Crossing at San Ysidro into Mexico and catching taxi to TJ airport (inspection, taxis)
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Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PacoMartin
[list=1][*]Marriot is as pedestrian unfriendly as any hotel I have ever seen. Not worth the money.
TRUE.
But it is conveniently located near the shopping centers, Estadio Caliente and Casino Caliente/Race Track. It's located in a good area but the street it is on and the fact that its up on a hill make it pedestrian un-friendly. The side-walk around the hotel is horribly unsafe for how fast people like to drive around there.
TRUE. But it is conveniently located near the shopping centers, Estadio Caliente and Casino Caliente/Race Track.
As the Marriot and the Holiday Inn are the only US chains in Tijuana proper they attract a lot of gringos. The State Department hotel rate for TJ is $126 (includes tax), however Tijuana qualifies for "danger pay".
I find the 4 star hotels very acceptable in TJ.
Real del Rio US$78
Hacienda del Rio US$81
Of the 3 star hotels, I've only stayed in the Hotel La Mesa
Principado Tijuana Aeropuerto US$45
City Express Tijuana Rio US$71
City Express Tijuana Insurgentes US$68
Hotel La Mesa Inn US$68
La Villa de Zaragoza US$56
If you must stay on Avenida Revolucion near the gringo party places, I would stay at La Villa de Zaragoza. I know most people end up next to the arch as they find they must spend the night but didn't plan it.
LaPaz is a very safe city, and you should be fine running around. If you are jogging you should plan on being robbed. Don't have any valuables and carry and give up a reasonable amount of cash without a fight (100 pesos should be fine). It's a business transaction, and you won't get hurt.
Thanks for the advice in general Paco! I am a little confused by this part however. Are you saying I should plan on being robbed while jogging in La Paz? What does "running around" mean? I've talked to a lot of locals and last night we were walking the Malecon around 3:30am and then around the Bellavista area around 4:30am and it seemed completely safe to me, much different from Tijuana. Are there really frequent muggings in La Paz? I agree with you that it is generally never a good idea to carry too many valuables when jogging. I only carry my keys to the apartment when I jog. No phone and no money but maybe a better idea to carry 100 like you said just for "mugger money"? I leave my credit cards and any valuables and important documents (like the passports and FMM visa) behind as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PacoMartin
The police in Mexico are a bigger nuisance as they are bigger thieves. Always give up a nice xerox and plastic coated copy of your documents as they will hold anything you give them (drivers license or passport) for ransom.
I don't have copies of them and I'm not sure if I am legally required to carry the passport or FMM on me while I am out walking? I figured better to just not have any documentation on me and if the police stop me that way they can't steal them from me.
T Are you saying I should plan on being robbed while jogging in La Paz? What does "running around" mean? I've talked to a lot of locals and last night we were walking the Malecon around 3:30am and then around the Bellavista area around 4:30am and it seemed completely safe to me, much different from Tijuana. Are there really frequent muggings in La Paz?
My advice is simply general. You can use it in an American city as well. I lived in Oaxaca City for 8 months, and I felt safe there in the middle of the night. My neighbor (a retired Canadian couple) went hiking in the city "hiking trails" where the guide book cautioned against. Sure enough someone pulled a small knife and took his nice watch and 1000 pesos.
The end result was that he felt angry with himself. He was not really afraid for his safety as he didn't really expect the teen with a knife to stab him, but he wasn't confident enough to refuse. He was carrying more cash than was necessary, and there was no reason to wear a nice watch.
On the other hand if you jog with 10 pesos in case you need to use a toilet and you run into a similar situation you risk making a mugger angry. He might order you to take clothing off thinking you are hiding money in your shoes or socks.
It's always better to have some money to comply with a request, then 99% of the time you can go your separate ways with him annoyed, and you feeling a little violated but no one physically hurt,
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgolma
I don't have copies of them and I'm not sure if I am legally required to carry the passport or FMM on me while I am out walking? I figured better to just not have any documentation on me and if the police stop me that way they can't steal them from me.
Sometimes you need identification when using a credit card, just as in the USA. If you are hurt in an accident, and they have a copy of your passport, they can notify the consulate immediately.
I think in general having no identification in a foreign country is not the soundest policy.
If you get harassed by the police it is a pleasure to produce xeroxes of your documents which you can present and tell him that he is welcome to keep these copies. I have been skimmed a number of times in Mexico by police, and once for a significant amount of cash.
thank you all for the info on this thread. i'm going to cross tijuana for the first time and i'm actively seeking for information on how to go about it. this helps a lot and up to date, too!
