General Reports

[Hargow20]

When I was parking I noticed parking enforcement guy was giving out tickets on Border Village drive. I really surprised. This the first time I have seen people getting tickets on that street.

[KBToys]

I go to the HSBC bank machine as the Calimax market on ave Constitution. I also get 2 litre soda bottles, etc from there.

There are 4 different bank ATMs about 2 blocks south of of Calimax on ave Constitution including Citibank, banco Santander, etc.

There is also a big HSBC bank with ATM section one block east of Calimax.

I always decline the exchange offer they make during the withdrawal.

I use my Schwab credit card to get the ATM fees rebated.

For converting excess pesos back to $ I found the best rates are at or close the border in Mexico. I found the best rate when in line in Mexico at the old ped east entrance to USA.

I always do the same as you and decline the crappy 19 to 1 they always try to offer on the ATM conversion. Most times Schwab is 20 to 1 or 22 to 1. Best exchange rate, but the limiting factor is 9-10 k peso per day withdrawal limit.

[KBToys]

How would you all rate the Mexican airlines from best to worst? It would be useful to know when booking which will have the best service or least likely to cancel. Also, if you are a gringo who doesn't speak hardly any Spanish, is it easy enough to navigate TIJ airport?

I always use Vivaaerobus because they are cheap, but Volaris is also slightly more expensive. I know now why Aeromexico is always higher priced as they offer free drinks based on Luvin's comments. I always have to pay for drinks on the low cost carriers, but then again make up for the price difference in tickets. TIJ airport is easy to navigate. Just look at the boards and double check your gate. You do have to fill out a COVID form online from your phone, but fairly straightforward. Never had problems and flights are significantly cheaper than flying out of SoCal airports.

[Rambo1969]

IMHO, the moment my foot enters the Zona Norte, someone is watching me even if I don't know it. So I always pick the a money exchange with the best security. Big street, good lighting, cameras, a lot of customers. Never needed to, but if I need to exchange amounts greater than $500, I go to a bank. Security is more important to me than saving a couple of bucks. The rates are competitive because there are so many exchanges. So there is not a real savings trying to cherry pick them.

I go to the HSBC bank machine as the Calimax market on ave Constitution. I also get 2 litre soda bottles, etc from there.

There are 4 different bank ATMs about 2 blocks south of of Calimax on ave Constitution including Citibank, banco Santander, etc.

There is also a big HSBC bank with ATM section one block east of Calimax.

I always decline the exchange offer they make during the withdrawal.

I use my Schwab credit card to get the ATM fees rebated.

For converting excess pesos back to $ I found the best rates are at or close the border in Mexico. I found the best rate when in line in Mexico at the old ped east entrance to USA.

[LobElsewhere]

Having booked to Cabo from Tijuana and the USA the big difference is the $100 the Mexicans put on for a gringo to land there. Although it seems attractive to save that tariff if you do the math flying out of SD on Alaskan makes sense at least for me. There is a $15 fee for using the CBX route as well as parking issues. Time is money so I figured out the additional time to transit CBX / Tijuana and it doesn't work for me. Couple that with MX airlines can cancel a flight with, in my experience, no consequence and it's a hard no. Last time for me was when I crossed early one morning and saw my flight was cancelled at the last minute and was told to come back the next day. I said I just want my money back. They said they don't do refunds!! Also there is a trap. If you want to talk to a ticket agent you have to go out to the departure / luggage check to do so. Don't do that as once you cross into that side you can't transit back to the CBX tunnel where you obviously parked so you are fucked due to not having a. Ali's ticket to enter the airport since your flight was supposed to have left ten minutes ago. I ended up back on the USA CBX side and tried to handle it from that desk which was swamped with people checking luggage. Waited 30 minutes just to be told they don't do refunds so I told the ass of a lady "no problem". I will just dispute the charge and send a complaint thru trip advisor. It wasn't till I used her name which freaked her out (as soon as I called her by her name she flipped her badge over BTW) that I got movement to resolution.

How would you all rate the Mexican airlines from best to worst? It would be useful to know when booking which will have the best service or least likely to cancel. Also, if you are a gringo who doesn't speak hardly any Spanish, is it easy enough to navigate TIJ airport?

