Going to Tijuana in 3 wks. Any tips/advice? shopping. Any tips/tricks/adivce?

Question

Staying in San Diego... we'll cross border there.... we mostly want to shop.. Wondering if it is safe to eat the food (tacos) and order soft drinks? Thanks for any help. :-)

Answer 1

We live in the San Diego area and visit Tijuana on a regular basis to buy my wife's prescriptions. Some pointers:

1. Go during the day, when Tijuana is perfectly safe. If you go at nght you're asking for trouble.

2. If you're driving, call your car insurance agent before you leave. Most quality companies (we have State Farm) cover you up to 25 miles across the border as part of your regular policy. So if you're only going to Tijuana you won't have to buy Mexican car insurance. BUT if you intend to drive 25 miles and 1 inch into Mexico, buy insurance at the border before you cross. One day will cost you around 12 bucks.

3. You can walk into Tijuana easily by taking a car and parking it in San Ysidro (the town on the US side of the border), taking the trolley, which runs right to the border, or taking a cab. When you enter Mexico, walk straight ahead until you come to an area that branches off to the right. Turn right there (you'll see a McDonalds ahead!) and pass through the second set of turnstiles. You'll be in a shopping area. Walk past the McDonalds and turn right there. Ahead of you will be a small plaza surrounded by a variety of shops. If you walk straight ahead through this plaza you'll come to a series of ramps and steps that will lead you to a concrete, foot traffic only bridge across the Tijuana River, which is usually dry. As you cross the bridge, ahead of you you will see sort of a miniature version of the St. Louis arch. This marks the beginning of Avenida de la Revolucion, the main tourist shopping area in Tijuana. When you come down the ramps on the other side of the foot bridge there will be a rather ramshackle group of barrios directly in front of you. This is a great place to shop. When you're done shopping here, look for that arch - it will only be about three blocks away. Head for it and you'll be at the northern end of Ave. Revolucion. Shop to your heart's content. It's very easy to retrace your steps back to the border crossing. By the way, if you're driving, expect to spend at least one hour getting back across the border into the US (no delay getting into Mexico). If you're walking, there may still be a line, but it will never take as long to return as it will by car.

4. You can bring one liter of alcohol and one carton of cigarettes per person back across the border with you. More than that and they will probably have you pay duty. If you purchase prescription medication, have the prescription or the previous bottle with you - the Mexican pharmacist won't care, but the customs people will. You won't be able to buy psychotropics in Mexico without a Mexican prescription, but you can get most other medications at greatly reduced prices. By the way, prescription prices vary quite a bit. We've found the lowest overall prices at the drugstore that is right in front of you on the corner as you enter through the turnstiles.

5. There is a very large outlet mall just west of Interstate 5 at the border in San Ysidro. If you do want to get cigarettes or alcohol, buy them here and walk or drive them across the border and back. It's the best deal you'll find.

6. Right now you only need a driver's license to cross the border. Every adult needs this or another acceptable picture ID. DO NOT forget it! That is scheduled to change next year.

7. Don't drink the water - other than that, by all means sample the food. You haven't visited Tijuana until you've had a carne asada burrito from a little shop and a bag of churros (fried doughnut sticks sprinkled with cinnamon - one buck - no more) from a street corner vendor. Across the street from the McDonalds, near the corner, is a little shop that has outstanding carne asada and barbecued pork burritos and tacos. If you're a Pepsi products fan you're going to have a hard time - for some reason Coke has the market cornered. The Mexican equivalent of Diet Coke is called Coke Light - my wife much prefers it to her usual Diet Coke.

8. You'll find outstanding bargains, particularly on leather goods, various types of pottery, shoes, clothing and gold and silver jewelry. You will not get the shop owner's best price until you walk out of the door. Always let the shop owner name the price. If he says $60, don't say "I'll give you $30" and think you got a bargain. Just shake your head and keep looking around. Last year I bought a very nice leather briefcase for a Christmas present. The shop owner started off at $120. I walked out of the store with it for $20.

9. Oddly, there are some items that shop owners will not haggle on. Stained glass is one of them. Generally speaking, if there is actually a price marked on the item, you'll seldom get it for less.

10. Be prepared to deal with lots of very cute and very dirty little kids, tired looking women and variously handicapped people coming up to you and trying to sell you Chiclets(?!), jewelry or all sorts of other things - or just plain straightforward begging. It's up to you how you want to deal with it. If you'd rather not, a raised hand and a firm shake of the head will nearly always send them looking for someone else - you don't have to be mean - except possibly to the turkeys trying to wash your windshield with an oily rag if you drove over.

11. Don't worry about language - pretty much everyone you meet in Tijuana will speak and understand English just fine.

12. When you're ready to leave, retrace your steps to the McDonalds mentioned earlier. If you're confused about how to proceed from there, just ask one of the many people you'll see heading back toward the border crossing. Don't let the flock of taxi drivers standing around convince you that you need to take a taxi. Customs is only about 5 or 6 blocks (maximum) from where you're standing.

13. Be nice to people. Enjoy yourself. Tijuana can be lots of fun.

14. P.S. - If you want the very best bargain, consider going early - about 9 a.m. Many of the shop owners really do believe that an early morning sale will bring them good luck and will give you an even better price than normal if you're the first paying customer of the day!

Peace,

Radical Geezer

Answer 2

sounds like you are just going for shopping.
my advice:
don't drive across - traffic is a bit different in Tijuana, and you will need to get Mexico coverage insurance for your car. you can park at the border and just walk across.

The central parts of Tijuana are fairly safe for visitors, especially during the day. Food and bottled/canned drinks are ok - perhaps avoid tap water - and ice cubes made from tap water. There's lots of good food to be had in TJ, besides just tacos.

