New Here, Never Been to TJ

[looksee]

Hi Everyone,

I've never mongered before, but I have been reading up on here and it looks awesome. I've also been looking at the pictures in the HK thread - it looks like paradise! (Big thanks to you brave souls that manage to sneak pictures/vids and share them!)

I'm hoping to make it down to TJ soon. I'll probably wait until the bars open back up at least, though. It's a bit of a travel for me, so I'd want to make the most of it. I'd most likely have to fly into San Diego and go from there. Pretty envious of you guys that can make it a day trip.

I guess I'll just practice my Spanish in the mean time.

Are there people here who have to fly in but still find time to make regular trips?

[smoothburnn]

Welcome aboard .  It’s a wonderful hobby, and TijuanaTalk is a wonderful place.  I am sure that guys are fly in, will respond.  Just enjoy.  Hopefully things will open up soon, and you can make an in person visit, and find out firsthand.

[ElHefe]

12 minutes ago, looksee said:

Hi Everyone,

I've never mongered before, but I have been reading up on here and it looks awesome. I've also been looking at the pictures in the HK thread - it looks like paradise! (Big thanks to you brave souls that manage to sneak pictures/vids and share them!)

I'm hoping to make it down to TJ soon. I'll probably wait until the bars open back up at least, though. It's a bit of a travel for me, so I'd want to make the most of it. I'd most likely have to fly into San Diego and go from there. Pretty envious of you guys that can make it a day trip.

I guess I'll just practice my Spanish in the mean time.

Are there people here who have to fly in but still find time to make regular trips?

I try and make it out like every three months or so. I fly in from Texas and stay usually three nights and two days, but one of those nights is not at the zona and one of the days I usually spend it doing other things like Xolos matches and things like that, Last time I was in was during the Super Bowl and my June trip was cancelled and it looks like my September one will too. I'd still try and go, but I don't want to answer what am I doing in Tijuana from Texas that is so essential. Hopefully they do open back up soon so you can enjoy it firsthand.

[Jello]

2 hours ago, looksee said:

Are there people here who have to fly in but still find time to make regular trips?

Yes, sure.

[Reuben]

I believe that @Dr K and @Jefffffrey fly into SD at least a few times a year to visit TJ.

DuoLingo is a fun app to introduce you to Spanish a bit.  We have a large subforum here about learning Spanish but as all of us will tell you, the best way is to keep at it!

https://www.tijuanatalk.net/forum/29-spanish-school/

That said, don't panic about not knowing Spanish if you decide to show up next week!  You can get by with very little in the Zona Norte at first.

[Jefffffrey]

8 hours ago, looksee said:

Hi Everyone,

I've never mongered before, but I have been reading up on here and it looks awesome. I've also been looking at the pictures in the HK thread - it looks like paradise! (Big thanks to you brave souls that manage to sneak pictures/vids and share them!)

I'm hoping to make it down to TJ soon. I'll probably wait until the bars open back up at least, though. It's a bit of a travel for me, so I'd want to make the most of it. I'd most likely have to fly into San Diego and go from there. Pretty envious of you guys that can make it a day trip.

I guess I'll just practice my Spanish in the mean time.

Are there people here who have to fly in but still find time to make regular trips?

I probably came 6x last year, it only takes a couple of hours for me direct. Not sure what your situation with the cost of flights but Saturday and Tuesday or Wednesday are the cheapest flight days.  I usually go Saturday to Tuesday (one busy, one less busy, and one slow day in la zona).  Not sure if those old generalizations still hold true, but that is what I like to do.

[looksee]

8 hours ago, Jefffffrey said:

I probably came 6x last year, it only takes a couple of hours for me direct. Not sure what your situation with the cost of flights but Saturday and Tuesday or Wednesday are the cheapest flight days.  I usually go Saturday to Tuesday (one busy, one less busy, and one slow day in la zona).  Not sure if those old generalizations still hold true, but that is what I like to do.

Unfortunately, I don't like near any airport that goes direct to SD. (List is here: https://www.san.org/Flights/Nonstop-Destinations). I could fly into LAX, but then it seems messing with a train would be even more hassle. I should probably just accept that getting to TJ will be an all-day affair. Oh well. Just means I'll need to make my trip to TJ last extra long for it to be worth it.

