General Reports

[Stern Fan]

Ventured back to Tijuana after a 4 year break so wanted to leave some notes based my findings and summarize what some others helped with.

There are now 2 crossings. PedEast and PedWest. I took the blue line trolley from downtown San Diego to the San Ysidro station which is right at the PedEast border crossing. There's a path you follow (follow the crowd) and you eventually get to some rotating steel gates. Each time I make sure I still have my passport and then go through the gates as this is the entrance to Mexico. After going through the gate, you are in a customs building. Mexican citizens stay to the left, and foreigners stayed to the right. I entered Mexico 2 times (Sunday around 5 pm and Thursday around 6 pm) and had the exact same experience each time. There were about 3 people ahead of me in line, and 2 Mexican border agents. Wait was less than 5 minutes. Both times I got the same agent (who was an attractive female) and she asked me where I was going. I told her Revolution Ave both times. The first time she asked why I was going and how long I would be there, so I told her for some food and only for a few hours. The second time she just said "go ahead". I did not receive any stamps in my passport.

Next you go through a security checkpoint where you have to run any bags you have through an airport type x-ray machine. I didn't have anything so I simply walked around them and out of the building. You then follow a path for a few minutes until you get to another metal gate. Just on the other side of the gate is a ton of Taxi Libres, still charging $5 to the Zona Roja.

After my fun in Tijuana, I took a taxi and told them "Old border. San Diego Trolley" at the advice of other members on this board and it got me back to PedEast perfectly. Both times I came back between 9:30 pm and 11 pm and the lines were about a 5 minute wait. US border patrol asked quite a few questions but nothing to be scared of. For me the worst part is the trolley ride back to San Diego which takes 30-40 minutes.

I'm an East coaster but already looking forward to a return trip! Going to miss this place for sure.

[Efjayel]

I've been using La Mansion as my go to place as they have mostly been reliable, available, somewhat cheap and have clean kept rooms. But lately they are taking "short term" literally as they are only letting me use one of their rooms for 4 hours on weekends. Not too long ago, I remember getting there early morning on a weekend and being allowed to stay until 8 pm. That was like 12 hours. Then it went down to about 5 pm, and now they are strictly enforcing use of their rooms for 4 hours only and the clock starts the moment they charge me because once the time is up, there's already someone literally knocking on my door. This is a real let down as I would count on them for use of a nice room for a good amount of time. And when I mention that they used to allow longer they just say they can't because it's the weekend.

What other hotels are there that don't enforce this greedy rule and still have decent rooms for a fair price at a minimum 6 hours or more?

Also, sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this question. Move this post to the necessary location if needed. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Drossi137]

Hey guys,

I'm going to be meeting a former AB bar girl (she currently isn't working at any club) this upcoming Monday and I was kind of wondering what the protocol is. Naturally, I'll pay for whatever food / entertainment we do. BTW, any ideas for that? I was thinking of a movie at plaza Rio and then let her pick a place close by to eat. Anyways, what should I do after that? Should I book a regular hotel room or just head with her to one of the love motels for the night? How much should I pay her for her services? Also, how bad is la linea on Tuesday mornings? I always leave around 3 AM to avoid the lines but I'm not sure if I might want to just sleep until morning. Thanks.

[Artisttyp]

I called the hotel they say they are open now for business. I'll stick to Uber and taxi when going to and from la zona. I'll check out the container club nearby that sounds like a lot of fun too.

I saw in Volaris Magazine that IBIS is running a promo price. I forget the exact price but it seemed enticing. You may want to ask if they allow visitors before you book.

[Daweiwang88]

I drive past the Ibis Hotel daily. It is in Zona Rio near Costco, which is one of the wealthier areas of Tijuana. In my opinion it is too long to walk to the Zona. An Uber should cost under $3 dls. Near Ibis Hotel is a good taco joint called Tacos el Franc. Also good is Taconazo. There is a civie club called LE Container nearby which is loaded with young civies on weekends. All are a very short walk from Ibis. However, I'm not sure if Ibis is open yet. Last time I took a good look and it didn't seem to have opened yet. Perhaps by the end of June it will be ready.

I called the hotel they say they are open now for business. I'll stick to Uber and taxi when going to and from la zona. I'll check out the container club nearby that sounds like a lot of fun too.

[ScatManDoo]

Quite peculiar behavior. Too timid to ask the cashier a pertinent question so you end up buying something you don't really need just to find out their exchange rate. I just man up and ask them if they don't have it posted. I've never gotten any dirty looks just for asking. If you're getting dirty looks you're doing something else wrong.

I don't buy anything I don't need or want. And I was not suggesting that to anyone else.

When something in Tijuana is shown at a cost only in one currency, with no posted exchange rate, I would rather test the merchant with an actual transaction. I find that more desirable than asking a clerk for their exchange rate. That's for small items, as I previously said.

Of course, you have to be disingenuous when trying to make points in a discussion, in this case by bringing in an example of a car purchase.

My guess is that you get lots of irritated looks by experienced vendors, who know to show them to other customers, but behind your back.

[ClamSlammer]

You have a real hard-on for me don't you?

I constantly read about mongers leaving Tijuana and trying to not bring pesos back into the United States. We know what the dollar price for Cazadores is at the duty free store thanks to StRoberts reporting ($15) as opposed to stores in the US. I've never been inside that duty free at the border, despite passing by it scores of times. I don't know if they post their current exchange rate or not. I often make small purchases in Tijuana stores to find out exchange rates, rather than just be an annoying hyper-questioning tourist.

Maybe its just my observation of Tijuana vendors, but I've seen them look at act annoyed by questioning tourists who have no intention of buying anything. Maybe you've never noticed.

