If you lug your VCR down with you, you can get the full cable signal that they receive but their TVs cannot tune. Their TVs get around 15 cannels including HBO. With your own tuner (VCR) you get FoxSportsWest, MTV, VH1, that channel with Despierta America, etc...

Forgot to specify above post known to apply to San Ysidro. Can't speak for CV.

Eunuch, you take your vcr to a hotel with you????? Are you taping all the porn you can while you're out mongering or is it just a bizzare fetish you have for your video machine......BTW, what's a vcr? Is that spanish for dvd?......just curious.

Contraband,

I like that. Has it been audience tested ? Can I use it ?

I use to stay at Motel 6 A LOT before I
knew The Zone---and the Caliente books were the reason. Nice to have FSW, FSW2, ESPN2 and other cable offerings at my budget room. What I mentioned above was just in case of there being one other unique pervert out there who might find that useful...

Your reasoning is very useful (although not as funny....IMHO) and thanks for posting it.

How much a night? How far is it from the border? How safe?

It's 39.99 per night. I think it then goes up to 45.99 per night on Friday & Saturday.

Reserve a room at least a week in advance or they will all be sold out.

Phone # (619) 690-6663

160 E. Calle Primera
San Ysidro, CA

It's a little less than 1 mile from the border, very safe.

-Superman-

To contraband, tues 6-12; Assuming you're not joking, a VCR is a standard Video Cassette Recorder such as used before the advent of DVD. By the way, many mexicans pronounce VCR as vee-cee-are and DVD as dee-vee-dee, just like in english, rather than bay-say-erre or day-bay-day like you would expect them to in spanish. Oh, bye the way, the "old fashioned" VCR is superior to the DVD in that it also records. Imagine watching a porn flick with your chica, the saying she's so beautiful that you want to turn it off, but setting it to record instead - using one of those easily concealable cameras they sell cheaply now....
Pauncho

IMO the Chula Vista Motel 6's (I think there are 2) are more convenient than the SY 6.

The SY 6 is a mile walk to the border. The CV 6's are essentially across the street from trolley stations. I think the CV 6's are at E and H Streets.

I stayed at the Motel 6 in Chula Vista (E Street) on my last visit. It's a quick walk to the trolley stop, 10-15 minutes to the border, and the rooms are reasonably clean. It's a much better value than the Best Western across the street, IMHO.

You need to make reservations here too, because it sells out on weekends.

Not sure how it compares to the Motel 6 in SY, but I was satisfied with this one.

Are there any hotels directly on the US side of the border and, if so, how much are they and are they safe?

There is the TravelLodge right at the border. It's around $45 per night if you make reservations in advance, $79 if the other hotels in town are booked. I did not care for it. The Motel 6 is a little farther away (1 mile) but it is cleaner, cheaper, and they don't run out of parking.

-Superman-

Just don't use your credit card at the Travelodge. Too many reports of unauthorised charges showing up later -- seems someone at the travelodge likes to take the guests credit card info and go shopping!

I heard of the Motel 6 in Chula Vista...I was under the impression that was 6 miles from the border. If I am going to have to drive anyway (and park at world parking)would you guys just recommend staying a little farther away?

As this will be my first heavy duty mongering trip to TJ, I'll take it very easy on the alcohol. Also, I'll probably not be there real late at night (as I'll probably start on Thursday at about noon and will have all day Thursday and Friday).

There is also a Motel 6 in San Ysidro, only one mile or less from the border.

-Superman-

The one in San Ysidro is a LONG walk to the border, but the one in Chula Vista is a SHORT walk to the trolley station "E" Street stop...

I'm a drinker so I prefer the Travelodge. You can park at the hotel and walk to the border. The walk from Motel 6 is way to far but I've done it once and I'll never do it again.

Reports of credit card fraud at the Travelodge seem to go back several years.

Has anyone used a credit card at the San Ysidro Motel 6 and had problems?

Also, is the walk to the border that unmanageable? I'm a non-drinker, so I don't mind the extra exercise.

Never had a problem at the 6 in SY. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Always used my credit card. The walk itself is about a mile. Before they built the new mall, it was mostly a dark walk, past clusters of sullen young guys who hung out in the apartment complexes nearby. The 6 staff recommended "no walking" to the border after sunset. So I would avoid that and drive to the parking lot and pay my (then) $5.

With the opening of the new mall, everything except the first 300 meters outside the motel is pretty well lit and frequently traveled. So walking is IMO a serious option if you're up to it. I think the problem, though, has never been walking TO the border (since you're high on adrenaline and expectations). The problem is usually the mile long walk BACK at 4 a.m. when you're tired, spent, drunk, and perhaps had a long wait just to get across the border. It's really nice to have your car waiting for you then.

Farsider,

You're a "vet", why stay on the US side?

Hey Red I a “vet” and have always stayed on the US side. Even though I am comfortable staying in TJ I still like to stay on the US side for the most part. Of course since the border wait has become such a pain in the ass I may have to rethink that on my next trip.

I have not had any credit card problems at the Motel 6.

The walk is kinda long but not really unmanageable although like Matiz said the return walk seems twice as long sometimes.

