Suggestions for fine-tuning fill trip?

[NoWorry]

I've just booked my first fill trip to OCC. At present, my itinerary is as follows:

FRIDAY, JUNE 22:

• Fly to San Diego, arrive 10:23 a.m.
  
• Avis car rental at airport.
  
• Drive to Mexico border.
  
• Park at border.
  
• Cross on foot.
  
• Taxi to OCC.
  
• 12:30 p.m. appointment for fill. (2 hour fast prior to fill)
  
• Have lunch in TJ to check out fill.
  
• If any problems, back to OCC.
  
• Otherwise, taxi to border.
  
• Cross on foot.
  
• Drive to Holiday Inn, National City and check in.
  
• Explore San Diego.
  
• Dinner in GasLamp District. Second check of fill.
  

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

• Fill is most problematic in the morning, so check stoma again.
  
• If problem, back to OCC.
  
• If not, check out of hotel.
  
• Explore San Diego (Sea World?).
  
• 3:00 p.m. return rental car.
  
• 5:00 p.m. flight home
  

How long, on average, does it take to cross the border, into and out of Mexico when taking a taxi (as opposed to commercial driver)?

How long is the taxi ride to OCC after crossing the border?

How easy is it to find a taxi? Is OCC easy to find by a taxi driver?

Any suggestions, ideas or advice on how to tweak or improve this itinerary?

[NoWorry]

P.S. Anyone needing a ride on that day, around that time, is most welcome.

[KatieB]

P.S. Anyone needing a ride on that day, around that time, is most welcome.

Hi NoWorry,

Wow, your itinerary looks great. Be sure to have the address written down so you can give it to the driver, just in case. Wish I was going at that time would love to do it like you are. Thanks for posting it so I can copy you on my next trip.

[MikeyLikesIt]

I've just booked my first fill trip to OCC. At present, my itinerary is as follows:

FRIDAY, JUNE 22:

• Fly to San Diego, arrive 10:23 a.m.
  
• Avis car rental at airport.
  
• Drive to Mexico border.
  
• Park at border.
  
• Cross on foot.
  
• Taxi to OCC.
  
• 12:30 p.m. appointment for fill. (2 hour fast prior to fill)
  
• Have lunch in TJ to check out fill.
  
• If any problems, back to OCC.
  
• Otherwise, taxi to border.
  
• Cross on foot.
  
• Drive to Holiday Inn, National City and check in.
  
• Explore San Diego.
  
• Dinner in GasLamp District. Second check of fill.
  

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

• Fill is most problematic in the morning, so check stoma again.
  
• If problem, back to OCC.
  
• If not, check out of hotel.
  
• Explore San Diego (Sea World?).
  
• 3:00 p.m. return rental car.
  
• 5:00 p.m. flight home
  

How long, on average, does it take to cross the border, into and out of Mexico when taking a taxi (as opposed to commercial driver)?

How long is the taxi ride to OCC after crossing the border?

How easy is it to find a taxi? Is OCC easy to find by a taxi driver?

Any suggestions, ideas or advice on how to tweak or improve this itinerary?

Crossing the border into Mexico is smooth. Crossing back into the US from Mexico can take any where from 30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours, sometimes even longer. It really just depends when you go and how many locals are coming back and forth from South County including San Diego. Many locals like to the commute for work and return on Saturdays to see family and to handle business. The weekends will probably take more like an hour if not longer for sure. Time spent crossing by car is the same for taxi or normal vehicle.

[Dolittle]

I've just booked my first fill trip to OCC. At present, my itinerary is as follows:

FRIDAY, JUNE 22:

• Fly to San Diego, arrive 10:23 a.m.
  
• Avis car rental at airport.
  
• Drive to Mexico border.
  
• Park at border.
  
• Cross on foot.
  
• Taxi to OCC.
  
• 12:30 p.m. appointment for fill. (2 hour fast prior to fill)
  
• Have lunch in TJ to check out fill.
  
• If any problems, back to OCC.
  
• Otherwise, taxi to border.
  
• Cross on foot.
  
• Drive to Holiday Inn, National City and check in.
  
• Explore San Diego.
  
• Dinner in GasLamp District. Second check of fill.
  

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

• Fill is most problematic in the morning, so check stoma again.
  
• If problem, back to OCC.
  
• If not, check out of hotel.
  
• Explore San Diego (Sea World?).
  
• 3:00 p.m. return rental car.
  
• 5:00 p.m. flight home
  

How long, on average, does it take to cross the border, into and out of Mexico when taking a taxi (as opposed to commercial driver)?

How long is the taxi ride to OCC after crossing the border?

How easy is it to find a taxi? Is OCC easy to find by a taxi driver?

Any suggestions, ideas or advice on how to tweak or improve this itinerary?

