SDTJ Passport — Local services in San Diego

The service is mostly designed to help you skip the line at the border by going through the bus lane. The way I got there is that one of their “guys” calls out while you are in the really long line. There is a moderate walk over to their small bus stop/parking lot. Get ready wait!!! Yes…you paid to STAND there….third-world style baby!!! They will SNAP at you if you so much as say one darn thing!!! And if you don’t like it - their attitude is that they have to deal with the cartels so they will spit you out for breakfast. “Go take a hike” is their message to you. When you finally get going the bus is nice. You get off at the border crossing and should theoretically get back on after you finish, to go to the next stop, but at this point the bus (may have 🤷🏻) broken down and, even if it didn’t, the ride is over - they have to get back to defending themselves from the cartels and giving the other people in the their-world line dirty looks…so you are on your own!!! They are supposed to pickup passengers on the other side and taken them into Mexico but that doesn’t mean that they are going to fulfill the leg of the trip that takes you to where they pick up the passengers going South as was represented. Oh and get this: the guy who brought you over wants a tip!!! No one in my group gave him one!! While I don’t see paying him the tip, AFTER after through this tourist trap (only there because you have GREEN dollars 💵and they SOMEHOW got the permits to operate), I would have been INFURIATED if the tip was asked for at the end of seeing what I did - they know better than to do this!!! Never did they respond to emails about the device: you see….this would convey a commitment and expectations and they are just there to del you a front-of-the-line pass bedside you SEE the line that seems to go on forever and takes hours to get though. You want the “hack” and can’t wait like everyone else…so the way they see it they are there to get something that isn’t entirely noble (it’s substantially dishonest) out of you!!! 🧻This is what they think...

We would normally drive in but tried this out since Sunday was our only option for this particular trip and we didn't want to wait for hours if we could avoid it.

On the way back when we arrived at the ticket office to process our documents before going back across the border they said they cannot process our friends European Passport which was not stated on their website. They said we would have to wait in the pedestrian line to go back- exactly the thing we had wanted to avoid.

Upon returning to the states I called the online number and was referred the cell of the Manager/Owner (?) to ask him to at least put on their website that they cannot process foreign passports.

He says- what do you mean? We CAN process them. Why didn't you call me? (His # is not on the site) Mind blown. Not sure what these guys are up to but what a disappointment. He has assured me he will speak with the office members - I hope it was truly a mistake.

Here are some other frequently asked questions you may have:

Are the bus departures every half hour ALL day as per the website? NO - 7 am - 10 am and then hourly after that- at least the day we were there.

Will your bus be on time?: Probably not. There are shaded tables to wait at- maybe bring some cards?

Will the bus have air conditioning?: Maybe

Will you have to be processed through customs on the way in?: Yes - customs form to be filled out even for day trip

Pros:

Tall gentleman (Frank I believe) will give interesting information about Tijuana - particularly if you haven't been I imagine.

They have you wait at a particular liquor store at which the gentleman calls the bus back for you, is friendly, has a bathroom and the bus was timely in returning while you shop...

Worst experience ever, I think they have a deal with the taxi services at the airport. (I.e taxi guy takes x amount of customers to them taxi guy gets a cut) they talked me and my group that crossing the border walking would take us hours. Also they have 2 persons loading your baggage onto the bus, which keep on nagging you for a tip even though the just move it a few feet from the sidewalk into the bus. We agreed to use this shuttle, 15$ person. And just to drive us about half a mile to the border, at the border we waited 2 hours (which is most likely not their fault). While waiting inside the bus was extremely hot, customers kept asking to please turn on the A/C which the driver kept saying didn’t work. We finally made it to CBP but had to wait inside shuttle for a cbp officer to get us, the driver turned off the engine and said he couldn’t turn on the A/C cause they needed the truck off, the A/C that apparently had been working. We finally got off and one lady forgot her bag inside and the driver screamed at her “I told you to not leave anything in the shuttle”. I also noticed their plates were California plates and if their businesses is registered in the U.S I plan to file a complaint with B.B.B. I urge you to do the same and avoid the hassle of using this portly...