I'm Canadian, going to Ensenada in Nov. for two wks., going to San Diego from Buffalo and doing the bus/trolley to get to the border. I am wondering
why the delay to cross back into the US is so long. I just read one person waited 3.5 hours. Is it that the line up is long or are the customs
people just really slow?
Is there a time of day when it's possibly quicker to cross back into the US?
Thanks
FunkynassauMarc - 8-10-2011 at 06:59 AM
Funky the 3.5 hour was at the TJ-SY border in a car. That's longer than I have ever had to wait there.. I have never crossed on foot but I think that
wait would be minutes not hours.funkynassau - 8-10-2011 at 07:01 AM
Thanks that's good to know. I assumed it was for on foot or in a car that the wait was long for both.
Funkynassautripledigitken - 8-10-2011 at 07:08 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Marc
Funky the 3.5 hour was at the TJ-SY border in a car. That's longer than I have ever had to wait there.. I have never crossed on foot but I think that
wait would be minutes not hours.
Marc,
We cross on foot occasionally and it varies like the auto traffic crossing. Last time crossing on a Thursday around 1pm it was over 1 hour.
Check out the Border Wait Times site so you can plan your trip around the crowds and have a few more hours to lay on the beachshari - 8-10-2011 at 07:21 AM
my favorite way to cross the border at TJ is on the greyhound bus...it zooms past all the traffic, car and foot passengers and has it's own lane and
is very quick and easy.SFandH - 8-10-2011 at 07:33 AM
If you're walking back to the US from Tijuana, cross in the early evening, around 6 PM. Don't get anxious if you find a long line, they move
pedestrians through pretty fast if you have the proper WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) documents, like a passport. The line for non-WHTI
documents can be very slow.
I walk across to buy medicines and take a book with me to read if I hit a long line coming back. If you're a charitable person, have some peso coins
with you to give to the legless, blind, and old women beggars. They really need the help.DENNIS - 8-10-2011 at 07:53 AM
Stay away from the SY crossing on Sundays and Monday mornings. There is no rhyme or reason for what they do. They like to be spontaneous and
unpredictable.lizard lips - 8-10-2011 at 08:20 AM
For those of you that have Sentri and are walking back to the U.S. you don't have to wait in the long line. Just walk right up to the front and stay
to your left where you will see the sign for "Sentri Only" pedestrians.
I had to catch a flight in San Diego and took the bus up a few weeks ago and the walking line was very long. As I was walking past people no one said
a thing as I passed them until I got to the front where a woman blocked my way and told me to get to the back of the line. I rolled the wheels of my
suitcase over her exposed toes and went on my way. The TJ cops also asked me why I was moving to the front and all I said was Sentri and they let me
pass.
Probably saved 2 hours from standing in the sun....Bajajorge - 8-10-2011 at 08:22 AM
Increased security has caused longer wait times. You can blame Al Queda and the Cartels, not the Customs guys.
crossing by bus
Mulegena - 8-10-2011 at 08:25 AM
As Shari said, the sweetest way to cross north is by bus.
You breeze past everybody standing in the long lines.
However, I don't think the buses stop in San Diego, but bypass to Orange County.
Anybody know for certain on this point?DENNIS - 8-10-2011 at 08:27 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
I rolled the wheels of my suitcase over her exposed toes and went on my way.
Sweeet.......Woooosh - 8-10-2011 at 11:43 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
I rolled the wheels of my suitcase over her exposed toes and went on my way.
Sweeet.......
LOL. I hope she was just kidding though. kinda.BajaBlanca - 8-10-2011 at 12:25 PM
you can catch a bus that leaves you right on the san diego border (shorter line across than regular line) I have done this too. sweeet is right !
or a bus can take you to the grayhound station downtown san diego. I have doen this and it is closer for my family to pick me up. sweeeet.
or to many other US locations. Probably listed on grayhound website.DENNIS - 8-10-2011 at 12:34 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Sweeet.......
LOL. I hope she was just kidding though. kinda.
I think you mean he.Pescador - 8-10-2011 at 01:02 PM
There used to be a bus that started at the parking lot on San Ysidro side and it was only $6 to do the round trip, but they are not in business as of
last week. So Shari, what bus do you use and where does it stop?
Another side, I talked to a couple of guys looking for handouts in the line (before the gate for pedestrians) and he says they only let a certain
number of people in to solicit every day and you have to be there early to get a spot. And if you get in one day, you probably will not be approved
for the next day, so they must have some kind of system in place to keep the numbers of beggars at a manageable level. We did see a lady with
Elphantitis and the largest swollen up foot I have ever seen, and the next day she was in another part of Tijuana by the Plaza Rio.JoeJustJoe - 8-10-2011 at 01:05 PM
I often park on the US side and walk in., and then take a cab wherever I'm going.
The average wait crossing back into the US is less when you "walk in" compared with crossing with your car. I would say the average wait for a car
is between one-hour and one and a half hours, and only those special days when something is going on or the border patrol as a bug in their rear end
and takes forever asking questions of people trying to cross the border.
I find the average wait when walking during the day is between 20 minutes and 45 minutes. During the late night after 11PM to the morning hours. There
is almost no wait. The lines are between 5 to 10minutes and some days there is no wait at all! ( except on weekends when the bars close it gets busy
during the night)
For those of you that think the border regions are ghost towns because of the cartel violence. Sorry, the border areas are always teeming with
people, espeically around the US/Mexican border where thousands of people cross back and forth daily.Udo - 8-10-2011 at 02:31 PM
We normally cross into TJ at the Otay Mesa crossing. However, during the Tequila Expo in October, we normally cross and return on the MEXICOACH. Same
$6.00 US as pescador mentioned. Busses run about every 1/2 hour. Very fast entry back into the US because they have a dedicated bus lane at the CBP.Pescador - 8-11-2011 at 10:06 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
We normally cross into TJ at the Otay Mesa crossing. However, during the Tequila Expo in October, we normally cross and return on the MEXICOACH. Same
$6.00 US as pescador mentioned. Busses run about every 1/2 hour. Very fast entry back into the US because they have a dedicated bus lane at the CBP.
