General Reports

[QUOTE=DickusMaximus;2509626]All solid advice, but it would be nice to have a map for #2. [/QUOTE] Your wish is my command!

Here is a link to Google Maps. Note the section where the the'Volada coffee shop is. This is the "strip mall" to which one will cross. When you come out the other side you'll be looking at the SENTRI road. There's a grassy median, and then Josefina Rendon. Note that to the left, at the end of the road, there is a "Taxis Libres Garita Otay. " That's the Libre taxi stand.

By the way, there at the taxi stand, is a churro vendor and a hot dog cart. For some reason, they have the best hot dogs around. I try to always stop and have one, or two, when leaving, if the SENTRI line permits. 20 pesos per.

[URL]https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=32.54701219479422%2C-116.93631936741033&spn=0.000832%2C0.033456&source=embed&mid=1wALr_FJjV2dhyXcMhkW9bUI3MOM&z=18[/URL]

[QUOTE=ObviousAlias;2509512]So I finally got my passport and will soon make my way to Tijuana. I would like some clarification / pointers on getting in and out smoothly and safety. I would appreciate any input that any one is kind enough to offer.

2. Otay Mesa Border Crossing.

I was planning on going through the Otay Mesa checkpoint. I was going to park on the US side then catch a cab to Hotel Ticuan. I park at Route 125 Parking correct? Is there anything I should be aware of when parking here and making my way through to the checkpoint? Are cabs readily available as soon as I cross or do I need to go to a specific area? Is there a specific type of cab I should use in preference over others? I am a little weary of using Uber. Is this feeling unfounded?

3. Hotel Specifics.

I may or may not go for a 3 some. I read that in order to have multiple guest at Hotel Ticuan I need to get a room with double beds. Is this true? Does this still apply if I have just one guest at a time but multiple throughout the day? They serve food at the Ticuan correct? I was planning to not leave the hotel.

[/QUOTE]Just my two pesos on a few things.

The white and gold taxi is $18 from Otay to Ticuan. I ask them every time I cross if they'll accept $10 and they always counter with $18.

If you walk down the street and get an Uber, it is between 130-150 mxp.

I always park at Plaza Parking which is right on Roll Drive and only a block from the border. $10 Mon-Thu, $15 Fri-Sun.

If you take a cab from Ticuan back to Otay, it's usually $15 but again, you should take an Uber.

If you do a 3 some, you HAVE to have a room with 2 beds at Ticuan. No problem with multiple chicas during your stay but just not at the same time.

Food at the Ticuan is pretty good. Breakfast for 2 is included but you have to be downstairs by 1030 a.

[QUOTE=Fmojo;2509829]Just my two pesos on a few things.

The white and gold taxi is $18 from Otay to Ticuan. I ask them every time I cross if they'll accept $10 and they always counter with $18.[/QUOTE]Wow. I'm shocked. Years ago, as an Otay noob, they took me a mile, or so, and it was almost $10. I've read reports of them charging $40+ from the airport to Centro. Maybe with the increased competition of the Libre's across the street they have become more competitive.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;2509849]Wow. I'm shocked. Years ago, as an Otay noob, they took me a mile, or so, and it was almost $10. I've read reports of them charging $40+ from the airport to Centro. Maybe with the increased competition of the Libre's across the street they have become more competitive.[/QUOTE]I used otay a lot this summer trying to get across the border with no passport. What I did was just walk south, you pass the taxis, then you stay on sidewalk keep walking south for 7 minutes till you see a road going horizontally. You walk to it, by taking 8 steps across the road heading south that you were on. At this point you have a bus stop, another cheaper taxi guy, and a good spot for uber. If you don't fear covid and don't have more than a backpack you can wait for the dollar or less bus that takes you to san Ysidro border and I think it took me near revolution. The uber was costing me 7 dollars from otay border to revolution.

Wow! You guys really came through with all these tips. Thanks a lot. I think my other post got buried cause I don't see it LOL. So how do I go about making sure I don't get turned away for being "non essential. " I was thinking I make a dentist appointment and just not go. Or is there some issue with doing that?

