Mexico question

[Skyblade]

OK, so my bf and I are thinking of taking a spur of the moment trip to Mexico this weekend. Me being the paranoid person I am, is worried about safety, etc. I've actually never been to Mexico so I have a few questions.

1.) What should I expect at the border? Do I need a passport or something? I don't have a copy of my birth certificate or passport with me, all I have is my license and Social Security Card...do I need something to prove citizenship if we stay within the border zone?

2.) Do any of you guys know of safe places to stay in the border zone area?

[coll214]

1) Depending on if your flying or not; it's easier if you have a passport, but you're BC will work to get through. If driving, your license may be sufficient. I was for me, but that was back in 2001, pre 9/11.

2) Not sure about places to stay, but Nogales is interesting for shopping :)

[Skyblade]

We will be driving in. I just want to make sure I don't get stuck there or something crazy. I went to this hotel site and it freaked me out w/ all the horror stories about people getting stuff stolen and cars missing, etc.

[XXdemerXX]

all i gotta say is BE CAREFUL. alot of even worse shit than stealin is goin on over there. alot of it dont get mentioned but its really bad at the border rite now. i wouldnt go. i wouldnt even go anywhere out of the country period.

BTW i am serious

have a good time :neutral:

[winneythepooh7]

I went to Tiajuana a few years back. I felt like I was in the South Bronx. We ate dinner and got the hell outta there. It was just wierd.

[Kitty]

My boyfriend and I are going to Mexico City in December. I've heard that it is unsafe, but I've also heard that it is really no more unsafe than any other foreign country.

I would get a travel book at the Library. That's what we did. It provides lots of info on what you should and should not do and what youneed to bring, etc.

[and1grad]

If you leave the country w/o your passport, you're asking for a problem. Not worth the risk.

[MollyMe]

I would be very careful. You can use a BC but a passport is best. I think they are moving to requiring passports in 2006/7. Leaving the US was easier than entering the US though.
The area around the border near texas is not a good place to visit because of violence connected with drugs...many recent kidnappings, murders...even tourists were involved. i got a travel advisory a few months ago about events which happened in the region to increase the violence. The e-mail specifically mentioned the Texas border area, but the entire border is dangerous. Mexico is corrupt and not that safe...but the tourist areas tend to be better.
I would only stay in the US.

[SmilesSoSweet]

Skyblade,

I know this information is a little late. The last time I was in TJ, all I had to have was a valid driver's license. I was living in California at the time. I went clubbing with a few friends and we drove to the last US exit, parked our cars down there, and crossed the border. When you cross back, then stop and ask you what country of citizenship do you have, and if need be, they ask for a valid issued government ID from the US.

[and1grad]

Honestly, the driver's license thing is what they told me about going to Canada. I dont suggest you try that either. Take your passport b/c your DL wont mean JACK down there. Its NOT equivalent.

[SmilesSoSweet]

Honestly, the driver's license thing is what they told me about going to Canada. I dont suggest you try that either. Take your passport b/c your DL wont mean JACK down there. Its NOT equivalent.

The DL was valid back then. I think it was also because we just literally walked through the border and they get a lot of college-aged kids that just like to go to the clubs down there. I even had a friend that couldn't walk back through the border because she had to sober up a bit.

[TheBeve]

I've been to the border towns (I live in Texas) and interior quite a few times, and the interior is much more fun. The border towns were very impoverished and people came up to you all the time trying to sell you things.

I'd skip the trip, save the money you would have spent on it, and go to Cozumel. The locals are really nice and you can get some great package deals. If you are more into seeing it without the party crowd, go during the off season.

As for the passport/bc deal, I'd definitely take a passport over anything else. If you don't have one, postpone the trip and get one. Make a copy of it before you leave and then lock the original in the hotel vault when you get to Mexico.

There is so much fun stuff to do in Mexico, I wouldn't be afraid of it, just travel smart.

[Skyblade]

Well I went and everything was fine. All I needed was my license. We parked on the US side and then took a shuttle over. We ended up getting ripped off at this one bar...and some crazy bartender forced tequila down my throat when I said NO like 8 million times. I don't think I'll ever go back. My bf really wanted to go, but we just spend a couple hours over there and came back...and we stayed in San Diego.

[NayUCLA]

you'll need a certified birth certificate (meaning copies wont be accepted). The problem is while they may allow entry into Mexico, they may not let you back into the stated. If you and your bf want to mexico, you should consider flying to Puerto Vallarta. You can find some reasonably well priced places to stay on the beach there and its beautiful out there. You'd obviously have to fly. But take it from a socal girl. TJ and Rosarito arent the best of places to hang with your bf.

[SmilesSoSweet]

you'll need a certified birth certificate (meaning copies wont be accepted).

A certified birth certificate is only valid if you were born in the U.S. I know I can't use mine as a way of entry back into the states because I wasn't born here.