General Reports

[QUOTE=BrotherMouzone;2822198]Good question. My thought is that you're (much) more likely to get jacked by policia than hotel staff so, at least for money and valuables, safer to store in your hotel room, even without a safe. But that's just a guess and I've never had either (jacked by police or hotel staff) happen to me. But with that said, think it's a big no-no to keep your money / valuables in plain sight in your hotel room. At least hide them out of sight in a spot hotel staff might be unlikely to search. So for example if you leave a wad of cash right there on the table or your bed, you're just asking for it to be stolen IMO.

I personally "hide" most of my valuables and only walk around Tijuana with a cash amount I'm comfortable with.

Have never been too concerned about my passport. I suppose those get stolen occasionally, but passports aren't a high-value item and has never been something I've been worried about walking around with. With that said, on my recent trips, I've tended to leave my passport back at my hotel because I don't feel like carrying it around (I have full passport book, not card). Actually my passport is something I sometimes do leave out in plain sight in my hotel room but have never had it stolen. But I nearly always stay at Cascadas where staff (usually) don't enter your room unexpected. At a Tijuana hotel I'm less familiar / comfortable with, I suppose I would be much more worried about my stuff until I get to know the hotel better.[/QUOTE]I'm in Cascadas. My valuables are hidden where it would take 30 minutes to find them. I hope that's enough to deter someone entering while I am out.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2821727]Question:

Is it safer to store your passport and valuables in your hotel room (no safe available), or walk around Tijuana with them?[/QUOTE]In general.

If you walking around wearing something rich then you are going get jacked.

If you walking around talking like you a baller you may get jacked (always surprised how many people openly talk about their work in Mexico, have herd someone talking about how they exchanged $1,500 in pesos).

If you walking around smart and not making yourself a target in anyway you can have $1,000 on you and be good.

Some good advice has been given in previous posts on tactics to mitigate risk but there's an intangible component, which is how you carry yourself. Do so with confidence but not cockiness. You don't need to be Billy badass, just don't look easy. Criminals or people up to no good are looking for maximum gain with minimal effort so they'll skip over you because easier prey is just around the corner.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2822229]I'm in Cascadas. My valuables are hidden where it would take 30 minutes to find them. I hope that's enough to deter someone entering while I am out.[/QUOTE]If passports had a high resale value, we would all be getting choked out on the streets. But, I've been in many hotels in usa, front desk lost track that they rented me the room and someone else either walked in, or manager tried breaking the door down while we were cursing each other out through thr door. And solo wrote how hk, maybe by accident, was renting his over night room out short term LOL the funny part is maybe they did it on purpose to him specifically LOL.

I think it was hum who wrote that this year.

[QUOTE=LuvMexicanas;2822247]Some good advice has been given in previous posts on tactics to mitigate risk but there's an intangible component, which is how you carry yourself. Do so with confidence but not cockiness. You don't need to be Billy badass, just don't look easy. Criminals or people up to no good are looking for maximum gain with minimal effort so they'll skip over you because easier prey is just around the corner.[/QUOTE]Great advice,

The best advice I can give is if you are a rookie act like you have been there before. You would be surprised at all the body language that shows you are a newbee. The veteran con people.

Meseros, chicas and taxi drivers are very good at reading people and will be on to you like a bloody dude floating in shark infested waters.

So as far as questions a first timer might have best to ask on sites like this a great place to do some research before you head down. You would be surprised how many that soon believe that scamming mesero is there new best friend and share way to much information.

[QUOTE=BaxterSlade;2822350]Great advice,

The best advice I can give is if you are a rookie act like you have been there before. You would be surprised at all the body language that shows you are a newbee. The veteran con people.

Meseros, chicas and taxi drivers are very good at reading people and will be on to you like a bloody dude floating in shark infested waters.

So as far as questions a first timer might have best to ask on sites like this a great place to do some research before you head down. You would be surprised how many that soon believe that scamming mesero is there new best friend and share way to much information.[/QUOTE]Great advice.

I am surprised to not see a thread dedicated to Hotels in Zona Norte.

Would any advise against staying at Cascades or Hotel Rizo de Oro? From what I'm reading Rizo is "newer" and definitely a bit quieter. Safe might actually work there?

Do I absolutely need a reservation? Any issue with discretion at these places in terms of needing ID and stuff at check in?

Any difference one way or the other about taking girls there?

Thanks in advance!

Crossed back Tuesday 6 PM.

Ped East line went all the way back to the taxi stand and curved around. Looked like about 2,000 people waiting to walk back, and the line was not moving, estimated 3 hours at least. These people were not migrants, just normal tourists crossing back after the long weekend.

[QUOTE=CaptainSolo;2822546]Crossed back Tuesday 6 PM.

Ped East line went all the way back to the taxi stand and curved around. Looked like about 2,000 people waiting to walk back, and the line was not moving, estimated 3 hours at least. These people were not migrants, just normal tourists crossing back after the long weekend.[/QUOTE]I crossed back on Wednesday, 12 noon.

The line at PedEste was short, just outside the building, but it still took 30 minutes to get yhrough.

[QUOTE=FlagStaff;2822459]Great advice.

I am surprised to not see a thread dedicated to Hotels in Zona Norte.

Would any advise against staying at Cascades or Hotel Rizo de Oro? From what I'm reading Rizo is "newer" and definitely a bit quieter. Safe might actually work there?

Do I absolutely need a reservation? Any issue with discretion at these places in terms of needing ID and stuff at check in?

Any difference one way or the other about taking girls there?

Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]You're not going to see a thread for hotels in the Zona because outside of Cascadas and Rizo (and the one above Adelita's to a lesser extent) they are nasty.

You don't actually need a reservation, but it's going to suck if you get there and they happen to be full. You don't need to secure one at Cascadas / Rizo with a card, so why not do this?

