DRIVING OUR CAR AND DOG TO MEXICO - First time crossing the Mexico Border

[@TouristtoLocal]

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[@eliaslevyvallejo]

Respect for going back to do things right even when most people don"t. Bienvenidos a Tijuana!

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thank you!

[@niko.nixxxx]

at least you got some great content out of that stressful day!!! great tips! i can't imagine the amount of people who have experienced that. Napa is so cute!!!

[@TouristtoLocal]

Hahaha we didn’t expect the video to turn out like this, but glad we captured it!!

[@cindyk3076]

Napa is gorgeous!! 🐶 So sorry you guys had to do all of the extra things, makes for a long and stressful day, but now those driving into Mexico will know what to be prepared for. Looking forward to the rest of your trip!

[@TouristtoLocal]

Looking back, it was definitely a story we will remember for a long time. Thanks for tuning in, and can’t wait to share more of our adventures soon!

[@jackochilli]

“Mexico is nice…and it’s also addictive” 😂❤absolutely!! Ty for the video, we are driving for the first time in a few months so it was helpful to see this

[@AshleyNewellDotMe]

Glad you made it through! Can't wait to see your adventures!

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thank you!!

[@RaeInTime]

Great video!! Thanks for not just cherry-picking the amazing, beautiful moments...thanks for showing the true moments of travel and how messy it can be 😂😅❤🎉🌞👍🌻

[@arantxaalvarado9867]

Deseándoles lo mejor les envío un cordial saludo . Excelente video al igual que todos. Lindísimo perrito.

[@TouristtoLocal]

Muchas gracias 💕💕💕

[@jlinn2521]

I am surprised that Juliana has not applied for TR in Mexico yet. It would make your travels to Mexico so much easier.

[@TouristtoLocal]

Since we don’t live in Mexico currently, we aren’t able to work on Juliana’s residency, but we will once Martín has citizenship!

[@jlinn2521]

@@TouristtoLocal I get waiting then. I just figured with all the time that she has spent in Mexico that she would have already applied. The costs for application just go up every year.

[@DeeWes]

Soooo helpful. I thought I would have to pay $400 for the temporary import permit because I didn't realize it wasn't necessary for BC. Thanks!

[@TouristtoLocal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Roadmap2Adventures]

It looked like a very stressful travel day! Lots of learnings & great tips for others that might want to cross the border ❤

[@FidalgoSwing]

I walk across the TJ border and stay there 5 days to get my service dog health book stamped to fly you need that stamp no older than 5 days. I don’t get round trip because I don’t know how long I will stay. So I always get my FMM at the airport you don’t need to fly to get your FMM there. I’m in Coatepec at this time great town been here a month and just extended my stay one more month. Welcome back to Mexico you too

[@TouristtoLocal]

It was definitely an adventure! Thanks for watching!!

[@FidalgoSwing]

And you don’t need a bank they except payment right there

[@BonVoyageCruiseTravel]

Nice! Great info! Napa is so cute. ❤

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thanks so much!!

[@qwerty90615]

Cute 3-some! Thanks for helpful information.

[@TouristtoLocal]

You are so welcome!

[@ILLVMBlog]

So helpful!!! Thank you!!

[@TouristtoLocal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JesusRodriguez-rw6fy]

Gracias por visitar México.

[@TouristtoLocal]

De nada!!

[@socorronunez7637]

You poor thing. I didn't have drive back to the US to get to the Aduana office. When crossing by car and after the green light goes on in your lane, you could have told any of the Mexican officers that you needed to go to the Aduana office and they would direct you there or after you pass the Aduana you could have pulled over to the side and walked there. I know because I have done both and I live near the border and crossed often. Also, I found out that you can go to the nearest Mexican Consulate and get your permit for you and your car.

[@TouristtoLocal]

We were so confused and totally didn’t think things threw. The day we crossed, the lanes were SO busy. We were on the far left side and couldn’t cut across to the right side until we realized we already passed the office 😅 we totally could have gone back a better way now that we think about it gahahha

[@MattNav]

Ah guys, what a perfect storm 🙈 But at least you made it in the end 😅 Also good to know for non-US/Mexican folks: ESTA users (as in visa waiver visitors) can also cross the land border (as in you don't have to be a visa holder in order to cross the land border specifically), I walked across from Tijuana to San Ysidro once with my ESTA and it was fine

[@TouristtoLocal]

Woah that’s good to know! Thanks for sharing!

[@EatBailaTravel]

After all that to find out you could have just walked through the border 😅😅 aw man, we can laugh about this now, right? 😅 lol cuz I’m laughing with you not at you I promise! Thanks so much for making this video! I want to visit SD and TJ someday and will likely be making this same trip across the border. Saludos amigos!

[@erniegutierrez2288]

LOL crossing the border can be such a pain in the butt, thats partly the reason I dont travel down there as much as i used to. Hope you guys make time to visit El Valle and Ensenada.

[@TouristtoLocal]

It’s definitely a lot more stressful than crossing at an airport! Valle de Guadalupe and Ensenada coming soon :)

[@erniegutierrez2288]

Ensenada tip! For fish tacos, Tacos Fenix on the corner of Avenida Juarez and Espinoza. Its where locals go.

[@Allyjan96]

I live about 40 mins from the Mexicali border, that ones a mess, tied with San ysidro. If my bf and I are heading for Ensenada we go through Tecate(SUPER EASY) or Tijuana(still crazy but quick).

