Travel

Travel Note

Border Crossing Information

When you are driving into Mexico you drive through the border but they don’t stop you and don’t check your passports or anything (LOL). They just have a bunch of border patrol sitting around looking at the cars that pass. They technically can stop people so if they do stop you don’t fret but highly unlikely they will. Once you cross the border its definitely apparent you’re driving into another country so if you are driving make sure you have Google Maps downloaded for offline for the route because you might lose service and it can be confusing. (Make sure your Roaming is turned to "On" so that your service continues down there if you want it to work). Also if you can, make sure you take the toll road down to your accommodations, its just easier and prettier and you don’t have to drive through Tijuana. You will need some cash for the tolls (they accept US dollars, its around $2.00 each time (2 toll stops each way), so I would have smaller bills). When driving back to the US at the end of the weekend, again try and take the toll road back to the border but it can get very confusing. If every person in the car has Global Entry, your car can take the SENTRI lane that is much faster. However you can only do it if every person in the car has it. Otherwise you go through the normal lane and on Sundays the border traffic can be 2-6 hours. So, definitely keep that in mind when booking flights home. I know a good amount of people will be staying until Monday if they can to help avoid some of that traffic. If you go through Ray Ochoa (in the note below), you won’t have to worry about any of this aside from allowing time to get back across the border. Last I checked, you could purchase “Medical Passes” to get into the fast lane across the border so ask him about that if you are interested in that. No matter the day the border traffic is always there so give yourself some time in terms of making it back to San Diego to catch flights.

Flight

San Diego International Airport

Flying into San Diego seems to be the way to go for most. However, if you do fly into TJ, it is pretty straight forward to grab a taxi/Uber from the airport to your accommodations. Go to FAQ for travel around Rosarito during the weekend. From San Diego you can: 1. Arrange a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and take you across the border to your accommodations. Please reach out to Ray Ochoa at 858.790-2380 or bajawineanddinetours@gmail.com to arrange this. We highly recommend using this option so that you don’t have to navigate driving in Mexico and he has a pass for his vans that allows access to a fast lane to get across the border. If you are okay with sharing a van/shuttle with others flying in to save some money, please let Ray know when you reach out to him so he can try and coordinate you to ride with others flying in around the same time. Ray will group people together and he said that the goal is to have no one waiting more than 30 minutes. 2. Rent a car at the airport and drive across the border. You will need to make sure the rental company is aware that you will be driving it across the border. Make sure that you verify with the rental car company that you are able to take the rental to Mexico. You will need to purchase Mexican car insurance with the company for the dates that you will be across the border. Also be sure to download your google map of your route from San Diego to your accommodations, as you might lose service as you cross the border. There is no wait or passport check to drive into Mexico, but just know you have to be on alert as the speed limit is now in km instead of mi and it is possible for Mexican police to stop you. Generally if you take the toll road down to Rosarito, you should be clear- but it can be confusing. 3. Uber to the border, walk across via the pedestrian walkway, and then hail a taxi/Uber from the border to your accommodations.

Hotel

Vista Hermosa Resort

This gated (with security) hotel is within a 10 minute drive of the venue. Do not book through the website- the special rate given to wedding guests is only done over the phone. The easiest way to call the listed number would be to use WhatsApp. Let them know you are booking for the Vining wedding at Villa del Paraiso. This hotel is condo style with a variety of 1-4 bedroom condos. There is a bar, restaurant, common areas, grills, hot tubs, pools, etc. Reservations are now open and the discounted rate will be given when paying with cash and make sure you tell them you with the wedding of Steve and Amanda at Villa del Paraiso.

Hotel

Las Gaviotas

This is an ocean front, gated (with security) neighborhood of VRBOs that is a very common place for people coming down to Rosarito to stay. There is a wide variety of 1-6 bedroom places. You can look via the website provided or you can look through VRBO or Airbnb. There is a community pool, tennis/pickle ball court and fitness center. Great for groups! There is a grocery store a few minutes down the road to load up with some goodies after you arrive.

Hotel

Puerto Nuevo Baja Hotel y Villas

This is a gated (with security), large, ocean-front hotel with an indoor pool, outdoor pool, bars, restaurant, etc. This is a 2-3 star hotel but it is close to the venue. There is an option for either a traditional hotel room or villa style that has a kitchenette (however the kitchenette is quite small and I wouldn’t expect to make much in it). The rooms are clean but dated. Just an FYI the manager did tell us they don’t allow guests to bring in their own food/alcohol (odd we know).