Is is easier to make the trip to/from Tijuana with a tour group? I've never done a border crossing this way, so I wasn't sure and thought it might be easier to do it with a group. If we go on our own, we will not have a car. We would just plan on taking the Trolley down. Also, if we went on our own we would go down on Sunday late afternoon/evening. Would the stores, etc. still be open? Also, would there be more traffic coming back across the border? Any thoughts are welcome and greatly apprecited.

My first thought is why would you want to go to Tijuana? It's pretty scruffy. It's certainly not representative of Mexico in general. But, having done it in the past, I guess I can understand wanting to do it just once. The thing you do NOT want to do is to drive your car down. You can take the trolley and then walk across the border and then get a cab (negotiate price first) to the center. It's really a long, dirty walk into town. I don't know about going on a Sunday late afternoon, I would guess everything will be on as usual. Coming back, I would expect lots of traffic and lots of underage American kids who have spent the weekend drinking beer in Mexico. Do a search here--the pros and cons have been discussed before.

Agree with Kam. Do not drive your car, a rental car or a friends car into Mexico. You'll see hordes of americans crossing the border on foot and that's for a reason. Check out the traffic coming into the US as you cross over. Unless you're going there for underage drinking can not imagine what you would enjoy, but to each his/her own. The weekends are busy, so it's doubtful that they would close up shop especially if it's the summer.

Why shouldn't you take your car into Tijuana? I thought you could just buy special insurance for this sort of day trip?

Leah, someone took the liberty of topping my essay on Tijuana, which may scare you away from visiting even California, let alone Mexico.

As to the specific questions at hand, tour busses appeared to receive no special consideration in the massive inspection station at the border. I would estimate the average auto on a Saturday night was looking at three hours to get across the border. Walking across the border was faster, but the wait was no less excruciating.

Stores will almost certainly be open, and the vendors will be in place. Enjoy the trip... once.

Oh My!! Thank you to all, especially Neal for topping his posting. I am beginning to feel that I might just decide I would rather spend my time doing something additional in San Diego. We've been to Mexico (Cozumel) before and it was nothing like Tijuana has been described here. We will have our two children with us (ages 24 & 16). I wouldn't want to risk anything happening to them. Again, thanks to all!

I say do Tijuana. It's different. Is it perfect? No. Is it Disneyworld? No. But let's not all become as ethnocentric as Neal has apparently become. It's a different culture. Is it the kind of place I'd like to spend an entire vacation? No. But, you're right there in San Diego; it's not like you're making a special trip at immense cost to go to Tijuana. I do agree with Neal, however, that you only (probably) need to go there once. If you have time, head further south to Rosarito. Pretty cool place.

There is so much to do in SD that it is completely unnecessary for Leah to drag her 16 yo over the border to witness drunken teenagers. There is little to no value added to her vacation by going there. Tijuana is not representative of a different culture. If she wants to expose her family to a different culture she can visit a decent place in Mexico. Tijuana is where opportunists separate Americans from their money.

At the risk of sounding like the "Suzie/Kam Show", I agree with Suzie completely! I've also been to Cozumel and if Leah has been there she's had a taste of Mexico. There are tons of great things to do in San Diego--be sure to see the Wild Animal Park, the San Luis Rey Mission with all its beautiful art, go over to Coronado and eat at the nice little Mexican restaurant that I can never remember the name of. If you have time on your hands in San Diego (which I doubt) you can always head up the coast to Laguna Beach.

I hate to tell you all this, but if the ONLY place you've been in Mexico is Cozumel (or Tijuana) then you haven't been to Mexico. Both places (and, especially, Cancun) are American-made destinations. I certainly wasn't trying to infer that going to Tijuana was to view a different "culture." Did I say that? I happen to think that it's interesting, and important, for people to see. We made it what it is 9tons of people crossing the border to get drunk, laid, or to pick up some drugs). We have corrupted it (our American dollars) and have polluted it. Gee, now we're afraid to go see it. I think we owe it to our kids to show them what we've created in the hopes that we don't do it again. Incidentally, there are some wonderful things to see further south. Sure, there are many great things to do in San Diego which should be done (La Jolla is one), but Leah asked about Tijuana.

