BajaInMyFuture
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Tecate Border Crossing Question
Mods, feel free to more this if I've placed it in the wrong section.
Does anyone know if the bank in Tecate is open on Saturdays to process the Tourist Visa paperwork?
BajaInMyFuture
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absinvestor
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It was not open on our last trip across the border which was 3 months ago. Ron
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BajaInMyFuture
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So how does everyone else handle this issue when when the bank is closed in Tecate? Help me out here oh wise and experianced Baja travelers. . . .
BajaInMyFuture
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bajaguy
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Otay
Cross at Otay, get your FMM there, take Blvd 2000 south
Easy Squeezy
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woody with a view
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tj even easier.
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bajaguy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
tj even easier. |
Nope 
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David K
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For the newbies, both Tijuana and Otay are easy southbound. Both have a minimal amount of city traffic to deal with before entering an express lane
south. Both are open 24/7. However, I am not sure Otay has a bank teller 24/7 for paying the FMM fee like Tijuana has.
Tecate actually has a lot more city traffic to cross before getting out of town... several blocks in fact. I just don't understand the fascination
with driving all the way up the mountain to Tecate only to drive back down to the coast again...? Northbound the shorter border wait is worth it, but
southbound both Tijuana (using 1-D Toll highway south) and Otay (using the free Corredor 2000 south) are much shorter, quicker and only a couple of
city merges or intersections to cross.
2-5-11 update: The Gull warns that the border road between Tijuana border and the Toll Highway (heading to Playas de Tijuana & Rosarito) is under
construction and not a fast route right now.
[Edited on 2-5-2011 by David K]
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TMW
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Some people may not want to deal with bad cops or they're concerned about safety along that area toward Ensenada. I've had problems with cops in the
TJ area, usually after dark, and avoided it for years. Never had a problem in Tecate. Only in the past two years have I started using the toll road
again to go down.
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absinvestor
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We like Tecate because of the proximity to Potrero state park. We stay at Potrero the day before heading south. We drive the 7 or so miles from
Potrero to Tecate Ca. We park in one of the three us parking lots and walk across to Tecate Mx to get our tourist cards, pay at the bank, exchange
dollars for pesos and get the shoes shined while eating lunch or dinner (depending on the time of day.) After we're done eating we walk back the 4 or
5 blocks to the motorhome and head to Potrero for the night. The next day we cross into Mexico not needing anything. Works for us. Ron ps in the past
when we lived in Punta Banda we always crossed at Tj but now the parking etc makes it inconvenient. Ron
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Spearo
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Ditto what absinvestor said. THe bank isn't open on the weekends. You can get a prepaid FMT from Vagabundos and no worries. If you camp at Potrero
you can hit the border at 0600, make it to GN no problemo
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woody with a view
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
tj even easier. |
Nope |
yep!
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David K
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See The Gull's post today about the border road to Playas and 1-D from Tijuana being closed/ under construction... Use Otay!
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DENNIS
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I wouldn't say the TJ crossing would be easy for a noob. It's all a driver can do to be watching potholes and Kamikaze traffic let alone roadmarks
for turning. I've done it three million times and I still stress in the middle of it all.
I usually take the fence road and the changeover on top of the bridge can be tough, especially for the timid. [it reminds me of ice skate racers when
they change lanes at top speed.]
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bdesj
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I wouldn't say the TJ crossing would be easy for a noob. It's all a driver can do to be watching potholes and Kamikaze traffic let alone roadmarks
for turning. |
Thank you, Dennis.
I registered just to say that, because my wife and I (noobs to TJ, even though we`re definitely not noobs to Mexico) crossed there two years ago and
it was NOT easy for us. We even had printed out directions beforehand, but city traffic, unexpected detours, hard to see signs and landmarks, yowza!
We had to ask for directions at least three times . Imagine how terrifying it
would be for somebody who isn`t comfortable with Spanish or isn`t used to SOB driving.
Anyway, I need to drive to Ensenada again next month and I`ll be taking Rte 3 through Tecate this time! Found all the info I was looking for right
here on this great site- muchos thankyous to everybody here for the great advice!
[Edited on 2-11-2011 by bdesj]
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bdesj
Thank you, Dennis.
I registered just to say that, |
Thanks. Appreciate that and welcome to BajaNomad.
Give us a current HWY-3 trip report when you have one.
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surfdoc
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OK.... in SQ now, crossed at Tecate @ 1200.... NO problem getting the green even tho my F350 Was packed under the campershell...
Road Hwy3 is 70% complete and even the revisions were not bad at all.. Sailed into Ensenada.
The Military checkpoint at the top of the hill has been moved to the bottom before the Descanso turnoff... repairs finished....
Easy trip south so far.. chilling at the old mill... back home Manana............
BTW.........to renew my FMT I walk across at San Ysidro do the paperwork then walk back.......super easy!
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