General Reports

I walked into Mexico today, through San Ysidro, around 11:30 AM. I've driven hundreds of times, but the last time I walked across that border was in 1963.

Southbound, there was quite a line. It looked like it was going to be 45-60 minutes. But after about 25 minutes, one of the officials came up to the line and started waving through everyone who answered "Yes" when he asked "one day?" I guess the line was getting too long.

On the way back, around 6:30, we caught a taxi ruta (13 pesos) from the Centro to the eastern ped crossing. The wait was around 40 minutes.

[QUOTE=MSClive;2046005]No, Mexico is quite strict nowadays especially at San Ysidro if you are walking in. They had some test going on a few months ago too. Anyway, don't you need a passport on re-entry? I am not white and I look kinda Mexican so maybe that's why they always look at my US passport thoroughly.

On a recent re-entry into USA (not from Mexico) the woman would not believe I am a US citizen when I stood in the US citizens' line. She made me produce my passport and checked it even when I was in line. Ha ha. Almost deported from the US Citizens' line for not 'looking American'. So I need to carry my passport without doubt.[/QUOTE]Do you not realize there are white skinned, blond hair, blue eyed Mexicans? Mexican is not a color or a race. Its a nationality.

[QUOTE=MSClive;2046005]On a recent re-entry into USA (not from Mexico) the woman would not believe I am a US citizen when I stood in the US citizens' line. She made me produce my passport and checked it even when I was in line. Ha ha. Almost deported from the US Citizens' line for not 'looking American'. So I need to carry my passport without doubt.[/QUOTE]I always get double looks wherever I have to produce my passport, not just in USA immigration or Mexico. My country of birth is Kenya, Africa. I am not black and people always think that there just blacks in Africa. Not quite true.

Which bar / club has the cheapest beers? Sometimes I just want to sit around and drink, tired of paying $4 ($5 w tip) at HK and getting hounded by meseros.

[QUOTE=RookieDookie;2047354]Which bar / club has the cheapest beers? Sometimes I just want to sit around and drink, tired of paying $4 ($5 w tip) at HK and getting hounded by meseros.[/QUOTE]You could try La Valentina its something like 2 beers for $ 3. 25. Yea it seems to be best to start your drinking at places with cheap beer and move on when you are feeling good.

[QUOTE=RookieDookie;2047354]Which bar / club has the cheapest beers? Sometimes I just want to sit around and drink, tired of paying $4 ($5 w tip) at HK and getting hounded by meseros.[/QUOTE]Bar XOXO. Just kidding. Almost all of the bars in the Zona other than HK and Adelitas has 2 for 1 beers and at a lower price. But some of the chicas are grandmothers. So you may have to fork up a couple of dollars to get them to stop rubbing their bodies against yours and leave you alone.

I stayed at the Grand Hotel Tijuana in March, and I was pretty underwhelmed. Aside from a very nice lobby area, the rest of hotel was really past its prime (pool area included). They offered room service, but the food they served was Americanized crap that took forever to arrive. I chose the hotel primarily because it had a heated pool. But now that summer is here, an unheated pool isn't really a deal breaker. So with that in mind, any thoughts on which Tijuana hotel with a pool I should try next? In terms of my priorities, I'm looking for a pool, comfortable bed / linens, and a good hotel restaurant. I don't care if it's chica friendly. Location matters a little bit, as I didn't enjoy the longish cab rides from the Grand Hotel to the HK club.

Anyone checked out Playboy Club recently? Surprised they are still up and running; the area is dinky as hell. My buddies and were in the are Friday night (6/9) and were coming out of Chicago Club and wanted to see what was at the other end. Like all the staff and their friend were chilling outside and calling at my buddies and I to come in. It just didn't look very inviting especially when one of guys that was hanging outside in front of the place was in raggedy ass tattered clothes and a missing arm yelling obscenities.

[QUOTE=Dimndjoe;2047468]I stayed at the Grand Hotel Tijuana in March, and I was pretty underwhelmed. Aside from a very nice lobby area, the rest of hotel was really past its prime (pool area included). They offered room service, but the food they served was Americanized crap that took forever to arrive. I chose the hotel primarily because it had a heated pool. But now that summer is here, an unheated pool isn't really a deal breaker. So with that in mind, any thoughts on which Tijuana hotel with a pool I should try next? In terms of my priorities, I'm looking for a pool, comfortable bed / linens, and a good hotel restaurant. I don't care if it's chica friendly. Location matters a little bit, as I didn't enjoy the longish cab rides from the Grand Hotel to the HK club.[/QUOTE]Not sure how much you want to spend but the Marriott is nice. If your looking for cheaper I would check out Hacienda Del Rio both are in the Zona Rio area.

