General Commerce / Services

[Artisttyp]

La Herradura is sort of like a glorified curio shop with the focus on charreria and things having to do with cowboys and rodeo. With that said the items run the gamut of high quality belts and buckles made from steel. They also have a decent assortment of hats for alot less than you would find on Ave Revolucion.

I have purchased several things here over the years and highly recommend this place.

*Tip. Buy your belt here then bring it to Atoyac Leather on 3rd St to put a money zippered pouch on the inside.

Located directly across the street from Plaza Rio ALL the way in the back of Plaza de Zapatos down the rear escalator.

[Captain Solo]

To Orlanr.

Carillo on Calle 3, on your right as you drive in from US border, East of the corner and before Negrete. The place has a big sign in red. You can't miss it.

Owner is Ruben Carillo, big guy with big mustache, looking like Pancho Villa. He will give you good deals.

Re.

Is this the one right on the corner.

[Orlanr]

Body works for the cars, not the chicas, you perverts.

Monday noon took the car for some paint touch ups. Ruben Carillos on Calle 3rd corner Negrete has been doing good work for me charging very good prices. He has a couple sanders and a painters who can really repair body damages and make the car look like new.

I wanted just some quick touch ups on the 2 bumpers to sell the car, but Ruben wanted to repaint both bumpers so he can match the paint on rest of the car, and we agreed on a deal. His price to repair and paint averages $80 per panel for Spanish-speaking guys from SoCal, but he gave me much better deals. He's fun to kid around with when he's not goofing off screwing his sweetheart GF in LA Playa apartment hehe..

Is this the one right on the corner?

[Naked Gunz]

I'd be glad to pay someone a reasonable fee to show me where to park on the US side near the trolley station

There are parking lots like directly across the street from the trolley station. I've never had an issue with and border parking in 30 years. No need to pay me!

[Artisttyp]

Tijuana is known for their pharmacies yet little has been told about ones specializing in skin issues. Scattered throughout the Zona Rio area you will see these types of pharmacies usually within a stones throw from a medical center or doctor's office.

They carry skin products and creams from all over Europe which would be extremely difficult to find in the USA. For example the face cream that I use in the USA has gotten nearly impossible to find in stores and recent reviews say the formula has been dumbed down. I went to Farmacia De La Piel and they turned me onto a moisturizing cream from Spain which I love.

Some prescription only products may also be found here without a prescription.

This is the address to one of them. Easily found on Google.

FARMACIA DE LA PIEL.

Blvd Sanchez No. 101102 COLONIA Zona Rio.

22320 TIJUANA.

[Artisttyp]

I just found a custom denim workshop that will make custom jeans for $80/100. You bring in a pair that fits you and you pick the fabric that you want.

Some decent and not so decent fabric. Button Fly models!

End product looks good to me. I inspected a few pair today. Next week I will have a pair on order.

They are discussing a possible store in Barrio Logan.

Located in the VERY back of a paseo on Revo and maybe between 8th and 9th. I think the Austrian Embassy is next door. There is an eyeglass store next to the entrance on the left side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVHf8oKJTkA

[Artisttyp]

Another item unique to Tijuana and Mexico (from my experience) are these portable Bluetooth Speakers called baffles. You might have seen these on tripods located outside the clubs. I had no idea they were bluetooth and some models even have rechargeable batteries and luggage handles. I saw someone with one of these at the pool in Acapulco and was floored by the durability of them and the sound.

Kaiser is actually a german brand found in Mexico. That was my first purchase with a tripod. I haven't turned them off since I purchased them. The smallest version fills my entire house with club quality sound. I recently purchased the LG version since the pesos rate was so good. This one is the same size the bars use on Coahuilla. We all know how loud those are OVERKILL perhaps but at $142 a deal to be had. The LG does not have a rechargeable battery.

Only for guys with a car or local fellows due to the size.

You can find these at stores like Coppel. They have several locations throughout Tijuana. Also at ElEKTRA another chain store. These two places offer the best guarantees with one year. Other stores like Mitzu on Calle 2 nda will only offer you 3 months.

