Nuevo Laredo

[Info1]

I believe that non-citizens coming into the USA have to be vaxed. I know things can sometimes be different between flying into the USA and walking into the country. If a Mexican citizen walks across at Laredo, do they have to show a vax card? Is there any way the USA can verify the card? I have a friend who isn't vaxed but has a visa to come to the USA. I'd love for her to spend a couple of weeks with me here, but she is opposed to getting the vax, but not opposed to lying about it.

[Bbond]

I live in Oaxaca and am contemplating driving to TX, a trip I've not made for 3 years because of the Covid. I always cross at Matamoros, mainly because I know the streets. Can you tell me what the requirements are for a USA Citizen to cross at this time (vax requirements and anything else you can think of that might be relevant). The last time I crossed (2019) the bridge traffic made for a 2 hour wait. Might it be advisable to stop at a hotel and cross at 3 in the morning? Will be grateful should one of why'all border cats be kind enuf to give me the benefit of your knowledge.

No special requirements for an American to enter. Passport, passport card, even a drivers license will do. Border wait times for Nuevo Laredo vary, I usually cross around 10 am, usually without a long wait. https://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridge/...ge-ii-mex.html shows the current traffic.

[Black Sheep]

I live in Oaxaca and am contemplating driving to TX, a trip I've not made for 3 years because of the Covid. I always cross at Matamoros, mainly because I know the streets. Can you tell me what the requirements are for a USA Citizen to cross at this time (vax requirements and anything else you can think of that might be relevant). The last time I crossed (2019) the bridge traffic made for a 2 hour wait. Might it be advisable to stop at a hotel and cross at 3 in the morning? Will be grateful should one of why'all border cats be kind enuf to give me the benefit of your knowledge.

[Bbond]

No question about it, DiDi is the best there is, much cheaper than Uber and you can pay in cash.

I think the pay in cash part is why they do well here, and Uber doesn't. Uber has not been very successful here. I have both on my phone, Uber often reports no cars available, no one wants to drive for them. Even though many Didi drivers are also registered Uber drivers. Uber in Laredo Texas does quite well.

[FunMan13]

I started using DiDi in China several years ago. Surprisingly I could use the same app in my phone for Mexico without any changes. Another great transportation company is Grab which is very popular in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately it is not available in the West, yet.

No question about it, DiDi is the best there is, much cheaper than Uber and you can pay in cash. I can't wait till they come to the US. Sometimes the drivers are hot young chicks too, at least in Monterrey (probably married, but who knows) so if you are super suave like some of our posters here you might be able to set up a date with one of them. Also, when you first sign up, it helps if you have a Mexican phone number, as they only verify that, no credit cards or anything. Then just give them any name you feel like. Don't try "Bill Clinton" though, it's already been taken.

[Slick Willie]

No question about it, DiDi is the best there is, much cheaper than Uber and you can pay in cash. I can't wait till they come to the US. Sometimes the drivers are hot young chicks too, at least in Monterrey (probably married, but who knows) so if you are super suave like some of our posters here you might be able to set up a date with one of them. Also, when you first sign up, it helps if you have a Mexican phone number, as they only verify that, no credit cards or anything. Then just give them any name you feel like. Don't try "Bill Clinton" though, it's already been taken.

[Bbond]

Bbond is one of the coolest human beings you will ever meet. Cherish every moment you have ever spent with that man.

Thank you for the vote of confidence Beavis.

I have made some very good friends here, you and the Funman are at the very top of that list.

[Beavis]

Just returned from a quick visit to NL. I was there for 3 days. Wow, Centro has opened up. It was busy day and night. Actually the whole town was lively. Another plus was DiDi (cheaper than Uber) which was very fast, convenient and inexpensive. Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to visit Boys Town. However, I was able to meet up with my old friend Bbond.

I am happy for NL. I hope it continues to rebound.

Funman13.

Bbond is one of the coolest human beings you will ever meet. Cherish every moment you have ever spent with that man.

[FunMan13]

Just returned from a quick visit to NL. I was there for 3 days. Wow, Centro has opened up. It was busy day and night. Actually the whole town was lively. Another plus was DiDi (cheaper than Uber) which was very fast, convenient and inexpensive. Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to visit Boys Town. However, I was able to meet up with my old friend Bbond.

I am happy for NL. I hope it continues to rebound.

