Is it safe for a tourist, say a 47 year old white guy with his wife and middle schooler, to cross over WALKING in either Brownsville of Laredo and be a tourist for an afternoon. Maybe do some shopping, hit up a liquor store for some Havana Club rum, eat tacos, etc. Just make a day of it.

In the '90s we used to go to Nuevo Laredo and had an absolute blast. As soon as you walked across the border there was an area of about maybe 10 blocks of thriving shops and stores and such. We would stay at the Motel 6 in Laredo, walk over about noon, and get back in the wee hours of the morning.

I know the wee hours of the morning thing was probably dumb then and borderline suicidal now. But I have no interest in those beautiful senioritas or quaaluds mixed with tequila anymore. I'm more interested in a day trip.

Hoping to hear from people with real experience and not people that just watch the news. The news can give you a lot of false impressions. I went to Cancun for example and had some friends pleading with me not to leave the hotel. ***** my office is in Killeen. Cancun ain't **** compared to Rancier Avenue.

Thanks

That's going to be a negative on those 2 locations.

Piedras Negras might be ok

Ojinaga is usually pretty safe.

How is Acuna these days?

Do what you want then. Best and most likely case, nothing happens and yall have a great day trip. Worst case is you and your family are kidnapped, held hostage for ransom, plus other stuff I wont mention to your wife. It's all about the risk your are willing to take for you and your family.

Been some uptick in cartel violence

That's sad to hear. It used to be a low-key trip every time.

smstork1007 said:

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Do what you want then. Best and most likely case, nothing happens and yall have a great day trip. Worst case is you and your family are kidnapped, held hostage for ransom, plus other stuff I wont mention to your wife. It's all about the risk your are willing to take for you and your family.

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Well, yea. Could say the same thing about Killeen. Or Dallas. Or anywhere else.

That's not really an answer. I get the hole risk v reward thing.

So then what are you asking, you want a poster here on TexAgs to make the determining factor in your risk/reward for crossing over into a **** hole country. I've spent countless days and nights in mexico, in all parts of it, but I really don't have a need to go back. If i want cheap trinkets and crap clothes, i'll go to walmart, which now saying that i'm not sure how much safer that is lol.

OK Man. Never mind.

I'm out of here. Geez.


This board is starting to suck like everything else.

agsalaska said:

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smstork1007 said:

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Do what you want then. Best and most likely case, nothing happens and yall have a great day trip. Worst case is you and your family are kidnapped, held hostage for ransom, plus other stuff I wont mention to your wife. It's all about the risk your are willing to take for you and your family.

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Well, yea. Could say the same thing about Killeen. Or Dallas. Or anywhere else.

That's not really an answer. I get the hole risk v reward thing.

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Difference being that while there are bad parts of almost any big city like Dallas, once you go into the cesspool of mexico it is all bad parts. The risk of something bad happening in mexico wouldn't be worth it to me, especially taking my wife and child.

agsalaska said:

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OK Man. Never mind.

I'm out of here. Geez.


This board is starting to suck like everything else.

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I was for sure not trying to offend you, sorry if that happened. I might have been trying to make you think what you were really wanting to go across the border for. Mexico is NOT what it was in your memories when you were having those great times years or decades ago. Also, if my responses pissed you off, you for sure need to keep your ass out of mexico, you don't have the skin for it anymore, that I can promise you.

agsalaska said:

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smstork1007 said:

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Do what you want then. Best and most likely case, nothing happens and yall have a great day trip. Worst case is you and your family are kidnapped, held hostage for ransom, plus other stuff I wont mention to your wife. It's all about the risk your are willing to take for you and your family.

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Well, yea. Could say the same thing about Killeen. Or Dallas. Or anywhere else.

That's not really an answer. I get the hole risk v reward thing.

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I guess it partially depends on whose/which holes you're risking.

Sad state of affairs.

50 years ago we rode a Mexican train in old American Pullman cars from Ojinga through the Sierras then down to LaPaz on the Pacific and back. It was a wonderful and inexpensive adventure.

Never had any crime issues or felt unsafe.

