General Reports

[BrotherMouzone]

I park at the Palomar St trolley station and take the trolley to the border. This station is a good choice because if you miss the last trolley at 12:49 AM, there is a night bus Route 910 to downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot) at 1:35 AM, 2:20 AM, 3:00 AM, 3:25 AM, 3:45 AM, and 4:05 AM, after which trolley service resumes. Bus 910 stops at trolley stations like Iris Ave, Palomar St, 24th Street, and so on, so you can get back to your car. (Often, half the bus is taken up by homeless people catching a nap.).

Yeah, Palomar St is the only station I park at going back several years. Never had anu issues there. Didn't know about the after-hour buses, that is potentially useful information, thanks. 24 hours is the stated limit for parking your car, though I've gotten away with 48 and even 72 hours several times in the past with no issue. At your own risk obviously, but the enforcement is lax there as I don't think they have an interest in ticketing or towing cars unless there's some sort of clear abuse (eg, a week or more). In general the enforcement in San Diego's public transportation is lax. I know they've pushed increased enforcement starting last year (including increased fines) but I've actually not had my fare checked since before COVID (though I'm only in San Diego 3 or 4 times a year).

[June Fly]

Folks, coming out to Tijuana in a couple of weeks. This would be my first time. I am wondering whether it is better to book an AirBnB instead of a hotel? Apartment would provide more privacy, more space however, the usual perks of a hotel like daily cleaning, food and room service will be missing. I can live without those for a few days, if Apartment is more guest friendly.

The private apartment will also run risk if the girl you bring in causes trouble. There is no security to help. Has this ever been an issue / concern?

I've stayed at Hotel Grand One Terraza, Hotel Caesars, Hotel Velario, they all are girl friendly, never had any issue to bring girls even multiple times during the stay. Grand One and Caesers are in Zona Centro, they are nicer than Velario which is in Zona Norte that is bit seedy but that is where most action is.

[Sol12]

Honestly, I was just trying to help.

Our ways of doing things are different; no worries.

No worries at all, I've always enjoy your posts and agree that we just do things differently.

I'm sure this will help someone else when deciding what they want to do. I actually once had a CBP officer ask me why I didn't just use CBX when I was returning from a trip and I had the same discussion with him so your not the only one who sees the value of CBX even with Sentri.

Looking forward to reading about your next trip.

[TomJackin]

I view both Sentri and CBX as paying to avoid the long lines of crossing the border.

Honestly, I was just trying to help.

Our ways of doing things are different; no worries.

[Sol12]

Sentri and CBX has nothing to do with each other.

If you are driving to the Tijuana airport; that's one thing. I crossed CBX over 50 times.

So when you are flying out of Tijuana airport; you basically have two options:

1) You can park on the US side, then wait in line to cross the border, and then you have to haggle with Tijuana's finest taxis. When you return, you need to take another of Tijuana's finest taxis (fixed rate), and stand in line Sentri at the border. Waste of time and effort!

2) OR, you can drive or take an Uber to CBX, cross the bridge, and drop down into the Tijuana airport. Repeat when you return..

Again like I said we just have a different view on this. I view both Sentri and CBX as paying to avoid the long lines of crossing the border. So if I can cross the border with my Sentri just as fast as CBX I don't need to pay the extra cost of using CBX. It is just another cost of my trip.

On top on the extra cost of using CBX you are paying a higher price to park on the US side. So why would I pay to cross and pay 3 times as much for parking? Me personally I don't see the logic of it but that's just me.

I've never had an issue with TJs finest and I park right at the border anyways so I'm only driving in Tijuana for about five minutes. As far as the cabs go you don't have to use an overpriced taxi especially the ones at the airport. I use Uber to go and return to the airport and the total cost is about $20.

I will give you an example of how I look at it. For me to park in Tijuana and take a Uber to and from the airport for a 4 day trip is about $50. If I was to do that using CBX air would be about $50 for CBX and another $80 for parking so $130 total compared to $50. I don't see the advantage of that extra $80.

I'm not sure why you brought up the passport thing. Actually on my last flight out of Tijuana I only had to provide my boarding pass to the security, compared to the past when they would also ask for an ID. Not sure if they were just lazy.

CBX only has one purpose as well and that is to ease the entry into the US which is why I view it as no benefit if I have Sentri.

[TomJackin]

I guess it's just personal preference, I also don't use CBX when flying out of Tijuana because I already have Sentri so why pay to use CBX. I can park for cheaper in Mexico and be across the border just as fast. I know you prefer to use CBX so we are just comfortable with two different things.

Sentri and CBX has nothing to do with each other.

If you are driving to the Tijuana airport; that's one thing. I crossed CBX over 50 times.

So when you are flying out of Tijuana airport; you basically have two options:

1) You can park on the US side, then wait in line to cross the border, and then you have to haggle with Tijuana's finest taxis. When you return, you need to take another of Tijuana's finest taxis (fixed rate), and stand in line Sentri at the border. Waste of time and effort!

2) OR, you can drive or take an Uber to CBX, cross the bridge, and drop down into the Tijuana airport. Repeat when you return.

