General Reports

[Dogers69]

Hi All:

Would welcome your thoughts / recommendations.

I have been reading the posts and the 2 options have pros and cons.

Walking, Pros: quick to get across both ways, don't have to worry about a car. Cons: The possible problems with FMM and cost, Cost of parking if driving to border, dealing with taxis, limited mobility.

Driving: Pros: seems to be easier to get through to Mexico, perceived more flexibility of getting around in Tijuana. Cons: Cost of mexican insurance, border wait coming back to US; and the actually driving in Mexico.

I may be missing something, but this is how I see it. Trying to decide which alternative makes most financial and time sense. Don't want to sit for 2 hrs coming back to the US but not sure if walking is that good of an option..

For majority of guys walking across is much better idea. Who wants to worry about their car while trying to drink, explore, bang chicks, evade robbery, evade kidnapping. You park the car at the trolley station if your cheap and don't have money for border parking, and make sure you have insurance for catalytic converter theft. For either parking lot free or paid. Keep one key in the car incase you lose your other one. Or take a door key with you hide in the car the driving key. I've parked at the trolley 200 nights in 3 years with no problems. The night I got choked out on side of Hong Kong, I walked back to border bleeding with nothing but most of my clothes, (they took my sweater off me while I was passed out), and I still had my car rental key because it was chained to my pants. So even though I had a bad night, I still had my car. Nobody talks about the line to get into Mexico which most nights is long from what I can see and I have read. Driving back without sentri can usually be 3 hours that's 3 hours of moving one foot a minute so you can't just look at your phone unshaven pay attention. Plus its a good idea to take the mexicanb75 cent bus from border to revolucion street. I believe it is a waste to go all the way to Mexico and not take in the culture. The crowded bus, buy a 1 dollar beer on calle revulcion, figure out your plan for the night. Watch the Mexican woman walking around.

[Ctytek]

Now that the Supreme Court has voted yes 8-3 to legalize cannabis in Mexico has there been any updates on 2022?

Are there any dispensaries in Tijuana. Or if I wanted to visit where can I get some top notch Mexico cannabis?

There are none. Legal status of marijuana in Baja is in a typical Mexico limbo state. I personally wouldn't f k around with weed in Tijuana. If you get caught, it's a perfect excuse for cops to shake you down or throw you into Tijuana city jail.

[Captain Solo]

SCBB,

Did they take your payment last summer? That was the peak of coVid. Federal employees were working at home. They likely lost your application.

Not sure about SENTRI, but I applied for Global entry, got conditional approval in 3 weeks, had an interview lined up in San Ysidro in 2 weeks and got the card. A wingman applied for SENTRI, changes to GLOBAL ENTRY, got approval and an interview at LAX all within 1 week, with the card mailed to him the next week.

Print out your proof of payment and write to them with a new application. But I can tell you the federal government agencies are so far behind with their normal business that lots of things got messed up.

Sentry.

[Scbb1]

How long does it take to get a decision on your Sentry application? I applied last summer and haven't heard a word.

[MadMax3423]

Now that the Supreme Court has voted yes 8-3 to legalize cannabis in Mexico has there been any updates on 2022?

Are there any dispensaries in Tijuana. Or if I wanted to visit where can I get some top notch Mexico cannabis?

Thanks again.

Be safe.

M.

[Aht169]

Hi All:

Would welcome your thoughts / recommendations.

Thank you all for the great info and recommendations. Given me lots to think about and definitely options to consider.

Appreciate the help!

Stay Safe.

AHT169.

[WombatEd2]

Walking, Pros: quick to get across both ways, don't have to worry about a car. Cons: The possible problems with FMM and cost, Cost of parking if driving to border, dealing with taxis, limited mobility.

Driving: Pros: seems to be easier to get through to Mexico, perceived more flexibility of getting around in Tijuana. Cons: Cost of mexican insurance, border wait coming back to US; and the actually driving in Mexico.

I may be missing something, but this is how I see it. Trying to decide which alternative makes most financial and time sense.

Crossing Southbound: If you drive, you should get insurance, for about $30/ day. Your US insurance is invalid in Mexico. But there's almost never any delay, assuming that you avoid Friday evening rush hour. If you walk, there can be long delays, and you MIGHT get hit with a $30 FMM fee.

Crossing Northbound: Assuming you don't have SENTRI, your wait can be anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, regardless of whether you walk or drive.

