Tijuana Reports

[Camera3]

Going into Tijuana walking you have to go through Mexican customs and might have to fill out a visa. If you have regular passport they will be stamping it. You can always get Taxi Libre and ask driver to take you to Adelitas / Hong Kong. During day is walkable. Like any place in world there are parts that are dangerous but if you stay in Zona or tourist area and don't dress flashy and act normal you should be fine.

Check the international section for better info.

Spartan.

No line going in to Mexico and I showed my passport but they didn't stamp it either time I was there recently. Both times they asked what I was doing and how long I was staying. One time I said I had a date and was meeting her for dinner. The other time is said, "I'm going to Hong Kong and getting laid." The officer laughed and said, "At least you are being honest," and handed me my passport and waved me through. Get real. They know why we are there. I took a cab both times. I used to walk but the cab is just more convenient. I have never felt any danger. In fact, I think it is safer than many SW areas of most big cities in the US of A. I have never wandered out of the Zona. No reason. The last time I was there I counted nearly 100 street girls in the block around Adalitas / Hong Kong, and most were drop dead gorgeous. I wear a fashionable shirt and jeans and am so white I could never pass for Mexican. But there are many, many (mostly young) American guys there, especially on weekends.

Don't overthink it. Prostitution is legal and more or less cheap and everyone knows it.

C3.

[Spartan94]

Through SD. Never done it, anyone offer advice? Is there a long wait? I hear there's a parking lot you can park and just walk across to the check point?? Also is TJ dangerous for visitors? Fuck a lot of questions LOL.

Going into Tijuana walking you have to go through Mexican customs and might have to fill out a visa. If you have regular passport they will be stamping it. You can always get Taxi Libre and ask driver to take you to Adelitas / Hong Kong. During day is walkable. Like any place in world there are parts that are dangerous but if you stay in Zona or tourist area and don't dress flashy and act normal you should be fine.

Check the international section for better info.

Spartan.

[FanService]

Yes there's a couple large pay parking lots near the border entrance. Word of advice though, if you are planning on staying late at night, DO NOT PARK IN THE NEARBY SHOPPING CENTER AT THE BORDER CROSSING! They are SUPER STRICT about policing that shopping center when it comes to parking. If you plan on going across the border during the day, and plan on being back while the stores in that shopping center are still open, then you can get away with it. At night after those stores close, they will start ticketing and towing cars they catch in that lot.

As for the wait, it's dependent on when you try to cross. Getting into Mexico isn't a problem and usually super quick. Coming back across is a different story. It's taken me 15 minutes before, and a hour and half another. I always tell people who are under time constraints, to plan at least a hour to get back across the border. It normally won't take that long, but that's what I always plan.

As for dangerous, well it is Mexico. I've personally only been down into the Zona Norte but I have been thinking about hitting up the beach areas now that it's warmer. When you are in the Zona Norte, you'll quickly notice that there's police EVERYWHERE you go in that area. They are constantly patrolling the street and hanging out on most of the busy corners and by the big clubs. That area is pretty safe because they don't want to scare off the tourists and the money they bring in with them. As long as you use some common sense, don't do anything stupid, stay in the busy areas, and behave yourself, you should be fine. I usually go alone down there, and haven't had any real problems.

Through SD. Never done it, anyone offer advice? Is there a long wait? I hear there's a parking lot you can park and just walk across to the check point?? Also is TJ dangerous for visitors? Fuck a lot of questions LOL.

[FunSeeker702]

Through SD. Never done it, anyone offer advice? Is there a long wait? I hear there's a parking lot you can park and just walk across to the check point?? Also is TJ dangerous for visitors? Fuck a lot of questions LOL.

[XxxDan]

No you don't need Global Entry to get back into the US. Global Entry is one of the DHS "Trusted Traveler" programs (https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/) that gets you into the "fast lane" when crossing the border. Global Entry is is usually only needed if you fly internationally to locations other than Mexico a lot. The Sentri card is usually the card to get if you are going to / from TJ by foot or car a lot.

