Where do you cross the border in Texas for shopping? (Laredo: insurance, taxi)

[Sampaguita]

Also, please note new requirements for travel as required by the US State Dept (w/regards to going to MX or CA):

New Requirements for Travelers


The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

January 8, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

January 1, 2008 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

[texasdreamin]

Wow...thanks for that info. I don't even know where my birth certificate is!

[nmnative505]

Good luck with your upcoming travel plans, I agree with everyone else on here that you do not need a health cert in order to cross state lines. I moved from NM to South Texas (Laredo) in January and have lived near the NM border my entire life. The only checkpoints you will encounter will be Border Patrol and unless you have anything illegal or suspicious you will not have any problems. I did have to pay my vet here in Laredo about $15 for a health cert when we flew back home to NM, according to my airline it was required along with his $160 round trip ticket...but when I got to the airport in San Antonio they said the state of Texas did not require the health cert...but when I flew back from NM they did require it and made a bigger deal over it. I also recommend keeping their shots up-to-date because that is the first warning we got from our vet here, that and to try your hardest to avoid their contact with other peoples dogs!
As for travel to Mexico...I highly suggest getting a US Passport and using this rather than taking your birth certificate, it is much faster and a ton easier when clearing customs, airports, etc. And think twice about taking your car over if you are just staying near the border. I live across from Nuevo Laredo and have for the last 9 months or so and have never been there and probably never will, instead I go with my friends to Reynosa and Nuevo Progreso which I highly reccommend, great shopping, great food and safe. If you want to go further inland, take the bus or fly..its worth it! Good luck!

[caprockvista]

I don't know about shopping, but everyone around here from "the other side" crosses at Presidio/Ojinaga...........

caprockvista

[AlamoGirl]

If Your Near McAllen, TX... there are 2 main crossing bridges the Reynosa Bridge and also Progresso.. Progresso is a small shopping town for tourist here along the border its great for shopping they do have some furniture makers over there but you would have look mainly it sidewalk venders and Pharmacies. there in reynosa it should be good for larger items...

[conanS]

I haven't had a chance to go to Mexico yet. When I lived here before I was just into work and then golf. Now, I am just waiting for the state to send me my ID. Been almost 3 months and I can't get an answer from them about where it is. I might have to try and get my passport now it will get here by Jan 2008!!!

[texasdreamin]

I need my birth certificate to get the passport. Seems like there are numerous places to cross. I will be in the Hill Country. Guess I'll find a good place when I get there. Thanks.

[sistrel6]

would like to cross from san antonio briefly for shopping mostly for pottery. Any suggestions.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by sistrel6

would like to cross from san antonio briefly for shopping mostly for pottery. Any suggestions.

You do know that you are going to have to drive at least 145 miles to the border...?

You can cross at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo, Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras or Del Rio/Acuña...

I would not go near Nuevo Laredo the way things are there at this point; I understand it's not the safest place to be right now. Since I haven't been to Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras in many years, my suggestion would be Del Rio/Acuña as the friendliest/safest crossing point.

[Spree]

I go to Progresso when I visit my mom in the valley and just love that little town. I've visited that little town for the past 20+ years - we have our favorite restaurants and shop owners we visit. There are a couple of stores just before the checkpoint on the US side that carry some Mexican pottery etc. w/out having to go across the border. It is easy to park and walk across - the walk is not far to get to the shopping. I would stay away from Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa - I hear it's gotten bad there. Matamoros is okay if you don't venture to far. There's a store, restaurant and secured parking garage named Garcia's that is just across the border. There's another restaurant/bar across the street called Blanca Whites that's a lot of fun and oh my gosh the memories I have at that place. The walk across to Matamoros is a little more lengthy.