Is Tijuana Safe ???? (San Diego, Oakland, Chula Vista: mortgage, credit, hotels)

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

I'm there every three months or so too - half the time I go alone - and I've never had any real problems.

The only time I had a problem was when I drove my own car into Tijuana. I had done it several times before, but this one time, I got pulled over by a cop for allegedly not stopping "long enough" at a stop sign. (Yeah, right.) I gave the cop $40 just to get rid of him. It worked, and I never drove my car down there again.

[antialphabet]

A couple years ago, or even a year ago, I would say it was no problem to go down there, as long as you had your street smarts and you were cautious.
Now, I think it's a little more risky. These are bad times right now, and I don't think there's anything in TJ worth the risk. It's not as bad in TJ as say Juarez, but you never know. I'd probably drive a little further down to Rosarito or Puerto Nuevo.
But I wouldn't want to walk back from Revolution to the border, or across that dark bridge at 4am anymore like I did in the old days when I was an 18 year old getting wasted at the clubs full of Americans on Revolucion.

I think TJ would be cool to go to if you get on a taxi as soon as you cross and take it straight to wherever area you're going. I don't recommend driving or walking.

If you like Mexican clubs, you'd probably even consider going to Mexicali. It's pretty fun over there, and a lot cleaner/safer.

But I don't really like going to TJ. That was cool when I was a teen, and would drink anything remotely alcohol flavored. Now, it's not appealing at all down there.

[FunkyMonk]

Question:

Which border towns are more safe to go to than TJ?

I want to go down into Mexico, but these days TJ just sounds a little too intense and risky.

I heard that Tecate is safe. How is Mexicali these days?

Thanks.

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by FunkyMonk

I heard that Tecate is safe. How is Mexicali these days?

Both are good. Tecate is charming but there is not much there. Mexicali is a big city.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by RD5050

Tijuana is a very popular tourist site for people in San Diego.

Recent articles have said they have been dealing with drug-related gang activity, and have needed to add a lot of additional police.

Mexico adds police as drug killings mount | Reuters

The Canadian Press: Americans fearful of Mexican beaches south of the border from San Diego (broken link)

I personally have never been south of the border.

Anybody have bad experiences traveling to Tijuana or any other nearby places in Mexico, such as Baja?

Right now I would say, absolutely NO, the US State Dept has just put out a warning, advising tourists to not travel to any Mexican border town, including Tijuana.

Nita

[SDrelocate]

Originally Posted by SDrelocate

Well folks, I have an update on my unfortunate incident down in Tijuana last year. I wrote the above post while still recuperating in Scripps LaJolla. It was a rough couple months. I'm very lucky that my other kidney is carrying its own weight now. I was on dialysis for a good 6 weeks. My doctor said I was very lucky to have survived, he commented that the Kidney thief looked like he had some medical training, perhaps some veterinary surgury experience. Perhaps it was the cat gut sutures that gave it away, vets sometimes use sometimes to stitch up horse or burro wounds.

No update from the Tijuana police yet. After my initial statement in a Mexican hospital, I haven't heard much back from them.

I wanted to thank all of you who sent their thoughts and prayers for me.

Best Regards,
Steve

Well I was back in the hospital today for another round of dialysis, a bit of a setback. Anyhow, thanks again for all those who sent their thoughts and prayers. I have come to realize that the people of San Diego are great. Thanks!
Steve

[FunkyMonk]

Originally Posted by SDrelocate

Well I was back in the hospital today for another round of dialysis, a bit of a setback. Anyhow, thanks again for all those who sent their thoughts and prayers. I have come to realize that the people of San Diego are great. Thanks!
Steve

If this is for real, you should contact the newspapers and have them write a story. It's definantly newsworthy material.

[Oerdin]

Originally Posted by SDrelocate

Well I was back in the hospital today for another round of dialysis, a bit of a setback. Anyhow, thanks again for all those who sent their thoughts and prayers. I have come to realize that the people of San Diego are great. Thanks!
Steve

Sorry to hear about your kidney troubles. I've read several of your posts and find them to be insightful so please keep posting. Best of luck to you and please keep telling us about the great place you live.

[Oerdin]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Both are good. Tecate is charming but there is not much there. Mexicali is a big city.

The one thing I will never forget about Tecate is going for a tour of the brewery where you get pay $12 buck and then get 10 minutes to drink as much as you can. After you leave the tasting room you are walked out the back door where there are dumpsters where they dump the spent grain they us to make beer. I saw a bunch of rats run out from behind the dumpsters which made me never want to drink Tecate ever again.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Oerdin

The one thing I will never forget about Tecate is going for a tour of the brewery where you get pay $12 buck and then get 10 minutes to drink as much as you can. After you leave the tasting room you are walked out the back door where there are dumpsters where they dump the spent grain they us to make beer. I saw a bunch of rats run out from behind the dumpsters which made me never want to drink Tecate ever again.

why did you have to tell us, Tacate is hubby favorite beer...??

Nita