San Ysidro crossing?

In your honorable Nomad's opinions, would it usually be faster to cross northbound from Tijuana on an average Friday at 2PM OR Saturday at 2PM???
Only the 2 choices.

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back Only the 2 choices.

Friday at 2PM would be better

Just do it and remember the border wait is part of the Baja trip! Plan on 1-2 hours and be pleased if it is just 45 minutes! No bathrooms while in line, so plan ahead!

This is why I got a Sentri card and its good for 5 years. I make the line coming out of Mexicali in about 12 to 15 minutes. My wife counted over 300 cars in the 3 lanes leading to the border and we just passed them by in the Sentri line. I actually go more often than I use to just because I can get back quicker and in the summer it definately makes a difference down here with the heat reaching 120 at times during August. The Otay seems to be the Sentri best choice for the San Diego area. It takes less time to get your Sentri if you do it online and then just one visit to complete at Customs at U.S. Port. I met some people from San Diego that choice to get their Sentri cards here by Calexico (the new port does the Sentri cards) as they said it was faster than in San Diego. I do not know but I only spent about 2 hours doing everything even getting the truck checked and sticker put on. Otherwise with out one of these Sentri cards David K is right plan on 2 hour line and kick back with stop and go traffic. bajafun777

Now there's a smart idea.
Given that the line is in Mexican territory, how do you propose this be accomplished? I have thought many times that they should have "citizen-only" lanes. But, do you think the Mexicans in line would respect them? And the Mexican police enforce them? Frankly, I doubt it.

They would if there were a $500 fine.

I propose pay lanes with graduated payments depending on how crowded or how quick you needed to cross. What's your time worth?

If I cold have my way

I would have pay lanes that would have some sort of rail system that when you got to the border (special lane or lanes) someone(read a mexican) would hook up your vehicle with a chain and you could turn off your vehicle (saving gas and not polluting) and it would be pulled mechanicaly, go thru a car wash and depending on the wait time you could even get a wax job. Now to make it even more relaxed this lane would have an adjacent mooving walkway, were you could stretch your legs after a long trip or be free to make calls, check internet, have a drink(soft), read the paper or a magazine, trade in pesos, sell your empty pacifico bottles or even get a shoe shine. The chain would be disengaged shortly before you reach the border inspector and you would be set to cross back with a smile on your face
The way I see it if you go for a car wash you are looking at an hour at least, specialy on a Sunday.
How about 10 dollars a crossing? Of course Nomads would get a 50% discount, frequent crosser discounts would be available as well.
Any investors?

at san ysidro there is a toilet near the u.s. end of the curio stands. $.50 or so but it is clean. just ask. where do you think all the vendors go?

at otay, before you get to the caliente place in the line, there are baseball fields in the industrial area on your right. either pull in and park or if it's 2pm on a saturday get out and walk towards the center of the fields and ask. there are a lot of people around. and bring your own wipe-um....

[Edited on 4-15-2007 by woody in ob]

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt I would have pay lanes that would have some sort of rail system that when you got to the border (special lane or lanes) someone(read a mexican) would hook up your vehicle with a chain and you could turn off your vehicle (saving gas and not polluting) and it would be pulled mechanicaly, go thru a car wash and depending on the wait time you could even get a wax job. Now to make it even more relaxed this lane would have an adjacent mooving walkway, were you could stretch your legs after a long trip or be free to make calls, check internet, have a drink(soft), read the paper or a magazine, trade in pesos, sell your empty pacifico bottles or even get a shoe shine. The chain would be disengaged shortly before you reach the border inspector and you would be set to cross back with a smile on your face The way I see it if you go for a car wash you are looking at an hour at least, specialy on a Sunday. How about 10 dollars a crossing? Of course Nomads would get a 50% discount, frequent crosser discounts would be available as well. Any investors?

But my lungs would miss all of the fumes.

Such a great idea---just add some mariachi bands for entertainment.

Diane

bob-

any ideas on how to improve the flow? maybe a terse, "could ya hurry it up, bub?" when the inspector asks what you have to declare!

