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Rick Steves Talks Up Tijuana

by Josh Lew (RSS feed) on Oct 23rd 2008 at 12:30PM

In a recent syndicated column, European travel guru Rick Steves explains why Tijuana is a worthy travel destination. He admits that, at first, he was down on the border city because of its reputation, but had never visited until recently.

So what did the author and travel show host with the unlikely voice ("he sounds like my Grandmother" a friend once told me) think of life on the other side of the wire? Well, it is definitely not Tuscany: "Bars that feel like saloons come with cheap prostitutes wearing down their stiletto heels at the doors."

But Steves notes that things were not as raw as he expected: "With this thriving economy comes a thriving culture: music, arts, and an impressive cultural center. The city, while architecturally dilapidated, is extremely clean. The streets were free of litter." It seems that, despite the recent cartel shootouts, the local government seems to be delivering on its promise to spiff up Tijuana. Sure, the city has gained economically from rubbing against the US, but it is still on the outside looking over the fence. As Steves point out though, there is far more than cheap prescriptions and free flowing agave-based alcohol to this border town.

Filed under: Mexico, News

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Grant Martin Oct 23rd 2008 12:42PM

He was definitely paid off.

Josh Lew Oct 23rd 2008 12:45PM

Could be. Maybe the cartels provided some "muscle" for him when he was in town in exchange for a good review.

Lupe Phillips Oct 23rd 2008 2:20PM

You've got to be kidding? I know people who have relatives in Tijuana and they were told not to visit because it is so dangerous! I also know people who were stopped coming from Ensenada by the Federales and threatened to arrest them unless they paid them off.I also have friends that were on a cruise last week and were accosted getting off the ship by vendors in Capo . One vendor grabbed her wrist ,strapped on a bracelet and tried to intimidate her to pay for it, It is very irresponsible of Rick to recommend and endanger peoples lives when it is very obvious he doesn't know the real story, that is unless you enjoy laying on a Tijuana Beach and see a head wash up on shore.Based on this I will no longer find his program reliable. we used to drive several times a month to Puerto Nuevo for the Lobster which is the best that can be found anywhere. It is sad we can no longer enjoy it.

Kenn Oct 23rd 2008 10:41PM

Lupe unfortunately is mixing up downtown "Tijuana" (where Rick Steves enjoyed himself) with the entire Baja penninsula (she mentions Tijuana, Ensenanda, "Capo" (Cabo), etc.) and every second-hand statement that she's heard about Mexico.

1.7 million people live in the City of Tijuana (it's the second largest city on the West Coast of North America) so it's a big place -- and at least Rick Steves actually visited before making his opinion. It's true that primarily on the outskirts of town the cartels have been fighting between themselves, but the violence rates in Tijuana are actually lower than many cities in the US (like New Orleans and even St. Louis-MO), and not that much higher than even Washington DC -- so, visit and make your own opinion (please don't lump every bad thing you've ever heard happen in Mexico and blame it on Tijuana).

For instance, last week, the weeklong Expo Tequila brought over 10,000 visitors to Tijuana -- with the worst thing being a hangover the next morning.

There's a whole downtown tourist district that includes art galleries (check out the new "Cubo" exhibitions next to the CECUT cultural center), great restaurants, a great microbrewery (TJ Beer), and the renovated Caliente Casino. All of these are accessible by taking a new hop-on, hop-off "City Tour" bus that travels in the downtown area.

Beginning in June of 2009, you'll need your passport to cross the border, but until then... a photo ID will work (although a passport, or the new Passport Card, is better).

Rick Steves was right -- and there's more in Tijuana. Any tourism professionals interested in visiting Tijuana can wright me an email and I'll be happy to try to facilitate your visit. You can also call toll-free to the Tijuana Convention & Visitors Bureau (1-888-775-2417) or email them at intaffairs@tijuanaonline.org. They do speak English, so go for it!

I'll be upfront: our firm has been trying to help the City of Tijuana get the word out about the great things that Tijuana still has to offer (just a short drive away from Southern California). I respect comments from people that are fearful based on what they read in the papers or hear from friends -- but it's important to be clear about what the risks really are, and not to cast such a broad criticism over a huge area. That'd be like saying "I got car-jacked in San Antonio so I'm never going to Texas again" (I actually DID get car-jacked in San Antonio, but will go back even to that city...).

The TijuanaOnline.org website also has a lot of information. Rick Steves was right - and I'd encourage any of you to explore TJ too!

Lupe Phillips Oct 25th 2008 8:49AM

My information is not hearsay or from reading the newspaper but from relatives who live in Tijuana.The people who were stopped and harrased for money were in downtown Tiajuana.So you are the one who is evidently giving bogus information and must have something to gain.

Kenn Oct 26th 2008 8:33PM

Lupe: just to quote your original post: "I know people who have relatives in Tijuana and they were told not to visit ..." So....by definition, you heard it from someone else (you didn't experience it yourself, nor even did they directly experience it). Ergo, "hearsay".

Also, just because you have been told things by others doesn't make my information "bogus" (that's an easy way to attack me, but false). It means that you have been told something by someone - and someone else (me in this case) is providing other information since there is a lot of misinformation out there. I don't think Rick Steves is giving you bogus information (is he?).

I also suggest that you and others try going back to Tijuana to find out for themselves. It's one thing to come onto a website and make accusations, its another to find out yourself. Clearly in a city of 1.7 million people (that I, in fact, visited on Friday during a conference I was invited to -- which included around 300+ professionals in the middle of Tijuana), not everyone is apparently being so threatened. My comments are meant to urge professionals in the travel industry to be like Rick Steves -- find out for yourself, and don't give hearsay the only consideration.

I'm very open to even helping you on your next trip to Tijuana, Lupe, if you have any questions. I just think it's more professional and honest to provide data and facts, not repeat things we've heard from others....

Don't trust me? Here are some comments from recent visitors to Tijuana (including some additional comments from Rick Steves' own blog):

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/567083

http://www.tequilagringo.com/?q=content/expo-tequila-2008-impressions-tips

http://www.ricksteves.com/blog/index.cfm?fuseaction=entry&entryID=289

Again, it's okay to have doubts, and to ask questions. But also important to look for facts and accurate information before accusing a whole city as being too dangerous based on second- or third-hand information.

Thanks again,