Kirk, come back to earth. Leah does not owe it to her children to show them the mess that Tijuana has become. Actually all parents should encourage their children to avoid Tijuana in an effort to end the disaster. And as long a you "imply" we will "infer".

Good point, getagrip, about infer v. imply. I knew it wasn't right when I was typing it.
By the way, I thought it was at Disneyworld where the opportunists separated Americans (and all other nationalities) from their cash?!?

Captain,
That statement is illogical. Please rephrase the question for me and Bones!
Live Long & Prosper......

Spock, I hate to tell you this, but . . .
Bones . . . is . . . DEAD!

Very Well Captain. Thank You for the adquate response regarding Dr. McCoy!

Leah-You can see my idea for crossing the border on the San Diego for seven days post that you asked a question on.
I love Tiajuana, no matter how it got to be the way it is. It is not as foreign as it used to be, but it is a fun place to spend an afternoon.. Kind of like a giant flea market with better food. I don't recommend staying much after dark though.
also..the beach in Coronado is a walkable distance from the foot ferries,or you can take the bus but you can have more fun on bikes or the silly little pedal carriages that they rent at the ferry landing.
Have fun!

Although I agree that Tijuana is a cess-pool, I think a day trip into Mexico can be alot of fun.

My family and I (girls, age 8 and 10) go approx 1 or 2 times/year. We drive our car and scoot past Tijuana and head south on the toll road to Rosarito or Puerto Nuevo which have plenty of neat little shops and restaurants. We always leave our house early enough that we can return to the border before 2pm to minimize the wait.

For the return trip, there is a "not obvious" u-turn that saves you from returning through TJ, but it would be too hard to explain it here. Buy a map or follow the CA license plates.

Have fun and ignore the naysayers.

Leah -

You should go just to see it. It's actually "cleaned up" compared to what it used to look like. We just started going again last year and hadn't been for about 10 years. We were very surprised.

Also, make note if you or anyone you know needs certain medications, you can buy them there for less expensive than here. All you do is buy a prescription (usually $20) and then you are perfectly legal for crossing the border.

My husband uses high-blood pressure medicine and a hair-growth medicine that we can get for way cheaper down there. We also buy my brother-in-law some type of medicine (I forget the name) for his bad indigestion. Pepto doesn't work for him and he has no medical insurance so this is a lifesaver. For traveling, we also get Zolpidem (which is the drug in Ambien) for sleeping on the plane. Way cheaper than here and you don't have to go visit the doctor and do all that hassle.

You'll be amazed at the number of pharmacies you'll see. It's a big industry down there.

Also, since you'll be there in the early evening, there is a little cigar and coffee house about 2/3 down on the right side of the main drag (Revolution), where you can stop for an espresso or coffee. We love sitting there and people-watching as everyone walks by. It's a real hoot.

Lynn

To everyone who is buying drugs in Tijuana or elsewhere in Mexico, please be aware that they don't have the same trademark system that we do in the U.S. For instance, I have an Rx for Lomotil for diarrhea. I needed more in Mexico and thought piece of cake. Went to the pharmacy and was given Lomotil in a purple and yellow packet made by Searle de Mexico, S.A. in Mexico, D.F. When I read the fine print, it was not our Lomotil (which is atropine) but rather loperamide which is our Immodium--same dose, 2 mg. That's not harmful but it's not the drug I thought I was getting. At 90 pesos for 24 tablets, it wasn't much of a bargain either. This happened in Mexico City, not in some border town like Tijuana! Some of the drugs sold over the counter in Mexico are not FDA approved either. And, take a look at the post above about the broken seal on the Kahlua bottle. I just wouldn't mess around with buying drugs in Tijuana. Is this just another way of separating Americans from their money? Would you wonder why there are so many pharmacies in Tijuana and why they are willing to write prescriptions for you when they aren't necessary for people living in Mexico? Think about it and be careful.

There is nothing wrong with buying medicines in Mexico. Just make sure you check them with your doctor or pharmacist when you get back. The drug companies charge much more for medicines in the US because they spend a fortune on advertising and promotion, they have a monopoly on the drug for a period of time, and Americans and their insurance can afford more. It has nothing to do with the actual cost of making the medicine. They sell it cheaper in Mexico and other third world countries because the residents can't afford to pay as much for it. most of the time the medicines are identical and much cheaper.