Baja California tours
 

We are going to visit San Diego next month and planning to cross the border to visit Mexico. I need some help to decide:

1. Should we drive our rental car to get there or take a bus tour?

2. Should we visit Rosarito Beach or go further to Ensenada since we are much more interested in beach and sightseeing than shopping?

Thanks in advance!

ttt

Rental cars are NOT allowed to go into Mexico. You should leave the car at the border and walk across.
If you want to go by car, rent another one in Mexico.
Bustravel in general in Mexico is very good.

Rental cars are NOT allowed to go into Mexico.

Really? We crossed the border in Nogales, AZ with a rental car from California. We had to take an extra insurance. That was it.

Skip Rosarita Beach and the entire town!

When we stopped to get car insurance just north of there, the owner [an ex-pat] said no one goes to the beach as it is rough and dirty -- both the water and actual sand. There are horses all over the beach and there are dogs running all over the town and beach -- you know what that means. We went there with the thought of buying/building a retirement home there after seeing a piece on CBS Sunday Morning about how it is like a less expensive San Diego. No way! Gave up that idea real fast.
Hope this helps...
Debi

Quote from www.alamo.com:
Rentals originating in the United States (USA) can be driven throughout the USA and Canada. Vehicles cannot be driven into Mexico. *Please note: Canadian citizens cannot rent a car in the US and drive it into Canada.

Pls reconsider crossing over San Diego border into Mexico esp with a rental car. Currently, there are worse than usual law enforcement issues in Tijuana...
The issues with crime, panhandling and dirt/disease just isn't worth it for most.

How long do you want to spend in Mexico (and how long will you be in SD? )

I personally wouldn't bother going to Mexico unless you are staying down there several days/a week. Then you could rent a place and enjoy it. But just going for a day or two during a SD visit - why??

Most car rental companies will not let you take their vehicle into Mexico, but I know Enterprise used to. No idea if they still do, and I think you had to get a car from their National City office. They would probably sell you Mexican insurance too. It's not a good idea to wait until you are in Mexico to buy insurance. Get it on the US side of the border. There are many places just off the freeway to buy it as you approach the border. I'm sure they don't let new cars go down there.

Otherwise, I totally agree with 1JAR's advice.