A passport is not requied, all you need is a passport card to enter and travel within Mexico.

Sentri only has one purpose, returning to the US; that's it.

[Phordphan]

Folks, coming out to Tijuana in a couple of weeks. This would be my first time. I am wondering whether it is better to book an AirBnB instead of a hotel? Apartment would provide more privacy, more space however, the usual perks of a hotel like daily cleaning, food and room service will be missing. I can live without those for a few days, if Apartment is more guest friendly.

The private apartment will also run risk if the girl you bring in causes trouble. There is no security to help. Has this ever been an issue / concern?

Many agencies and indies will not go to a private residence. Too many unknowns.

AirBnB owners often tend to frown on bringing hookers into their properties, and neighbors (assuming it's in a condo building) may object to hookers traipsing in and out. Assuming you find ones that will visit. You can wind up with a very negative review on AirBnB, if you care about that. Some do care, some don't.

Overall, if you intend to have guests, a hotel is a safer option.

[Sol12]

I not sure I understand what Sentri has to do with parking behind JITB. I've had Sentri for 16 years and I've always park behind JITB. I think it is the most secure parking at the border.

Well in my case I always parked on the US side when visiting Tijuana mostly, I did have a time when I was young and dumb that I parked on the street in ZN back when you could park down by what is now HDS. Well my car was eventually broken into so I went back to the border or paid parking in the ZN.

Before COVID I was getting irritated with the higher costs of parking in the US and with COVID they were making you pay to enter Mexico on foot it was better for me to drive in since the biggest issue IMO for not driving is dealing with the border wait which is something I don't have to worry about since I have Sentri.

I guess it's just personal preference, I also don't use CBX when flying out of Tijuana because I already have Sentri so why pay to use CBX. I can park for cheaper in Mexico and be across the border just as fast. I know you prefer to use CBX so we are just comfortable with two different things.

[TomJackin]

Was asked about cheap parking on the US side but that is one of the reasons I stopped parking at places like behind JITB. Since I had Sentri it didn't make sense to pay so.

I not sure I understand what Sentri has to do with parking behind JITB. I've had Sentri for 16 years and I've always park behind JITB. I think it is the most secure parking at the border.

[TomJackin]

Folks, coming out to Tijuana in a couple of weeks. This would be my first time. I am wondering whether it is better to book an AirBnB instead of a hotel? Apartment would provide more privacy, more space however, the usual perks of a hotel like daily cleaning, food and room service will be missing. I can live without those for a few days, if Apartment is more guest friendly.

The private apartment will also run risk if the girl you bring in causes trouble. There is no security to help. Has this ever been an issue / concern?

Stay at the Ticuan Hotel; is is puta friendly.

[ShaqOniel]

Folks, coming out to Tijuana in a couple of weeks. This would be my first time. I am wondering whether it is better to book an AirBnB instead of a hotel? Apartment would provide more privacy, more space however, the usual perks of a hotel like daily cleaning, food and room service will be missing. I can live without those for a few days, if Apartment is more guest friendly.

The private apartment will also run risk if the girl you bring in causes trouble. There is no security to help. Has this ever been an issue / concern?

[Nothing24]

I mainly park at trolley stations. Usually either Palm or Iris since the trolley ride to the border is only 5 minutes. The Iris lot is really small though and sometimes have to drive to Palm to catch an open parking spot. The 2-3 trolley stops before those are good as well with lots of parking available. I believe it's E Street, H Street & Palomar. Supposedly the rule is 24 parking only but I have done 48 hours plenty of times with no issues. A couple times I stretched it out to 72 hours and nothing happened as well, but do so at your own risk.

[Sol12]

I put this here since the discussion has nothing to do with HK.

Was asked about cheap parking on the US side but that is one of the reasons I stopped parking at places like behind JITB. Since I had Sentri it didn't make sense to pay so.

I know many of you use the parking at the trolley station so maybe someone can help QuickLove with more information on that.

[CurryMonster]

When I walk across the border I have often parked on the street on Beyer Blvd, behind the police station and the motel. I was down there Wednesday, and saw that all the street parking has been removed. As those of you who are local to San Diego will appreciate, this was to put in bike lanes, of course. Oddly enough, I saw no bikes, LOL.

I did park down a little further, by Bolton Hall, last time I crossed over. Bikes heading to and from the border seem rather more likely than most other places, but can't see why they needed to ditch all the parking too.

[StRobert]

When I walk across the border I have often parked on the street on Beyer Blvd, behind the police station and the motel. I was down there Wednesday, and saw that all the street parking has been removed. As those of you who are local to San Diego will appreciate, this was to put in bike lanes, of course. Oddly enough, I saw no bikes

I park at the Palomar St trolley station and take the trolley to the border. This station is a good choice because if you miss the last trolley at 12:49 AM, there is a night bus Route 910 to downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot) at 1:35 AM, 2:20 AM, 3:00 AM, 3:25 AM, 3:45 AM, and 4:05 AM, after which trolley service resumes. Bus 910 stops at trolley stations like Iris Ave, Palomar St, 24th Street, and so on, so you can get back to your car. (Often, half the bus is taken up by homeless people catching a nap.).