Most brands are made in China. Go for the two I listed.

[Artisttyp]

Known as The Wedding Shirt.

Some travelers to Tijuana might be looking for souvenirs and guayabera shirts make a great gift or souvenir which are easy to transport. I've got a few years under my belt with buying them in Tijuana and Hand Art hands down has the best quality. They are a tad pricey at $70/80 per but they are made from pure lino (linen). Some other ones with poly / cotton blends can run you $40.

I would also like to list:

Tienda Highlife. Located in Plazo Rio and the Centro Location on Calle 2 between Constitucion and Ninos Heroes which has $40 options.

I tried desperately to photograph mine to show everybody but the photos didn't come out right. It would be a disservice to post them. The beauty of guayaberas have to do with the intricate details and fabric quality which are hard to photograph.

Photo #1 found online is Julio Iglesias with Oscar de la Renta. " Oscar " does guayebra in style. Just to show you guys how one should look. The photo #2 is of a Dominican " Chacabana " with usually has contrasting buttons or trimming. SEARS in Plaza Rio has some commercial versions of these from mexican brands.

www.mycubanstore.com has some of these if you want to come down to Tijuana already dressed.

Great classic shirts for men that will never go out of style.

[Dcrist0527]

As I mentioned in other threads, I struck out completely in the escort game this week. Some of those savings went to massage parlors to fill the time outside of HK or Chicago.

I was looking for legit massages but would never turn down happiness. Visited VivaMex twice. (On the East side of Revo). Both times I drew larger chicas. Not terribly attractive though not ugly. Both tremendous massages. Highly recommend. I do think the 2nd one was more than willing to provide happiness. Just didn't go for it. Was heading to HK after a shower.

Aztec. Went there for the first time. Walked from Ticuan to Aztec about 9 PM. Weird entrance. Paid for the hour, talked to a pretty good dude. Not sure who he is. Associated with the massage on the 3rd floor and the bar on 2nd floor. Gave me a free beer coupon. Massage was again fantastic. It was the only lady there. Older and a bit overweight. But great massage. Don't know if anything else can be had but I left feeling good.

Was going to try New Body but they're less massage, more chica friendly. Relatively expensive. And I couldn't get the nerve up to walk from Ticuan. If you know where it is, it's very close. Maybe 2 blocks. Can't justify a taxi but it's also not a well lit area. Always have a funny feeling there as the taxis take me back from HK.

Visited Mermaids. Not a bad deal cost-wise. Mix between brothel and massage. The massage was so-so. Extras were nice. Definitely fills a niche but kind of like a jack of all trade, master of none. Better options.

Almost pulled the trigger on a millerotico ad. But musas has me convinced most of those are bogus ads. Not something I want to deal with in a foreign country.

[WombatEd2]

Peso rate 17.13 by trolley / McDonalds at 5 pm and 17.20 block up the street in San Ysidro but just bought at 17.60 in Tijuana. Weird, it is usually the other way around. Better rate usually in San Ysidro cambios. WWW.eldolar.info " Today Monday, May 7, 2018 the average US Dollar exchange rate in Mexico is 1 Dollar = 19.1954 Pesos" Some businesses are gouging their customers in San Ysidro.

Using ATMs instead of Money Changers gets me better rates. And Schwab Bank card gets me reimbursed for all ATM fees.

[HorseTrader]

May 21,2018, the market opened at 19.8866 (I trade FOREX). Non of us can get the institutional rate but it serves a good reference.

If you use a debit card from an investment company (e.g. , Fidelity or Schwab), you can get those rates at an ATM in Tijuana. In many cases your investment company will return the ATM fees to you.

I've done this many times in Thailand with a Fidelity account. I have verified that my exchange rate matches XE.com and that my foreign ATM fees were returned to my account. It supposedly works the same in Mexico and I have no reason to not believe it.

