BajaNomad

PARKING TO WALK ACROSS BORDER

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 10-16-2011 at 01:33 PM

Hola,

I am planning on parking on the U.S. side and crossing the border at Tijuana on foot to shop at the Costco pharmacy.

As I am navigationally impaired, I am planning on just taking a taxi to and from Costco from the border entry. It would also eliminate the need for a fmm as I am only going to be in mexico for less than 72 hours and I also will not need auto insurance.

Can anyone advise me how to get to the parking lot at the end of the 5 freeway for my walking entry into Baja through the Tijuana crossing ? Are there handicap spaces ?

i'll be making this trek this tuesday and plan on crossing around 10 A.M. is there a good time to do the crossing either for my arrival at the border on the 5 freeway or my crossing on foot ?

Is there anything I should know about taking a taxi, especially in tj ?

I thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

DENNIS - 10-16-2011 at 01:38 PM

I would park around KFC at the end of San Ysidro Blvd. You'll have to walk over the foot bridge to enter Mex, but it's s a shorter walk when you return with your "Made In China" loot, and all those velvet paintings you've always yearned for. :yes:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 10-16-2011 at 01:49 PM

dennis,

i'll go to AAA tomorrow and get some maps.

is it convenient to advise me how to get to the KFC and is parking readily available ? please keep in mind, i am navigationally impaired.

i would still like to know where to get off for the parking at the end of the 5.

i've always wanted an elvis painting on velvet, how did you know ?

thank you !

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

sancho - 10-16-2011 at 01:59 PM

On 5 so. in San Ysidro, you will see last US Exit,
maybe San Ysidro Blvd, I can't remember exactly,
there are 2-3 parking lots directly to your right
as you exit freeway. $7 dollars or so parking, I
park at a Mex Ins kiosk about 1 1/2 blks to the right
after you exit. Taxis available after you walk thru turnstiles into Mex, I have heard of bartering with them about the price, don't know how far costco is from the border. How does the prescription thing work at Costco? I understand
for some meds you need a Mex Pys Prescription?
Try mapquest for freeway directions, exit may be Camino
de la Plaza, 2 blk walk to turnstiles, as I mentioned, about
a yr ago, Mex Pharmacies "OFFICIALLY' were required
to see a Mex doctors Prescription to sell certain Meds,
I don't know if that is in effect or to what level



[Edited on 10-16-2011 by sancho]

Pompano - 10-16-2011 at 02:08 PM

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=49163#pid5680...

Good advice from sancho. I have parked in those pay lots many times, and it's cheap and an easy walk thru the border. Coming back, of course, is a wee bit slooooow. Got some photos of that walk in the thread above.


And here is another site about parking and walking from US to Mexico at San Diego/TJ.

http://www.bajalife.com/bordercrossing/index.html


Hope everything works out for you.

[Edited on 10-16-2011 by Pompano]

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 10-16-2011 at 02:50 PM

Hola sancho,

from my understanding, antibiotics required a prescription as of last year. anything containing narcotics always in the recent past has required a prescription.

i have bought steroid injectibles for a skin condition in los barriles, san jose del cabo and at costco in cabo over the years. i did call costco and they verified they have and will hold it for me.

Hola pampano,

i thank you for your input. i did see your very interesting post of photos of the crossing.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Farmacia Similares

Gypsy Jan - 10-16-2011 at 03:05 PM

Always has a doctor in house to write prescriptions,

Or, minutes away from the border, there is a very large pharmacy (I can't remember the name of it), but it has a large red cross painted on the building) near the Padre Kino circle in Tijuana and they have a doctor on duty 24/7 to diagnose and prescribe medication.

DENNIS - 10-16-2011 at 03:24 PM

KFC..........San Ysidro Blvd off ramp from 805. Left on San Ysidro Blvd.....go almost to the end of the road and KFC is on your right. Easy to see. I think there are pay parking lots in that area as well.

Bob and Susan - 10-16-2011 at 04:33 PM

kfc???

actually the lot directly across from the insurance place is the best

its at the end of the last turn off on the right

walk across

get a cab
ask the cab driver how to get back to the line

he'll assist you in getting the return cab

the cab takes you to the other side og the border crossing
then you just walk across and over the ped brigde to the lot

lots of shoppers
very safe during the daytime

nighttime
on the usa side kinda scary

BajaNomad - 10-17-2011 at 02:16 AM

Last exit is Camino de la Plaza, not San Ysidro Blvd. It's immediately after I-5 and I-805 merge together (going south). It'll say "Last USA Exit".

Options are then to either:

A) Park by the southbound crossing gate. Upon return (walking), you'd then need to cross the foot bridge back to the West side where you parked.

B) Park by the northbound crossing gate (by the trolley). Take the foot bridge over to the West side to cross southbound. Upon your return to the USA, you'll be closer to where you parked.

So choose which direction you want to walk less.

For option (A), when you exit Camino de la Plaza, instead of turning right or left at the end of the exit, go straight (becomes Camiones Way, which dead-ends at the southbound crossing gate). Along this stretch are a couple of large parking lots.

For option (B), when you exit Camino de la Plaza, turn left at the end of the off ramp. Go over the bridge, and then turn right on San Ysidro Blvd. There's a lot on the right, a motel with parking on the left, and if you turn left by the Jack in the Box, you can park in either the small lot on your right (ask them about pre-pay for 8 hours instead of paying the per-hour rate), or left behind Jack in the Box into a larger lot.

I suspect Dennis meant JIB, not KFC?

After crossing the border, the more economical taxis tend to be over to your right near McDonalds, and not the first ones you would come to if you walk straight ahead.

DENNIS - 10-17-2011 at 06:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNomad
I suspect Dennis meant JIB, not KFC?



It's pretty congested down in that area. KFC is on San Ysidro Blvd, just north of the corner of the road that goes back across the freeway to the side with the pedestrian gate...the turnstiles.

Could that be any more confusing?

wessongroup - 10-17-2011 at 07:00 AM

No ... ya out did yourself on that one Dennis... but, I do know where KFC is ... :lol::lol::lol:

BajaBlanca - 10-17-2011 at 07:09 AM

The KFC might be better since upon returning, it is so close .... good luck on your trek ...

durrelllrobert - 10-17-2011 at 11:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=49163#pid5680...

Good advice from sancho. I have parked in those pay lots many times, and it's cheap and an easy walk thru the border. Coming back, of course, is a wee bit slooooow. Got some photos of that walk in the thread above.



[Edited on 10-16-2011 by Pompano]

If you park in the one for the IETA duty free (straight ahead at Camino del Plaza exit) and spend more than $25 there the parking is free.:?::?:

sanquintinsince73 - 10-17-2011 at 11:26 AM

Camino De La Plaza is the best option from S/B 5. What time are you planing on hitting the border? u2u for my number and I'll lead you to the closest parking area.