General Reports

[BrotherMouzone]

I've never stayed in zona. Only centro. Because I value a sense of safety and frankly anything under a 4 star hotel is like what's the point.

I'm frugal (aka cheap LOL) so I suppose I think differently. At least for me, the "point" of Tijuana is to sleep with a wide variety of chicas. Doesn't matter to me if that happens in a 4 star hotel or 2 star, though I've always been very low maintenance like that. Basically, if I have a spot where I can reliably lay my head for a few hours at night I'm good. With that said I suppose even I have standards. For example I'm perfectly comfortable staying at Cascadas (HK), Rizo (Tropical), or even a bit lesser quality hotel like the one that was adjacent to Adelitas (Hotel Coahuila) when it was open but I suppose I'd prefer not staying a whole night at something lesser than those hotels, like the Jalos hotel attached to Chicago.

Also I've never felt unsafe staying in Zona Norte in all my years going there, though again I'm low maintenance and am the type who feels comfortable walking around pretty much any neighborhood even here in some of the rougher areas of the States. I've walked around Zona Norte during the daytime, even patronized some of the local shops where no one understood Englsih, and it was fine. Outside of a quick stop and search by policia last year (they didn't take anything) I've never had any problems with anyone.

But I'll admit the draw for staying in zona one day for me isn't convenience. It's just to have the experience of being in the center of the seediness. To unapologetically go about your business without triangulating around front desk staff and nosy other visitors. To just declare by way of your very existence in that spot what your intentions are.

At Grand or Real Inn, my usual spots, there's always a sense that the front desk and staff know why you're there, you're a walking cliche, and they're just being polite by pretending not to notice or address it.

Yes, that would be another reason I don't see myself ever staying at a hotel outside of Zona Norte. For hotels like the ones you mentioned, you almost can't help but worry about nosy people eyeing your activities (though most could give a damn honestly). In Zona Norte literally every dude there is there for the same purpose, which I guess by default makes it a much more comfortable situation LOL. "Mongering" is actually the expected activity inside Zona Norte.

[BrotherMouzone]

Love fucking on site How much tip for the chica?

$100 for that chica, which is what I typically paid her when she worked at HK. I'm guessing there are several girls at La Cueva that would accept $80.

[BrotherMouzone]

Thanks did you get a glimpse of the working girls there?

No, just popped in quickly to see whether or not it was open (as you'd inquired about), which it was. It was a Sunday night and hardly anyone was in there so I left after 30 seconds or so to catch an Uber back to Zona Norte. Didn't notice the working girls in there so can't speak on the quality but the club was definitely open.

[Enter The V]

Checked out La Cueva del Peludo for the first time earlier this month. La Cueva is a strip joint owned by the same group that operate HK, Tropical, etc. , though La Cueva is located 20 minutes outside of Zona Norte (on Boulevard Gustavo theaz Ordaz) in the La Mesa area of Tijuana. Went on a Sunday night (nonpeak time). Some thoughts about the club:

- I actually walked to the club at around 7:30 pm on a Sunday night from a brewery I've frequented for years (Ludica Cerveceria). Only about a 10 minute walk from that brewery and it's a pretty straightforward walk. I'd read and heard about the shootings that have happened at or near the club in recent years but the area the club is located in doesn't strike me as a bad area at all. The club is right on one of the main thoroughfares in Tijuana (Boulevard Gustavo theaz Ordaz) which I believe you can get to taking one of the 20-peso buses that start their route in Zona Centro and goes down Blvd Agua Caliente, which eventually turns into Blvd Gustavo theaz Ordaz.

-At 7:30 PM on Sunday there weren't too many people there (some dancers, only a handful or so of customers). Felt like a large bar for locals. Two floors. All of the customers were Mexican and all of the music being played was Mexican, unlike what you'll find in the more prominent Zona Norte bars, where you have American customers and a lot of American music is played..

Love fucking on site How much tip for the chica?

[Enter The V]

When I went to La Cueva a few Sunday nights ago I noticed both of these spots were open. I went inside El Sinaloense very briefly though there was hardly anybody in there on a Sunday night. I also noticed the Nachos Bar right next to it, though I didn't go inside. But the door was open with people standing right outside the door entrance so it appeared to be open as well, even though Google seems to still say it's temporarily closed.