Continuing with the topic Dimndjoe brought up, has anyone on here ever rented an apartment or room off airbnb in Tijuana? Planning on going back down next month but I'm tired of staying at La Villa de Zaragoza, and the hotel pickings seem to be slim in Tijuana. Ticuan seems expensive for what you get. It's a fairly big city so I don't get why the hotel selection is so poor. I'm looking at [URL]airbnb.com[/URL] and there are some good options on there. Anyone ever used airbnb in Tijuana?

Sorry for asking this question on here, but there doesn't seem to be a Tijuana hotel and apartments thread like with other mongering destinations on the ISG.

[QUOTE=Ezinho;2047805]Continuing with the topic Dimndjoe brought up, has anyone on here ever rented an apartment or room off airbnb in Tijuana? Planning on going back down next month but I'm tired of staying at La Villa de Zaragoza, and the hotel pickings seem to be slim in Tijuana. Ticuan seems expensive for what you get. It's a fairly big city so I don't get why the hotel selection is so poor. I'm looking at [URL]airbnb.com[/URL] and there are some good options on there. Anyone ever used airbnb in Tijuana?

Sorry for asking this question on here, but there doesn't seem to be a Tijuana hotel and apartments thread like with other mongering destinations on the ISG.[/QUOTE]There is a shitload of AirBnB places in the Tijuana area. Not all that many in Tijuana proper, but loads in Playas, Rosarito, all the way down to Ensenada. Yes, I speak from experience.

The main problem is that guys are too afraid of getting out of that sewer known as the Zona Norte and seeing more of the city. But if one is not afraid, AirBnB is a good option and less expensive than the very poor hotel selection in Tijuana.

[QUOTE=BobbyJones123;2047738]Anyone checked out Playboy Club recently? Surprised they are still up and running; the area is dinky as hell. My buddies and were in the are Friday night (6/9) and were coming out of Chicago Club and wanted to see what was at the other end. Like all the staff and their friend were chilling outside and calling at my buddies and I to come in. It just didn't look very inviting especially when one of guys that was hanging outside in front of the place was in raggedy ass tattered clothes and a missing arm yelling obscenities.[/QUOTE]You went into a couple of clubs, spent 3 minutes, and exited. What did you expect to learn in that amount of time? That they weren't HK?

Had you spent a bit of time in PB you would have found that, for a couple of ficha drinks, you can take your chica to the upstairs level. That's where shit really gets freaky.

It's not all that great inside, and often the meseros are dicks, but this latest remodel isn't quite a grotty as the previous two iterations.

[QUOTE=Dimndjoe;2047468]I stayed at the Grand Hotel Tijuana in March, and I was pretty underwhelmed. Aside from a very nice lobby area, the rest of hotel was really past its prime (pool area included). They offered room service, but the food they served was Americanized crap that took forever to arrive. I chose the hotel primarily because it had a heated pool. But now that summer is here, an unheated pool isn't really a deal breaker. So with that in mind, any thoughts on which Tijuana hotel with a pool I should try next? In terms of my priorities, I'm looking for a pool, comfortable bed / linens, and a good hotel restaurant. I don't care if it's chica friendly. Location matters a little bit, as I didn't enjoy the longish cab rides from the Grand Hotel to the HK club.[/QUOTE]As SDBeach said, Marriott and HDR have pools and the food is generally good. Palacio Azteca also has a fairly decent, smallish, pool, a funky little bar. The food looked good but I haven't eaten there. However, Las Ahamuadas (sp?) is a block away.

If you want something close to Centro, fuggedaboudit.

[QUOTE=Ezinho;2047805]Continuing with the topic Dimndjoe brought up, has anyone on here ever rented an apartment or room off airbnb in Tijuana? Planning on going back down next month but I'm tired of staying at La Villa de Zaragoza, and the hotel pickings seem to be slim in Tijuana. Ticuan seems expensive for what you get. It's a fairly big city so I don't get why the hotel selection is so poor. I'm looking at [URL]airbnb.com[/URL] and there are some good options on there. Anyone ever used airbnb in Tijuana?

Sorry for asking this question on here, but there doesn't seem to be a Tijuana hotel and apartments thread like with other mongering destinations on the ISG.[/QUOTE]I have used Airbnb several times in Tijuana. Many many times. Never had any really bad experience. Experiences varied between 6 and 9. Go ahead and get them. My only complain is that the best properties are in the Playas area and Zona Norte is so far from that. Rental cars in Tijuana are super cheap. Something like $4 per day. Amazing, but true.

Does anyone know of any red light tours or groups that cross and go to Zona Norte? I've long been curious about HK and Adelita, fueled by all the good info and research on here which I appreciate! I'm experienced but have never been to Tijuana.

Looking for a way to avoid going solo if possible for first time. Plan would be to drive down from LA and spend a few hours there, then leave around sunset. Thoughts?