Dimone

Farsider: After reading the later posts, I guess I should have mentioned that if you are staying for more than one night, getting a room on the U.S. side is going to require that you plan carefully when you cross from TJ. There are times when the crossing won't take very long (a matter of minutes) and times when it will take you forever to get to Motel 6. Although you can reduce your crossing time by planning for off-peak periods, even that simple concession requires re-structuring your TJ time to make sure you cross when it's most convenient. For that reason, I would strongly recommend that you find a suitable hotel in TJ for a multiple-day visit, unless you have pressing reasons to stay in the U.S.

The problem of course is that if you have to make a fast getaway in the morning to the SD airport or points north, and you are on the TJ side, you have to factor that in, since you don't know how long the crossing will take 'till you get there.

Also, keep in mind that the SY Motel 6 raised its room rates recently. I used to get a discounted room for $30, now it's $35. I think regular rooms are $40. At that price, TJ alternatives like VZ (at $43) are pretty reasonable. Just some additional thoughts...

Matiz and Red... your points are well taken. For reasons way too complicated to go into here, I do need to maintain a presence in the US for at least the better part of my trip. There's a decent chance I'll stay south of the border one night (probably at the VdeZ). I have no aversion whatsoever to doing that.

I haven't been in TJ since last August (before 9/11) and I'm well aware that the border crossing situation is just a little different now, as Dimone noted. As much as possible, I intend to make all northbound border crossings in the 12-2am time frame, which seems to be the most favorable time. (correct me if I'm wrong) Plus, that fits in well with the general game plan I follow when I'm in the Zona.

I didn't think about the walk at 4am, but you're right, that probably wouldn't be pleasant. At any rate, I'll have a car.

Actually, according to Travelocity, rates are $47 a night at the 6.

Also what seems more possible in SY rather than TJ is my method lately of "morning checkin" -- stay up partying all night and then have breakfast at Denny's before checking into the Motel 6 at around 8am. They usually have rooms available and you can get two sleep cycles for the price of one.

Prices as far as I remember have been $47 on weekends and about $39 during the week.

^C

A cab from the cabstand at the bridge (still 400 yards closer than 5 star) to Motel 6 will be about $4. For those of you thinking you'll be too tired to walk back and would rather drive and park...

Now there's an idea. Walk inbound, cab outbound, and it's cheaper than parking your car in one of the border lots.

You may have to walk midway on the bridge and get one of the cabs near the end of the line.

More than once I have been turned down by the cabs waiting outside the border crossing. They have to wait in line to get there, and don't want a $5 fare after waiting all that time.

Sometimes you can get them to drop you off on their way if the other passenger(s) are agreeable to that...

Stayed at the SY 6 for a couple of nights, and I recommend it. It's nicer than the 6 in Chula Vista. I never tried the walk to the border, becuase I didn't have the time to spare, but it looks manageable if you have all your faculties about you. I opted to drive and park.

What is the cheapest motel just over / on the US side that is still relatively clean? I see a lot of posts, but very little recent. I have to be in San Diego a couple of nights, but can not risk stay on the other side of the border because I have to be somewhere early, and don't want to guesstimate the wait. Normally I like to stay at Cascada.

Not the Motel 6. I recently saw their sign out front saying $55.99 for the night (weekend rate).

The Econo Lodge is cheaper, unless the 6 is sold out, then they jack their prices up. Your best bet is booking the rooms in advance.

-Superman-

try the holiday motor lodge, they have single rooms for 30-40$ per nite and free parking. they are located right next to the burger king as u cross the border into san ysidro from mexico

Thanks guys.

Anyone have a phone number for the holiday motor lodge? Msorayas?

here is a phone number for the holiday motor lodge
Holiday Lodge Motel, 672 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Ysidro, CA 92173, (619-428-1105)- they have good weekly rates as well
also try the flamingo motel- the owner will negotiate lower rates with u if it is slow
Flamingo Motel, 4625 Border Village Rd, San Ysidro, CA 92173, (619-428-2218)

has anyone ever stayed at the Travelodge in san ysidro? Is this a nice hotel and do they offer adequate parking? is this a better and more convienet choice than motel 6? i am looking for a hotel to stay at during xmas. thanks

There's a whole thread on the San Ysidro Travelodge ...

I stayed there once and found it to be way overpriced for the quality of the room. Also, if you leave the parking lot during prime time on a Friday or Saturday night, your parking spot will be history.

-Superman-

I thought there used to be a thread on the Travelodge, but it has apparently gone the way of Aardvark's pictures ...

-Superman-

I stay at the Travel Lodge San Ysidro on occasion. Sun night seems to be slow so they somtimes have a special for 49 single. Otherwise rates vary but the rooms are ok and is so close to the border. They have a shuttle that will pick you up in the lobby and transfer you to a bus that will take you across or the walk is not too bad. Phone number is 619 428 2800. I found better rates calling them directly or just showing up than by using the 800 number or expedia.

You can get $10 off coupons in those travel discount book they have for free at gas stations.

Also don't let them give you rooom 113.

...for Travelodge that is.