Annual Baja Rally ~ Feb. 2024

[Bob Nelson]

What is the easiest, cheapest, best
way to communicate with the USA
from the Baja ?

[Corwyn]

Still a cell phone. Coverage is excellent. You can bring your own or get a prepaid, buy a sim card there if you want to, or coordinate coverage with your carrier.
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Bob Nelson]

thank you Corwyn,

Sounds good!
In fact, I was thinking of buying 2 cheap tracfones?
with prepaid mexican sim chips.

Would this work?
I was thinking that this would keep my regular cell phones
out of the mix.

Also, sorry to hear your dog is ill !
my son's dog also has advanced diabetes,
and it's tough to keep it in check.

[Love My Westy]

We use ATT. It works through TELCEL towers. Our plan (which I'm not sure is available anymore) lets us call the USA just like a regular phone call. Check with ATT to see what plan is available now.

Here is a link to a bajanomad thread discussing phone service in Baja. It might help, or just confuse you.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=91936&page=2

[Corwyn]

You can bring your own phone and by a Telcel SIM card, or buy a Telcel phone in Baja, with their SIM card. Either way, the coverage is good.
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[derkm]

Planning on attending this year as a newbie. Been only as far as Rosarito beach before but car caravan baja sounds good.

[Love My Westy]

Corwyn,

We're heading south out of Salt Lake. After some dental work on Mon. in Algodonas, we'll head down Hwy 5.

I hope to see your group down there, we'll probably be around Loreto. We will be in our '08 white Dodge w/FourWheel pop up camper and Ruger trailer. I'll be driving slower this year after wrecking the trailer last year.

Drive safe!

[fxr]

Sorry to hear about your dog's problems. I'm sure you'll both get on top of it though.

On another note - good luck with the gas shortages in Mexico. I heard today (hearsay on another forum) that Baja has reserves for about 8 more days, so in better shape than most of the mainland.

We'll be thinking of you lot on the 5th Feb while we're on a 110cc motorcycle tour of West Africa[1] - but maybe next year we'll have the huge pleasure of joining in again.

[1] http://scootwestafrica.com/dakar-to-bissau-2-weeks/
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Tobias Duncan]

[fxr]

[Corwyn]

There is a PEMEX refinery north of La Paz, so I have no concerns . . .
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Bob Nelson]

Another question if I may?

Is it better to buy enough Pesos' in the USA to get things rolling?

Or, just as easy to wait until a bank or ATM
is found in Mexico?

Thanks,
Bob

[Corwyn]

I usually change $200 at the border. There are plenty of ATMs which will accept your card and spit out Pesos. I have seen a few Canadians, whose ATM card is not VISA or MC endorsed, have a problem at the ATMs in Baja.
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[crazyvwvanman]

I usually change my cash money to pesos in Ensenada. There are a bunch of Cambio kiosks along the route through town. I've used lots of them over the years. For longer trips I use an ATM card periodically as I go but I try to only use machines at Banks and during bank hours if possible.

Mark

[Tobias Duncan]

This year the exchange rate was way better on the american side in Calexico than anywhere else, less than half a peso and closer to a quarter peso difference from the up to the minute exchange rate as per google.
I like to get a few hundred dollars worth at least before crossing the border so I can pay for my FMM in pesos and have enough to carry me through all the crap my bank puts me through EVERY %$#$%amn year when I try to use my ATM card for the first time. No amount of calling them in advance and having them record my out of the country dates seems to do any good at all.

[Tobias Duncan]

I have had no problems getting fuel and have not heard of any such problems this year.
Come on down folks , the water is warm.

[Corwyn]

I'm in Tucson until 2 Feb, then to Yuma for one night and on to Potrero . . .
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Corwyn]

I am in Tucson, awaiting new axles from GW. Will not be at Potrero until the evening of the 4th. I have two friends that are coming in with me: Jay and Michelle in a high top Dodge van and Myron and Noreen in a dark blue Ford pickup with an older popup camper on it. They all came to Baja last year, so introduce yourself and make small talk until I arrive See you soon!
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Stuartzickefoose]

Unfortunately ill have to come another year. Hve fun guys!

Heres Ensenada last week at la bufadora:

_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Stuartzickefoose]

Unfortunately ill have to come another year. Hve fun guys!

Heres Ensenada last week at la bufadora:

_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]