[@TouristtoLocal]

Good tip! We also heard Otay Mesa is easier ;)

[@PhotowalksTV]

Great video.

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thank you!!

[@PhotowalksTV]

@@TouristtoLocal Don't know if you've ever seen my series, but we have a lot of similar stops! Tijuana (my most popular), North Beach, Maine last fall, and we're headed to Sicily in May! I'd love to explore more of Baja, but haven't gotten there yet!

[@dsplunker]

They were very nice describing driving in Mexico. All the signs are suggestions there. We stayed twice in Mazatlan for four months each. We didn't take my Tundra because in Mazatlan most of the streets are thin and to be honest I was terrified to drive there. LOL They are crazy drivers!! We used uber which was a reasonable price but I don't think I ever let go of the "Oh crap" handle. I will give them this though, they do roundabouts much better than the USA does. Definitely pros at it.

[@TouristtoLocal]

This is SUCH and accurate description 😂 signs really are suggestions, but they do roundabouts much better!! Thanks for watching!

[@mariax876]

Omg! Glad you made it

[@TouristtoLocal]

So are we 😂😂

[@claytonberg721]

I've crossed that border on foot like 6 or 7 times. 1. Even if you're staying more than 7 days sometimes the guy won't stamp your passport or take your FMM if you say you're staying local. Even though it's required, either he/she is too busy or doesn't care. So you might have waited in line all the time and not gotten your FMM. 2. San Ysidro at 11 might have been a 2 hour ordeal so you were wise to drive across. I've stood in that line with the rappers and the noise, and the heat, and the lack of banos. You probably did the right thing by driving across. 3. You could have driven to Otay Mesa and walked across, but that's the worst traffic in TJ. The only way to get to the pedestrian drop point is to make a left with no green advance arrow across 5 lanes of unending traffic. Uber drivers nope out of Otay Mesa trips based on traffic alone. So again, you did the right thing. 4. There's videos of expats and travel bloggers who didn't think it was a big deal to not have the FMM, got caught at a checkpoint and then spent weeks sometimes months in jail. As I understand it as a way to curb migrants the US is still offering mexican authorities $20 bucks a head or something for every traveler they find on the road with no FMM. More than that the jails are for profit and make money on you being in there, so people sometimes languish. How much of that is true, how much is false... I dunno? I wouldn't have been in the mood to find out. I've heard horror stories, I won't even go as far as Ensenada without an FMM. You're acting like you screwed up, but I think you actually were quite smart. I guess you could have driven out to Tecate and done it in less time than you spent doing it here, but now you know how to find the sentri lane.

[@TouristtoLocal]

Ok this comment made us feel 10x better about the whole ordeal! Thanks for backing us up here :D

[@FreeToBe_Me]

Walking back into the US takes 5 minutes *if* you have your global entry card on your person. I forgot it once and it was not fun 😢. I could see myself making these same mistakes. I would be so stressed. Thanks for walking (or driving rather) us through the process.

[@John-kq7jx]

You really didn't need to go back. You could have easily went online and filled out the FFM form and printed it out. Y'all also crossed into Tijuana at the worst time, you should have around 10:00 am. Otay is much easier than San Ysidro

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thanks for the tips! Wish we knew this before 😅😅😅

[@andymccarthy7617]

I’ve crossed that border many times with a dog and everything in this video is 100%. No one cares what’s in your car, about your documentation or your dog. The immigration office is a little tricky to find.

[@TouristtoLocal]

We were so surprised that no one cared what was in our car either way! We totally overthought this whole thing 😂😂😂

[@SunKing333]

Question; does Apple Maps work beyond the border? Is it necessary to download maps ahead of time ?

[@TouristtoLocal]

As long as your cell phone plan allows coverage in Mexico, it sure does! For example, our plan with ATT covers us in Mexico and Canada. Check with your provider, and if they don't offer coverage, we highly recommend this e-sim company: fas.st/t/Cmydou2J

[@FidalgoSwing]

That’s really to bad you didn’t know that you can go to the airport and get your FMM

[@TouristtoLocal]

You’re kidding 😅😅😅

[@tracielozanoguevara7842]

Yup! Or just pay the fee when your existing mexico! But really you only need a FMM when entering mexico walking . 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@SharonKnivila]

Cute doggie❤,

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thanks!!

[@rebeccanicole5027]

i thought you can fill that FMM form out online? Is that only when you fly in?

[@TouristtoLocal]

We think you can fill it out online but still need pay and get it stamped in person!

[@jacontre76]

😊

[@TouristtoLocal]

🙌

[@storres1368]

🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️

[@TouristtoLocal]

💕💕💕

[@LauraShepard]

Things are changing for pets on August 1st, 2024, entering the USA. Make sure you have vaccination and microchip records.

[@TouristtoLocal]

Thanks for letting us know! If anyone's curious, here's an article with more info: www.frommers.com/blogs/passportable/blog_posts/the-rules-for-bringing-a-dog-into-the-us-to-get-stricter-here-s-what-s-changing#:~:text=Effective%20August%201%2C%20all%20dogs,over%20the%20last%206%20months.

[@eduardoreyes9501]

The problem were you, no México. You can park in México and go for the FMM...

[@TouristtoLocal]

1000% agree that we were the problem here 😂 It wasn't our sharpest day!

[@JoeFiddle-ls5jh]

Stay safe. Mexico has the worst reputation right now