The passport card works the same as a passport for land entry back into the US. You need a regular passport if you are going fly to / from Mexico or other international destinations. If you are going to get a passport anyways, I suggest also getting the passport card, as it will also be able to be used in place of a REAL I'd drivers license when that becomes a requirement for domestic air travel next year.

THIS Passport card is much more convenient for crossing US-Mexico border on foot as you can avoid carrying your actual passport and getting passport stamps. Although Global Entry is optional to get back to the US, I still strongly recommend it to save time as the regular line could get very long. Many hotels in Asia want to keep your passport or any form of clients' IDs so having passport card is another plus.

[NotSlowingAt57]

So, I RTFF (actually I read the other FF) and saw that the passport / passport card is for getting into Mexico, and the Global Entry card is for getting back to the US.

No you don't need Global Entry to get back into the US. Global Entry is one of the DHS "Trusted Traveler" programs (https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/) that gets you into the "fast lane" when crossing the border. Global Entry is is usually only needed if you fly internationally to locations other than Mexico a lot. The Sentri card is usually the card to get if you are going to / from TJ by foot or car a lot.

The passport card works the same as a passport for land entry back into the US. You need a regular passport if you are going fly to / from Mexico or other international destinations. If you are going to get a passport anyways, I suggest also getting the passport card, as it will also be able to be used in place of a REAL I'd drivers license when that becomes a requirement for domestic air travel next year.

[KC Questor]

Actually you do need a passport or receipt of passport application. !! A friend was refused entry into Mexico about a month ago.

It may be YMMV, but you definitely do NOT need a passport. I work with a lot of medical patients who go to Mexico for surgery or dentistry. More than half of them do not have and never have had a passport (lots of low and middle income people who don't ever travel internationally). They are just fine entering with just a drivers license and copy of a birth certificate for the return.

[Camera3]

While I know it's a American holiday coming up, but it's still a major 3 day weekend for us here in the States. So does anyone know of anything special happening down in the Zona Norte to take advantage of the US holiday weekend? I was seriously thinking of heading down there this weekend, mainly because I didn't really have anything else planned. I was hopping that it would warm up some by this weekend, but the forecast is predicting low to mid 60's down there, and some possible rain Saturday. So now I'm thinking of holding off and wait another week or 2 until the weather gets better.

The only place I know to find out things like this is Hong Kong's website and they have an event tomorrow called VIP Chica. No idea what it is and the next event is in June, so nothing this weekend except their usually packed party atmosphere. They do celebrate some US holidays. But pretty much no one else that I have seen.

Other people may have different experiences.

C3.

[FanService]

While I know it's a American holiday coming up, but it's still a major 3 day weekend for us here in the States. So does anyone know of anything special happening down in the Zona Norte to take advantage of the US holiday weekend? I was seriously thinking of heading down there this weekend, mainly because I didn't really have anything else planned. I was hopping that it would warm up some by this weekend, but the forecast is predicting low to mid 60's down there, and some possible rain Saturday. So now I'm thinking of holding off and wait another week or 2 until the weather gets better.

[Cruzier1]

Ok, more reading. You do not need an actual visa, but you do need an "FMM". 7 days or less is apparently free. I this is form that I was given. I recognize it and I do not recall paying money for it. https://www.discoverbaja.com/fmm-faqs/.

The Mexican officer did seem annoyed by me asking for one so like everything in Mexico it probably isn't really enforced unless you get hassled for some bribe monies.

So, I RTFF (actually I read the other FF) and saw that the passport / passport card is for getting into Mexico, and the Global Entry card is for getting back to the US.

The other thing I'm unclear about (and I was looking for when I was RTFF) is when going into Mexico do you need to get a visa or fill out any paper? One time I just walked on through because no one stopped me, but another I went up to a desk and asked. The guy seemed really confused but ultimately gave me a form. I think it was an "FMM" form. Is that necessary?

So, can anyone give me the skinny for getting into Mexico?

[MongerSeeker]

Actually you do need a passport or receipt of passport application. !! A friend was refused entry into Mexico about a month ago.