Getting Around: Driving in Mexico is no big deal, but stay VERY alert. Watch out for axel-breaking pot-holes, suspension-destroying speed bumps, and hidden stop signs. Having your own car avoids the muggers, and reduces the risk of having to bribe the local cops. GPS apps like Waze and Google Maps work almost as reliably in Tijuana as they do in San Diego. Walking in avoids the risk of having your car stolen. I almost always drive, but there are many here who prefer to walk.

Taxis: Both Uber and Lyft work well in Tijuana, but the cars are often unmarked, out of fear of violent taxi drivers. Normal taxis have bad reviews because they overcharge, and they seem to be cooperating with the cops who want to shake you down.

Parking: If you drive across, use lots with attendants. Pepe's and Libre are both popular facilities in the zona with good reputations. If you walk across, your options are to park on the street in a sketchy neighborhood, or to park in a VERY expensive lot, or to take public transportation to the border. By far the smartest option, for most of us, is to park in a trolley "Park & Ride" lot (either Palm or Palomar) and take a ten-minute trolley ride to the border. That'll cost you around $5 for the round trip, but the parking is free. Be aware that the last trolley leaves the border a bit before 1:00 AM, and that there's a rarely-enforced 24-hour limit in the trolley lots.

[HormoneMonster]

Hi All:

Would welcome your thoughts / recommendations.

I have been reading the posts and the 2 options have pros and cons.

Walking, Pros: quick to get across both ways, don't have to worry about a car. Cons: The possible problems with FMM and cost, Cost of parking if driving to border, dealing with taxis, limited mobility.

Driving: Pros: seems to be easier to get through to Mexico, perceived more flexibility of getting around in Tijuana. Cons: Cost of mexican insurance, border wait coming back to US; and the actually driving in Mexico.

I may be missing something, but this is how I see it. Trying to decide which alternative makes most financial and time sense. Don't want to sit for 2 hrs coming back to the US but not sure if walking is that good of an option..

I tend to cross walking 95% of the time usually just with a backpack. On that really rare occasion where I have other business to do in Tijuana Or want to load up on certain groceries and brew then I will drive.

I tend to typically go during the week instead of the weekend making walking back that much easier, as long as it isn't very early.

Or right at the 5-6 pm HR. The one thing that becomes super frustrating and irritating are the agents at the crossing checking the documents. They tend to leave their stations for excessively long periods of time even when there's a long line, sometimes resulting in another agent having to split the people he sees or asking everyone from that line to re direct to a different line. I've crossed the border in as little as 10-15 min walking around 8-9 pm and as long as 45 min-1 HR tops between 5-7 pm more or less, Never more than that.

-Cost of taxis right as you cross tend to be way overpriced! Keep walking down further over the bridge until you get to the Oxxo at a corner stop, taxis will be available and cheaper. Uber is my best source of transportation, way cheaper and so far safe and reliable.

-As far as parking on the USA side, depending for how long your Tijuana stay will be, I recommend parking at a trolley station, especially if you get there early. They allow 24 HR parking, but "nothing longer than that" I can attest to leaving my vehicle in a trolley stop overnight and the next day coming back roughly around the same time with no issue at all.

If your trip is short stay I'd go that route. I can fully vouch for it as far as weekday activities go.

Get the CBP BWT app for iPhone. It's more or less somewhat accurate to the wait times to the border, however it doesn't take into account the possible wait times an agent could add to it when they leave.

Good luck!

[CaliGuy33]

One thing I've noticed on San Diego trips post-COVID. Significantly decreased enforcement of trolley fares. I remember just a couple years ago you could expect a transit cop to be checking everyone to ensure they paid transit fares, sometimes twice in one trip. My past couple of trips I've ridden the trolley 10-15 times and have been checked at most once, if even at all.

The only time I've had my fare checked was actually the last time I used it in March. And I think that was simply because of increased security due to a marathon going on in downtown SD.

[BrotherMouzone]

One thing I've noticed on San Diego trips post-COVID. Significantly decreased enforcement of trolley fares. I remember just a couple years ago you could expect a transit cop to be checking everyone to ensure they paid transit fares, sometimes twice in one trip. My past couple of trips I've ridden the trolley 10-15 times and have been checked at most once, if even at all.

[Captain Solo]

These guys let the dumb Mexican INM and policias boss them around and rip them off mercilessly.

Left to themselves, they probably offer up the state of California to Vlad Putin, along with all pretty Ukrainian girls, plus their own asses, just to please him.

They should remember it's every American's duty to resist tyranny and fight oppression, aggression, abuses, exploitation anywhere they find them. If not, evil will win over goodness. I heard this line from George W Bush, hot shot fighter pilot, right after he claimed to have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

[Phordphan]

Hi All:

Would welcome your thoughts / recommendations.

