Tijuana Reports

I've stayed at leyva a bunch, never had a problem. It's like 23 or 25 bucks + deposit that they give you when you check out. If you've never been there before it might seen dingy and hideous. I stayed at Nikki's once about 2 mos ago and place was fantastic. I've recently notice it shut down which is sad. Rizzo de oro (above tropical bar) always quotes a high rate especially on wkends. I've never stayed at cascades. Everytime I've asked for a room on wkends they say we're sold out. I stopped going there. Sun- thurs I think you can stay anywhere for 35-40 dls.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2116997]TJ_Dog, thank you so much for your invaluable information about hotels, walking routes, etc. It's so greatly appreciated. I think I will stay from a week to 2 weeks inside the hotels of the Zona Norte like Hotel Leyva or Cascadas if I can get a good weekly rate. Do you or anyone else think a tourist might become a mUgging target if he's seen inside the clubs day and night, and walking the streets of the Zona day and night for one to two weeks? Would I be tempting fate staying there that long?

What time at night is the latest one would dare take a walk from Coahuila to Constitucion to Articulo 123 to Revolucion, south on Revolucion, and back? No later than 10 PM? Midnight? 2 AM at the latest?[/QUOTE]Mugging targets walk off the beaten path (generally away from the Cohuilla / Constitution / Alley) and don't pay attention to their surroundings. Being in the clubs day and night will be the safest time of your stay. You'd only be tempting fate if your familiarity over the 1-2 week period led to carelessness.

On the walk to Revo. IMO no issue during daylight hours. After dark use your judgement. Plenty of people on the street usually equals safety. When in doubt, take a cab. Find one of the stationed cabs (the blue and whites that have assigned spots to wait for fares. I like Moses at Molino Rojo) and tell them $3 to Revolution & whatever cross street you want. They'll usually go for it.

Here's a thought. Since you are so interested in the Revo scene, take a look at la via Zaragoza, [URL]http://www.hotellavilla.biz/[/URL] Very secure (at least used to be). Decent rooms and they have a safe for security of valuables. Also very chica friendly (in fact, the night clerk will have one knocking at your door if you ask). If you can get an out-date with a Zona girl they like to get away from the Zona so the Zaragoza is a good option. Stay there the first couple of nights to get the feel of things and scope out the Zona hotels. Maybe even get a room at Cascadas or Hotel Cohuilla (Adelitas) for a night for a place to do multiple pops and decompress between clubbing trips. Then, if you feel comfortable, move to one of the Zona hotels.

BTW, we expect a full report when you return.

I'm a monger from Wisconsin. I just wanted to say thanks to the guys who have posted so much great info about Tijuana. I'll be out that way for business in August and I will definately make time to head down there.

Roland.

[QUOTE=TJDog;2117755]BTW, we expect a full report when you return.[/QUOTE]TJ_Dog, thank you, thank you, thank you. I will re-read your helpful advice many, many times before I visit Tijuana. I'm looking forward to the trip, but I'm also a little apprehensive, knowing how dangerous mongering can get sometimes, whether north or south of the border.

I will follow your orders and provide a full report.

And I'll stay in several different hotels, including Leyva, to get a feel for them, like you suggested. I searched Google for Leyva and Tijuana, and came upon someone's report of how he was robbed at gunpoint years ago during an all-nighter when the gal let in her gun-toting boyfriend the next morning.

On a kinky sidenote, it appears both Johns and working ladies rent rooms at Leyva, so that will be a fun experience to have. Is Cascadas the same?

Can't wait to go.

[QUOTE=RolandDeschain;2118321]I'm a monger from Wisconsin. I just wanted to say thanks to the guys who have posted so much great info about Tijuana. I'll be out that way for business in August and I will definately make time to head down there.

Roland.[/QUOTE]From Madison by chance? I was in Madison a few years ago and there was a lot SW's. Very fun!

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2118381]TJ_Dog, thank you, thank you, thank you. I will re-read your helpful advice many, many times before I visit Tijuana. I'm looking forward to the trip, but I'm also a little apprehensive, knowing how dangerous mongering can get sometimes, whether north or south of the border.

I will follow your orders and provide a full report.

And I'll stay in several different hotels, including Leyva, to get a feel for them, like you suggested. I searched Google for Leyva and Tijuana, and came upon someone's report of how he was robbed at gunpoint years ago during an all-nighter when the gal let in her gun-toting boyfriend the next morning.

On a kinky sidenote, it appears both Johns and working ladies rent rooms at Leyva, so that will be a fun experience to have. Is Cascadas the same?

Can't wait to go.[/QUOTE]I remember that incident. He was one of the posters on the old ASPT forum. And, he made a couple of dumb decisions. That could have happened just as well at the Holiday Inn.

Yes, both johns and hookers rent rooms at Leyva. Used to be more girls when Chicago Club was more alive.

Same with Cascadas (and also Hotel Cohuilla for Adelitas girls).

[QUOTE=Maiko;2118692]From Madison by chance? I was in Madison a few years ago and there was a lot SW's. Very fun![/QUOTE]Milwaukee area here. The SW action is really not very good, the BP scene is hit and miss but there are a few decent providers. Tijuana sounds like the Monger Promised Land compared to the scene around here. LOL.