I remember it was safe enough as a twelve year old gringo boy to explore the downtown square shops in Chihuahua all afternoon while my parents " napped".

We used to go to Nuevo Laredo all the time when hunting in Laredo. Also wife and I and my mom and dad went there shopping a lot during the 80's. Used to love to go to the Cadillac bar and restaurant…… great Mexican food.
Also used to go to Ciudad Acuna all the time when fishing tournaments at Amistad.
Nobody goes over anymore when we fish and same at Nuevo Laredo. It's just changed too much. My best friend is a DPS CID officer and works those areas regularly and won't take his family across anymore. He says it's dangerous day or night now.
Just my two cents.

This Aggie did it!!







Mexico is not 'all bad parts' Whoever said that. But thats not an endorsement for the border towns.

I live fairly close to Laredo. I would not go across the border especially with wife and child. Just too much risk.

Some posters on here like DVM 97 and RGV Ag would be able to inform you a lot better as I think they transit the border a lot more than most. I would guess if you do, there are certain protocols you should follow to minimize risk. I do think Progreso might be a much better choice than the other border cities.

I agree that you can get into trouble just about anywhere now. The difference is you still have some rights here…you have zero once you step into Mexico..

Gunny456 said:

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We used to go to Nuevo Laredo all the time when hunting in Laredo. Also wife and I and my mom and dad went there shopping a lot during the 80's. Used to love to go to the Cadillac bar and restaurant…… great Mexican food.

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Wouldn't you just call it.....great food?

Nuevo Progreso and Acuna are the only two border towns that have a small semblance of the old tourist days.

Either one of those high chances of being fine. Every other town mentioned in this thread is not worth it. Especially Nuevo Laredo.

The Peso is at an almost all time high against the USD so no bargains. Maybe some on some medicines, that is about it. Matamoros, Reynosa, N. Laredo are not worth going to unless you have a specific reason. Piedras might be OK too, but I doubt that it has any type of touristy stuff going on.

If you aren't familiar with the environs or going with someone that it is, I would recommend against it. N. Progreso and Acuna are still ok, but boring compared to the old days.

I have a friend that lives in the Valley and still goes to Progreso to eat lunch and to the dentist and pharmacy.

Another friend has an elderly mother that lives in Reynosa and he travels over to see her a couple times a week. He said there are places that he avoids at certain times of the day.

I have been down hunting 185 miles south of Reynosa 4 times in the past two years and my Dad has been down there 5 to 6 times a year for the past 5 years. Having said that, I personally get a big pucker factor when I cross the border that doesn't go away until I get to the lodge. And we have a federale escort 3/4 of the way.

I am going to pass on the trips this year. I just have this uneasy feeling traveling around San Fernando.

smstork1007 said:

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agsalaska said:

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OK Man. Never mind.

I'm out of here. Geez.


This board is starting to suck like everything else.

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I was for sure not trying to offend you, sorry if that happened. I might have been trying to make you think what you were really wanting to go across the border for. Mexico is NOT what it was in your memories when you were having those great times years or decades ago. Also, if my responses pissed you off, you for sure need to keep your ass out of mexico, you don't have the skin for it anymore, that I can promise you.

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Alright man fair enough. I just didn't like that response and then you doubled down on it.

Imagine I asked 'Is it safe to fish in the bay in the winter.' and You responded with 'well its safe until its not and then you die' Yea man no ***** Since you have spent hundreds of days fishing in the bay how about talking to me about the weather, the waves, the winds, the tides, etc. I get that boats can sink.

Anyway.

I know it's not the same as it was. But is there still a tourist scene at all? RIght across the border? People say it is dangerous but I can't find much to verify that, especially in the 6-8 blocks right there past the bridge. When was the last time there was violence in that area. That's what I am asking. Can you cross, for a couple of hours, into Mexico, safely. And I will put the safe/not safe line at walking from one end of Downtown Dallas to the other at night.

My daughter and her husband cross Del Rio and drive to his parent's home in San Carlos (about 30 minutes from the border), two or three times per year. I did it myself a couple of years ago with no issue. Planning to go there for Thanksgiving this year if things work out.