Crossing into Mexico is a breeze. Nobody cares who's coming into Mexico. After crossing the first foot bridge you'll run into the taxi stand. $5 is all you need to pay for the ride either way. The OCC clinic isn't but a half mile away. You'll be amazed that it isn't that far. Coming back across the border can be a hassle, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the line going into the customs building can be long, sometimes an hour or two long. There's no way to avoid it. Even if you were to be in the OCC van it can be a long wait. Suggestions???? Renting and parking a car at the border can be expensive. Their Metro bus/trolley system is really good and cheap. $9 bucks gets you a 2 day pass and the Blue line tolley takes you right to the border. I think you can go any where your talking about via the bus and tolley. If I remember right, The tolley even goes right next to the Holiday Inn and has a scheduled stop in National City. Call the Holiday Inn to make sure. If you decide to walk the distance from the border to the clinic, after crossing the second foot bridge, (which goes over the top of sewer creek), turn left and walk 4 blocks to the Costco and then turn right and walk 4 blocks to the street the clinic is located on. Then turn left and the clinic is in the middle of the block. Go the reverse direction when going back. Or have the OCC get you a taxi back to the border. Be prepared to have a possible long line to get back into the USA. If you have any questions, email me.

[PAMMIE]

Crossing into Mexico is a breeze. Nobody cares who's coming into Mexico. After crossing the first foot bridge you'll run into the taxi stand. $5 is all you need to pay for the ride either way. The OCC clinic isn't but a half mile away. You'll be amazed that it isn't that far. Coming back across the border can be a hassle, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the line going into the customs building can be long, sometimes an hour or two long. There's no way to avoid it. Even if you were to be in the OCC van it can be a long wait. Suggestions???? Renting and parking a car at the border can be expensive. Their Metro bus/trolley system is really good and cheap. $9 bucks gets you a 2 day pass and the Blue line tolley takes you right to the border. I think you can go any where your talking about via the bus and tolley. If I remember right, The tolley even goes right next to the Holiday Inn and has a scheduled stop in National City. Call the Holiday Inn to make sure. If you decide to walk the distance from the border to the clinic, after crossing the second foot bridge, (which goes over the top of sewer creek), turn left and walk 4 blocks to the Costco and then turn right and walk 4 blocks to the street the clinic is located on. Then turn left and the clinic is in the middle of the block. Go the reverse direction when going back. Or have the OCC get you a taxi back to the border. Be prepared to have a possible long line to get back into the USA. If you have any questions, email me.

LORI HAS POSTED THIS LINK SEVERAL TIMES. I'VE TAKEN THE BUS/TROLLY TWICE NOW. THESE DIRECTIONS ARE PERFECT, THANKS MARY

http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=725

[NoWorry]

Crossing back into the US from Mexico can take any where from 30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours, sometimes even longer. Time spent crossing by car is the same for taxi or normal vehicle.

Thanks for the info, Mike. Do you have an estimate for crossing Mexico to US in a vehicle? If crossing on foot is as long as 2-1/2 hours and crossing by vehicle is significantly faster, it might be worthwhile to pay the extra for Mexico insurance and drive across and back.

[NoWorry]

Hi NoWorry,

Wow, your itinerary looks great. Be sure to have the address written down so you can give it to the driver, just in case. Wish I was going at that time would love to do it like you are. Thanks for posting it so I can copy you on my next trip.

You're very welcome, Katie. I'll update it when I get back and make suggestions, if any, for improving it.

[NoWorry]

Suggestions???? Renting and parking a car at the border can be expensive. Their Metro bus/trolley system is really good and cheap. $9 bucks gets you a 2 day pass and the Blue line tolley takes you right to the border. I think you can go any where your talking about via the bus and tolley. If I remember right, The tolley even goes right next to the Holiday Inn and has a scheduled stop in National City. Call the Holiday Inn to make sure.

The car rental is only $30. When I factor in the time it will save me, I think the extra few bucks will probably pay for itself. Besides, with the total surgery costs well over $9000 by now, what's an extra $21? Plus I'll have all of Saturday to explore around San Diego and I'd like to have some flexibility about where to go without having to check trolley schedules.

If you decide to walk the distance from the border to the clinic, after crossing the second foot bridge, (which goes over the top of sewer creek), turn left and walk 4 blocks to the Costco and then turn right and walk 4 blocks to the street the clinic is located on. Then turn left and the clinic is in the middle of the block. Go the reverse direction when going back.

Thanks very much for this info. Unless I'm running late, I think I will walk. I love the idea of checking out the city in the process of getting there and back. Any idea where to get a map of Tijuana? Neither Yahoo nor Google have maps of Mexico.

[NoWorry]

I found a printable (pdf) map of Tijuana at

http://www.advantagemexico.com/tijuana/ima...tijuana_map.pdf

.