[QUOTE=ObviousAlias;2509869]Wow! You guys really came through with all these tips. Thanks a lot. I think my other post got buried cause I don't see it LOL. So how do I go about making sure I don't get turned away for being "non essential. " I was thinking I make a dentist appointment and just not go. Or is there some issue with doing that?[/QUOTE]Just tell them that fucking paraditas is essential to your health. And that you've developed a Carpal tunnel syndrome from using your hand for so long. That usually works.

[QUOTE=ObviousAlias;2509869]Wow! You guys really came through with all these tips. Thanks a lot. I think my other post got buried cause I don't see it LOL. So how do I go about making sure I don't get turned away for being "non essential. " I was thinking I make a dentist appointment and just not go. Or is there some issue with doing that?[/QUOTE]If they ask, and they won't, you can tell them you're going to the Washington Dental Clinic (it's about a block from the Ticuan) to see Dr. Corona but since it's a clinic, it's walk-in patients only. It's Otay; fuggeddaboutit.

Caltran cameras show lots of cars on fwy 5 after midnight, like 5-10 cars every mile. WTF?

There must be lots of essential workers and people with emergencies, picking up medicines ect after midnight, who are exempted from Gov Newsome's curfew.

A couple guys in my crew did say they need to pick up their medicines, or need to go to emergency centers to be checked for possible chemical poisoning.

CHPs cannot arrest everyone, Can they?

Got to Zona earlier than normal, about 8:30 pm. All the clubs were closed. First stop was Rizo. Talent was as expected for a Tues. I didn't see a single chica over a 6. Got bored pretty quick waiting for a decent chica to pass by, which never materialized. Decided to head to Jalos. There was a handful of 7's. One was really white and European looking but she was constantly being ficha'd by other mongers. Overall, it wasn't very busy but the chicas that were there seemed more desperate than usual. Lots of chicas were coming around trying to earn a ficha. And meseros kept on bringing chicas over even after I told them no. Seemed to me they were bringing the Saturday night hustle on a Tuesday. Stayed for one beer then headed to Cascadas.

Much busier than the other hotel clubs. The room closest to the entrance had a couple available tables but not many chicas out and about. The 3 premium rooms on the right as you enter were packed with nowhere to sit. There weren't that many chicas lining up the hallway though. Got sick of standing around with no where to sit so left after about 15 minutes.

Headed back to Rizo and had a beer. Seemed like the talent had actually gotten worse. I was seated near a table with younger mongers. One of them you could tell he thought he was so cool. But he looked like a creepy fool. He had the same hairstyle as Ponch from CHiPs. Just clueless. Got bored again and revisited Jalos. The high pressure atmosphere continued. Mesero kept on trying to bring over chicas and I kept on declining, until he finally brought over a decent looking one so I relented and ended up buying two fichas. I've never been a groper but she insisted so I went along with it. It wasn't a bad time but the chica wasn't rail thin like I prefer, but had a pretty face. I wasn't going to buy any more fichas and the wingman was ready to head back so we decided to make an exit.

Stopped by the main taco stand and now the adobada guy had a tip jar dangling from a rope and asked for a tip before he started to prepare my tacos. I hate it when people ask for tips so I will never eat at that stand again as long as that tip jar is still dangling.

To get to the Zona a Taxi Libre quoted us $50 mx. And the return trip, the blue / white taxi across from CC quoted $10 usd, which caused me to immediately turn around and walk away. Then the guy started shouting "$6" then "$5" which I continued to ignore. There were a couple other Taxi Libres that wanted $8 usd. Maybe all of a sudden I started to look like a newbie gullible tourist. But then I realized that since Uber's rollout 3-4 years ago I may not have taken a taxi so I had missed getting rip-off quotes for the past 3-4 years. Anyhow, settled for a $5 usd taxi and called it a night.