[ElHefe]

28 minutes ago, looksee said:

Unfortunately, I don't like near any airport that goes direct to SD. (List is here: https://www.san.org/Flights/Nonstop-Destinations). I could fly into LAX, but then it seems messing with a train would be even more hassle. I should probably just accept that getting to TJ will be an all-day affair. Oh well. Just means I'll need to make my trip to TJ last extra long for it to be worth it.

You dont need a direct flight to SAN. I have one direct flight a day from my city but its kind of inconvenient so I always use the flight that stops in Phoenix. Check Southwest you may fibd some flights there

Edited July 17, 2020 by ElHefe

[KCQuestor]

I live in Kansas City and started going to TJ every three months or so when Alaska had nonstop flights from Kansas City. They canceled that route, so I started flying American or Southwest. Both airlines do have a few nonstop flights from KC to SAN, and I choose those when I can. But often they are booked or just way more expensive and I have to stop over in Dallas or Denver or Phoenix or LAX. However it's really only an extra hour or two added to the travel time. A nonstop flight will get me to San Diego in about 3.5 hours, while a layover is 5 or 5.5. Considering I gain two hours of time zone change, it's not a problem at all. Often I get to San Diego before 10am and have to kill some time before I head to Tijuana and check in to my hotel.

[looksee]

What do you guys tell your friends/family when you're traveling? I don't think I can just say I'm heading to SD/TJ for sightseeing...

[Jefffffrey]

28 minutes ago, looksee said:

What do you guys tell your friends/family when you're traveling? I don't think I can just say I'm heading to SD/TJ for sightseeing...

If you aren't married you could say you met a "professional" women online from Guadalajara and it is easiest for you both to meat up in TJ.

Depending on your job you could say you have bisness trips to your new branch in SD.

You could say you have a friend giving you a good deal at his timeshare in Cabo.

You could say you are going to Ensenada.  Because it is a nice place to visit.

 

[smoothburnn]

7 minutes ago, Jefffffrey said:

If you aren't married you could say you met a "professional" women online from Guadalajara and it is easiest for you both to meat up in TJ.

Depending on your job you could say you have bisness trips to your new branch in SD.

You could say you have a friend giving you a good deal at his timeshare in Cabo.

You could say you are going to Ensenada.  Because it is a nice place to visit.

Job interview    But that would probably only be good for one or two times 

[Jefffffrey]

1 minute ago, smoothburnn said:

Job interview    But that would probably only be good for one or two times 

Your friend Sampson set you up with a cutie from Sinaloa

[Reuben]

Tijuana and San Diego both have excellent craft brew scenes; you could just be going to check out the brews!

One Amigo used to say he had an aunt in San Diego he would go help out for a few days every couple of months.

Depending on your age, you could go with saying you're looking at places to retire in Mexico.

[ElHefe]

If you go during the season you could say you are a fan of the Xolos. You want to watch the Padres or something  like that. I have used the Im going to visit my Aunt Juana line. Because of the Xolos I now say I fell in love with Tijuana and go get away from everything for a few days.

[Jefffffrey]

The more I think about this, what's wrong with just saying you want to go to Mexico and Tijuana is by far the easiest place to visit?  That is what I say.  I have had people from work ask me about donkey shows but never about hookers.  I just tell them "I think its an urban legend".  I'm not sure if everyone automatically thinks you are a "putero" just because you go to TJ.  Take some pictures at taco stands, at restraunts, at the beach, breweries, with the zonkies, etc.  Tell people you like the place because it is cheap, the people are nice, the food is good, and it has great weather.  The more you act ashamed, the more people will think you are up to no good.  This assumes you don't have a wife.

[PhordPhan]

11 hours ago, looksee said:

Unfortunately, I don't like near any airport that goes direct to SD. (List is here: https://www.san.org/Flights/Nonstop-Destinations). I could fly into LAX, but then it seems messing with a train would be even more hassle. I should probably just accept that getting to TJ will be an all-day affair. Oh well. Just means I'll need to make my trip to TJ last extra long for it to be worth it.

You can look into flying to TIJ. That will cut out the middleman altogether. 

