How to bring money to Tijuana?
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I have never been to Tijuana, but I’ve heard and read horror stories of visitors losing all their hard-earned money because they were searched by corrupt cops or robbed by unscrupulous locals. How would you recommend someone take their money across the border and into Tijuana?
I have read reviews here recommending that a visitor should only bring cash in smaller denominations, but that seems like a major hassle to carry all those small bills. If I were to bring 100s or 50s would I be able to exchange them for 20s and Singles at a local store or at the bar or hotel counter at Hong Kong? I have read that the bouncers give you a once-over before you enter the club. Should I be wary of losing money?
Also, would it be OK to carry the money in a backpack? I was thinking about purchasing some underwear with discreet pockets where I could stash some of my moneys. Are your belongings searched when crossing the border? Does border patrol routinely frisk you? I want to be honest and upfront, but I also want to keep a low-profile.
I would hate to spend the time and money to get to Tijuana, only to lose it all because I did not take the proper precautions. Thank you all for your advices.
I have read reviews here recommending that a visitor should only bring cash in smaller denominations, but that seems like a major hassle to carry all those small bills. If I were to bring 100s or 50s would I be able to exchange them for 20s and Singles at a local store or at the bar or hotel counter at Hong Kong? I have read that the bouncers give you a once-over before you enter the club. Should I be wary of losing money?
Also, would it be OK to carry the money in a backpack? I was thinking about purchasing some underwear with discreet pockets where I could stash some of my moneys. Are your belongings searched when crossing the border? Does border patrol routinely frisk you? I want to be honest and upfront, but I also want to keep a low-profile.
I would hate to spend the time and money to get to Tijuana, only to lose it all because I did not take the proper precautions. Thank you all for your advices.
30 comments
maybe i’ve been lucky. allmost four years ago i had my only pick pocket experience and i immediately grabbed her arm and insisted that she hand my folded money back. this happened with an older ‘ walker’ by the corner of the alley and ninos heros. after she handed the money back she had the nerve to ask for a tip!
the policea are perhaps the biggest thieves. if you get stopped just hold your money and phone in one hand. more than likely they will leave it alone. i’ve only been frisked once when my buddy got pulled over for speeding and tinted windows.
no problem with getting change with a trusted mesero in hong kong. first... take note of his NAME and NUMBER. i order a drink and hand him the ben and usually ask for all ones back. the best meseros bring back a stack of ones rubber banded or paper banded together and either hands me the whole stack from which i pay for the drink or in front of me he takes the appropriate cost of the drink and then i tip $2. $1 for the drink tip and $1 for the stack of ones.
However, on one visit, I decided to walk from Avenue Revolution (a popular touristy retail area) to Hong Kong Club (less than a mile). It was the middle of the afternoon so, no big deal. As I was walking a man started walking along side me and offering to "guide me" on my walk to Hong Kong. I politely said no and ignored him, but he persisted in walking with me. After two blocks of walking, a local police car pulls up and three officers approach me. I ask them what I was doing wrong and they told me that I was hanging out with a "known drug dealer." They had me place my hands on the police cruiser and searched my pockets and my wallet. The cop checked the cash in my wallet (about $400 for this particular trip) and I was fully expecting the cop to plant some drugs on me and arrest me. Fortunately, their supervisor (who spoke some English) pulled up and sent the cops on their way and sent me back to Avenue Revolution, where I found a cab for the trip to Hong Kong.
Since that visit, I take a cab and make sure to carry some cash in a location other than my wallet, sometimes a shoe or a travel belt, just to be safe.
@BrotherFogHorn One of the local clubs in my area installed a Bitcoin ATM. Never seen a single soul use it.
I know most of the dancers don’t speak English, but are there a decent number of waiters and staff members at Hong Kong and Hotel Cascadas that speak English?
@justme62 I’ll be sure to take stock of the name and number of any mesero who helps me.
@Electronman Scary experience. Glad you didn’t end up in a TJ prison cell.
You can use cards for a hotel or decent restaurant, although I never have, and there are ATM’s everywhere.
