General Reports

[QUOTE=Watnow78;1868124]I have a much better idea! I did this 2 weeks ago when I went to Tijuana for a one niter. I arrived in SY at 3 pm and tried to park in my usual spot. Turns out they increased the parking prices $12 per day to $16, and I asked they guy, "what's with the increase"? He stated all the other lots have bumped their prices up to $20 per day, so we increased ours as well. So, if I didn't return by 8 am the next morning, ID get charged another $16 and I was planning on leaving around noon. Screw that! So I drove 10 minutes to the Otay Mesa Boarder and OMG what a difference!! $8 parking till 8 am the next day, if I go over, its only $6 more till 12 noon. I parked and walked across the board with easy. Otay Mesa crossing is much cleaner, less people and zero crowds The only down fall is that the only taxis you can take to the Zona will cost you $18. But I'm total cool with that because on the way back on Sunday afternoon it only took me 8 minutes to get through customs! And the cab ride from the Zona to Otay Mesa was $8 bucks. I think this is the only way I will go to and come back from Tijuana. And its only an extra 10 minute drive from SY.[/QUOTE]There has to be some sort of cheaper bus service between the SY and Ortay border.

[QUOTE=HornyTraveler;1868084]You're right on the money man. My idea is to leave my car for two to three nights. Is that parking lot by the shopping area is $20 on weekends too?[/QUOTE]Unsure. I think it may be $8. One other idea is to leave one's car in a safe university neighborhood like near UCSD or CSU San Diego and take the trolley down.

[QUOTE=Gagoo;1867596]I have stayed at the Nelson a few times during the last decade. But, that place is. Very, very basic, and seems dirty and old. Maybe they have done something to update it now. It is near the big arch. I think the prices are less than $40, and has A / see, but the last time I stayed there they only had internet in the lobby. But, maybe they fixed it. Their restaurant is only OK.

I have stayed at the Ticuan, and it is double the price of what other cheaper hotels will cost, and the walk is very far to the zona. For the last, I guess 2 years I only stayed at Caesars Hotel, the place with the fancy restaurant and the place they claim to have invented the Caesars salad. I have never took a woman back to my room in Tijuana, but I have seen some guys take ladies back to Caesars. Everything has been fine in Caesars hotel. It is best to pay them in pesos though. They only used $1 = 15 pesos two weeks ago. Hmm. I already forgot the exact price. It is about 600 pesos with an airconditioned room. This year they have 50 inch TVs. It is a 4 block walk from there to the big arch, then it would take about 2 and a half blocks of walking to Adelitas.[/QUOTE]I ditto your experiences to the tee with Neslon, Ticuan and Ceasers. Don't know why they don't make at least some basic upgrades at Nelson, if they did and charged a few more bucks a night I would stay more often.

The Tall Man.

[QUOTE=Jackie888;1868042]I think that Long Don recommended the parking lot near the shopping area. You may have to walk an extra block but it was $8 if you exit by 8 am the next day. All of the lots on the other side of the bridge including the Jack in the Box charges per 8 hours. So one is looking at about 3 x the fees if one is leaving the car overnight for a weekend stay. Damn, for $20 + per day on a three day stay, it's tempting to drive across but would be hellish coming back without a Sentri card.[/QUOTE]If you turn right after exiting the highway at Camino de la Plaza, you will almost immediately see a Baja Mex currency exchange on the left side of the road with a tall sign that reads "Mexican Insurance". There is a small parking lot there that almost always has at least a few open spaces. $6 to park until 8 AM the next day, or $12 to park until 8 AM the following day. Same price on weekends.

I haven't ridden the trolley regularly for years but when I did freeloaders were regularly cited by the trolley "wannabe cops".

[QUOTE=Mack10;1868072] Just hop on the trolley and you honestly don't really have to pay the $2.50 because its just 1 or 2 stops. If you've never taken the trolley just make sure when you board you don't see a trolley attendant or wannabe cop board the same car as you. Even if you get caught all they will do is tell you to get off the next exit. If you are staying 24 hours of less you can park in the trolley parking lot for free.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Reinaldo;1868525]I haven't ridden the trolley regularly for years but when I did freeloaders were regularly cited by the trolley "wannabe cops".[/QUOTE]Trolley parking lots are not safe at night and trolley cops will give you a $50 ticket.