If you go with Rizo, you can take girls from HK or Tropical in there without issues. For girls from elsewhere, ask them (both the girl and the hotel).

If this is your first trip, I suggest you stay at Cascadas and spend your time with the chicas instead of figuring out your hotel situation.

[QUOTE=AgaveBoy;2822674]You're not going to see a thread for hotels in the Zona because outside of Cascadas and Rizo (and the one above Adelita's to a lesser extent) they are nasty.

You don't actually need a reservation, but it's going to suck if you get there and they happen to be full. You don't need to secure one at Cascadas / Rizo with a card, so why not do this?

If you go with Rizo, you can take girls from HK or Tropical in there without issues. For girls from elsewhere, ask them (both the girl and the hotel).

If this is your first trip, I suggest you stay at Cascadas and spend your time with the chicas instead of figuring out your hotel situation.[/QUOTE]Yes it is my first trip to Tijuana so will stay at either Rizo or Cascades. Thank you for the feedback. Need a comfy place to rest / sleep so I can recharge. That is I find enough different chicas to pop multiple times.

[QUOTE=FlagStaff;2822882]Yes it is my first trip to Tijuana so will stay at either Rizo or Cascades. Thank you for the feedback. Need a comfy place to rest / sleep so I can recharge. That is I find enough different chicas to pop multiple times.[/QUOTE]It's a bit too loud for my taste I usually stay much further like Ticun or something to that effect. I do not want to walk outside my hotel and see a bunch of questionable people LOL.

[QUOTE=FlagStaff;2822882]Yes it is my first trip to Tijuana so will stay at either Rizo or Cascades. Thank you for the feedback. Need a comfy place to rest / sleep so I can recharge. That is I find enough different chicas to pop multiple times.[/QUOTE]They're both good enough for that. Getting a hotel outside the Zona is something to consider if you like Tijuana enough to go back. Hotels like Ticuan are much nicer and quieter, but you won't be able to get a girl who is on shift in one of the clubs to go there with you until she's done. Which means using (and paying for) the short time rooms in the meantime and that can add up fast. Get a room on at least the 6th floor to get away from most of the noise. If your pockets are deep enough, get a nice room on Revolucion to crash in at the end of the night (and always use a taxi if it's late) and a single in Cascadas to party / clean up / nap.

[QUOTE=AgaveBoy;2823146]They're both good enough for that. Getting a hotel outside the Zona is something to consider if you like Tijuana enough to go back. Hotels like Ticuan are much nicer and quieter, but you won't be able to get a girl who is on shift in one of the clubs to go there with you until she's done. Which means using (and paying for) the short time rooms in the meantime and that can add up fast. Get a room on at least the 6th floor to get away from most of the noise. If your pockets are deep enough, get a nice room on Revolucion to crash in at the end of the night (and always use a taxi if it's late) and a single in Cascadas to party / clean up / nap.[/QUOTE]Thank you gents for all the great advice.

So any limitations on who I can bring back from where at Rizo or Cascadas. Main reason to stay there so you don't pay everytime you want to take a girl up. Someone Mentioned only Tropical and HK back to Rizo? How about girls from Chicago? Any limitations at Cascadas? How about street walkers? Sorry for the 20 questions. Just want to get low down.

[QUOTE=TheMan31;2823089]It's a bit too loud for my taste I usually stay much further like Ticun or something to that effect. I do not want to walk outside my hotel and see a bunch of questionable people LOL.[/QUOTE]Speaking of loud, that new hotel next to barristi about 25 stories tall, they start work by 6 am, all day long the loudest noises. Then, some other store near Ceasars began playing loud music by 5 pm its become a very loud place. Forget about taking a nap or sleeping late. My hotel near revolucion street has lost its friendly vibe. It had many Americans living in it same people for years but prices went up, they left, it used to be a combination of all different travelers and you would talknto people get to know them. Now its all Russian men. Where do I have to go to find a hotel full of Russian woman? And the prices everywhere went up on hotels. I took a walk to all my planb, plan see, the, e,f, hotels. The days of cheap hotels are non existent. Everything is now 40 to 50 dollars. You really get ripped off, if you compare it to a san diego hotel for 20 more you get free parking a pool ice machine microwave fridge. I've been staying in San diego more this year due to hotel prices. They took away the incentive to travel down to mexixo.

[QUOTE=Dogers69;2823173]Speaking of loud, that new hotel next to barristi about 25 stories tall, they start work by 6 am, all day long the loudest noises. Then, some other store near Ceasars began playing loud music by 5 pm its become a very loud place. Forget about taking a nap or sleeping late. My hotel near revolucion street has lost its friendly vibe. It had many Americans living in it same people for years but prices went up, they left, it used to be a combination of all different travelers and you would talknto people get to know them. Now its all Russian men. Where do I have to go to find a hotel full of Russian woman? And the prices everywhere went up on hotels. I took a walk to all my planb, plan see, the, e,f, hotels. The days of cheap hotels are non existent. Everything is now 40 to 50 dollars. You really get ripped off, if you compare it to a san diego hotel for 20 more you get free parking a pool ice machine microwave fridge. I've been staying in San diego more this year due to hotel prices. They took away the incentive to travel down to mexixo.[/QUOTE]It isn't a hotel, but actually apartment building. The studio apartments are one building and the other is the 2-3 bedroom units. I took a tour and they are expensive for how small they are, but apparently they sold out fast. No Airbnb restrictions and bet most owners are going to turn them into airbnbs due to being on Revolucióand and proximity to Las Pulgas. It always amazes me the high prices for the hotels in these third world countries. They are the same or higher than in SoCal most nights. I am also amazed they are usually sold out during weekdays which suggests the need for more hotels or short term rentals.