wifi in TJ and found that it was quite good and costed me nothing.

More reviews about this service

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...t+fi&tbs=qdr:m

[Donorita]

Thank you Oosik for sending this information (including links to the complete bus schedule for any simpleton like me to see for themselves when they simply click on the links you provided).

Don'tworry about the times. The buses show up about every 15 minutes and the same with the trolley. Just know that the max wait time is usually about 15 minutes. You need to get the "card" which probably cost a buck or two and pay the $5 one day pass fare. I come from Texas and have been using this mode of transportation many times. From the time you get off the plane until you hit the boarder will be about 1:15. Getting into Mexico now takes longer than getting out (even with a Sentri card). Have fun and don't rush into anything.

[TomJackin]

I thought another poster on a different site did a great review on the club. Whereas, I am only comparing the two clubs last night.

Last night, Wednesday, I was in HK, LC BT, BG, and CC off and on until 8:20. Then I took a taxi libre to thej Vu for 50 pesos and got there around 8:30.

The following are my thoughts and comparisons between the two clubs:

Location:
Hong Kong: You either need to take a decent walk, or pay for transportation to get to HK.
DejaVu: From PedEast, the club is a short walk away.
Location winner: DejaVu.

Cover charge:
Hong Kong: None.
DejaVu: Before 8, none. After 8, the cover is either 5 US dollars, or 100 pesos (a shot of shitty tequila is included). I did remind the reception chicas that 5 US and 100 pesos are not equal; they just giggled.
Cover charge winner: Hong Kong.

Exchange rate: This is important if you usually roll with pesos.
Hong Kong: 16 to 1.
DejaVu: 18 to 1.
Exchange rate winner: Hong Kong.

Mesero non hassles:
Hong Kong: Most of us know, if you do not control the meseros in HK, they will control you.
DejaVu: I had one mesero, and he left me alone until I needed him.
Mesero non hassles winner: DejaVu.

My drink:
Hong Kong: Screwdriver with house vodka $4. 00 (shot and juice in separate glasses).
DejaVu: Screwdriver with house vodka $4. 00 (already mixed).
My drink winner: Tied.

Ficha:
Hong Kong: $9. 00 or 144 pesos.
DejaVu: $10.00 or 180 pesos.
Ficha winner: Hong Kong.

Grouping for a buck:
Hong Kong: Many options were available.
DejaVu: I had a pocket full of ones, but did not see the opportunity to use one.
Grouping for a buck winner: Hong Kong.

Short time rooms:
Hong Kong: $17.00 for 30 minutes.
DejaVu: $25.00 for 30 minutes.
Short time room winner: Hong Kong.

Sex pricing:
Hong Kong: Varies from 60 to 100 bucks (pay in pesos!
DejaVu: I chatted with 3 chicas, one wanted 80, the other 2 wanted 100.
Sex pricing winner: Have to give Hong Kong the edge. Because if you do not like the prices, go can retreat to the alley for bargain basement prices.

Number of chicas:
Hong Kong: When I left HK at 8:20, there was a butt-load of chicas in the club.
DejaVu: When I arrived at 8:30 in thej Vu, I saw around 8 or 9, but was told more would arrive later.
Number of chicas winner: Hong Kong.

Quality of chicas:
Hong Kong: The club had a good share of hotties between 4 and 8:15.
DejaVu: Above average, with a couple of hotties.
Quality of chicas winner: Hong Kong.

Club layout:
Hong Kong: HK has 4 floors, plus the Miami club. Thus, you can see a lot of action happening all at once because of the several stages and platforms.
DejaVu: The club is huge and has two floors, with one main stage on the first floor. If you like a larger club, then you might prefer thej Vu.
Club layout winner: Hong Kong (IMHO).

Remember, this information was based solely on a Wednesday evening, and an early Wednesday evening to boot.

The mesero gave me a nice tour of the club. He showed me the VIP areas on the second floor and the VIP booths as well. The booth with the jacuzzi looked nice. But, you have to buy a bucket of ten fichas, plus a bottle of alcohol of your choice; I didn't ask about the time limit.

I think many will go to DejaVu for different reasons:

First, it is close to the border and easy to access.

Second, many of the guests that stay at Pueblo Amigo with go there (again, location, location, and location).

Third, many are squeamish about going to La Coahuila because of the rateros and the monkey police.

And lastly, many people just have more money to burn than others.

Just my two lousy pesos.

Damn auto correct!