I have been reading the posts and the 2 options have pros and cons.

Walking, Pros: quick to get across both ways, don't have to worry about a car. Cons: The possible problems with FMM and cost, Cost of parking if driving to border, dealing with taxis, limited mobility.

Driving: Pros: seems to be easier to get through to Mexico, perceived more flexibility of getting around in Tijuana. Cons: Cost of mexican insurance, border wait coming back to US; and the actually driving in Mexico.

I may be missing something, but this is how I see it. Trying to decide which alternative makes most financial and time sense. Don't want to sit for 2 hrs coming back to the US but not sure if walking is that good of an option..

If you get SENTRI your problems are over. Period.

Otherwise, if you walk then find a place like in a trolley stop and park there. This is only good for 24 hours, although many reports are here for 48 hours or longer. Cross into the USA at off hours, like around 10 pm or later, but not so late that you miss the last trolley. Use DiDi for all your running around in Mexico, or get used to Taxi Rutas.

Do not drive unless you have SENTRI or enjoy sitting in line. Crossing at night will minimize the wait but still may be an hour+. Vehicle crossing times vary widely. Cross more often at Otay where the lines are generally a lot lighter at night. Do not think of crossing on Sunday afternoons unless you have SENTRI. Even with SENTRI you'll be looking at a good sized wait.

[Captain Solo]

Parking and walking over is time consuming and a pain in the ass with high parking cost near border ($13 first 8 hours, $26 after 8), Mex INM hassling for $30 FMM, long walks, $10 cab fare ect.

Driving over is quick and cheap, only 5-minute drive from El Chaparral to HK, never had traffic problems. On the return SENTRI lanes only takes 5-10 minutes max, but without SENTRI, the READY lanes take 3 to 4 hours even after midnight every night. Traffic in Tijuana is slow and less aggressive than in LA. If you really want to drive over, apply for a SENTRI or GLOBAL ENTRY card and buy annual insurance for the car. Just be careful crossing back at the border, if CBP think you are DUI, they will cuff you and call in CHP to test.

Another option is to park at the Park and ride lots along freeway 5, take the trolley to the border and walk across, save parking fee. You should be able to convince Mex INM guys the $30 FMM is bullshit and illegal. On the way back, take the trolley or UBER back to the parking lot.

There are also guys hanging out near the border parking lots, proposing to drive you to HK for $20-30.

[Captain Solo]

HK girls and street girls are the pros. They fuck for money to feed their BFs and their kids, not for love. Some girls can be very charming, sweet and sexy with old guys, may be aiming to drain their retirement accounts.

I have seen a HK girl take a double amputee on a powered wheel chair to Cascada. 4 meseros had to carry him on the heavy wheel chair up the steep stairs to Cascada reception and push him into the room, lay him down in bed. Don't know how he did the the room and who helped him back down to the club. Just tip the meseros and girls generously and you can get all your needs fulfilled The US government should give a Congressional Medal of Honor for every HK girl who services disabled veterans.

I met another double amputee on a little roller skate, paddling around with his hands, took a series of buses from San Diego from early morning, arriving at HK side walk late in the afternoon, smiling, ready for actions.

A young street girl was smiling broadly, helping an old man shuffling on his cane to the room. The man may pop an artery and die in the room.

If girls reject someone due to age, it's likely their Oedipus complex, the guilty feelings of screwing someone the age of their pa or grand pa.

New guy on solo trip should come down in the afternoon. They would see La Zona clearly in the day light and feel comfortable while there are still plenty of girls in bars in on streets. If they feel safe enough, they can stay later into the night for more fun. Just stay in the well-lighted bar block and be careful to avoid walking by themselves in dark areas.

[Aht169]

Hi All:

Would welcome your thoughts / recommendations.

I have been reading the posts and the 2 options have pros and cons.

Walking, Pros: quick to get across both ways, don't have to worry about a car. Cons: The possible problems with FMM and cost, Cost of parking if driving to border, dealing with taxis, limited mobility.

Driving: Pros: seems to be easier to get through to Mexico, perceived more flexibility of getting around in Tijuana. Cons: Cost of mexican insurance, border wait coming back to US; and the actually driving in Mexico.

I may be missing something, but this is how I see it. Trying to decide which alternative makes most financial and time sense. Don't want to sit for 2 hrs coming back to the US but not sure if walking is that good of an option.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Stay Safe.

AHT169.