In the past we have always driven our motorhome from the US to Playa El Burro. This time, since we'll only be in Baja for two or three months, we will
be driving the SUV. We cross at Tecate arriving from the East on either Hwy 8 or Hwy 10. I'm looking for a hotel/motel on the US side that is close to
Tecate where we can stay the night before crossing and close to the border so we can get our tourist visas the day before crossing. We travel with a
couple of dogs so need a hotel/motel that accepts dogs. Also, seems like I read once where the tourist visa could be obtained online or by mail?
Thanks RonDENNIS - 8-31-2012 at 11:59 AM
Ron....there isn't much at all on the US side near Tecate. Since you're coming over on the 8...You might consider the Vagabond in Mission Valley...pet
friendly.
Perhaps someone else here has some info on El cajon.David K - 8-31-2012 at 12:01 PM
El Cajon would be it, I do believe... 30 min. from Tecate border.absinvestor - 8-31-2012 at 12:24 PM
Thanks. Vagabound will work. I've always just walked across the border to get the tourist visa. I've never been asked to show it but I'm guessing the
first time I don't have it is the time I will need it!1 Is it possible to get online?David K - 8-31-2012 at 12:31 PM
We all wish it was... but they need to see a current (not expired) passport. Then pay the fee for 180 days (do ask for 180 days, as they have written
in 90 on mine once, before I had a chance to say or write it myself).
The Tijuana INM office now accepts payment, so no need to find an open bank and then return to INM for the stamp. Not so sure about Tecate's INM and
payment ability.Bob and Susan - 8-31-2012 at 12:44 PM
if you stay in el cajon you might as well cross in tj...
way better to cross in tj on the way down
Tecate INM
bajaguy - 8-31-2012 at 12:45 PM
Would be great to get current info on their days/hours of operation and if they accept FMM payments (pesos or dollars)
Pet Friendly
bajaguy - 8-31-2012 at 12:48 PM
The LaQuinta Inn at Bonita and the 805s/b is pet friendly, then cross and pick up FMM at Otay, take Corridor 2000 to toll road (hwy 1)DENNIS - 8-31-2012 at 12:56 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
The LaQuinta Inn at Bonita and the 805s/b is pet friendly, then cross and pick up FMM at Otay, take Corridor 2000 to toll road (hwy 1)
I....and LuLu..stayed there recently. Nice enough place for around the same price as the Mission Valley Vagabond...a bit under a "C"Note for the
night.DENNIS - 8-31-2012 at 12:58 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by absinvestor
Thanks. Vagabound will work.
FYI...The Vag in Chula Vista, on Broadway, is not pet friendly.
Personal experience, we have stayed at various Marriott Residence Inns and the Paradise Point Resort - http://www.paradisepoint.com
[Edited on 8-31-2012 by Gypsy Jan]desertcpl - 8-31-2012 at 01:59 PM
if your coming from the east, you might want to consider
Algodones, its really simple to walk across the border get your visa and pay for it,
you can either stay in Yuma or continue on westyawaraman - 8-31-2012 at 01:59 PM
If arriving from East then Brawley is the only option just get an early start. Or stay in motel in Calexico cross in Mexicali and head W to Tecate. To
bad the Golden Acorn Casino does not have a hotel, they do have a travel center for the truckers though with clean restrooms and showers.absinvestor - 8-31-2012 at 03:40 PM
Thanks to all. To DesertCpl- I haven't been to Algodones. Is there a parking area on the US side? I've been spoiled at Tecate ie parking is about 1/2
block from the immigration office and payment is made about 100 ft from immigration. Does anyone know the hours that the Algodones office is open?elizabeth - 9-1-2012 at 10:24 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Would be great to get current info on their days/hours of operation and if they accept FMM payments (pesos or dollars)
Don't know the days and hours, but it's easy to pay. I drove down end of July and had a friend with me who needed to pay for an FMM...there is a bank
kiosk in the same building complex as the INM.bajaumpaw - 9-1-2012 at 07:44 PM
Dear A
I am from Texas and have driven into Baja via Tecate numerous times. If you are heading West on I-8 you will exit on Hwy 94 (Boulevard) to go to
Tecate. There is a small motel right after you get off the Hwy. I would imagine they accept pets. It's not the most classey place to stay but it is
the closest to Tecate from the East (about 10 miles). Lake Moreno County Park is also near and has cabins for rent through the San Diego Parks Dept.
I don't know if they are pet friendly. Algondes has a large public pay parking lot located right next to the gate. If you are heading West on Hwy
8, and you pass up El Centro (Mexicalli) and don't want to stop at the Boulevard motel, the next motel is in the Chula Vista area. I found that to be
a disaster to find a pet friendly motel and the drive back to Tecate is long and boring if you can ever find the right road to Tecate. I say, stay in
Yuma at Motel 6 (Pet Friendly), go over to Algondes to get your stuff and then enter through Rio Colorado, Algondes, Mexicalli or Tecate. The drive
on the Mexican side is easy and the road is great. I stay at the Indian Casino on the road to Algondes and try to win enough money for gas to Mulege.
I like to enter through Tecate. U2U me if you need additional info.absinvestor - 9-2-2012 at 12:03 PM
Bajaumpaw- thanks for the informative info. The info is much appreciated.absinvestor - 10-7-2012 at 07:54 PM
I found another motel that is close. At exit 65 on I8 ie hwy 94 there is Lux Inn aka Back Country Inn. It is at the intersection of I 8 and hwy 94.
Decent motel. 60/night. clean, accepts dogs, lcd tv etc.rts551 - 10-7-2012 at 08:03 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by absinvestor
I found another motel that is close. At exit 65 on I8 ie hwy 94 there is Lux Inn aka Back Country Inn. It is at the intersection of I 8 and hwy 94.
Decent motel. 60/night. clean, accepts dogs, lcd tv etc.
That is the hotel that bajaumpaw talked about. not classy but the only game in town coming from the East.windgrrl - 10-8-2012 at 07:08 AM
We come from the east. too and have considered a few RV parks north and south of Tecate. This pet friendly place has winter hours and advertises a
bunkhouse or a cabin for rent, but there's a 2-night minimum booking: Sacred Rocks RV Reserve and Camping
If you pull your RV in the future, there's Potrero County Park and Seeley (west of El Centro) Sunbeam Lake RV Resort at Seeley that are close to the
crossing.CortezBlue - 10-8-2012 at 07:18 AM
Living in AZ when I drive to Tecate I have crossed at San Luis and driven to Tecate via Hwy 2 toll road. You could spend the night in Mexicali. Or
stay on I8 and stay in Calexico and then take hwy 2 to tecate. Driving down the road to tecate of off I8 has a bunch of switchbacks and it can be
kind of slow. Costs a bit more to take the toll road, but it is a beautiful drivedesertcpl - 10-8-2012 at 07:32 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by absinvestor
Thanks to all. To DesertCpl- I haven't been to Algodones. Is there a parking area on the US side? I've been spoiled at Tecate ie parking is about 1/2
block from the immigration office and payment is made about 100 ft from immigration. Does anyone know the hours that the Algodones office is open?
sorry about the delay, didnt see your reply until now
about Algodones, the answer is yes, big secure parking lot right on the border, just walk across and Immigration is right inside the gate, and a bank
to pay just next door,
also just down the same road on the US side is the Cocopah
Resort and Casino
