Mexico-Baja California

[DWphoto]

Does your car insurance cover you in Mexico?

My command has barred border crossing for the military members and strongly recommend that the civilians stay away too.

25 miles into Mexico.

I recommend purchasing additional Mexico insurance.  You can get at the border or from an agent like myself. 

[sturndog]

PAUL,Once you cross the border into Mexico, your U.S. or Canadian insurance cannot legally help you prove your financial responsibility in Mexico. Mexican insurance will instantly show authorities that you are able to pay damages to third parties.THIS IS WHY THEY JAIL PEOPLE UNTIL THEY DETERMINE IF THEY CAN PAY THIRD PARTIES IN ACCIDENTS. Policies may also include physical damage to your vehicle, total theft of your vehicle, medical payments for the driver and passengers, legal aid, bail bond and roadside assistance.

I have been to Turkey,Romania,Bulgaria and USSR, although mainly the port cities of Constana,  Sofia, Odessa and Yalta. Turkey all over. Going back hopefully to Goreme Valley and Cappadocecia. At the time I went 3 of the four were communist and had no hard currencey. I was body guarding and would break up a common scam, points on the dollar where money was offered and exchanged at good rates until "police" would break up transaction and keep money as evidence. Got my camera taken away in USSR for taking pictures of bridges and power plants.

/As for Mexico I just got back from Rosarito, my dollar goes twice as far and there is Smart and Final, 7/11, PetSmart etc if I miss American amenities. Diana and her dad(wounded Korean and Nam vet) lived  in Baja because they thought it was safe and peaceful. [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] Unfortunately her 17 year old brother was shot by gang members in 1994 because of a traffic dispute in Gardena California. I guess when it is your time, no safe places.

[Phall92139]

For ol' times sake last summer, the wife and I decided to spend the day in Tecate, a small, quaint town east of San Diego accessed off Highway 94.    I have fond memories of crossing the border early in the mornings while I would be camping in the area.  I'd stop at one of the local tortillerieas to pick up a kilo of fresh-made corn tortillas then buying fresh creamery butter from the market and having a feast for breakfast.

Anyway, we took my highly modified Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, passed through the border check and were immediately pulled over by the local Police as we passed their station.  Let me just say there was about 5 minutes of real tounge-in-cheek bantering back and forth but they made it real clear through covert threats and innuendos that my rig would make a great addition to the motor pool.  And you know what?  Had they followed through with confiscating my vehicle there would have been absolutely not one thing I could have done to stop them or get it back.  I talked my way into leaving, drove back to the border and back into the U.S.A.  

The hell with Mexico.  This kind of stuff happens way too often and they have absolutely nothing down South worth the risk.

[GhostX]

I agree with the post above by Phil.  Unfortunately, Mexico is just not a safe place for travelers.  I used to travel down quite a bit in the 70's, and mid to late 80's.

I had an experience while driving north (after a day trip to Ensenada) on the Ensenada Toll Road where I was pulled over by a "police officer," who with his partner, at gunpoint, ransacked my car (a Toyota Celica at the time) and kept asking me "where were the drugs?"  My biggest fear was that they would plant drugs, or just haul my date and I off to a jail cell.  I ended up paying them $80 (all the cash I had) and they let us depart.

I had a similar experience the next trip down, when I was accused of "parking illegally" and had to dispense with $60.

For me it became not so much the how, as to when something would go wrong.

It is a shame, because the drive was beautiful, the food was quality and inexpensive, and most of the locals were very welcoming.

[XterracerX]

"...PetSmart... if I miss American amenities.

 

If I may chime in, as much as I would like to do some Expedition-type travel, explore Baja, perhaps bring toys and food during Christmas, etc., I was put off as well during my last visit across the border.

Just like what Phil has mentioned about crossing the border just to enjoy some local delicacies, I remember when me and my coworkers would go to a favorite place in Tijuana just to enjoy some good ole fish tacos while watching the busy streets eating with the locals... then going to work right after.

My last trip was one Memorial Day a few years ago. We were a less than a mile away from the San Ysidro border on our way back to San Diego when we were re-directed to Tecate due to traffic. Not being familiar with the area, we were circling around for hours trying to find the entrance to the US in Otay. In process, we managed to get ourselves pulled over by a local cop. Apparently, while in the busy freeway on an Xterra with a 16-foot kayak strapped in the roof rack, we were actually "speeding" and was told that we would have to follow the local law enforcement to the precinct that is an hour and a half away. Annoyed and frustrated, I pulled my last $20 and was so glad that it was good enough to settle our speeding infraction.

From there, it was a 5-hour long wait to cross the border back to the US... literally inching our way. 

And then there was this one time in Rosarito...

Never again.