2003 Nuevo Laredo Reports

[Member #3453]

Hey Guys,

I want to stay on the mexico side next time, but I want to stay within walking distance of the border. I've seen references to the Hotel Fiesta, the Reforma, and the Rio Grande Plaza, which I believe are all located close to the border, but I'm not sure they're all within walking distance of the border. Can anybody give a little comparitive review of these hotels:

I need to know the following on each:

1. Quality of accomodations.
2. Cost.
3. Exact directions walking from the bridge.
4. Girl friendly.
5. Distance from the border.
6. Safety/Security

or, does anybody know of any other hotels on the mexico side within walking distance of the border that are good?

I've stayed at the Laquinta in Laredo in the past, but its a little too pricey. I'm looking for something similiar to at least a Motel 6 in price and quality of accomodations. You know, something clean, relatively comfortable beds, decent bathrooms, etc.

Of course, I've seen some good reviews of other hotels that are on the way to BT, but I don't want to spend a lot on taxi fare back and forth from the border during daytime hours. So, I thought it would be more convenient to merely have a base of operations located within walking distance of the bridge so I could use my car during the day, which will be parked on the US side.

Next, question...

I would also like to visit some of the bars within walking distance of the border too. Are these bars close to the park, gringo friendly, working girls, etc...?

I've already been to the Herradura (Horseshoe), but any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your help!

[PosterLion]

JT.

If you plan to book it you better book it fast because online purchase is required and must be ticketed no later than 11:59 p.m. (CT), Friday, April 25, 2003.

Good luck!

[JT]

That's cheap. I may fly down to DFW and then into Laredo. Thanks for the info.

[Mic Jagger]

Whats up Beavis, haven't been misbehaven enough but I'm making the occasional night run out of the house.

[PosterLion]

*** TRAVEL ALERT: For all you guys in DFW that like NL ***

American has a web special roundtrip airfare from DFW to LRD for $89. I booked mine for May 3rd departure and returning to DFW on the 6:30am Monday flight. It comes to $101 with airport fees and taxes.

I'll get in two days of mongering and even make it to work on time, and, all without driving for almost the same transportaion costs. It is a little more but I hate the seven hour drive.

Just thought I'd put this out for you guys that feel the same about 7 hour drives. The flight does require a Sunday night stay but the 6:30am flight has you back to DFW by 8:30am.

Salude,
poster...

[Beavis]

Hey are you guys behaving up there ?

[Mic Jagger]

How you doing Chango?? Been trying to reach you, want to ask you about Monterrey. email micjagger2003 @ austin . rr . com
rey, so could you send me your email. Later Mic.

[Member #3453]

Hi again Poster,

My reply to your reply must have gotten lost in cyberspace. On my first reply, below, I had forgotten to answer your question about the exchange rate. So, I wrote a second reply post, which answered your question about the exchange rate, and that made it through. Anyway, this is essentially what I had witten prior to my answer about your exchange rate question...If that makes any sense???

Because this was my first trip into Mexico for this type of activity, and due to the war time situation, I thought it best to be prepared for the possibility that they might ask for a birth certificate. But, as you say, I never really needed it, and I probalby wouldn't worry about bringing a birth certificate in the future.

As a matter of fact, they rarely even asked me for ID when crossing the border. I just had to state my country of citizenship, and they usually let me right through with no problem and no futher documentation. I must look like a real gringo.

On one of my first crossings, I actually showed an identification to the border patrol agent voluntarily without first being asked, and he actually scolded me for doing so. My identification was a government identification, and he said something like, "You don't card me, and I won't card you." I guess he thought I was trying to pull rank on him in some way, but it was all perfectly innocent on my part.

I was new at crossing the border, I just assumed they needed some kind of ID to establish my true identity, especially during war time. If they aren't requiring identification at the border during a war time situation, when we have such a high terrorist threat potential, then they should be. Other times, they would use my ID to enter my name, etc... into a data base of some kind. There seems to be no consistency in documenting who is coming and going across our borders at the various crossing stations. It find it rather disturbing actually.

Uno Spongebob (One Spongebob)

[A Toda Maquina]

Hey guys ,I was in NLBT a few times along with a couple of other places.( had really good deals from room girls)........Seeems like theres a lot of Tearin it Up!! goin on.... ,Keep up the good reports !!! Chango

[Member #3453]

Oh Poster,

To answer your question about the exchange rate, I believe it was approximately 10.64 to $1.00.

[PosterLion]

UnospongeBob,

Great first report. What exchange rate did you get at the money exchange? I have exchanged money once and all the other times have used US currency. Also, just an FYI, you don't need your birth certificate to cross the border to or from Mexico. The first time I went I brought my passport but I showed my drivers license when crossing and that is all that has ever been necessary. It is amazaing just how easy it os to get to NL and back don't you think?

poster...