Interesting

sorry i don't have this "one" answer

but waiting in line for 2 hours is abuse...and disrespectful

there are plenty of counter-terrorism devices in place to move the line along quickly

foriengers are not the ones making the lines long
it the employees working at the booths...period

if you think waiting in line at tj is making your country safer...
maybe we should have a 2 hour line for you guys

That simple? They should hire you, then you could solve all their problems, right compa?
I doubt it that would make much of a difference, except on off-hours. Most of the time, when I cross, ALL the lanes are open. The truth is, the volume is just overwhelming the current infrastructure. Adding personell would only help if the infrastructure were expanded. Again, I think half the lanes should be restricted to citizens, but I don't think that's enforceable given the anarchy south of that border.

I guess Bob thinks they should just speed people through. Why not just eliminate the border entirely - that would speed things up.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan sorry i don't have this "one" answer but waiting in line for 2 hours is abuse...and disrespectful there are plenty of counter-terrorism devices in place to move the line along quickly foriengers are not the ones making the lines long it the employees working at the booths...period if you think waiting in line at tj is making your country safer... maybe we should have a 2 hour line for you guys

Sounds like you have ALL the answers.

Just curious, once you get to the booth, how long does it typically take you to get across? Two minutes? And do you think that's unreasonable?

Out of the mouths of babes

I believe you've got something there.

How about instead of separate lines for citizens simply separate lines for honest people?

i'd have to be in the LONG line then

roberto we can ALL see YOU do not cross at tj

open the border!!! you dont think that 2 min check protects us do you

[Edited on 4-16-2007 by Bob and Susan]

Viva Baja Nomads

Leave it to us to turn a simple friday or saturday question into a debate of imigration, open borders, car washes , who is at fault, San Onofre, Temecula,We are just to funny
Sorry, just came back from Caesars restaurant (BAR) and I could not resist

Probably should have gone straight to bed
In a way, glad I did'nt, Mrs ferna is asking, what is so funny
Don't know, I guess to many Hornitos.
Cant stop laughing

Please bear with me

Ok , Kids have school tomorrow
I must stop

As to the original question, I insist 2 PM friday is best

Just for the heck of it cross on friday 2PM and return to cross on saturday 2 PM and give us first hand info
You never know

Ok, no more for tonight. mañana

Wow, I can have a conversation with myself. If I stay up late enough I could even have my own thread

Poor Ferna!

Well, I am off to sleep myself (11:17pm here in California!)

Good night Kate in Cairo! What a place that is! I was there in 1985... I am sure it is only bigger and traffic crazy as ever!!!

[Edited on 4-16-2007 by David K]

i know the choice is between fri 2pm and sat 2pm but...

i'd go "out of the box" and change my plans...

you going to get the "2 hr wait"

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan i'd have to be in the LONG line then roberto we can ALL see YOU do not cross at tj open the border!!! you dont think that 2 min check protects us do you [Edited on 4-16-2007 by Bob and Susan]

Oops

I guess it's to late to go back and edit
All I wanted was to negotiate a good price for a Caesar salad and lunch w/margarita for my up and comming Tijuana guided walking tours. It was hard to say no to free tequila
It wont happen again
At least not today on Monday

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt I guess it's to late to go back and edit All I wanted was to negotiate a good price for a Caesar salad and lunch w/margarita for my up and comming Tijuana guided walking tours. It was hard to say no to free tequila It wont happen again At least not today on Monday

This morning with my coffee, I sure enjoyed your late night conversation

Still love your other idea for border crossing. Ready to invest in your venture.

Walking tour, interesting, what is that all about? Could be interested.

Diane

Back on topic

While Ferna is probably correct that Fri would be better than Sat, you never know for sure.

If it were me, I would base my decision on known facts. Crossing on Saturday would mean spending one more day in Baja.

Ain't that what it's all about?

I'ts going to be a guided tour, by me, but I hav'nt gotten it all set up yet, I'll let everyone know soon, I still have to negotiate with LA Cetto, lets see how that free wine works out

Obviously - I live in San Diego, have a dentist in TJ and a boat in Ensenada. I cross in Mexicali.

Quote:

open the border!!! you dont think that 2 min check protects us do you

why not monitor both times on this site??