Tijuana Reports

[QUOTE=TJDog;2128989]I have never seen an ATM in the Zona Norte area. I think you'd have to go to the Revo area or Zona Rio (not much of a cab ride either way).[/QUOTE]Thanks. Darn, I would have thought those big strip clubs (Hong Kong, etc.) would have ATMs, or at least inside Hotel Cascadas or that nice-looking Hacienda de Santiago hotel. I'm going to tour the Revolution area, but didn't think I'd have to go down to Revolution Avenue just to use an ATM. I guess staying a week in Tijuana presents its challenges. Logistics, logistics.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2128721]Do Tijuana's ATMs let you take out $200 or $300 at a time, or ONLY $100? There are some ATMs in Washington Park, Illinois; Brooklyn, Illinois, and Sauget, Illinois (great strip club cities) that only dispense $100 at a time. The ATMs inside some strip clubs will let you withdraw 200 at a time, but then they ding you with a $20 fee.

And do Tijuana's ATMs dispense in pesos, dollars, or your choice? I guess I'm asking about the ATMs in the Cascadas, Hong Kong, Leyva area, NOT the ones further south on Revolution which would be a long walk away through apparently less-than-safe streets.[/QUOTE]Do not use ATMs in Tijuana. Most of them dispense pesos only. There are a few near the border that will spit out dollars but the fee is astronomical. I got drunk one night, ran out of cash and found this out the hard way. If you want to exchange dls into pesos go to an exchange window as soon as you cross.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2128721]Do Tijuana's ATMs let you take out $200 or $300 at a time, or ONLY $100? There are some ATMs in Washington Park, Illinois; Brooklyn, Illinois, and Sauget, Illinois (great strip club cities) that only dispense $100 at a time. The ATMs inside some strip clubs will let you withdraw 200 at a time, but then they ding you with a $20 fee.

And do Tijuana's ATMs dispense in pesos, dollars, or your choice? I guess I'm asking about the ATMs in the Cascadas, Hong Kong, Leyva area, NOT the ones further south on Revolution which would be a long walk away through apparently less-than-safe streets.[/QUOTE]Mon to Fri. During bank hours HSBC bank one block south of the arch on revolution has atms that dispense dollars or pesos and gives the best exchange rates of all the banks. On constitution and 2nd one block from the zona norte the Calimax market has a HSBC atm inside but pesos only. Store hours only as the atm is inside. You can withdraw up to $500 daily which right now would be about 6300 pesos. The money exchange place on the southeast corner of ninos heroes and first (2 blocks west of the arch) usually has the best rates to sell back pesos for dollars. A safer hotel than leyva would be hotel nelson which is located right next to the arch on revolution.

Thanks for the great info guys! I'll definitely check out that HSBC ATM with the best exchange rates and Hotel Nelson.

The following web page on the Hotel Cascadas web site claims there is an ATM inside the reception area of Hotel Cascadas, which if true, would be so convenient. I hope it's true!

[URL]http://hotelcascadas.com/hotel-rooms.php[/URL]

Just a tip for you Tijuana visitors planning an over night stay. In most of the hotels (particularly in Zona Norte) you'll get these little bars of soap, maybe 2"x1. 5"x1/4", called "Rosa Venus" or something like that. PITA to clean up with them. I started bringing a small bottle of baby shampoo, in a squeeze bottle. A lot easier for showering.

My last visit I showered with the shampoo before hitting the clubs. I was getting a CBJ in El Tigre and the girl said "you smell good" and whipped of the condum and went BBCIM. Well worth the $3 for the shampoo.

Sounds great TJDog. I'll bring Dial Mint Green soap then. It smells pretty good: guaranteed to get you bareback BJs or your money back!

Sorry Memoe, I posted before I saw your post. So to get pesos I should ideally use an exchange window since judging by yours and George's post, the ATMs will knock you down by roughly 2 or 3 percent, while a good exchange window will take just a third of that. Still if there is an ATM inside Cascadas' reception area, I think I'll be tempted to accept the loss to avoid the walk to Ninos Heroes and 1st, but we'll see. I just feel uncomfortable carrying all the cash on me that I'll need for the entire week. If I get robbed by an ombre or a mujer, that would be quite a loss. I dunno, I suppose I'd rather be robbed by an ATM I guess.

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2125620]TJnightwalker created and posted this [U]Night Time[/U] walking map of Tijuana. The map points out relatively safe streets, streets to be careful on, and streets to avoid. Any comments? He created this map in November of 2005, almost 10 years ago.[/QUOTE]Mao is off, I got the best sex I ever had from any woman, let alone a street one on Nina Heroes, in his so called yellow zone, and the red zone on 1st street you can find orientals that are hot and willing at corner of constitution, and that area only had problems once from a Tijuana cop six years ago, and just walked it two weeks ago, and was safe. First to Cohaulla street, in the circle of those three blocks, around Constitution and Nina Heroes, is safe, and I have only had one problem in nine years, and that was from a cop, who now the force is cleaned up, so should be OK. For me Nina Heroes is a must, if want quality and bank for your buck, but for me now Cohaulla Street is where I go to see the most beautiful woman in the world. Map is off, should be fixed.

There is good looking and reliable women to be found in in various parts of the Zona. It often takes time however. Most of the better looking ones are in the alley. When I go Tijuana it will often take me 1-2 hours to find a SG that I am interested in if my regular is not available. Part of the problem is that a lot these girls are scammers and will give poor service. I recommend Carina or Kristal in the alley. Carina hang out near the east end of the alley across from the store that recently opened. Carina is often around. Kristal hangs out roughly across from the HK bar. Kristal does not come out till around 2 or 3 usually.