[QUOTE=Watnow78;1868124]I have a much better idea! I did this 2 weeks ago when I went to Tijuana for a one niter. I arrived in SY at 3 pm and tried to park in my usual spot. Turns out they increased the parking prices $12 per day to $16, and I asked they guy, "what's with the increase"? He stated all the other lots have bumped their prices up to $20 per day, so we increased ours as well. So, if I didn't return by 8 am the next morning, ID get charged another $16 and I was planning on leaving around noon. Screw that! So I drove 10 minutes to the Otay Mesa Boarder and OMG what a difference!! $8 parking till 8 am the next day, if I go over, its only $6 more till 12 noon. I parked and walked across the board with easy. Otay Mesa crossing is much cleaner, less people and zero crowds The only down fall is that the only taxis you can take to the Zona will cost you $18. But I'm total cool with that because on the way back on Sunday afternoon it only took me 8 minutes to get through customs! And the cab ride from the Zona to Otay Mesa was $8 bucks. I think this is the only way I will go to and come back from Tijuana. And its only an extra 10 minute drive from SY.[/QUOTE]How do you get to Otay Mesa Parking from i5 and do you know the weekend rates?

[QUOTE=Watnow78;1868124]I have a much better idea! I did this 2 weeks ago when I went to Tijuana for a one niter. I arrived in SY at 3 pm and tried to park in my usual spot. Turns out they increased the parking prices $12 per day to $16, and I asked they guy, "what's with the increase"? He stated all the other lots have bumped their prices up to $20 per day, so we increased ours as well. So, if I didn't return by 8 am the next morning, ID get charged another $16 and I was planning on leaving around noon. Screw that! So I drove 10 minutes to the Otay Mesa Boarder and OMG what a difference!! $8 parking till 8 am the next day, if I go over, its only $6 more till 12 noon. I parked and walked across the board with easy. Otay Mesa crossing is much cleaner, less people and zero crowds The only down fall is that the only taxis you can take to the Zona will cost you $18. But I'm total cool with that because on the way back on Sunday afternoon it only took me 8 minutes to get through customs! And the cab ride from the Zona to Otay Mesa was $8 bucks. I think this is the only way I will go to and come back from Tijuana. And its only an extra 10 minute drive from SY.[/QUOTE]Very interesting! The only problem for me is I've never gone there, Honestly I don't even know where Otay is? I got to check google map.

The Otay border crossing is about 15 miles East of the SY border crossing. Hardly anyone uses it. Just be aware that the Tijuana traffic between Otay and SY can be brutal as it once took me an hour and a half to travel that 15 miles bumper to bumper.

[QUOTE=Artisttyp;1868904]How do you get to Otay Mesa Parking from i5 and do you know the weekend rates?[/QUOTE]I'm not sure where Watnow78 parked. I know that the last time used a parking lot in OM there was one located on Customhouse Plaza street, between Siempre Viva and Otay Center Drive. It was inexpensive and not too bad a walk to the border. It's on google maps aerial view, but I can't tell if it's still a car parking lot (it's also used for semis).

Also, there is street parking along Nicole Tesla if you get there early. Lots of people use it, I've parked overnight before, never a problem.

You get here by taking the 905 east from either I5 or I805 until you get to the Siempre Viva exit, which it the last one before Mexico.

[QUOTE=HornyTraveler;1869012]Very interesting! The only problem for me is I've never gone there, Honestly I don't even know where Otay is? I got to check google map.[/QUOTE]Dude, I'm not sure I'd want to admit that, with almost 700 posts, I still had no idea where Otay Mesa is.

[QUOTE=Jackie888;1869288]The Otay border crossing is about 15 miles East of the SY border crossing. Hardly anyone uses it. Just be aware that the Tijuana traffic between Otay and SY can be brutal as it once took me an hour and a half to travel that 15 miles bumper to bumper.[/QUOTE]Very Good information Thanks.

According to the website the CBX lot is $15 per day. At least I still get $7 at Border Station Parking Mon-Thurs. Although I expect that to change during the summer.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;1869312]I'm not sure where Watnow78 parked. I know that the last time used a parking lot in OM there was one located on Customhouse Plaza street, between Siempre Viva and Otay Center Drive. It was inexpensive and not too bad a walk to the border. It's on google maps aerial view, but I can't tell if it's still a car parking lot (it's also used for semis).

Also, there is street parking along Nicole Tesla if you get there early. Lots of people use it, I've parked overnight before, never a problem.

You get here by taking the 905 east from either I5 or I805 until you get to the Siempre Viva exit, which it the last one before Mexico.[/QUOTE]Great. Thank You.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;1869316]Dude, I'm not sure I'd want to admit that, with almost 700 posts, I still had no idea where Otay Mesa is.[/QUOTE]NO "Dude" I never care where F. Otay was so what's so weird about that I don't travel around Tijuana with handheld GPS. I just go to Tijuana to get laid not to check city limits "Dude".

LOL. I was stationed in San Diego in the navy in 90-91 and although I have heard of Otay Mesa 1 million times, I have no idea where it is either.