As when visiting most places , be smart - don't flash a lot of jewelry or expensive items or money around on the street - not only are crooks attracted to displays of wealth, shopkeepers might think you are rich, and charge you more ;)

You can check out some tips for shopping here:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Mexico/Estado_de_Baja_California_Norte/Tijuana-923759/Shopping-Tijuana-BR-1.html
and
http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casdtijuana/

Answer 3

I can't top Radical Geezer but ok: if you're only going to TJ walk across, driving across is brutal, but worth it if you're going further South. When you cross at San Ysidro there's a plaza with a McDonalds from there it points you towards Avenida De La Revelucion which is where you want to head, and you can hoof it, but there are taxi's who will ask you if you want a ride. You could do some spot shopping right there in the plaza, but that (in my opinion) would be to get a guideline as to what prices you're looking at to begin your bargaining. This may sound stupid but have a flip pad of paper or something that you can note prices of different things at different places . In the beginning, you think you'll remember everything but after a while EVERY VENDOR begins to look the same, they all call you sweetie, honey baby like they know you; they are very charming sales people there! And it does get confusing. It is safe to eat the food, there are actually a couple of very touristy places (Carlos N Charlies, Senor Frogs, I think even a Hard Rock {no!}) But even the little restaurants are fine - get your water in bottles and get your sodas in ice cold cans. I wouldn't get a street taco, but I eat at the restaurants all the time. But speaking of eating, if you're going to TJ and you have a car then you might want to think about going down another 40 minutes to Puerto Nuevo and having lobster, lobster lobster! It's great BBQ'd with rice and Beans and Quacamole and butter lot's of butter... OK Must be hungry. It used to be REALLY inexpensive, now it's just cheaper than anything you can get in the states, but it is great!Back to shopping:.Don't be shy about bargaining, but try to be respectful too. Alot of places mass produce stuff and that's one thing, but recognize that some people actually do craft their stuff, so just be cognizant of the fact that that is how they live. I just got the BEST salad bowl there, it's big enough for 20 salad eaters and is bright red/green/purple/blue - when I'm not using it for the salad I have it in the middle of my coffee table where I throw my magazines (Did I mention it's big?). It looks really good
like that too! It was "originally" $95.00 and I paid $45.00 plus 5.00 because I had a fifty... So that's my last tip: Bring LOTS of ONES AND FIVES, because there is nothing so embarassing as to bargain and bargain your price down and then ask for change from a fifty! So maybe I have topped Radical Geezer in that that last tip was golden! Have fun, you'll be safe I go there a lot by myself and I don't ever feel unsafe, but I'm also really paying attention to what I'm doing. I am always looking for like two ways around any situation...just pay attention and you'll be fine

Answer 4

Hi hope your looking to get drunk or pick up a hooker because that pretty much what is in tijuana! Yes, you can shop there but it's mostly junk you probably wouldn't want. unless you like knick knacks. You can eat the taco's that you see them cooking in front of you usually on portable carts. these are the best. Go to the restaurants designed for tourists you will be gouged in price and the quality is pretty bad. Well if you must you must, try to have a good time.

Answer 5

ola !
... i park on the u.s. side and walk over - you
won't get stuck in the traffic going back ... if
you choose to drive...do not skip getting auto insurance {even for one day}...you can get a taxi when you're there if you don't drive.

...if you have the time...it's fun to spend at least a night in ensenada ... the toll road doesn't cost much...is nice on the coast...there are reasonablely priced hotels right in the middle of the city where you can walk to many nice restaurants, shops and more. {lots to see and do and not like a border city} or roserita beach is a fun place as well...

...i have never had any problems eating in restaurants...ordering mineral water, margaritas, or soda. tourists are too important to the economy for people to get sick.

... as i've lived in san diego since 1969 i have spent alot of time in mexico...i am a vegeterian but have bought mangos and fresh coconut
from street venders.

...bartering in the street shops where they try to get you in is expected....if you think the price is too high...walk away and often they will offer a lower price...

...lastely...if you offer a price they accept you really should buy it...you have made a deal and it is extremely rude not to keep it. {the expensive shops have set prices} +
the last lastly...careful of that cheap rollex watch from the street !
bein viejo ... have fun !!~~!

Answer 6

Be sure if you're driving to have insurance. Don't remember how he got it, but driving in Tj you need it.
Don't order food that has been cooked with the water.. Buy bottled water, or take your own.
The vendors there expect you to bargain with them. GOt a nice woven rug there for $13 one time.. THe vendors will try to get you into their store.. and the children will follow you around for change. At least that's what they did the last time I was there.
Expect alot of walking... and if you intend to use the bathroom on the Mexico side of the border, bring your own toilet tissue. The last time I was there, we had to pay for it! Have a good time!!!!!

Answer 7

Its usually safe, but you should drink from closed containers, also, if you are going shopping, BARTER!!! lower the price to a cheaper price, many tourists dont do that and just pay the price given, lower the price, if you dont buy it for 50 percent of the original price you didnt do a good job in lowering it. If they dont want to sell it to you at a lower price, just walk away, usually you'll find someone willing to lower the price just for you. Closed container drinks, no water (unless its in a closed container, like bottled water) and food, well, all i can say is good luck if you want to go for the tacos.

Answer 8

Tijuana Mexico is a friendly place I have been there several times on the ship it is lovely you will enjoy it, you have to be their to see what I am talking about

Answer 9

Lots of good places to eat and shop, my advice...walk, don't drive across the border.

Answer 10

hide your money well, and learn how to haggle.