Roland.

[QUOTE=TJDog;2118775]I remember that incident. He was one of the posters on the old ASPT forum. [b][u]And, he made a couple of dumb decisions.[/u][/b] That could have happened just as well at the Holiday Inn.[/QUOTE]How do you prevent an overnight date from robbing you by letting her male friend in? I read about another incident in Texas where two gents were let in. Of course, I guess your date can rob you too while you're sound asleep dreaming of the bliss you just had. LOL.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2119213]How do you prevent an overnight date from robbing you by letting her male friend in? I read about another incident in Texas where two gents were let in. Of course, I guess your date can rob you too while you're sound asleep dreaming of the bliss you just had. LOL.[/QUOTE]Maybe we're talking a different incident. The one I remember was in the late 1990's. Guy was way drunk (error #1). Took a chica to the Leyva. A older female friend of the chica knocked on the door and he allowed the chica to let her in (error #2). While he was in a drunken stupor (result of error #1) the old lady let a guy in who robbed the guy and took all his clothing.

Since I'll be staying a week in Tijuana, I'll need to bring a few clothes and my vitamins. Will I stick out like a sore thumb in Mexico if I'm carrying a small suitcase during the walk to the taxi cabs after the turnstiles? Are there at least a few people who carry small suitcases to the taxis?

Might somebody try to "dash and grab" the suitcase as I'm walking to the taxi cab? Does crime happen here much between the turnstiles and the taxis?

How often do Tijuana police hang around the taxis? Might they want to inspect the suitcase, and possibly extort a mordida? I'll have my multivitamins and minerals in there, including Vitamin_C powder, which is a white powder that looks like cocaine I guess. I'm worried if the police inspect my suitcase, they'll try to extort cash out of me for simply carrying Vitamin_C powder.

Would it be better if I carried a book bag on my back, or a small suitcase in the hand? Just worried something's going to go wrong before I even make it to the taxi. LOL.

I doubt you will have any problems. A book bag would be less obvious. I would leave the Vitamin see powder at home however. The police are not around the taxi's to often.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2121514]Since I'll be staying a week in Tijuana, I'll need to bring a few clothes and my vitamins. Will I stick out like a sore thumb in Mexico if I'm carrying a small suitcase during the walk to the taxi cabs after the turnstiles? Are there at least a few people who carry small suitcases to the taxis?

Might somebody try to "dash and grab" the suitcase as I'm walking to the taxi cab? Does crime happen here much between the turnstiles and the taxis?

How often do Tijuana police hang around the taxis? Might they want to inspect the suitcase, and possibly extort a mordida? I'll have my multivitamins and minerals in there, including Vitamin_C powder, which is a white powder that looks like cocaine I guess. I'm worried if the police inspect my suitcase, they'll try to extort cash out of me for simply carrying Vitamin_C powder.

Would it be better if I carried a book bag on my back, or a small suitcase in the hand? Just worried something's going to go wrong before I even make it to the taxi. LOL.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Hargow20;2121709]I doubt you will have any problems. A book bag would be less obvious. I would leave the Vitamin see powder at home however. The police are not around the taxi's to often.[/QUOTE]I used to use a gym bag. Second the info that police unlikely to hang around the taxis. Particularly those picking up passengers near the border (bad for the tourist business). However, you do go through Mexican customs when you enter Mexico - when I used to go the Federales would check some bags - they had some sort of a random selection system.

Not much chance of a grab-and-run as long as you hang on to your bag/backpack/suitcase/whatever.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2121514].I'll have my multivitamins and minerals in there, including Vitamin_C powder, which is a white powder that looks like cocaine I guess. I'm worried if the police inspect my suitcase, they'll try to extort cash out of me for simply carrying Vitamin_C powder..[/QUOTE]The only medications I bring into Mexico are prescription drugs that I keep in the original pharmacy bottle with my name and my doctor's name. I've never had anybody look in my bag, but I feel safer this way.

From my point of view, go ahead and bring a roller bag into Mexico. That has never caused me a problem. After the turnstile there will be a small Mexican security station, you will need to press the button on the machine if you have a bag with you. I really don't know what that machine does, but they always want me to press the button when I have a bag. After entering, I always go straight to my hotel and drop off my bag so I'm not dragging it around Zona Norte.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2121514]Since I'll be staying a week in Tijuana, I'll need to bring a few clothes and my vitamins. Will I stick out like a sore thumb in Mexico if I'm carrying a small suitcase during the walk to the taxi cabs after the turnstiles? Are there at least a few people who carry small suitcases to the taxis?.[/QUOTE]Many people cross with rolling suitcases. Those people press the button at the customs station and if you get a random red light they will inspect your stuff. Backpack people are seldom asked to press the button so if you are travelling light that would be better.

Stayed at leyva last night fri. 6/13. Pd 28 usdls + 2 dl security deposit that I got back this morn. It seems like the last few times I've stayed here price has gone up each time. Also, there's major renovation going on and has been for some time now. Funny thing was I couldn't find my way down to the officina at ckout due to the staircases being blocked off. Still one of the better and cheaper places to crash although nothing fancy.