Quite peculiar behavior. Too timid to ask the cashier a pertinent question so you end up buying something you don't really need just to find out their exchange rate. I just man up and ask them if they don't have it posted. I've never gotten any dirty looks just for asking. If you're getting dirty looks you're doing something else wrong.

[DramaFree11]

Newbies should keep it as simple as possible even if one has to pay a couple of dollars more. I would use dollars only. I would stay at one of the hotels right in the middle of the red light district. I would eat in a sit down restaurant in the red light district. I would leave all contraband in the USA (guns, drugs). I would not drink excessively because I know that my waiter, chica, and local police would line up to steal my money if I was drunk. I would use Uber / taxi for transportation. I would avoid walking as much as I can especially in the dark. I would avoid all locals that speak perfect English (desperate deportees that can't find a job). I would screw only bar chicas only at the main clubs like Hong Kong, Adelitas, Chicago, Chubelas, Tropical. I would never follow anyone anywhere because they seem like nice people. And lastly l, I would avoid the waiters.

Wow one of the best reports ever written, well done. You should post this in the HK Pages as well, real all pages.

[ScatManDoo]

Why would one actually have to buy a bottle in order to find out whether or not it is advantageous to pay in pesos? The exchange rate should be posted, and if it isn't one could ask the cashier. Then convert the dollar amount into pesos by using the in-house exchange rate. This level of mathematics is taught around 2nd grade I believe. If you were at a dealer and just curious about a new car, would you actually buy the car just to figure out if it's cheaper using pesos?

You have a real hard-on for me don't you?

I constantly read about mongers leaving Tijuana and trying to not bring pesos back into the United States. We know what the dollar price for Cazadores is at the duty free store thanks to StRoberts reporting ($15) as opposed to stores in the US. I've never been inside that duty free at the border, despite passing by it scores of times. I don't know if they post their current exchange rate or not. I often make small purchases in Tijuana stores to find out exchange rates, rather than just be an annoying hyper-questioning tourist.

Maybe its just my observation of Tijuana vendors, but I've seen them look at act annoyed by questioning tourists who have no intention of buying anything. Maybe you've never noticed.

[Jackie888]

Newbies should keep it as simple as possible even if one has to pay a couple of dollars more. I would use dollars only. I would stay at one of the hotels right in the middle of the red light district. I would eat in a sit down restaurant in the red light district. I would leave all contraband in the USA (guns, drugs). I would not drink excessively because I know that my waiter, chica, and local police would line up to steal my money if I was drunk. I would use Uber / taxi for transportation. I would avoid walking as much as I can especially in the dark. I would avoid all locals that speak perfect English (desperate deportees that can't find a job). I would screw only bar chicas only at the main clubs like Hong Kong, Adelitas, Chicago, Chubelas, Tropical. I would never follow anyone anywhere because they seem like nice people. And lastly l, I would avoid the waiters.

[JeraldoRivera]

So a question for you newbie mongers. What sounds better to you?

1) Get off trolley, cross at PedEast, take $2 Uber and arrive safely in ZN. (ClamSlammer).

OR.

2) Get off trolley, wait for $1 shuttle to PedWest, cross, then walk a mile with your bags and a pocket full of cash through one of the most dangerous sections of the #5 murder capital of the world in order to save $1. (ScatMan).

Uhhhhh, yea. Ill take clam slammer for a dollar!

[Hargow20]

Unless you cross on a early weekday morning before 9 am then crossing should not be a problem. I cross Pedwest it is a 10 minute wait at most when I cross.

Came back to Tijuana after 5 years.

Waiting in Marriott Hotel for Angie from MusasTJ.

I have a flight to catch from San Diego tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm.

Any suggestions on what time I should head over to San ysidro border pedestrian line?

5 years ago it used to be an hour max in normal pedestrian line.

But with current immigration issues in US, I need advise.

Report of Angie to follow in a couple of days.

[IndieFriend]

Came back to Tijuana after 5 years.

Waiting in Marriott Hotel for Angie from MusasTJ.

I have a flight to catch from San Diego tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm.

Any suggestions on what time I should head over to San ysidro border pedestrian line?

5 years ago it used to be an hour max in normal pedestrian line.

But with current immigration issues in US, I need advise.

Report of Angie to follow in a couple of days.

[ClamSlammer]

Been searching in the forum, has anyone stayed at the ibis hotel Tijuana? From the map it's a 25 min walk to Hong Kong and 7 min car ride. Is it too far away from center of the action? Plan to visit Tijuana for the first time end of June, any feedback about this hotels location and it's neighborhood is greatly appreciated.

I drive past the Ibis Hotel daily. It is in Zona Rio near Costco, which is one of the wealthier areas of Tijuana. In my opinion it is too long to walk to the Zona. An Uber should cost under $3 dls. Near Ibis Hotel is a good taco joint called Tacos el Franc. Also good is Taconazo. There is a civie club called LE Container nearby which is loaded with young civies on weekends. All are a very short walk from Ibis. However, I'm not sure if Ibis is open yet. Last time I took a good look and it didn't seem to have opened yet. Perhaps by the end of June it will be ready.

[ClamSlammer]

If someone were to buy the same bottle, but pay in pesos & report back, we would find out if it is advantageous to instead pay in pesos at that location.

Why would one actually have to buy a bottle in order to find out whether or not it is advantageous to pay in pesos? The exchange rate should be posted, and if it isn't one could ask the cashier. Then convert the dollar amount into pesos by using the in-house exchange rate. This level of mathematics is taught around 2nd grade I believe. If you were at a dealer and just curious about a new car, would you actually buy the car just to figure out if it's cheaper using pesos?