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Cambuis near the border and in La Zona are all within half to a peso difference. I never exchange large amount, so not worth the risks shopping. I do know HSBC ATM rate was about 5% lower than cambios.
I usually exchange money at the cambio on Coahuila near the South East corner of Constitucion. That cambio is the closest to La Zona and is fairly safe.
[QUOTE=TjBrazil;2591682]Need help guys. I won't be using my Charles Schwab card to get money this trip. What cambio by revolution or downtown consistently gives the best exchange rate. I haven't shopped rates down there in years.[/QUOTE]I think there are cambios on 2nd street by madero going east of revolucion. In the zona I always use the cambio on coahuila just east of constitucion. But go during the day as I think these places close around 8 pm then you're either stuck with your US dollars and therefore you have to pay dollar prices which locals will use every opportunity to make dollar transactions work in their favor, or you get screwed using the late night cambio on primera just east of constitucion which gives a terrible rip off rate. I've come to the conclusion that the lack (or complete absence) of cambios at night in the immediate revolucion and zona norte (tourist zones) is not an accident. They want you to not be able to obtain pesos at night when the alcohol kicks in and those dollars start flowing. It's by design. It's also by design the lack of legit ATM's in the tourist zones.
Moral of the story, change your money before 8 pm or prepare to be gringo priced for everything. The rates from place to place don't vary enough to worry about the difference, unless you're changing thousands at a time. Better yet buy your pesos in San Ysidro on the US side for a better rate.
[QUOTE=CocrBrotheler;2591949]I'm really worried about the inflation too and a worst ever economic crash. Lots of interesting YouTubes to watch out there. I have some invested in precious metals in case of financial armageddon.[/QUOTE]When the financial armageddon finally happens precious metals won't help you. What will help is a secured basement full of non-perishables.
[QUOTE=Turgid;2592167]When the financial armageddon finally happens precious metals won't help you. What will help is a secured basement full of non-perishables.[/QUOTE]Having some chickens would be nice too.
[QUOTE=CocrBrotheler;2591949]...Lots of interesting YouTubes to watch out there. I have some invested in precious metals in case of financial armageddon.[/QUOTE]The best information is on youtube...watch those videos and you'll be fine!
[QUOTE=JohnClayton;2592197]The best information is on youtube...watch those videos and you'll be fine![/QUOTE]You made me just spit out my coffee.
[QUOTE=Phordphan;2592077]Are you serious? Would you actually consider spending extended time with a girl who couldn't leave drugs alone for a week, and with whom you are unable to carry on a conversation? And you'd pay $500/ day for this privilege? That's borderline insane money in Mexico for that kind of girl.
Also, I have bad news for you if you think any of these girls can get a visa on their own. The ones who do are either dual citizens or have a husband who got them the visa. You have to prove income, assets, a bank account, and really good reasons to return to Mexico. Unfortunately, none of these girls can provide any of that.[/QUOTE]If you read the post, I said I'd offer $100 and $200 max per day and if not traveling solo. I've only paid $300-$500 that included drinks and food for overnights. Also we use google translate, eyes, and body for communication. I am sure they could stop smoking weed and taking shrooms for a week, but it makes things entertaining for sure.
Also not holding my breath on the visa. It is on them if they want to do the cruises. If not, I can always go to Tulum or another destination that doesn't require them to have a visa. I'm doing training wheels first with short local trips and then progressively longer depending on chemistry. All of them have been very hospitable and go the extra mile to make sure I'm happy. I just returned from spending the night at a bar girls place and woke up with a blanket over me. She made me coffee and fried bean burritos. I didn't like the fact she didn't have AC, but kind of a last minute decision. Everyone parties differently and really your life to live. Highs, lows, and in betweens.
[QUOTE=Rambo1969;2591670]Thanks for being honest.
I agree many guys throw a lot of money around. I appreciate them because in a way those guys are sponsoring our entertainment in the club.
So you basically spend $20/ HR. Right?
I am very much like you.
I don't like to throw more money around than I need to. And I am not shy about bargaining with the street girls (I need to negotiate anyway since I want 1 HR of service).[/QUOTE]I had three problems with the street girls. The first was practical. I do not like large women. "Mucho carne" (which some guys swear they love) looks like "una gran cantidad de grasa" (a lot of fat) to me. However, there were a few beautiful girls on the street who were not fat, but they were all young.
So here were the other two problems. I met two beauties who said they were 22 and wanted to do a trio, but neither had an ID. They were young, and had no identification card. They looked about 18. I could not be certain that they were 18 years old. This was very frustrating for me, but I am not Jeffrey Epstein and I don't fancy life in a Mexican prison, so I passed on what might have been a very memorable experience.