[ScatManDoo]

As mentioned, you start out with the bus. Here are the sites I use to plan the commute:

The #992 bus: https://www.sdmts.com/sites/all/them...dg/pdf/992.pdf.

It is a continuous loop in one direction so you cannot get on the "wrong" 992 bus. You get off at spot "Dee" (damn this auto-correct stuff!) on the schedule: Broadway and Kettner.

From there you take the trolley Blue Line toward San Ysidro (again, cannot go wrong as you will be at the northern terminus of the line):

https://www.sdmts.com/sites/all/them...een%20Line.pdf

Thank you Oosik for sending this information (including links to the complete bus schedule for any simpleton like me to see for themselves when they simply click on the links you provided).

[Captain Solo]

Thanks for the detailed directions.

What time does bus 992 start and stop? How frequently does it pick up?

I do know the Blue Line Trolley starts at about 4 AM and last one leaves San Ysidro about 1 AM, every 10 minutes.

As mentioned, you start out with the bus. Here are the sites I use to plan the commute:

The #992 bus: https://www.sdmts.com/sites/all/them...dg/pdf/992.pdf.

It is a continuous loop in one direction so you cannot get on the "wrong" 992 bus. You get off at spot "Dee" (damn this auto-correct stuff!) on the schedule: Broadway and Kettner.

From there you take the trolley Blue Line toward San Ysidro (again, cannot go wrong as you will be at the northern terminus of the line):

https://www.sdmts.com/sites/all/them...een%20Line.pdf

[Oosik]

Anyway, I will be flying in and I plan on taking the trolley from the airport

As mentioned, you start out with the bus. Here are the sites I use to plan the commute:

The #992 bus: https://www.sdmts.com/sites/all/them...dg/pdf/992.pdf.

It is a continuous loop in one direction so you cannot get on the "wrong" 992 bus. You get off at spot "Dee" (damn this auto-correct stuff!) on the schedule: Broadway and Kettner.

From there you take the trolley Blue Line toward San Ysidro (again, cannot go wrong as you will be at the northern terminus of the line):

https://www.sdmts.com/sites/all/them...een%20Line.pdf

[LifeIsABeach]

In a couple months I hope to spend a week in Tijuana, but I must have decent WiFi. I haven't tried Ticuan WiFi in over a year, at that time it was crap. Has it gotten any better recently? Can anyone recommend another Tijuana hotel of comparable cost and quality that has good Wifi?

If you travel to different countries and do not need to buy sim cards for portable wifi, then this is the high end portable wifi you can without buying a sim card. The costs are a little higher for using it but no hassle for running around to get a sim card. You can get a local sim card too and use it if you are going to be in a place for a long time.

Pocket WiFi: the GlocalMe G2. You can buy it from Amazon.

It has a "virtual SIM" that can connect to virtually any network on the planet without having to purchase a local SIM card. The rates are a bit higher than you would get from a local SIM, but saves you so much hassle on short trips. However, it also has two SIM card slots for adding local SIMs if you are going to be in one spot for a while. Best of all worlds in my opinion. Tested the virtual SIM capabilities in PI, Singapore, Thailand, and Canada with no problems. Only place I had issues was in the USA. Also running it off a SmartBro SIM in PI now. Great 4 G connections.

[BlueJohn]

Before I begin I would like to express my gratitude to all of the contributors to this forum. You have provide a wealth of detailed information that gives a greenhorn like myself the confidence to go and experience the wonderful pleasures of Tijuana.


Anyway, I will be flying in and I plan on taking the trolley from the airport, down to the border where I will catch a cab to HK (Hopefully I can avoid the troublesome cabbies I've been reading about). I plan on arriving at the hotel by 2:30 pm. I will be bringing a small carry on bag and I hope that it will be safe to travel with luggage. Once I'm settled in I plan on doing a little exploring, venturing from bar to bar and checking out the local street talent. My Spanish is as good as you would expect American public schools to teach, which is obviously poor. I have learned some from phrases which will be helpful though.

Take the 992 bus from the airport to the trolley. It is 2.25 and runs every 15 minutes weekdays.

[TomJackin]

In a couple months I hope to spend a week in Tijuana, but I must have decent WiFi.

I haven't tried Ticuan WiFi in over a year, at that time it was crap. Has it gotten any better recently?

Can anyone recommend another Tijuana hotel of comperable cost and quality that has good Wifi? Something within a reasonable walk of Zona Norte?

The Ticuan WiFi has improved.

The signal is very strong in the lobby / bar / restaurant areas. Not as strong in the rooms, but I still didn't have any trouble when I stayed there.