I can tell you in the last year I've gone to Tijuana 3 times and the price for cabs has gone up. I used to go to Ticuan for 50 pesos. You can't touch that now unless you have uber available. They are asking 100 pesos now. 80 if you really bargain with a bunch of them. It's not worth negotiating. Tell them 100 pesos and go. Get your sim card after you check in and use uber the rest of the trip.

[QUOTE=CaptainSolo;2509975]Caltran cameras show lots of cars on fwy 5 after midnight, like 5-10 cars every mile. WTF?

There must be lots of essential workers and people with emergencies, picking up medicines ect after midnight, who are exempted from Gov Newsome's curfew.

A couple guys in my crew did say they need to pick up their medicines, or need to go to emergency centers to be checked for possible chemical poisoning.

CHPs cannot arrest everyone, Can they?[/QUOTE]Kinda hard to complain about those not in curfew, when you're also an active cross border virus vector.

Just sayin. .

The curfew is aimed at restaurants and social gatherings. The CBP will not be enforcing it either. If a customs worker hassles you just tell them you had appointment and decided hang out Tijuana and head home.

[QUOTE=SpeedToys;2510112]Kinda hard to complain about those not in curfew, when you're also an active cross border virus vector.

Just sayin. .[/QUOTE]

I noticed the price for Uber has gone up dramatically the last time used one in Tijuana. About 6 months it was only about $2 to get a Uber to the border. Personally I am going to take the Taxi vans instead. I have you can catch the vans at 3rd and Revolucion. I am uncertain the yelllow and whtie vans go that head North on Consitucion. They drive north on Constitucion and then make a right on Calle Cohuila st. I have seen the vans parked by Primera & Madero st. The vans wait there until they are needed.

[QUOTE=TjBrazil;2510110]I can tell you in the last year I've gone to Tijuana 3 times and the price for cabs has gone up. I used to go to Ticuan for 50 pesos. You can't touch that now unless you have uber available. They are asking 100 pesos now. 80 if you really bargain with a bunch of them. It's not worth negotiating. Tell them 100 pesos and go. Get your sim card after you check in and use uber the rest of the trip.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Hargow20;2510158]I noticed the price for Uber has gone up dramatically the last time used one in Tijuana. About 6 months it was only about $2 to get a Uber to the border. Personally I am going to take the Taxi vans instead. I have you can catch the vans at 3rd and Revolucion. I am uncertain the yelllow and whtie vans go that head North on Consitucion. They drive north on Constitucion and then make a right on Calle Cohuila st. I have seen the vans parked by Primera & Madero st. The vans wait there until they are needed.[/QUOTE]Vans In front of 7 11 across the street from the Mc Donalds / Plaza C calle 2 nda will take you to Pedeast. Runs late into the night. Maybe 12 am.

[QUOTE=Hargow20;2510158]I noticed the price for Uber has gone up dramatically the last time used one in Tijuana. About 6 months it was only about $2 to get a Uber to the border. Personally I am going to take the Taxi vans instead. I have you can catch the vans at 3rd and Revolucion. I am uncertain the yelllow and whtie vans go that head North on Consitucion. They drive north on Constitucion and then make a right on Calle Cohuila st. I have seen the vans parked by Primera & Madero st. The vans wait there until they are needed.[/QUOTE]I haven't noticed much price differences for Uber. If anything, priced have fallen. From my personal experience, it used to be $38 mx was the minimum for any ride. Lately, I've gotten rides for $33 mx. And now Uber offers two new services, Uber English and Uber Ahorra. Uber English is basically the exact same thing as the standard UberX. The driver is supposed to speak English but they really don't. One Uber English driver didn't speak English and wasn't even aware that he was Uber English. Sometimes the fares are a bit less, and sometimes a bit more. Uber Ahorra the fares are always less, but the wait time is longer.

As far as the taxi vans, I always take them when I cross on foot at PedEast. There's always one waiting and they provide a convenient, although sometimes uncomfortable and cramped ride depending on vehicle and time of day. It's better to disembark on Constitucion than Revolucion. It's a block close to the Zona, and the walk between 2 da and the alley on Constituction is a bit safer than the walk between Revolucion and Constitucion on 1 ra.