[Member #3453]

Hi Everybody,

This is my first report to forum about my first experience with anything like N/L Boys Town. Since this was my first trip, I decided to stay in Laredo at the Red Roof, drive my rental car to border, and take a cab to Boys Town. The information contained on the board was almost 100% accurate, and I could not have, and probably would not have, ventured into BT without the benefit of the information provided by members of the forum.

I don’t want to repeat a lot of what has already been posted on the board, so I will merely give my assessment of the most important things I learned during my visit to BT. I will also indicate a couple points of advise that I believe are important from my perspective as a first time visitor of BT.

1. As has been recommended by the forum numerous times, you should convert US dollars to pesos at the Casa de Cambio if possible prior to going to BT. I recommend getting a lot of small denomination peso coins and bills. As has been indicated on the board, you will pay less for everything if you pay for it in pesos. I found that the waiters will not usually attempt to cheat you when giving change if you pay them in pesos instead of US tender. I had a lot of .50 cent coins (5 peso coins), $1.00 coins (10 peso coins), $2.00 bills (20 peso bills), and $5.00 bills (50 peso bills). In addition, I had a number of 100 peso bills ($10.00 US), and 200 peso bills ($20.00 US). Of course, the exchange rate varies at different times, so the numbers above are merely approximations of what each is actually worth in relation to the exchange rate. I recommend using the coins to tip the waiters, and the small denomination bills to pay for drinks. I used the larger denomination bills to pay the Chicas for private dances and other activities. This method worked out great. The only downside to it was that having a lot of coins in your pocket gets kind of weighty. But, I believe having the coins available keeps everybody more honest, and the advantage of doing so is worth a little inconvenience (it’s really very little inconvience actually).

2. I learned rather quickly that buying too many drinks for the Chicas gets rather expensive and depletes your resources fast. They don’t sip their drinks, they guzzle them quickly so you are soon asked by the waiter if you want to buy them another within about 5 minutes. So, I recommend that you not buy over two drinks for a Chica. You should buy just enough to determine whether you would like to be with the Chica while engaged in other activities. I can almost agree with another member of the board who advocated not buying any drinks for the Chicas, but instead getting right down to business with a private dance to really determine what kind of experience you’re likely to have. On the other hand, if you’re thirsty and you want to sit for a little while to relax, then it’s probably worth the investment because you can have a beautiful Chica on your lap while you watch the show. It just depends on your perspective and on how much is in your wallet.

3. Speaking of wallets. For security purposed, I had purchased a belt type money pouch that fits inside your pants. I kept some of the larger denomination peso bills, some US dollars, and my drivers license and birth certificate for border crossings in the money pouch. I kept the smaller denomination bills in my shirt pocket. Of course, I just kept the coins evenly disbursed between my two front pockets so they weren’t too weighty or uncomfortable to carry. I found the money pouch to be a continuous inconvenience having to retrieve money from the pouch when I needed it each time. Eventually, because of the inconvenience of accessing the money pouch, I eventually just used a money clip and kept bills in my front pants pocket. I also started to carry my wallet with my ID and birth certificate in my other front pants pocket. I found this to be much more convenient. But, concerning the security aspect of things, I never felt as though I really needed a money pouch anyway. I know that doesn’t mean that I could not be the victim of a pick pocket some day, but the longer I was at BT, the less I believed I really needed the money pouch for protection. I really felt perfectly secure walking around BT, and I wouldn’t probably use the money belt idea again. On the other hand, if walking the streets in Mexico, outside of BT, I would definitely recommend the money pouch.

Well, I’m running out of time, so I will pickup where I left off at a later date…stay tuned.

[lost_inboystown]

By E-Mail

Great report, I am thinking about going down Friday 4/18/03 from Houston. Let me know if you want to hitch down with me.

e-mail me at lost_in_boystown@yahoo.com

Maybe the love of your life has a younger sister???? LOL

[eldoble]

Careful with the driving thing, I have been hit twice with the DWG "Driving While Gringo". One of the times I hadnt had anything at all to drink and they wanted money or go to jail. If you are going to drive which I have 40 or 50 times keep no more than $50 (i usually try and leave BT with no more than $30) I keep 200 in my shoe. It didnt used to be this way only in the last year and a half have the policia really gotten aggressive with the shakedowns. Also sometimes they setup road blocks on the main road going back to the bridge simply looking for americans two of my friends recently got poped that way. be careful

EDS

[Mic Jagger]

Din Dallas you have mail.