Thanks did you get a glimpse of the working girls there?

[Sol12]

Very good information BM. Thanks.

[BrotherMouzone]

How about El sinaloense its open? Did they ever replace Nachos Bar with a new *****house?

When I went to La Cueva a few Sunday nights ago I noticed both of these spots were open. I went inside El Sinaloense very briefly though there was hardly anybody in there on a Sunday night. I also noticed the Nachos Bar right next to it, though I didn't go inside. But the door was open with people standing right outside the door entrance so it appeared to be open as well, even though Google seems to still say it's temporarily closed.

[BrotherMouzone]

Checked out La Cueva del Peludo for the first time earlier this month. La Cueva is a strip joint owned by the same group that operate HK, Tropical, etc. , though La Cueva is located 20 minutes outside of Zona Norte (on Boulevard Gustavo theíaz Ordaz) in the La Mesa area of Tijuana. Went on a Sunday night (nonpeak time). Some thoughts about the club:

- I actually walked to the club at around 7:30 pm on a Sunday night from a brewery I've frequented for years (Ludica Cerveceria). Only about a 10 minute walk from that brewery and it's a pretty straightforward walk. I'd read and heard about the shootings that have happened at or near the club in recent years but the area the club is located in doesn't strike me as a bad area at all. The club is right on one of the main thoroughfares in Tijuana (Boulevard Gustavo theíaz Ordaz) which I believe you can get to taking one of the 20-peso buses that start their route in Zona Centro and goes down Blvd Agua Caliente, which eventually turns into Blvd Gustavo theíaz Ordaz.

-At 7:30 PM on Sunday there weren't too many people there (some dancers, only a handful or so of customers). Felt like a large bar for locals. Two floors. All of the customers were Mexican and all of the music being played was Mexican, unlike what you'll find in the more prominent Zona Norte bars, where you have American customers and a lot of American music is played.

-Met up with the chica, who I knew previously from her working at HK. She was just sitting around waiting for me as there weren't too many other customers. Beers were $4 and chica drinks were $11, which I think is the same as the pricing at Tropical, with beers being a couple bucks less than what you'd pay at HK. The mesero we dealt with was friendly and attentive.

-Eventually took the chica to a VIP lounge inside the club. From what I recall there was no actual fee for the lounge, but you have to pay $55 for 5 drinks to use the room for 30 minutes (or $100 for 10 drinks which I think gets you more time). I paid the 30 minute option. The VIP room was nice, with a view overlooking the main floor of the club. The windows for the VIP room are one-way, so you can see outside but the people outside can't see inside the room. I f*cked the chica right in the room while overlooking the main floor of the club. My understanding is, similar to the Zona Norte clubs, La Cueva also has a hotel next door that could be rented for 500-600 pesos (around $30) but I was drunk so I just went with the VIP room option as that seemed to be what the chica preferred. One complaint about the VIP room is that it was kind of awkward to mess with the chica there as there's obviously no bed or anything like that in the room, just a sofa and some chairs. So the hotel room probably would've been more comfortable.

-Uber back to HK from La Cueva at around 10 PM was only around $8. 50. The chica mentioned something about a free shuttle from Zona Norte to La Cueva and even free hotel usage for customers staying at HK but she might've been mistaken about that and I was too drunk at the time to look further into it. I will ask HK staff about this the next time I'm there.

Overall the club was cool. Didn't come off at all as dangerous like the reputation it has, though there was hardly anyone there that Sunday night. Can't comment too much on the quality of girls as I was focused on the chica I'd come to see but from what I saw I'd look at La Cueva as maybe slightly below the level of Tropical. If I was going to go again I think I'd have to go on a Friday or Saturday to get a better sense of things, though I think I'd much rather be in Zona Norte on a weekend night so not sure I'd return on a weekend, unless there is some sort of free back-and-forth shuttle option like the chica indicated. But I think I'll probably give the club one more chance at some point.

Do recommend checking out if you've never been though wouldn't set your expectations too high.

