Tucson & Mexico

[naldridge]

H has a work trip in Tucson next week, and I am considering meeting him there, since I have never been and he'll already have a hotel room. I'd really like to drive to Mexico, though and it looks like Nogales is an easy day trip.

Has anyone done this before? Any thoughts? Thanks!

[mich1]

I know that when I lived in San Antonio and drove down to Laredo, we did not take our car across the border. We would park on the US side and walk across. My insurance company would not insure my car, I needed a special rider. I did have friends who carried these on their cars, and did drive across. However, they were usually going to family and were of Mexican descent.

If you have a car rental, there might be insurance issues and they simply may not allow you to take it across the border. You'll have to research this out.

You could alo check to see if there are shuttles from Tucson.

[alleinesein]

Crossing the border between the US and Mexico has become a huge PITA. Most rental car companies will not allow you to take the car into Mexico and the few that do allow it charge insane rental fees. You would also need Mexican auto insurance in order to drive down there.

Why do you want to go? Is it the allure of visiting another country or is there something specific you want to see in Nogales. Border towns are not like the rest of Mexico and it would be more of a hassle to visit if all you want to do is cross the border for a few hours; you an easily spend half of your time in Mexico waiting to get back into the US.

[naldridge]

Thanks, ladies! To clarify, I would leave a car on the US side and walk, and yes, it is mostly the allure of Mexico. I realize it's a border town and would still like to do a proper Mexico trip sometime but if these logistics work, it would be a very easy trip. Alternatively, I could do another day trip in/around Tucson.