RGV AG said:

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Nuevo Progreso and Acuna are the only two border towns that have a small semblance of the old tourist days.

Either one of those high chances of being fine. Every other town mentioned in this thread is not worth it. Especially Nuevo Laredo.

The Peso is at an almost all time high against the USD so no bargains. Maybe some on some medicines, that is about it. Matamoros, Reynosa, N. Laredo are not worth going to unless you have a specific reason. Piedras might be OK too, but I doubt that it has any type of touristy stuff going on.

If you aren't familiar with the environs or going with someone that it is, I would recommend against it. N. Progreso and Acuna are still ok, but boring compared to the old days.

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Appreciate the response. What I am looking for.

So if I want to do it I need to check out those two towns. I am looking for boring. Boring is perfect.

I wouldn't buy any pills. Besides the fact that I quit the hard drugs in 1997, I am too scared of fakes with fentanyl. But I would like a liquor store for some Havana Club Rum and

agsalaska said:

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I know it's not the same as it was. But is there still a tourist scene at all? RIght across the border? People say it is dangerous but I can't find much to verify that, especially in the 6-8 blocks right there past the bridge.

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No, no tourist scenes anymore in the bigger cities.

Nuevo Progreso has about 50-60% of what it had years ago. Acuna maybe 20%, the rest of the towns no longer have the touristy area and shops and stuff. I have been across at Piedras about 6-7 years ago, but wasn't paying attention. But I don't think it does and didn't have much years ago either.

RGV AG said:

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agsalaska said:

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I know it's not the same as it was. But is there still a tourist scene at all? RIght across the border? People say it is dangerous but I can't find much to verify that, especially in the 6-8 blocks right there past the bridge.

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No, no tourist scenes anymore in the bigger cities.

Nuevo Progreso has about 50-60% of what it had years ago. Acuna maybe 20%, the rest of the towns no longer have the touristy area and shops and stuff. I have been across at Piedras about 6-7 years ago, but wasn't paying attention. But I don't think it does and didn't have much years ago either.

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Man that is really sad. the border towns used to be some of the most vibrant places anywhere.

I just watched this video and this is pretty much what I am looking for, though it does seem pretty small

One of my favorite places to eat there is Arturo's. Pancho's Bar cool little place as well. Others are Angel's Red Snapper

OP failed to mention what military grade weapons and vehicles would you be using?

I have no idea what the risk is, but there isn't a planet in this universe where I would tote my kids and wife to Mexico.

Go Here: https://www.marketsquaresa.com/ Close enough.

Then go home....with everyone you went there with.

The peso is at 18.34 to the dollar. That's the strongest since March 2023. It's weakened significantly the past month. So yeah it's no where near the lowest it's been and about 15% better than in May.

BartInLA said:

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OP failed to mention what military grade weapons and vehicles would you be using?

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Man I am so scared that what happened to those dudes down in Turks and Caracos could happen to me.

I would literally buy a brand new backpack and keep it in the plastic until I got there. I don't think I own a bag that hasnt had a gun or ammo in it in the last year.

Not the Texas border, but quite similar geopolitical.

I let my 17 year old son cross to Tijuana on a regular basis. He's got a gf who lives there on the weekend. We drop him off at the border, he walks across and they pick him up. Returns on foot around 11pm. Never had an issue. Except when he told the beggar lady "no tienes dinero." I'm sure she thought "no **** gringo... that's why I'm begging..."

He's also 6'4" which may be a deterrent.

BurnetAggie99 said:

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One of my favorite places to eat there is Arturo's. Pancho's Bar cool little place as well. Others are Angel's Red Snapper

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So let me ask you this.

I came back from Cancun in April with five bottles of Cuban rum that are illegal here, or at least you can't buy them here. Of course in Austin going through they were in a bag and nobody said anything, but walking back in Nuevo Progreso? Would customs give me any **** about that?


I did some pretty creative things to get drugs across in the '90s, but I discovered honesty and a better way of life. Not doing that again.

That's awesome. I've known some senioritas that were worth the risk.

May be different walking over especially trying to hide bottles of booze walking.

This is the Nuevo Laredo I remember. Too bad