Police shakedowns and pullovers are quite frequent at night, even for hispanic californians, not just gringos. If you arrive late at night with a luggage and take a taxi to HK, that taxi may get pulled over and you get a shakedown. Expect to lose $60 from your wallet.
If they want to search your luggage, then tell them you want to talk to the TJ Tourist Assistance Hotline. Once they know you're very familiar with that, they'll let you go right away, if you did nothing wrong.
The local # is 078, but US cellphone won't go thru, instead it's +52 664 078, or 011 52 664 078 if your phone has no + key. They also have another mobile # with WhatsApp texting as well, +5216644389334
Save those #s to your phone.
+52 is Mexico prefix, 1 is cellphone prefix, landline has no 1 there, 664 is Tijuana prefix, and the rest is the 7 digits phone #. This is useful for asking the chicas' #s also.
Comments
last commentThe first number he listed is +52 664 078. The 078 is a 3-digit number sort of like 911 in the states. For a normal number it would be 7 digits instead.
Log in to vote
Becareful out there, there're taxi and uber drivers working with the corrupt police to pull you over to take your cash, both going to HK and going away from HK.
Use HK taxis as they're vetted by HK. Never bring a lot of cash to last you several days. Go back to US daily to get cash.
Log in to vote
Another contact you should have in your cell:
U.S. CONSULATE - Tijuana
Paseo de las Culturas y Camino as Aeropuerto
Mesa de Otay
Delegación Centenario C.P. 22425
Tijuana, Baja California
664-977-2000
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After-hours emergency hotline: 001-619-692-2154
E-mail: mailto:[email protected]
Log in to vote
Hmmmm............ Just more reasons not to go right now. Thanks for the info.
Log in to vote
While we're on the subject, if you travel out of country you should scan or take a picture of your passport card or the picture page of your passport. Email it to yourself and at least one trusted friend who can send it back to you if needed.
As far as carrying cash is concerned, you should never carry a big wad of it, period. You don't need more than $50 in small bills, and the rest you can bring as 50s and 100s. A few big bills are easier to conceal and the bartenders at HK will make change for you without batting an eye.
Log in to vote
Because of distance and time restrictions I'll probably never make it to TJ but props to TJ for starting this thread and again to him and Mongo for the info. Good stuff guys! 👍
Log in to vote
Another precaution, if you've a girl sleeping overnite in your hotel, make sure to have a proof of the agreed price: otherwise she may charge you $500+ in the morning and you'll still have to pay it or get arrested. I saw this and wrote an article today.
Log in to vote
Thanks TJ !!!!!!!!
Your the best. We appreciate you so much!!!
No idea when I get to use this info but I’ve saved it.
Log in to vote
Those phone #s are good info - apparently the risk is minimal but not zero and best to know what to do in an unlikely event vs be caught like a deer in the headlights.
Log in to vote
I submitted an article with this and other info I've picked up over the years from TUSCL and my visits...
Log in to vote
I feel like I’m still a virgin...
Log in to vote
Saved the numbers, because fuck it. Going to TJ may not be a high priority on my PL bucket list, but it's not impossible.
Log in to vote
don’t bother yet. the club experience is awesome. and not fully allowed yet.
Log in to vote
don’t give me wrong. I like the street girls. in my personal experience the club experience... especially in Hong Kong... just fucking awesome.
Log in to vote
Goddammit, I was literally about to pack my bags and drive 33 hours to visit TJ cause Florida isn't doing me right!
Log in to vote
@Lee
Below is the article you submitted - it seems if may have been cut-off since it seemed you were gonna write more? Or what that the whole article?
"... TL;DR: Not a review, not a memoir... Just a collection of notes about planning a trip to TJ and some things to do while you're there.
COVID is making life boring, so I figured I'd try my hand at writing an article on mongering in TJ... This is meant for beginners to the area, so if you're a regular you won't get much out of it -- if you're in that category, please add your own impressions and correct any factual errors.
I'm assuming that TJ as a destination will someday go back to what it was like before the virus. In any case, I don't see a lot of what I'm going to say changing as long as TJ becomes accessible again.
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL TO TJ
The first thing to keep in mind is that Mexico is a different country. If you're going for the first time, take the time to learn abut the place so you don't get yourself in trouble once you're there. This is stuff as simple as checking the weather so you don't pack the wrong clothes and as complex as knowing how to behave if you are approached by the police. Chances are that you will have a perfectly fun and safe time there, but there's a small and significant chance that you will have a minor or major bind to work yourself out of.
Log in to vote
As far as clothes go in Tijuana (especially in this time of the year…) Shorts and a T-shirt...quite adequate. I travel extremely light and in my opinion quite adequately. do exchange for some pesos... specially for the street girls. but I want to warn you guys... it IS Mexico. it’s a wildcard.
Log in to vote
and it’s helpful to have your passport... (especially the passport card) and sentry or global entry for a fast pass back into the USA...
Log in to vote
knowing Spanish is a huge advantage that I have yet to master... and again pesos is a big advantage especially with the street girls . run the numbers and know what you’re talking about .
my ultimate advice is...
don’t come to Mexico unless you’re willing to take a gamble.
Log in to vote
i’ll throw this in just for the hell of it. A guy wearing shorts in the Mexican culture is gay .
so for six years my gringo ass has been portraying a gay guy in Mexico.
faced with that I am not going to change to wearing long pants and wearing regular shoes.
I have found that wearing shorts is an advantage with almost all the ladies.
Log in to vote
OK you fuckers. no more tips. i’ve already given you too many.
Log in to vote
Just the tips . . . just to see how they feel.
Log in to vote
shit.
Log in to vote
@Papi: That was me... forgot that "<" is a reserved character... I'm editing it.
Log in to vote
I was using a reserved character... D'oh!
Log in to vote
That's not my article. I literally saw the young man got arrested in a Mexico brothel.
Log in to vote
It must have been so bad lately, now the green taxi barkers at old border have a sign "Safe Taxis"
Log in to vote
I used the HK shuttle almost exclusively unless I was in a rush to get back to the border. The shuttle garage is 1/2 block from Ped West with a waiting room and off the main street.
Log in to vote
Sounds like a waste of time and money.
Log in to vote
@RexStardust is pedwest open? Or is HK even sending a driver to pedwest since its been closed?
Log in to vote
Clubs closed again today, no more shuttles, back to Apr-Sep situation. Don't trust any taxi or uber, they work with the police to shake you down. It's best not to carry over $100., use clubs' ATMs, use Charles Schwab card atm fees reimbursed. If you must use taxi, then use HK licensed taxi only, they park infront of HK & Tropical. Ask the HK doormen for "HK safe taxi".
When riding a taxi or uber, keep an eye on your back, if your see a cop car behind, you'll certainly get pulled over, read the vehicle's ID #, the officer's ID badge maybe missing a digit, it's removable, his name tag may also be useless for reporting.
Log in to vote