You only need a visa to go to Mexico if you are going to stay longer than 180 days, or if you are going to visit a lot during that 180 day period. I'm not sure of the threshold for "a lot" but I know that a few of the guys from San Diego who go every weekend get a visa.

As far as the passport card, you don't really need it to visit Mexico. I've just shown them my drivers license before (I had my passport packed in my luggage and didn't want to dig it out. There was no problem. Half the time they don't even look and just ask me where I am going (or just wave me through).

[KC Questor]

So, I RTFF (actually I read the other FF) and saw that the passport / passport card is for getting into Mexico, and the Global Entry card is for getting back to the US.

The other thing I'm unclear about (and I was looking for when I was RTFF) is when going into Mexico do you need to get a visa or fill out any paper? One time I just walked on through because no one stopped me, but another I went up to a desk and asked. The guy seemed really confused but ultimately gave me a form. I think it was an "FMM" form. Is that necessary?

So, can anyone give me the skinny for getting into Mexico?

You only need a visa to go to Mexico if you are going to stay longer than 180 days, or if you are going to visit a lot during that 180 day period. I'm not sure of the threshold for "a lot" but I know that a few of the guys from San Diego who go every weekend get a visa.

As far as the passport card, you don't really need it to visit Mexico. I've just shown them my drivers license before (I had my passport packed in my luggage and didn't want to dig it out. There was no problem. Half the time they don't even look and just ask me where I am going (or just wave me through).

[Cruzier1]

So, I RTFF (actually I read the other FF) and saw that the passport / passport card is for getting into Mexico, and the Global Entry card is for getting back to the US.

The other thing I'm unclear about (and I was looking for when I was RTFF) is when going into Mexico do you need to get a visa or fill out any paper? One time I just walked on through because no one stopped me, but another I went up to a desk and asked. The guy seemed really confused but ultimately gave me a form. I think it was an "FMM" form. Is that necessary?

So, can anyone give me the skinny for getting into Mexico?

Do you know (or does anyone know) if the passport card works in conjunction with global entry? Would be nice to ditch the normal passport. It feels so easily losable. Also, you have to carry both the Global Entry card AND a passport? Sorry for the dumb questions but I'm looking at venturing down there and just got my global entry card.

[Cruzier1]

Do you know (or does anyone know) if the passport card works in conjunction with global entry? Would be nice to ditch the normal passport. It feels so easily losable. Also, you have to carry both the Global Entry card AND a passport? Sorry for the dumb questions but I'm looking at venturing down there and just got my global entry card.

So, I really didn't think much about it on my most recent trips. I have always taken some pesos with me, keep them in my front right pocket (along with hotel room key and Global Entry card, and now that ATT works well in TJ, I carry my phone there, too. Never took my smart phone before now, then keep my small dollars ($5 & $1 bills) in front left and big bills ($20 bills) in left back pocket. I round it out with passport in back right pocket. No wallet and now, no hobby phone. If person wants pesos, I pay in pesos (some cabs, some street vendors), and if dollars I pay in dollars. It is easy to pull out a $1 bill for tips without pulling out a wad of cash. I will say, in my observation, more quote in dollars but accept pesos.

Having the smart phone with real-time translator worked well. Even the girls had fun with it. One girl had her own and we used hers.

Way too many beautiful women who want to fuck and way too much great food.

C3.

[Camera3]

Well, the USD goes alot farther the lonley peso.

So, I really didn't think much about it on my most recent trips. I have always taken some pesos with me, keep them in my front right pocket (along with hotel room key and Global Entry card, and now that ATT works well in TJ, I carry my phone there, too. Never took my smart phone before now, then keep my small dollars ($5 & $1 bills) in front left and big bills ($20 bills) in left back pocket. I round it out with passport in back right pocket. No wallet and now, no hobby phone. If person wants pesos, I pay in pesos (some cabs, some street vendors), and if dollars I pay in dollars. It is easy to pull out a $1 bill for tips without pulling out a wad of cash. I will say, in my observation, more quote in dollars but accept pesos.

Having the smart phone with real-time translator worked well. Even the girls had fun with it. One girl had her own and we used hers.

Way too many beautiful women who want to fuck and way too much great food.

C3.