mojo_norte - 1-13-2011 at 05:33 PM
Thinking about doing the tourist card thing at Tecate. As I understand it, there is no parking or bank at the immigration office (correct me if I'm
wrong here).. So looking for suggestions on a good place to park within reasonable walking distance to immigration and bank. Not too interested in
parking on the US side and walking across.
Spearo - 1-13-2011 at 09:57 PM
There's a bank straight down the hill one block across the street. I have never parked in that area. We walk across and do the FMT thing in the
afternoon, camp at the county park and hit the border at 0600. Don't stop until we see Cortez.
Pacifico - 1-13-2011 at 10:32 PM
There is a place to park....it is off of one of the side streets to the right after you cross into Mexico. It is the 1st street on the right, just
past customs (if I remember correctly). You might have to go past it and go around the block because I think it is a one way street. When we parked
there, there was a security guard who watched everything.
The only pain was having to walk down the big hill and back to the bank. San Ysidro still beats Tecate as easiest for the FMT and bank...
Good luck!
absinvestor - 1-13-2011 at 10:58 PM
I know you said you are not interested in parking on the us side but you might want to reconsider. There is a parking lot less than a block from the
immigration office. We parked there, (US side) walked the 1/2 block to immigration. Got the paperwork in about 5 minutes and then walked another 2
blks to the bank to pay. We found Tecate around the bank to have heavy traffic and trying to find a parking place not worth the hassle. Have a safe
trip. Ron
roadhog - 1-14-2011 at 09:53 AM
Across street from American Customs, right side road before tthe border, is a 7-11 with parking lot on it's north side: $5.
The bank takes Pesos not US.
Visit Potrero Park, San Diego County Parks
Better try Parking at San Ysidro at $8. Walk over to the official customs station with your passport.
mulegemichael - 1-14-2011 at 10:03 AM
go straight ahead for two blocks, take a right and park in front of the school...almost always parking available right there.
roadhog - 1-14-2011 at 10:13 AM
Procedures at Tecate and Tijuana are different. At Tecate I was asked to fill out a long form then the bank wouldn't take US.
At San Ysidro, Tijuana, Customs filled the forms out then the Customs Bank Teller took pesos and issued the Tourist Card.
However, the walking line back into the US is long, an hour ?
b1 - 1-14-2011 at 09:08 PM
Roadhog and Spearo, please check your u2u's. thanks, b1
tecate fmt bank
Martillo - 1-15-2011 at 11:25 AM
Fmt- You can get prepaid fmt from vagabundos del mar office. Then all you need to do is get it stamped. Parking - after customs take first right,
then right again, right again and park along side the road and walk a 50 yards to Immigration office. There is a HSBC bank at the border across from
immigration office. Opens at 9:00 A.M. across from the immigration office.
turtleandtoad - 1-15-2011 at 11:49 AM
Of course, all this talk of taking this turn and that turn and parking assumes that you are driving a car and not an RV 
.
I haven't crossed at Tecate in a couple of years but when I last did, you didn't have to walk down to the square to find a bank. There was a little
hut directly across the main drag from the Customs house that was a Banjercito for paying fees. You had to dodge the traffic coming into Mexico but
that wasn't hard.
I used to walk down to the bank on the square anyway, just to use my ATM card to get some pesos. That way I knew the card would work in Mexico. I also
took the opportunity to sit in the square, people-watch, and have lunch.
Pacifico - 1-15-2011 at 12:52 PM
Information only......last time we were there (a couple months ago)the bank across from customs was closed. We were there during normal business
hours when we thought they would be open. Maybe it was a temporary thing....
toneart - 1-15-2011 at 01:11 PM
I usually tow a trailer and also use the Tecate crossing. While I don't need to get an FMM (I have an FM3) I do stop to convert currency before I
cross into Mexico. There is parking usually available, either on the street near that currency conversion shack. You will see the shack about a block
before the actual border, on the left.
If you don't see parking on the street at that point, turn left and go around the shack and up that road. A half a block up you make a left hand turn
into a mini-mall. There you will see a store that also has a currency conversion window inside. There are also some gas pumps. I park illegally there
because I can't fit into a regular space with the trailer. Nobody has ever protested or given me a ticket. You will see curbs with room to park. I am
usually traveling alone, but if you have someone who can sit in your vehicle, all the better.
I have also gone across and then found parking in the neighborhood near the border crossing that others have referred to. During those times I was
caravaning with others and they had to get their FMMs.