Lawrence Welk Resort Villas - Tijuana Tours, etc.

riverdees05 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 10:09 AM

We are taking our two oldest grandchildren - ages 16 & 13 to San Diego in mid March and looking for things to do. They would like to go to Mexico, any recommendation on tours to take of Tijuana? Also, any other recommendations for teenagers?

Nancy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 10:50 AM

When we went to LW, several years ago, they had a bus tour. We took it and enjoyed it very much. Don't know if they still do, and if they do if it is same tour.

Nancy

wwomant · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverdees05

We are taking our two oldest grandchildren - ages 16 & 13 to San Diego in mid March and looking for things to do. They would like to go to Mexico, any recommendation on tours to take of Tijuana? Also, any other recommendations for teenagers?

Teenage girls, or boys?

riverdees05 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 06:38 PM

The 16 year old is a boy and the 13 year old is a girl.

calgal · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 08:28 AM

They would need passports to enter Mexico. Also, there have been incidents of border violence, although I do not know if Tijuana is one of the hot spots. Just some things to consider.

riverdees05 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:15 AM

I called Lawrence Welk Resort and they no longer have tours of Tijuana because of the potential danager.

Pstreet1 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 10:05 AM

Children under 18 do not need passports to enter Mexico or return to the U.S. Birth certificates are fine.

As to the "potential violence," they are reacting to the American media's presentation. There is a drug war going on in Mexico; that is absolutely true. It is also absolutely true there have been many killings as a result. However, they have not bothered to report a number of other aspects to that situation:
1. When the murder rate was the highest it has ever been in Tijuana, it was still a lower murder rate than the murder rate of New Orleans, LA--but the press doesn't say "avoid New Orleans because of the violence."
2. The violence is drug on drug violence, and it isn't occurring in the tourist parts of the city--just as the violence of Compton, CA isn't occuring in Santa Barbara or Hollywood.

We live 30 minutes south of the border and drive through Tijuana several times a week. Our many friends drive through Tijuana several times a week--some work in San Diego and drive through Tijuana 10 times a week. NO one has ever experienced a problem. I realize violence does occur; it occurs in every city, and Tijuana has the additional problem of an on-going drug war--but the American media makes it seem as though you should don your flak jacket at the border, and I've felt no need to purchase one yet, let alone wear it.

wwomant · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 11:40 AM

If you choose not to Mexico you could go to Old Town San Diego and look and shop around for that Old Mexico feel. It's not the same of course, but fun.

As for other things it depends on what they like, when I was teen Sea World was my favorite place to visit when vacationing in San Diego. The Zoo and the Wild Animal Park are great for all ages, especially if the like animals, and if they like to shop Horton Plaza is fun, and Seaport Village is good for touristy bayside shopping.

JWC · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 01:12 PM

I am very familiar with Tijuana. We have many relatives that live in Tijuana. I would not recommend going as there isn't much there for a tourist, especially teenagers. Tijuana is not what it was several years ago. You would very likely be the only visitors there. Avenida Revolucion, where the tourists used to go, is virtually dead now.

The hot spot for violence is Cd. Juarez across from El Paso, TX. However there is a lot of violence in Tijuana and it is not all drug related. Several of our relatives have been victims. A short while ago, our nephew was the victim of armed robbery at a Pemex gas station when he stopped to get gas. They took his watch, cell phone, jewelry, wallet and forced him to withdraw money from the ATM. People at the gas station just ignored it.. This happened in the middle of the day in a better area of the city. These incidents are quite common but they are never reported to the police.

I do recommend visiting Old Town in San Diego. Make sure that you eat at the Old Mexican Cafe in Old Town. They have hand made corn tortillas that the ladies make at the front of the restaurant and they are very good.