[BrotherMouzone]

Some quick, random notes from a 2. 5 day trip I took to Tijuana earlier this month:

- Early results from the ongoing remodel of Terminal 1 at the San Diego airport look pretty good. Traffic seems to flow a bit better now. One important thing to note is that the 992 bus that goes between the airport and downtown San Diego now arrives and departs from the 2nd level (elevated platform) of the airport, which I think is a permanent change. From the previous 992 bus stop locations you have to cross the street and go up the escalator / elevator to get to the new 992 bus stops. For Terminal 1 the new 992 bus stop is in between the Southwest and Frontier drop-off locations.

-Every chica I hooked up with on this trip was a chica I text with and knew from previous trips with the exception of one new chica I met at La Gloria. All were either $100 or $120 for their time. The new chica from La Gloria is nice, but she's been texting me several times a week since I left, which I find semi-annoying LOL. Not asking for money or anything like that just small talk, asking how my day is going, etc. Never had any chica text me nearly this much.

- There was some sort of construction going on by the seating area to the right of the dancing areas on the main floor of HK when I was there. The entire section was curtained off by plastic sheets for some reason. To compensate it seemed they had a portion of the new extension to HK (the part recently added a couple years or so ago behind the Miami club) open even during non-peak hours (that new extension is usually only open during peak hours like weekend nights).

- I just learned during my most recent trip that the one free drink per day for HK VIP members resets at 6 am. So if, for example, you get your free drink at 2 am in the morning you can get another free drink anytime after 6 am that same day.

-Per recent experiences I've had I thought Mexican customs was being a lot more strict than in the past. But on my most recent trip this month they allowed me to re-enter Mexico through the Mexican nationals line (as opposed to the foreigners line as I'm not someone who can pass for Mexican) by showing my stamped 7-day FMM card that I'd received a day prior. So it might just depend on how lenient the customs official you're dealing with is.

[FlapJacK]

I wasn't even in the Zona Norte. I was waiting for a Uber outside a nice shopping area. The local police stopped me to ask if I had been drinking. I had been but I was not drunk. Then they told me that I was drunk in public and that I had to pay a $150 fine. I responded that I didn't have $150 so the asked what I had. I pulled $40 from my pocket. They had me put it in the truck door and let me go. All the while my uber was waiting to take me to my hotel. Lesson learned. Don't wait outside for your Uber in Tijuana.

I would not have paid anything. Also I do not Drink. Especially if you were not in the Zona. Not sure what you mean by nice shopping area? Macro Plaza, Plaza Rio, Galerías, Península? I wouldn't expect to see cops extorting people in these places.

As for the Zona Norte I've been staying away. Been spending my time with an Escort I met a few months back. She picks me up at the border and brings me back after our cita.

Zona Norte has become too grimy and dirty for me lately and escort girl has been very refreshing. Like taking a normal girl on dates plus she don't give off the I'm a hooker vibe.

[Artisttyp]

Welcome back amigo.

While I would buy it before I no longer see the value even as a frequent visitor. An improvement while entering through the line to get your 7 day FMM is they just scan your card now. A real time saver as they hand out the FMM without you having to fill out anything. With this new system I think the longest I have had to wait is 5 or 10 minutes. But I'm sure that relates to the time of day you are entering. Probably worse on a Friday early evening or Saturday morning. Also pedwest is open during certain hours and I have heard its a bit less hectic at that entry.

As far as traffic yes zona rio and centro can be pretty bad. Aqua caliente a bet better since they got rid of a bunch of the ruta vans. The first thing you might notice after entry is they are building an elevated highway that I think is going to run from playas out towards the airport area. A big project for Tijuana, maybe that will help with the traffic that passes through centro / zona rio.

As far as the police same old same old. While last December was a real nightmare this year has been smooth sailing. Maybe related to a recent incident with a local activist named rambo. He was recently able to get video of being robbed by the police at one of those makeshift holiday checkpoints. He got the media attention and went to the city attorney to complain. Officers suspended for now. Maybe a new administration may help. But still boils down to shakedowns occur all the time. So wrong time wrong place and its your turn.

Thank You. I appreciate the boots on the ground feedback.

[Zenduka1]

I wasn't even in the Zona Norte. I was waiting for a Uber outside a nice shopping area. The local police stopped me to ask if I had been drinking. I had been but I was not drunk. Then they told me that I was drunk in public and that I had to pay a $150 fine. I responded that I didn't have $150 so the asked what I had. I pulled $40 from my pocket. They had me put it in the truck door and let me go. All the while my uber was waiting to take me to my hotel. Lesson learned. Don't wait outside for your Uber in Tijuana.

