Need Help w./ Tijuana
 

I stockbroker friend is taking his family to San Diego for vacation in a few weeks and wondered where the best place to visit in the Tijuana area might be. His high-school kids have taken Spanish for some time and he thought they might enjoy getting a feel of using the language in a real place would be cool. Any ideas anyone? Thanks.

I lived in San Diego for 3.5 years in the 80's. The main street in TJ has lots of shops. Be very careful about pickpockets etc. Is very bad there. I would recommend going just a little farther south to Rosarita Beach. Little cafes on the ocean and is where they filmed a lot of Titanic. Make sure the rental care lets you take the car into Mexico and you have the right insurance.

The primary area for visitors to TJ would be on Avenida Revolucion, where one can find American style shopping, Polo & Guess, among others, as well as American style eateries, think Hard Rock Café. There are a number of good Mexican restaurants, as well as shops that sell traditional Mexican souvenirs on Ave. Revolucion, but be prepared to haggle over the prices with the shop owners, it is expected. In addition to the Mexican souvenirs, one can come home with the latest In Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and the like at a fraction of the prices at home - they are all counterfeit.

Most shop and restaurant owners & their staff speak English quite well, so going off the beaten path might satisfy their desire to speak the native tongue. A day trip to Puerto Nuevo, where one can feast on lobster, overlooking the Pacific for $5.00 or Ensenada for a day at the beach, might be a better bet. I personally dislike Tijuana, as it is a poor representation of the Mexican people and their culture. Since the drinking age in Mexico is 18, numerous students from the many San Diego universities visit, turning the area into a drunken party, not to mention the opinions others have of Americans. Be prepared for some culture shock, there are many folks asking for money on the street, as well as little children who will cling to you asking that you buy packages of "chicles" or Chiclets, small square gum wrapped in plastic.

The Mexican people living in Tijuana are quite friendly, many coming from different parts of Mexico in hopes of making a living in this border town, but caution is also warranted, as in all larger cities.

Visiting Tijuana at this time is not advisable; unless your list of favorite destinations includes Bogota, Cali, Lagos, and you get a thrill from being in dangerous places. Their police chief was murdered in broad daylight this April; a few days later some federales were found murdered in a ditch. TJ is ground zero in the narco-war right now. You're chances of getting caught up in anything are very remote, but at least be aware. Southern Baja Cal is still nice.

I recently overnighted in TJ on business and have visited the city several times. The comments about Avenida Revolucion are on the mark...in fact several taxicab drivers in TJ recommended against our visiting this area after dark due to the drinking, especially if there are women in your party. The harassment factor apparently can get pretty high.

That's not to say there aren't nice places to visit in TJ. A visit to the cultural museum is fun; there was an IMAX movie about Mexico playing last time I went (shows are available in English and Spanish).

Across the street from the cultural center is the largest shopping mall in Baja California: Rio Tijuana Plaza. The teens in your tour group will undoubtedly enjoy the mall experience. Wander through the Commercial Mexicana superstore to get an idea of the kinds of products and prices typical Mexican consumers utilize in their day to day lives. Dorian's department store is a good bet if anybody wants to shop for clothing or perfume.

Another shopping experience can be had at Pueblo Amigo, close to the San Ysidro port-of-entry. This marketplace can be fun and bartering is expected.

On my last trip, I tried a new restaurant which I highly recommend if you enjoy seafood (they also have very good steak and chicken dishes). Don Pepes Mariscos Restaurant at Blvd. Fundadores #688 (take a taxi as street parking is tight) offers great food, excellent service, and reasonable prices. The complimentary kahlua/ice cream drink is to die for! For something really special, try their Irish Coffee too. The owners and many waiters speak English, but will more than welcome any attempts to speak Spanish. Ask them to call a taxi for you when you are ready to leave...it is safer than hailing a cab on the street after dark.

Enjoy the trip and don't hestitate to ask if you have any questions.

Avenida Revolucion in TJ is a place built for underage drinkers and Marines from San Diego. You should see it once, then move on south. I would go past Rosarita which these days is also loaded with teenagers (your kids may love this).