[Dr K]

Yes, I fly into San Diego from Northern California. I would say I make 5-6 trips a year. Since Southwest has such flexible cancel/change rules, I book trips for every other month as far ahead as I can, and I cancel as needed if there's a conflict or a worldwide pandemic hits. I usually fly in Sunday and leave Thursday.

I would suggest researching out the routes that work best for you, and get on that airline's emailing list. That way, you know about sales and when they open up their schedule further down the road. I would recommend leaning towards Southwest if you're able to, simply because of their flexible policies.

Good luck! Start digging through this site.. there's a ton of good info here and it might take you a while to get to all the good stuff.

[Norcalkid]

I fly in, $6 day pass for airport bus/trolley from the airport to the border.  Spend 4/5 nights making a mini vacation of it. 

If your thinking you will cross a lot I'd be looking at applying for Global Entry now.  It makes all the difference. 

[amosrolling]

Las Vegas.  Say that you like to gamble and that rather than going to the local little casinos they treat you right in Vegas, and it is so much fun and you get comped a free room.  Then say that you like poker and sports gambling because you don't lose so much in those.  Works for me.  There was a time three or four years ago I was going to TJ  every two to three weeks, and I have to fly in.  I would just tell people I was in Vegas if it came up.  They thought I had  a gambling addiction, but society is very forgiving of that.  Never underestimate stigma against prostitution; if it gets out you will never recover.

[KCQuestor]

On 7/17/2020 at 11:14 AM, looksee said:

What do you guys tell your friends/family when you're traveling? I don't think I can just say I'm heading to SD/TJ for sightseeing...

Why not? San Diego is one of the best cities in the world for tourists. Beaches, museums, great food, history. And Ensenada is a safe destination, if they know you are going to Mexico. You don't have to say "Tijuana". Talk about Baja California and fishing or the authentic Mexican seafood. I had surgery in Mexico, so I can always say I'm going for a follow-up appointment with my doctor. You could talk about the cheaper dentistry or other medical services, in your case.

Edited July 26, 2020 by KCQuestor

[Gringo Sin Ropa]

I tell people that I am visiting things that are near TJ (and I usually do anyway) such as Rosarito Beach. I tell people that I get such great deals on rooms near the beach and the food is world class and cheap (both are true!) that Northern Baja is one of my favorite vacation destinations. 

However, I would say that even with doing this some people are still suspicious. I used to just tell people I was going to TJ but no longer do. Alot of people I know  just can't fathom why anyone would go to TJ. TJ has a pretty bad reputation and a lot of people I know haven't been since pre-9/11 anyway. When they think about TJ they think about strip clubs and debauchery. They have no idea about the other aspects of TJ such as the food scene, sports teams or nearby attractions. 

In the end though no one can prove anything and I would never admit anyway. I am not married and people don't care to much what I do anyway, I just need to keep my mouth shut about the greatness of TJ when I am around squares. 

Anyway having a different destination that is close by is a good strategy IMO. That way if anyone finds out I was in TJ I can tell them I was passing through to go someplace else. 

I also like @amosrollingstategy of saying you are in Vegas (just be careful of the Mexican ring tone).

Edited July 26, 2020 by Gringo Sin Ropa

[hoechiminh]

On 7/19/2020 at 8:39 AM, amosrolling said:

I would just tell people I was in Vegas if it came up.  They thought I had  a gambling addiction, but society is very forgiving of that.  Never underestimate stigma against prostitution; if it gets out you will never recover.

That is so true. My friends and family know I go to Mexico regularly, but I always tell them I tend to my friend's property in Rosarito, I never say I go to Tijuana or mention anything about women. Whenever a conversation arises about Mexico and prostitutes are mentioned, I just say I'm not into that kind of stuff..........muhahahahaha, little that they know....

 

Especially with what's happening in the US today, many think seeing prostitutes is tantamount to human trafficking. I keep my shit low-key.

[Toomuchsauce]

I fly in from Northern California and just say I’m visiting friends are partying in sd. Sd has a great food and bar scene . 

[looksee]

So I've been on this forum nearly an entire year, and I finally only just now booked a flight for my first TJ trip!

In a couple weeks, I'm flying in on a Saturday night and back out on a Tuesday. I'm thinking for a first trip I should just spend three nights at Cascadas, but I'm not 100% decided yet.

I have a few quick noob questions. Should I post them here or start a new thread?