This review is for the US-Mexico border at San Ysidro. This place has undergone a huge renovation in the past two decades. Back in the late-90s and early-2000s, getting to TJ was a simple drive or walk across the international boundary. No questions asked.
Now it's different. If you're driving across, you're going to make a sharp right turn, where you'll go through a check point on the US side. It is rarely manned, but they do take a photo of your car with an x-ray camera to make sure you're not hauling anything interesting.
Once across the international line, there is a check point on the Mexican side. Secondary here is not too bad. The folks manning the place are pretty nice. Just don't give them attitude. The traffic heading into Mexico is intense on Friday nights, FYI.
From there, you take exits to Zona Rio (the nice part of TJ), Zona Centro (Ave. Revolucion), or Via Rapida (the road that takes you to Rosarito and Ensenada).
The road back into the US will give a varied experience. The general line (passport booklets and RVs) has the longest wait, with the month of December being the most notorious for having a 3-6 hour wait. I've had the displeasure of waiting this long to cross, back when I didn't have the passport card nor Sentri. The Ready Lane (passport card) has a 1-3 hour wait, although sometimes the wait was is shorter. The Sentri lane is the fastest. I've waited in this lane for 30 minutes max, with 15 minutes being the average wait. You can apply for Sentri at the website for the Dept. of State's Preferred Travel Programs. I recommend Global Entry. It's $100, and it takes 6-8 months for the background and interview, and you get the same speedy entry at airport AND on land border crossings.
San Ysidro is one of the busiest land border crossings to the US, so plan accordingly. It may behoove you to park at the border and walk across to a taxi. I've done it many times, and I've experienced no problems. Lately, however, I found it favorable to drive across. I make sure to get insurance, as the standard run-of-the-mill insurance policy won't cover car damage in Mexico.
If you're exchanging US dollars for Mexican pesos, the exchange houses on the US side actually give better rates. The ones found throughout the city of Tijuana are mid-range as far as their exchange rates. And the worst exchange rates are in airports throughout Mexico.
That just about sums it all up. Anything else is common sense: don't carry drugs (not even marijuana), weapons, ammo, plants with seeds, or anything that can be deemed "illicit" by either country.
I've crossed through San Ysidro many many times in the past 12 years. I've never had issues. Granted, I keep my nose clean and I don't mess with the wrong crowd. If you're the same, then you'll be fine. Cheers! read more