I’ve been a dozen times or more, walked all over downtown as well as to/from both border crossings daytime. Just be smart and stay alert and blend in.
The one time I brought a Benjamin I couldn't break it for $20s because they were all out. Then your stuck paying a girl $100 I stead of $80, which sucks unless you want to tip her. I bring $400 Everytime I go. $55 to $75 for the room, $30 deposit for the mini fridge. 2 to 3 girls upstairs, $60 to $80 each. The rest is for extras, drinks, tipping etc. I bring about $30 in ones for tipping per day. But that's me. I like to finger the stage girls, grab ass and boobs, and partake in the dildo show to my heart's delight.
Just keep your head down, don't act like a newbie who doesn't know anything. If you act like you know what's going on they will leave you alone. Go straight to HK, straight back to the border.
I've been going the past 6 or 7 years. Stick to cabs to and and from the border and you should be fine. Remember, you're not the only gringo down there and they want your business. As mentioned, don't draw attention to yourself and you'll be fine. And treat yourself to some street tacos. Usually the second best part of the trip.
As for cash, couple C-notes and a pile of 20's.
Have fun.
Justme62, 3 days, I guess with 2 nights. Do you do TLN's with the girls?
What time is best for trying to set this up, hooking up with the girl?
Ever try to get your girl(s) in the VIP Room? Any advantages?
SJG
SJG
doing vip for a half hour is more expensive than going up arriba. done it twice.
there's constant change of the prettiest girls. they get a novio quickly or a sugar daddy.
before you get in a cab say $5 hong kong. that includes a tip. I haven't been in a cab in over a year. personally i take a 10 peso ruta bus. and then walk less than three blocks to zona norte. then hk vip car back to the border. tip $1. that is my normal tip to anyone i tip. I might tip $2 if I feel generous.
IF you are checked into a room, then you just take her to your room. How much time and how much money will vary.
I would say that the more front room time and generosity, and the more makeout session, then the more chemistry for the arriba, and the easier to set up a future meetings for TLN.
Yes, this all costs money. None of it is cheap. But I would say that the faster you can escalate with a girl, the easier. Front room premiminaries and makeout session. Long session, TLN, then a second outside meeting outside the zona. And daily electronic contact set up ASAP.
In my view, the HK bar girls would be the most difficult. But the lesser clubs like Playboy bar should go easier, then the street girls even more. More likely to live locally, set their own hours, their own bosses.
But yes, I do know that this is always going to be expensive. But first thing to do is pick your girl and start getting under her skin and getting her off script.
SJG
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To everyone else :
As far as the 8-10x I've gone in the last year and half, I've had no issues as far as carrying or bringing money. To put you at ease a little bit, here is a story (which I've told in an article I wrote a year ago). I checked out of my hotel and checked my (2) bags at HK. I did this b/c my flight was that evening and checkout was at 11am or w/e. Tipped the guy $2 and he checked my bag and gave me my slip to retrieve bags later. I ended up finding out I mixed up the departure time and arrival time. I thought I had more time when I didnt so I became in a rush. Long story short is I ended up with my bag and someone elses bag without me realizing it (plain black backpack). Got to my airline gate when I realized it. I had $1200 cash in my bag sitting at HK still. Missed my flight and went back. Backpack was there and not a thing missing. They apologized and paid for my food, taxi, drinks, and hotel for the night. All was fine in the end. 2 things come from this story - your bag is safe if you check it, and always make sure you have the right bag lol.
Also a tip : If you are leaving HK through the alley, and you go to the right until you have to go left or right, and take a left. 3 blocks down (you'll see about a block down is where the police are, just go past the police stand) is a bank on the right. i think it's banknorte but not 100%. one of the ATMs (far left or far right machine) has english and you can receive money in US Currency for a fee. I used Bank of America card and for $300, total fee was under $4.00 (ended up like 303.65 or something like that) if you get in pesos, i think it's only like $2 charge. It's a good back up if you run out of money, but also if you don't like carrying much on you/at hotel, even a couple trips to the bank will be $10 total in fees and maybe put your mindset at ease.
OH, now I understand, this is an old thread and Redbaron12 bumped it.
SJG
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