Trip to the Border-Mexico

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Warlock7

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I am a college student and was thinking of taking a trip down to the border towns to see what the Border situation is all about. i dont want to get TO DANGEROUS. I have my CCW in my state but its in the Midwest. Any good places to go? look around? cross into Mexico and get some cheap deals on neat things????

I have been to El Paso- Juarez and that was QUITE interesting.

AZ? NM? TX? CA?
 
Cheap Walkabout

NO I wasnt planning on bringing them a all. Just doin a Walk about of sorts...but want to stay safe and keep it CHEAP
 
I can't speak to all border towns, but I have been to several in AZ and Cali. For the most part, it's all fine. You may have a chance for trouble if your looking for it (i.e. heavy drinking and other things). Otherwise border towns are cash cows for those in control in the area, and it's in their best interest to keep things smily and happy so you feel like coming in and dropping money. I have a serious disdain for the Federalies and their corrupt ways, so I avoid them or having to interact with them at all possible. Keep your situational awareness very up, and be respectful to the people there and not try to come off as that rich American coming down to "play" - you will find them be a lot nicer back to you. Just also don't be a push over either like a lot of "snow birds" that come in and feel like it's the wild wild west or something...

Just remember there are restrictions on what you can bring back USA side and max amounts of certain items you want to bring penalty free.
 
having lived in Texas's Rio Grande Valley for most of my life ( Brownsville)...
i have nothing but good to say about traveling to the border towns near our area..But, it is a foreign country (3rd world), you are a guest and they (people/authorities) don't play round with fools..You looking for trouble, you'll find it quick...Do not take a firearm or ammo into Mexico...NO NO federal prison otherwise!! Do not bring edged weapon either, you won't see the end of it...if you get in trouble/caught w/it by the local municipal PD..YMMV
see the many sights, enjoy the wonderful food and nice people...above all be safe, be nice and shop till you drop. let me know if i can be of further assistance..;)
 
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I've been to a good number of the border towns and have never had any trouble. I like Nuevo Laredo the best, Matamoros the least. Nuevo Laredo is supposedly not safe nowadays, with two drug gangs fighting for control. I go to places like Piedras Negras for my border shopping now (plates, glasses, leather, cheap liquor, etc.). The border towns are mostly fine, but the cities around Mexico City (Morelia, Puebla, Oaxaca or Cuernavaca) are the real Mexico.
 
It's not the border towns or their residents that are the problem, it's the criminals that cross the border illegally.
 
TJ still can be a lot of fun;) I actually feel safer there in some ways than in areas of Los Angeles though I don't like the fact I'm giving up a lot of my rights once I cross over. Some aspects of the Mexican justice system I prefer though. If you are careful, follow the rules, don't get too drunk or stuff like that you will probably enjoy yourself.
 
can u bring a rental car across the border say if I flew into Houston or another city? What is a good close city to fly into from the midwest? and what shte best way to go to Mexico? Bus or car or walk?
 
Border Towns

Living in Galveston ALL I hear about is the warzone Neuvo Laredo (and to a lesser extent the city opposite Del Rio) has become.

Heck, I'm not even sure I'd be too game about visiting Laredo and staying on this side of the border. If I did visit Laredo, I'd go all Glocked up and (for the trip to it at least) have my SP 101 as backup, stuffed with Silvertips.
 
I don't believe most rental companies allow you to bring them in to Mexico but a call or an internet search would clear that up. As I can be sure every last 22lr sheel is cleaned out of my vehicles, I generally walk across the border and leave my car in a pay parking lot.

As for the danger, most murders in that area are done against people who know each other in the drug trade. Millions of Americans cross back and forth w/o incident every year. I'm not saying bad things can't happen and won't happen, but spending a day or two in TJ and using common sense and all you should be ok.
 