[SubCmdr]

May 21,2018, the market opened at 19.8866 (I trade FOREX). Non of us can get the institutional rate but it serves a good reference. Anyone have any information on the retail rates being offered at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa?

The USD has reversed it's slide against the MXN. I never know why or where it's going to go next. I just trade what I see.

Peso rate 17.13 by trolley / McDonalds at 5 pm and 17.20 block up the street in San Ysidro but just bought at 17.60 in Tijuana. Weird, it is usually the other way around. Better rate usually in San Ysidro cambios. WWW.eldolar.info " Today Monday, May 7, 2018 the average US Dollar exchange rate in Mexico is 1 Dollar = 19.1954 Pesos" Some businesses are gouging their customers in San Ysidro.

[Travv]

Peso rate 17.13 by trolley / McDonalds at 5 pm and 17.20 block up the street in San Ysidro but just bought at 17.60 in Tijuana. Weird, it is usually the other way around. Better rate usually in San Ysidro cambios. WWW.eldolar.info " Today Monday, May 7, 2018 the average US Dollar exchange rate in Mexico is 1 Dollar = 19.1954 Pesos" Some businesses are gouging their customers in San Ysidro.

[Artisttyp]

Atoyac Leather is THE custom leather shop in Tijuana. There used to be more during busier times but Hector and Brenda come from 3 generations of leather makers and remain the place to go. I have gone to them for work over a period of several years.

My two recent acquisitions are a Belstaff (copy) Diamond Quilted Gilet in leather w / ballistic nylon liner for $250 and a Sobaquera (holster wallet) $86.

They do great work. You bring in a picture and they copy it. Plain and simple.

A few tips though:

Hector speaks english. Brenda does not.

You must put a 50% deposit down for work.

Making a jacket pattern is DIFFICULT! To make things easier it is always a good idea to bring in an item that fits you well and let them copy the fit for you. Otherwise it can get crazy with people "seeing" things differently from each other.

* Piel De Vaca (Cow Leather) is the thickest leather which is usually what I ask for. Always ask to feel the leather before you agree to any work.

[DavezPlace]

Is Ambien available without prescription from pharmacies in Mexico?

My google search says it is not available OTC, but I wonder if a few dollars pharmacy surcharge is all that is needed.

I need it every night and cannot get enough in USA to support my travel schedule. Picking some up in Mexico would be an easy solution for me.

Obtaining meds such as Ambien or Xanax in Mexico is much easier than in the USA But a prescription is needed to purchase them legally. Some pharmacies, especially in the tourist areas, will respond to offers of extra fees / higher costs, but you can't be sure of what you're getting.

Getting a prescription isn't difficult. The process takes a bit of leg-work at first, but smooths out after you establish your "connection. " (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.).

First, you need to find a doctor to write it. If you don't already know someone, just go into a pharmacy in or near CENTRO, and ask if they sell the drug you want. (Not all pharmacies are allowed to sell the higher schedule drugs, and none, that I know of, can legally sell opioids.) If they do, ask the pharmacy person if they know of a doctor who could write you a prescription for it. Don't be bashful, they know what's going on, and want to make the sale. Besides, you're not doing anything illegal.

The doctor will take a brief history, and ask you what is wrong. You don't need to go into long explanations, just give him a reason so that he can justify writing the prescription, I. E. "I'm going through a bad divorce, can you give me a prescription for Xanax?" or "I can't sleep at night, can you give me a prescription for Ambien?" Ask for what you want. He will tell you what Mexico offers, and whether it's available in Mexico. It's been over ten years since I wanted such a prescription, but the office visit used to run $25.

You're all set to make your purchase, now. Go back to the pharmacy your recommendation came from, and present your prescription. Make sure to save your copy of the prescription, leave the drugs in their factory packaging, and keep the prescription wherever you keep the drugs, I. E. In your pocket, in the glove compartment. You're legal in Mexico, even if the cops pull you over. They might try to convince you a trip to the judge is necessary unless you volunteer to pay the fine to them, but stand your ground (politely).