Day trip to Mexico? (buying, taxi, live)

[terryandgerry]

We are going to be visiting the San Antonio area in a few weeks and one of the things we had thought we would like to do is make a day trip into Mexico? I read some references on the board that this might not be a good idea at the time? When we were in San Diego a few years ago, we took a shuttle bus from the San Diego side across into Tijuana. The bus took us right into the shopping district and back. It didn't even stop going in, on the way back, we had to get out and go through a line to claim our purchases and show our ID. Is there a similar set up down there? I'm not even sure where the point of entry would be - Brownsville? We are Canadian, we do not have up to date passports. According to the Canadian Embassy website we do not need passports, just 2 ID's. I hope this is up to date.

[neddy]

Depends on your point of entry. Right now down on the border (at least in Laredo area) not really a good idea to go because of a drug war. I would check the US State Dept website and see what they are saying currently.

[AirForceDoc]

I heard Americans were getting kidnapped down there last year...is there truth to that?

[neddy]

Sad but true. The state dept has a good info sheet on the border town.

[lockheed1]

The Texican's that live here in SA won't even cross the border.

[AnthonySA]

I personally wouldn't recommend much more than a day trip in the border cities, but there are a lot of questionable street vendors in Nuevo Laredo. So if you decide to go, be aware of your surroundings and you should be OK. As far as the drug war goes, don't use drugs, go to parties/clubs, or be on the streets at night and you'll be fine. I have been there many times.

[terryandgerry]

Originally Posted by AnthonySA

there are a lot of questionable street vendors in Nuevo Laredo.

Thanks, can you explain what you mean by questionable vendors? Are you referring to a safety issue, or the quality of their goods? Naturally, I would expect "buyer beware" for anything I bought over there. We would just be going over in the daytime for a few hours to do some shopping and have a look around. Do you know if there is a shuttle bus that crosses the border? I don't think I would want to drive there.

[AnthonySA]

By street vendors, they will try to scam you into buying nonworking products, but it is the same as any foreign country. I have encountered the same in Italy, not much different. If you want to avoid driving in Nuevo Laredo, park your car in downtown Laredo, Texas and walk across at Bridge #1, not #2. Bridge 2 is located right at the end of I-35, Bridge 1 is a few blocks to the west (or to the right heading south), there will be signs.

There are plenty of shops immediately across the border in Nuevo Laredo, and right now most of them are empty due to bad publicity, so you don't have to worry about the long lines that you used to. Crossing the bridge wlaking is much faster than driving, the average wait on weekends is about an hour by car, and a few minutes by walking.

Still keep an eye on your surroundings and stay in the well lighted busy district and do not wander off just as a precaution. I seriously doubt anything would happen, but in any city you have to do that.

[shauben2007]

I would NOT reccomend Nuevo Laredo, but rather Del Rio(TX) / Ciudad Acuna (MX), you can park free in Del Rio and walk acoss (there is walking a toll <$1 per person), about a mile I believe, you might be able to take a taxi in (not sure how that works)[found a reference to Moon Taxi Moon Taxi(TX) at 830-768-1643], we walked in and took a taxi out (getting back out with the taxi was easy). We basically stayed on the main street and went back a block or two. Some salesman were high pressure, but no means no. Make sure water drank is filtered/bottled as well as ice, you can pay for things in US $. Just pay attention and you'll be fine. For dining I'd reccomend Manuel's, good food, prices, nice people, bottled water, filtered ice, menu in english, prices in USD, other places might be like this also, that is what several locals reccomended to us and we were very happy. Also a nice reasonable, low pressure shop is El Patio.

Here is an good article on Acuna/Shopping:

http://www.swtexaslive.com/december2006/acuna


Have fun,
Steve

[AirForceDoc]

This is good info. I'm planninng a Monterrey trip sometime in the next year. So we don't need our passport to go to Mexico or return to the USA? What ID do we need to bring for ourselves and our kids?