[Bunter Hiden]

I was looking at this the other day, $60 RT from Tijuana to Cabos, $120 RT from Tijuana to Cancun. Can save a lot of $ to several destinations within Mexico.

Having booked to Cabo from Tijuana and the USA the big difference is the $100 the Mexicans put on for a gringo to land there. Although it seems attractive to save that tariff if you do the math flying out of SD on Alaskan makes sense at least for me. There is a $15 fee for using the CBX route as well as parking issues. Time is money so I figured out the additional time to transit CBX / Tijuana and it doesn't work for me. Couple that with MX airlines can cancel a flight with, in my experience, no consequence and it's a hard no. Last time for me was when I crossed early one morning and saw my flight was cancelled at the last minute and was told to come back the next day. I said I just want my money back. They said they don't do refunds!! Also there is a trap. If you want to talk to a ticket agent you have to go out to the departure / luggage check to do so. Don't do that as once you cross into that side you can't transit back to the CBX tunnel where you obviously parked so you are fucked due to not having a. Ali's ticket to enter the airport since your flight was supposed to have left ten minutes ago. I ended up back on the USA CBX side and tried to handle it from that desk which was swamped with people checking luggage. Waited 30 minutes just to be told they don't do refunds so I told the ass of a lady "no problem". I will just dispute the charge and send a complaint thru trip advisor. It wasn't till I used her name which freaked her out (as soon as I called her by her name she flipped her badge over BTW) that I got movement to resolution.

[Jackie888]

Where's the best place to change money at the moment? Anyone seen rates in SY or around ZN in the past few days?

Looks like we're broadly at 20 per dollar currently, but doesn't always mean that's what you get.

Generally find most $100 Chicas are happy to take mille pesos.

IMHO, the moment my foot enters the Zona Norte, someone is watching me even if I don't know it. So I always pick the a money exchange with the best security. Big street, good lighting, cameras, a lot of customers. Never needed to, but if I need to exchange amounts greater than $500, I go to a bank. Security is more important to me than saving a couple of bucks. The rates are competitive because there are so many exchanges. So there is not a real savings trying to cherry pick them.

[LuvMexicanas]

What airline offers free beer and tequila?

The beer and tequila fest was on Aeromexico.

[KBToys]

I flew from Tijuana to Mexico City RT for $90 and the cool thing is unlike the cheap ass airlines in the states, I drank free beer and tequila the entire flight.

What airline offers free beer and tequila?

[KBToys]

How is security at that lot? Yeah, I got a bad feeling about leaving my car in Tijuana for a couple of days.

Definitely recommend trying to use a lot outside of the airport. I've parked at the Tijuana airport and sometimes it is packed and expensive like $16 a day. Also parked at CBX and it was $18 a day. Some people park for free on the curb near CBX, but I feel more comfortable having it in a paid parking lot.

[Bbond]

Generally find most $100 Chicas are happy to take mille pesos.

I doubt that statement, as mil pesos is only about 50 dollars.

At one time it was true, back when the exchange was 11 - 12 to 1, but that time has long past.

[Hargow20]

Costco has good exchange rates. But only certain ones do it. The Chula Vista Costco does money exchange.

Anyplace.

Unless you're changing many thousands of $ at once, the differences between different places is generally budget dust and not worth the extra steps.

[SpeedToys]

Where's the best place to change money at the moment? Anyone seen rates in SY or around ZN in the past few days?

Looks like we're broadly at 20 per dollar currently, but doesn't always mean that's what you get.

Generally find most $100 Chicas are happy to take mille pesos.

Anyplace.

Unless you're changing many thousands of $ at once, the differences between different places is generally budget dust and not worth the extra steps.

[CurryMonster]

Where's the best place to change money at the moment? Anyone seen rates in SY or around ZN in the past few days?

Looks like we're broadly at 20 per dollar currently, but doesn't always mean that's what you get.

Generally find most $100 Chicas are happy to take mille pesos.

[Captain Solo]

Don't worry Jackie.

When you return your car will have a brand-new engine already installed for free, made in China hehe. Unless your car is brand new and worth $80 K and up, I would not worry about it.

Park indoors in HK's Lira lot, $5 a day, you will never get dings from other cars. Nobody will mess with cars in a cartel's lot. The car will wallow in street girls' cheap, sexy perfumes while you are gone.