Okay, but is Mexicoach running at San Ysidro? Also, does anyone know if the Light Rail runs all the way to the San Diego Airport?David K - 8-11-2011 at 10:09 AM
No... but there must be busses between the two... they are not that far apart, either.DENNIS - 8-11-2011 at 10:11 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
Also, does anyone know if the Light Rail runs all the way to the San Diego Airport?
Not to it, but by it. Not close enough to walk, however.
Get off the Trolley at America Plaza, downtown San Diego. Ask around about a shuttle to the airport.
Amtrak is across the street and it's all there. You'll find a ride.tripledigitken - 8-11-2011 at 10:15 AM
Less than 2 miles from the airport terminal to the nearest trolley station in Little Italy.funkynassau - 8-11-2011 at 01:01 PM
Wow lots of feedback for this post! Ok, we fly to San Diego airport, take the trolley to the border, walk over into Tijuana. We need to do the
reverse on the way back.
About the Greycoach bus, what's the scoop on checking passports etc? How can the bus just drive over without stopping to be checked?
The flight home from SD to Buffalo, then Toronto, only goes at night, one about 9:30 and one about 10:30. Either is fine with us. We had thought of
crossing into the US in the afternoon so we can have a look around and lunch/supper before flying home. We dont want to wait til supper time to make
our way back in case of delays.
Thanks for all of the info!DENNIS - 8-11-2011 at 01:03 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by funkynassau
About the Greycoach bus, what's the scoop on checking passports etc? How can the bus just drive over without stopping to be checked?
I believe the passengers get off and walk through a special lane, then get back aboard.Sweetwater - 8-11-2011 at 02:27 PM
When crossing the border on motos, my buddy and I were directed to cut the line close to the inspection site.....turned out there were four of us
together.....I didn't feel comfortable at the time but several car drivers told us this was acceptable....
Time now to ask ....... true or faux pas....... Don't want to be under the assumption it's OK and get shot at............
BTW, this was crossing into the Yuma, AZ area.....mtgoat666 - 8-11-2011 at 02:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
For those of you that have Sentri and are walking back to the U.S. you don't have to wait in the long line. Just walk right up to the front and stay
to your left where you will see the sign for "Sentri Only" pedestrians.
I had to catch a flight in San Diego and took the bus up a few weeks ago and the walking line was very long. As I was walking past people no one said
a thing as I passed them until I got to the front where a woman blocked my way and told me to get to the back of the line. I rolled the wheels of my
suitcase over her exposed toes and went on my way. The TJ cops also asked me why I was moving to the front and all I said was Sentri and they let me
pass.
Probably saved 2 hours from standing in the sun....
i still find it disconcerting that the US government sells fast service and let's poor make do with slow service.
we all pay taxes for government services, why should we have to pay extra to get better or quicker service from our government.
Nope!
Bajahowodd - 8-11-2011 at 04:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajajorge
Increased security has caused longer wait times. You can blame Al Queda and the Cartels, not the Customs guys.
It more about the military industrial complex. It's about politics and creating the false sense that the elected officials were doing something to
protect the citizens of the US.
We, who have been regular border crossers have had to endure a tremendous hassle. For what?
I dare anyone to show me where this ridiculous increase in border security has actually yielded any significant "gotchas". What it has done is have an
enormous negative effect on tourism to Baja.
Anyone really believe that Osama intended to cross the border while hiding in the trunk of an old, rusty Mitsubishi?Woooosh - 8-11-2011 at 04:55 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
For those of you that have Sentri and are walking back to the U.S. you don't have to wait in the long line. Just walk right up to the front and stay
to your left where you will see the sign for "Sentri Only" pedestrians.
I had to catch a flight in San Diego and took the bus up a few weeks ago and the walking line was very long. As I was walking past people no one said
a thing as I passed them until I got to the front where a woman blocked my way and told me to get to the back of the line. I rolled the wheels of my
suitcase over her exposed toes and went on my way. The TJ cops also asked me why I was moving to the front and all I said was Sentri and they let me
pass.
Probably saved 2 hours from standing in the sun....
i still find it disconcerting that the US government sells fast service and let's poor make do with slow service.
we all pay taxes for government services, why should we have to pay extra to get better or quicker service from our government.
same thing buying your way into the carpool lanes when you are a solo driver.funkynassau - 8-11-2011 at 07:53 PM
Should we decide to get the Greycoach bus to go from Tijuana into California, where do we get this bus? If this is such a quicker/better way to cross
the border, why isnt it more popular or common? Or is it popular and I just dont know it?
How far does this bus go? Our destination is the San Diego airport.
Thanks.Pescador - 8-12-2011 at 10:08 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
i still find it disconcerting that the US government sells fast service and let's poor make do with slow service.
we all pay taxes for government services, why should we have to pay extra to get better or quicker service from our government.
Geez, Goat, you are really an inconsistent thinker. Equal services even though the poor usually do not pay any taxes at all, and then to top it off,
you probably totally support taxing the rich more than the base rate.DENNIS - 8-12-2011 at 10:13 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by funkynassau
How far does this bus go? Our destination is the San Diego airport.
Thanks.
Maybe give them a call:
By Bus: (800) 231-2222 Greyhound Bus Lines offer daily service from San Diego to Tijuana. Costs between $5 and $9.