The second problem is related. They wanted to take me to a room in a hotel that I did not know. I avoid such places, because I do not want to be robbed and assaulted. But without an ID, I was not likely to get them into the Ticuan.
There was no good solution to these problems.
Just a heads up. Went last night for the first time since early 2019. I usually park in San Ysidro, walk across the border, and then walk the pedestrian bridge over to Zona Norte. Went over last night and, because of El Salvador refugees and a big tent city, the pedestrian bridge was closed. I had to get a taxi over to Hong Kong.
Well as luck or fate would have it I was on the way home today listening to the radio and heard that the Féria de Tijuana opened yesterday. So it's the Tijuana Fair for most of you. It is running longer this year compared to the past it would end on the 16th of September. Mexican Independence Day. This year it is going on till the 3rd of October. So any of you looking for something to do if you have a fav it is a fun time.
Also they have lots of concerts going on with the weekends being the best groups. Since it was discussed before here the group Los Angeles Azules will be playing next weekend.
About 200 Ft North of the defunct McDonalds, there is a new 2-lane car bridge with narrow sidewalks for pedestrians. It runs parallel North of the pedestrian bridge.
It starts near the old metal gate into Mexico with trinkets and taco stands, over HK's PedWest limo stand and the Tijuana river, ends at corner of Coahuila and Negrete.
[QUOTE=MamaGuevos;2592415]I had three problems with the street girls.
The second problem is related. They wanted to take me to a room in a hotel that I did not know. I avoid such places, because I do not want to be robbed and assaulted. But without an ID, I was not likely to get them into the Ticuan.
There was no good solution to these problems.[/QUOTE]You are correct, there are no solutions to your problems. No street girl will go with you to Ticuan, even if they had the ID and could get in. Not until they know you VERY well, anyway. The street girl business model is quick, low-cost service. They want to walk upstairs, finish you off quickly, then walk back down to their spot. They will almost never go to any hotel but their own -- even across the street for many of them. They get a kickback from the hotel, and they may have a quota. Many of them live in that hotel, and they consider it safe.
That being said, I am far more worried about generally crappy service than I am being robbed or assaulted. That's just not a thing that happens in the Zona hotels -- even the bottom tier -- without cause. Don't get drunk or high, don't flash a lot of money or fancy stuff, and pay attention to your surroundings, and you'll find the Zona is about as safe as anywhere. If mongers were regularly getting robbed, it would scare gringos away. And they don't want to scare away the gringos.
[QUOTE=KCQuestor;2592795]You are correct, there are no solutions to your problems. No street girl will go with you to Ticuan, even if they had the ID and could get in. Not until they know you VERY well, anyway. The street girl business model is quick, low-cost service. They want to walk upstairs, finish you off quickly, then walk back down to their spot. They will almost never go to any hotel but their own -- even across the street for many of them. They get a kickback from the hotel, and they may have a quota. Many of them live in that hotel, and they consider it safe.[/QUOTE]KC,
I agree that most of the girls in the alley will not go to Ticuan without knowing you well. But if you start to walk up the hill, just south of La Maquerida, I've had several SGs ask where I was going and they ask to go with me. I've never taken them up on it. SGs aren't my thing typically. And I just don't feel 100% comfortable with it for some reason. But it is possible. I can't say I've done it but not impossible.
[QUOTE=JohnLucid;2592570]Just a heads up. Went last night for the first time since early 2019. I usually park in San Ysidro, walk across the border, and then walk the pedestrian bridge over to Zona Norte. Went over last night and, because of El Salvador refugees and a big tent city, the pedestrian bridge was closed. I had to get a taxi over to Hong Kong.[/QUOTE]Well Border is wide open for anyone who wants to move to USA. I watched a woman and baby run into USA this week where the sentri cars drive into USA. I'm surprised anyone's left in Tijuana. Especially the Haitian dudes. They can be in USA immediately with catch release policy. Only some Mexicans may not be released back into usa. Any other country citizenship and you are in. Anyway take the 50 cents bus at the border. It goes right to revolucion street. A block before or block after. The bus is at the border always. If it's not there it will be there in a minute. It's called "centro" bus.
[QUOTE=Turgid;2592167]When the financial armageddon finally happens precious metals won't help you. What will help is a secured basement full of non-perishables.[/QUOTE]I've got an arsenal of weapons and ammunition stores. I'm sure I will be able to get by.