Funman13.

[Info1]

Is this possible?

Thinking of taking a trip soon to MTY via bus.

Thought of taking a trip to CDMX via NL airport but is 6 miles I believe from the port of entry. I want to minimize my time and distance in a cab over on that side.

I did that with a cab in Laredo once years ago (10?) It was expensive. If I remember correctly, it was $40 or $45 from the airport to the bus station in NL. Normally a taxi from LRD to the bridge is around $20-25. I wasn't aware the taxi would go the NL bus station when I got in the cab. It was negotiated along the way. It's old info and so I'm not certain of the exact price then and what it would be today. I do know I wouldn't have spent over $45. It was faster but only by 10 or 15 minutes. I doubt I would pay for it again.

I've never had an issue with a taxi at the bridge to the bus station. There was one time on the way to the bus station, the taxi was at a stop light a car pulled up next to us with 4 young men in it who were staring at me, then turned. Another car with 4 of the same type of young gentlemen were right behind the first and did the same thing when they pulled up beside us. Afterward the taxi driver told me they were not nice guys. This was in the middle of an afternoon.

[Cocr Brotheler]

Is this possible?

Thinking of taking a trip soon to MTY via bus.

Thought of taking a trip to CDMX via NL airport but is 6 miles I believe from the port of entry. I want to minimize my time and distance in a cab over on that side.

[FunMan13]

I live in Houston and have been going to NL since the early 2000 and was privileged to experience Boys Town at its peak. Naturally I witnessed NL's decline and its 'security problem'. In the last 10 odd years I visited NL less because I have much better options in Asia and Europe. Still I try to visit at least once or twice a year. I almost always stayed at the Hotel Fiesta because of its convenience. I have never been attacked, mugged pickpocketed or robbed. I experienced that in Brazil, Italy & Spain.

When you read all the posts on this NL Thread going back 10-15 years, you don't find a single incident of a tourist / monger killed just for being in NL. Those who got into fights, etc. Were because of foolishness or getting too drunk or venturing into 'forbidden places'.

To visit and enjoy third-world countries, you have to shed your first-world mentality, preconceptions and misconceptions. Think and be like the locals. Then a new world opens for you. I started mongering in NL, then Mexico City, Tijuana, then to Asia: the Philippines and Thailand, then Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, even Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. In Latin America I played in Brazil, Costa Rice, Dominican Republic & El Salvador. In Europe I started in Germany, then Spain and the Czech Republic. I traveled to these countries, some of them several times a year, and I only speak English. It's the same 'skills' I use when I travel, the same skills to use when I enter a restaurant, a bar or a brothel, dealing with a working girl, etc. The only difference is the different market prices in different countries.

So those of you who keep asking questions about NL or Monterrey but still have not taken the big step, DO IT. Get in touch with Bbond. He will help you. He is willing to meet up with you. He does not charge you anything but be grateful and buy him a beer or two.

In all the places I mongered, I always did my initial research on ISG. Then I contacted the veterans for more info. It always works.

My two cents.

Funman13.

[DramaFree11]

BT is only a resemblance of what it used to be. Basically a ghost town now. Bbonds post are the most accurate for up to date info.

I would avoid Laredo. Just not safe. Take the bus and go to MTY, much better option and definitely safer.

[Bbond]

I'll be in Laredo for a few days this weekend and am considering crossing over into Nuevo Laredo for some mongering. Only part of Mexico I've ever been to is Tijuana and I don't speak Spanish, so I'm afraid I might be in over my head.
I see references to Centro -- can anybody give me a clearer idea of where that is?
And, what hotels would you all stay at? I at least want someplace to leave my stuff.

If you want, I am normally available to meet people in "centro", which is basically the area you are in after just crossing the bridge. You need PM access to contact me.

A lot of guys stay at the basic Hotel Fiesta, very basic place but close to bridge.

[Beavis]

Respectfully, I've read back many pages. I also searched the terms "hotel" and "centro" and read literally every post that mentioned either of them. There's some baseline context I'm missing, having never been to NL perhaps hotels that people are mentioning like Fiesta are in the "Centro" area?

It also seems like people exclusively do short meets in Boys Town and don't actually stay there overnight. Is that right?

BT is only a resemblance of what it used to be. Basically a ghost town now. Bbonds post are the most accurate for up to date info.