Ensenada is very nice and along the way you should look out for La Fonda. It's a wonderful restaurant overlooking the Pacific and it has the best Banana Margaritas in the world! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

But if you are renting a car in SD, all you can generally do is park at the border and walk across. Then take a $5 taxi into TJ.

I, too, would resist senting your friend and his family into TJ. There are plenty of places in SD County and LA for that matter, where one can practice their spanish without the risks involved in TJ today. The "mexican" expedrience ins also available elsewhere in Mexico in a safer venue, as stated in previous responses.

Randy,

Have them stay away from TJ & go a bit further south to Rosarito or Ensenada. They are both less dangerous. If they would like to eat some good lobster, have them go to Purto Nuevo, there are many good restaurants there.

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joyfully subversive

I was in Tijuana a short time back. There is some interesting shopping on Avenida Revolucion, you could spend and hour or so there. The cultural center is interesting. There is a Hard Rock Cafe and two Bull Fighting Rings if you are into that. I would not hang around after dark. I agree on taking a trip to Rosarita Beach a little south. I was able to get a taxi for $25 each way.

Jay

Tj is NOT what it used to be and I would not recommend Ave Revolucion for shopping.
There is the newer section with a mall, which has a bakery of all bakeries.

The beaches and restaurants in San Diego are a better way to spend the day. Go to Old Town to practice your spanish.

Those Pueruto Nuovo lobster tails for $5.00 were small and you needed more then one to fill up. Years ago the restaurants were the fisherman's homes and the wife cooked up the meal and you sat in their kitchens.

I would not stay in Tijuana at all. It is primarily an undesirable location, unless you are 19 and just got off three month's sea duty, that is.

Right after you cross the border you will be mobbed by taxi drivers. Select one who speaks some English, and negotiate a price to Rosarita Beach. Do not take a rental auto over, as driving in Mexico is quite adventurous.

The beach spot with the lobster tails sounds good, but, I have never been there. However, Rosarita Beach is incomparably preferable to TJ.

I went with another adult and three kids aged 11, 12, and 13 to SoCal two weeks ago. Ironically, the kids' trip report for the week said that their afternoon visit to TJ was their second highest rated activity (even above snorkeling on Catalina Island & the SD Zoo). For safety reasons, we made certain to leave TJ before nightfall and we parked at the border ($5).

We crossed the TJ border area bridge further into TJ (recommended) and walked around all afternoon. I thought the kids would hate it but they said it was an exciting experience. They ended up bargaining with the street merchants and were engulfed in the different culture. The kids asked questions about haggling, the housing, the tiny streets, the vendors, the carving & glasswork craftsmanship, the young Mexican children running around, the language, you name it -- they were wide eyed. They even began a competition to see who would pay the least amount for a single Hard Rock - Tijuana Shirt ($4.95 was the winner). They brought back bags of unique souvenirs for themselves and their friends along with a fun story about each.

Yes, the language is different, the city is poor, and there is some danger to be respected - but these kids said they came back with a new perspective on what the world was all about. Even crossing back into the US was an adventure and gave them an appreciation for clearing customs.

While I'd agree that going further into Mexico would be better, if you only have a couple hours to spare, TJ can be handled. Be certain to exercise the same cautions (and more) as if you were in any large city. Oh, and if you’re looking for something to drink, be sure to get a Coke, Pepsi, or water (whatever) in a bottle - no fountain drinks.

FYI: The coolest beach, pier, & waves according to the kids were at Oceanside (about 40 minutes north up the coast). The two SD beaches we went to were a little dirty with an oily and glittery substance (according to the locals this pollution comes from TJ's sewer system). Please note I'm talking about the two SD area beaches we went to... I'm not indicating this is the condition of all of the SD beaches.

Finally, the water temps at the time were about 69 degrees – pretty cold if you planned an afternoon in the water.

Let me know if you want more information on what the kids thought. Overall, they had a wonderful, very memorable time in the SoCal area.

Many years ago, Rosarita beach Hotel was a good place to go for a beer and tacos. I suspect it has been renovated and upgraded for tourists.