Heck, I'm not even sure I'd be too game about visiting Laredo and staying on this side of the border. If I did visit Laredo, I'd go all Glocked up and (for the trip to it at least) have my SP 101 as backup, stuffed with Silvertips.
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I will second that emotion. Laredo (Nuevo or otherwise) is a dangerous place these days.
My daughter and her family live in Monterrey, Mexico, and have to travel through Laredo
when they visit us. For the last year I have asked them to just stay home, and we will fly to Monterrey to visit them. It costs me more money, but I feel better knowing they aren't
transporting my grandsons through a war-zone. Not to mention the risk of kidnapping-for-ransom.

Walter
 
You can fly from the midwest...

into McAllen, about 40 miles west of Brownsville........AA and CO for sure......maybe SW.....Right across the river from Reynosa, and another smaller town......chris3
 
You mean, if you're not allowed to carry concealed, you can open carry unlicensed?
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Absolutely.:D

Just be sure you know where you can and cannot carry. And, absolutely do NOT carry anything gun related across the border. Even a spare mag or bullet of any kind.

Nogales is a decent place to shop and eat. Not too much going on as far as crime. I'ts a big shopping place so wear your barganing hat. If they tell you one price, cut it in half and work from there.
 
Just to reiterate, as crazy as it may seem, the Mexicans are SERIOUS about no guns, no ammo. Many Americans are doing serious prison time in Mexico for weapons violations. A teenage girl I know was threatened with prison but ultimately released for an earring made of a deactived, inert, pistol bullet.

Personally, I keep driving through the border towns and get out in the country, much nicer. I've found the Mexican police to be extemely friendly and easy to get along with in the rural areas, and the federales have been very professional. In general I've had better experience with Mexican law enforcement than with American. The problem is not with the Mexican police, but with the border towns. Try going to Daytona Beach during Spring Break, or Key West, for example, and see what things are like, it's ugly. Anywhere that fools are being separated from their money there's too much opportunity for corruption.
 
Rio Bravo is across from McAllen. You can fly into McAllen and drive over. Rental cars aren't covered out of the country.

I guess my question is why you want to go there? To see how bad it is? See if you can find all the bad stuff you're looking for?

Mostly, you're going to see a lot of really, really poor people. If you're unlucky or stupid, you might see some of the bad guys you're looking for.
 
bobaloo said:
I've found the Mexican police to be extemely friendly and easy to get along with in the rural areas, and the federales have been very professional. In general I've had better experience with Mexican law enforcement than with American.
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I think this experience is highly variable. I have not had good, nor real bad experiences with Mexican Federales. However I have heard numerous, numerous stories of very very bad cases by close friends who have had experiences from plain robbery to sexual assault (woman) of them.

A close friend of mine and his friend nearly got killed (they feel) once. This was many years ago and he lived in San Diego. His friend and him drove this guy's corvette into Mexico to go to a beach town (risky and flashy in itself anyway). There when in town they were "arrested" by Federales for no apparent reason and put into their police car, while the other federales drove the vette off too. Long story short, they found themselves in the middle of nowhere pretty much at nightfall handcuffed and in the middle of the desert with the two federales talking about something. To them it felt like there were discussing on what to do with them, and they really felt their lives were in danger. After some rude pushing and yelling at, they were released and the Federales drove off with both cars. Guy never got his vette back.

Anyway - YMMV with them, and you have limited rights and availability for security the more remote you are.
 
Barbara said:
Rio Bravo is across from McAllen. You can fly into McAllen and drive over. Rental cars aren't covered out of the country.

I guess my question is why you want to go there? To see how bad it is? See if you can find all the bad stuff you're looking for?

Mostly, you're going to see a lot of really, really poor people. If you're unlucky or stupid, you might see some of the bad guys you're looking for.
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No, I would just like to take some time and visit another country, Mexico being the closest and cheapest...unless Canada is any better. I just wanted to see the culture, naybe buy a few neat things. I want to be safe and do it in a reputable area. That is where I am looking for advice. I wouldnt mind walking into the town, I just am sick of the midwest snow and need to get out and thought it might be interesting.....any ideas will help.
 
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