[QUOTE=Statman;2129849]Mao is off, I got the best sex I ever had from any woman, let alone a street one on Nina Heroes, in his so called yellow zone, and the red zone on 1st street you can find orientals that are hot and willing at corner of constitution, and that area only had problems once from a Tijuana cop six years ago, and just walked it two weeks ago, and was safe. First to Cohaulla street, in the circle of those three blocks, around Constitution and Nina Heroes, is safe, and I have only had one problem in nine years, and that was from a cop, who now the force is cleaned up, so should be OK. For me Nina Heroes is a must, if want quality and bank for your buck, but for me now Cohaulla Street is where I go to see the most beautiful woman in the world. Map is off, should be fixed.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Rosco2;2129578]Sounds great TJDog. I'll bring Dial Mint Green soap then. It smells pretty good: guaranteed to get you bareback BJs or your money back!

Sorry Memoe, I posted before I saw your post. So to get pesos I should ideally use an exchange window since judging by yours and George's post, the ATMs will knock you down by roughly 2 or 3 percent, while a good exchange window will take just a third of that. Still if there is an ATM inside Cascadas' reception area, I think I'll be tempted to accept the loss to avoid the walk to Ninos Heroes and 1st, but we'll see. I just feel uncomfortable carrying all the cash on me that I'll need for the entire week. If I get robbed by an ombre or a mujer, that would be quite a loss. I dunno, I suppose I'd rather be robbed by an ATM I guess.[/QUOTE]I've never used an ATM in Tijuana. However, based on reports I've read, just make sure you don't let anybody "help" you. Card switching scam.

[QUOTE=Statman;2129849]Map is off, I got the best sex I ever had from any woman, let alone a street one on Nina Heroes, in his so called yellow zone, and the red zone on 1st street you can find orientals that are hot and willing at corner of constitution, and that area only had problems once from a Tijuana cop six years ago, and just walked it two weeks ago, and was safe. First to Cohaulla street, in the circle of those three blocks, around Constitution and Nina Heroes, is safe, and I have only had one problem in nine years, and that was from a cop, who now the force is cleaned up, so should be OK. For me Nina Heroes is a must, if want quality and bank for your buck, but for me now Cohaulla Street is where I go to see the most beautiful woman in the world. Map is off, should be fixed.[/QUOTE]Statman, I think TJnightwalker intended the map to be a Night Time walking map. Do you mean you don't think the map even makes sense as a night time guide?

The hsbc atms have instructions in both english and spanish. Asked at hotel santiago and the rate is 41 bucks and they have a hotel safe at the front desk for you to put your valuables. Hotel nelson is safer near the arch on revolution. 423 pesos for a room with tv and ceiling fan (36 bucks) 476 pesos for room with tv and a. See. (40 bucks). Also have a front desk hotel safe for your valuables. The one block walk from constitution and articulo 123 to hotel nelson is safer than the one block walk from constitution and coahuila to hotel santiago. There are many padrotes on coahuila between constitution and revolution watching their girls. BTW the money exchange places give you fewer pesos per dollar than taking out pesos at the hsbc atms. I made 5400 dollars last year taking out pesos at hsbc atms and selling them back immediately for dollars at the money exchange places. Anyone interested PM me.

[QUOTE=MemoeNasty;2129132]Do not use ATMs in Tijuana. Most of them dispense pesos only. There are a few near the border that will spit out dollars but the fee is astronomical. I got drunk one night, ran out of cash and found this out the hard way. If you want to exchange dls into pesos go to an exchange window as soon as you cross.[/QUOTE]This interesting article says to exchange dollars into pesos for Tijuana fun:

[B][URL]http://www.stltoday.com/travel/convert-dollars-to-pesos-to-save-money-when-traveling-to/article_e268be07-c9a0-5807-aace-47ff756005e1.html[/URL][/B]

Walked by nikki's Sunday June 22. Still closed up tighter than a drum with notices that a federal crime was commited.

Okay rosco2 here is the lowdown on exchanging dollars for pesos. Today the bank rate is 13.02 pesos per dollar. If you go to a bank teller the rate is 12.40 received (bought) per dollar and 13.05 pesos to sell back for a dollar. If you use their atm you will receive 12.82 but pay $2 fee to your bank, 33 peso ($2. 65) use of atm fee, and 0. 8% to 1. 0% conversion fee. Take out the max $500 and it will be 6400 pesos. Add the 500,2. 00,2. 65, and 4. 00 (0. 8% x 500) equals 508.65. Divide the 6400 pesos by 508.65 and you have received 12.58 pesos per dollar. That's. 18 more pesos per dollar for 500 bucks equals 90 extra pesos (a bit more than 7 bucks). The money exchange places are giving about 12.40 pesos also to buy and about 12.70 to sell back pesos for dollars. If you use a atm do the max because you will pay your banks $2 and the banks $2. 65 fee even for a lesser amount. You can be sure atms in a bar or strip club will have a much higher fee than a bank atm. Not $2. 65 but hopefully not like USA Strip clubs that sometimes charge 10%.

Thank you George. You are really amazing at math. Maybe you can solve our deficit problem (Smiley).

If Americans are tipping the waiters $1 inside Hong Kong, do you, or anyone else, know what the Mexican locals are tipping: 10 pesos maybe?

And if we're paying $55 per night for a room at Cascadas, what are the locals paying: 550 pesos?