I got lost for about 5 minutes before I came back to the depot at 1:50 and asked a bus employee for directions. He just told me to follow a group of people on foot who he pointed out to me and so I did that. It took me about 5 minutes to walk with my luggage to the border and then I crossed through turnstiles and I was in the Mexican immigration office. One of the Mexican policewomen told me to press the button to go through but I told her that I had to get an FMM visa so she pointed me to an office down the hall. I went in the office and spoke Spanish to the guy because he was not bilingual and he asked me of my plans. I told him I was taking a plane the next day to La Paz and he said that I needed to wait and get the FMM at the airport because he could not give me one. I asked again politely if I could have it now just so I could put it out of my mind and he said no. A little irritated at this point because one of the primary reasons I stopped off at San Ysidro was so I could acquire the FMM before going to the airport the next day, just for peace of mind. Anyway, I pressed the button and it showed red so the Mexican policewoman unzipped my suitcase and moved some stuff around in it before letting me proceed.
according to this, you were not given a tourist stamp when you entered tijuana, but instead was pointed to the airport where you will get it. what about if i'm crossing tijuana to stay for a week there and not go anywhere else (except some place closeby like rosarito and ensenada) or fly? does that mean i have to go to the airport to get the stamp?
i always fly when going to mexico so i get the stamp automatically with immigration and this is the first time i'm going there by foot.
If a person is just crossing into TJ and a visit to Rosarito (I live here 18 yrs) or maybe down to Ensenada will be about as far as you can go w/o a Tourist Visa. From the border to Ensenada is the FREE Zone (NO Visas needed).
You are free to believe me or any other poster NOT living here.
Make sure you have the US Passport on returning or be prepared to have a stay in secondary while they check you out.
If a person is just crossing into TJ and a visit to Rosarito (I live here 18 yrs) or maybe down to Ensenada will be about as far as you can go w/o a Tourist Visa. From the border to Ensenada is the FREE Zone (NO Visas needed).
You are free to believe me or any other poster NOT living here.
Make sure you have the US Passport on returning or be prepared to have a stay in secondary while they check you out.
Thank you for the quick reply and for the info, Steve. Yes, I always bring my passport with me (I'm Canadian passport holder) whenever I go to Cancun and its my first crossing on foot to Mexico that's why I'm a little confused when I read some posts about the tourist card in this thread. Pardon my ignorance, Steve, but what do you mean by "have a stay in secondary?"
Thank you for the quick reply and for the info, Steve. Yes, I always bring my passport with me (I'm Canadian passport holder) whenever I go to Cancun and its my first crossing on foot to Mexico that's why I'm a little confused when I read some posts about the tourist card in this thread. Pardon my ignorance, Steve, but what do you mean by "have a stay in secondary?"
Here's the deal. Technically speaking you are supposed to get a tourist visa if you stay anywhere in Mexico for more than 72 hours. However the area near the border is an area where they are far less stringent on this and you probably won't get in trouble if you were to get caught. Just to be sure though if you ever get asked how long you have been there just say 1 day or 2 days and there really is no easy way for them to find out unless you keep records of what you were doing on you. "Stay in secondary" means when you cross the answers make US customs want to check you out further, either to check your paperwork to further inspect your bags (and car if you have one) and what you have on you.
Hello from a former Canuck (Hamilton Ont). Glad to help another Canadian eh!
When you get to the border coming back by walking or car you are first checked by a Border Patrol agent. By car he would have the discretion to check the inside or trunk etc while asking where you were etc and if you are bringing back anything. A NO answer will guarantee a visit to a Secondary inspection of the car.
Everybody (especially Tourists) buy something for family. You are allowed to bring back many things....not sure of the $$$ amount but be HONEST and there will be NO problems.
Many yrs back was driving to and from Mexico City and was asked if I brought back anything to declare. I had two bottles of Liquor...1 for me and anther for my dad. We are limited to a total of 40oz back into the states. I had to pour one bottle down the drain. He said that if I had not declared anything they would tear my truck apart....since then even while living here am always asked about anything to declare.
Still have my old Canadian Passport that was cancelled when I became an American citizen.
Have read that we/I can declare Dual Citizenship if I apply for it....what's the scoop on that?
Steve (Former member of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry) (WW11)
EDIT: With due respect to Willy702 his info is many decades old.
Last edited by Steve Bagu; 07-20-2014 at 10:14 PM..
Reason: re old info
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