Your mistake was not waiting outside for uber. Your mistake was being in Tijuana while Gringo. The solution may not be what you advised.

[Zenduka1]

If you don't turn out to be easy prey, they may reconsider.

Sensible advise. Thumbs up!

[HK Monger]

I wasn't even in the Zona Norte. I was waiting for a Uber outside a nice shopping area. The local police stopped me to ask if I had been drinking. I had been but I was not drunk. Then they told me that I was drunk in public and that I had to pay a $150 fine. I responded that I didn't have $150 so the asked what I had. I pulled $40 from my pocket. They had me put it in the truck door and let me go. All the while my uber was waiting to take me to my hotel. Lesson learned. Don't wait outside for your Uber in Tijuana.

Had to comment on this one. As a person who has been stopped by the police many, many times, let me give some advice to people, in general, facing these types of situations. The police are usually relying on your ignorance of the law, or your fear of being hassled by the authorities, to take money from you. Even if you are nervous to be in this situation, you should try to stand your ground a little. If you put up a little resistance, it goes a long way. I'm talking about respectful resistance, of course. Not something that it going to get you in more trouble. When the police say, you did this or that and there is a fine for it, I often offer, "I know the law and I don't feel I did anything wrong. " If they say, we need to go to the "station", I say, "well, OK because I still feel I haven't done anything wrong. " Nine times out of ten this will be sufficient to make them back down, though sometimes they will mutter curses at you as they drive off, LOL!

Now, if you actually did do something wrong, you may not have much ground to stand on. Though, even in that case a little resistance helps because, often times, the police are more interested (for some petty offense) in getting a quick bribe then in actually enforcing the law. In the case mentioned above, with such an obvious bogus charge, it is imperative that you stand your ground.

If they are really persistent, It may come down to you paying their little "morditas". But again, you try to pay as llittle as possible. Start with, "I have like $15-$20 bucks, is that sufficient?" They will probably take that and be on their way. In addition, I always advise carrying as little cash on your person as possible. Usually, any cash in excess of about $25, I keep in the sock of my shoe. It is very unlikely that they will look there.

You see, the police are taking a gamble when they do this. If they are caught doing it, there may be repercussions. That's why they want the transfer of funds to be as discrete as possible–in case they are being watched or recorded. They are looking for easy prey, which is you, "the gringo". If you don't turn out to be easy prey, they may reconsider.

[Baxter Slade]

Can someone please tell me if they are still selling / issuing 6 month FMM's for multi entry( Unintended use ) at the border? Or would somebody visiting from SD on a daily basis have to get a new card everyday? I want to perhaps do this for two weeks coming up soon.

Is the area outside the Jack in The Box parking lot still an Uber drop / pick up place ? There was a little roundabout there by the buses. Still OK ?

I assume traffic has gotten worse in Tijuana and Blvd Aguas Caliente from Downtown to Galerias / Hipodromo would be a nightmare at least twice a day in a taxi?

Police still acting uppity?

Thanks.

Welcome back amigo.

While I would buy it before I no longer see the value even as a frequent visitor. An improvement while entering through the line to get your 7 day FMM is they just scan your card now. A real time saver as they hand out the FMM without you having to fill out anything. With this new system I think the longest I have had to wait is 5 or 10 minutes. But I'm sure that relates to the time of day you are entering. Probably worse on a Friday early evening or Saturday morning. Also pedwest is open during certain hours and I have heard its a bit less hectic at that entry.

As far as traffic yes zona rio and centro can be pretty bad. Aqua caliente a bet better since they got rid of a bunch of the ruta vans. The first thing you might notice after entry is they are building an elevated highway that I think is going to run from playas out towards the airport area. A big project for Tijuana, maybe that will help with the traffic that passes through centro / zona rio.

As far as the police same old same old. While last December was a real nightmare this year has been smooth sailing. Maybe related to a recent incident with a local activist named rambo. He was recently able to get video of being robbed by the police at one of those makeshift holiday checkpoints. He got the media attention and went to the city attorney to complain. Officers suspended for now. Maybe a new administration may help. But still boils down to shakedowns occur all the time. So wrong time wrong place and its your turn.