Tijuana, Mexico

By: Debbie Stock

When a TV news program in Los Angeles promised a scoop about the dangers to tourists visiting Tijuana, Mexico, they assigned a reporter to search for dirt, and she came up empty-handed. What her investigation revealed, however, was a revolution brewing in this border town exceeding 1.5 million people.

Over 64 million crossers pass through Tijuana annually, more than any other border crossing point in the world. And on any given day you can watch a constant parade of Americans heading south to Tijuana on foot, in luxury cars, by bus or on flights into the city's airport.

"We're accustomed to getting a bad rap," said Juan Saldaña, marketing director for Tijuana Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Regardless of the chatter, what's happening is nothing short of amazing," said the Tijuana native who's watched his city grow at an incredible pace. The handsome man who might easily pass for the mayor of L.A. with his well-spoken English, educated family (including a brother who's a cosmetic surgeon) and involvement in politics, confides that even though Tijuana, like Los Angeles, has shanty towns and encampments, your dollar (peso) goes a lot farther south of the border.

Lower hotel prices, cheaper gas, premier weather identical to San Diego's Mediterranean climate, affordable medical & dental care, pharmaceuticals, quality gifts, goods and gourmet foods are a few of the reasons people cross the border into Tijuana. And the best part is the location close to home for residents of the Southwest, West Coast and especially, California.

Whether traveling to Tijuana for cosmetic surgery, a new crown for your tooth, a golf trip, holiday shopping or gourmet dining, this coastal destination lets you stretch your dollar. You can book a Five Diamond hotel room for around $100, dine on a five-course meal from one of the world's top 150 chefs for around $35, get a crown for your tooth for around $300, and buy imported European perfumes no longer sold in the U.S.

Its most exciting revolution (and there are many) is not the famous Avenida Revolucion where leather goods, stained glass and jewelry are sold along one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. What's cooking across the border is scandalously delicious. Chefs from around the globe want to be in Tijuana, contributing to an exciting food culture that encourages talents to shine in ways never imagined.

With less restrictive laws than the U.S. on exotic menus and a culture that craves spice, top chefs pour into Tijuana for the opportunity to test market their recipes and fusion menus to a demographic that's most unusual. World travelers who know about this phenomenon come to Baja California just to dine, but what sustains the restaurants is the local buzz. Drawing upon residents and nearby tourists from California, a top chef in Tijuana has the freedom to experiment in a welcoming environment. With less scrutiny and overhead, the results are "Wow!"

Leonardo DiCaprio can attest. The exquisite cuisine this Hollywood heart throb sampled while acting in "Titanic" (filmed, in part, at Tijuana's Real del Mar Resort) came from Martín San Román, one of the top chefs worldwide. Choosing on-location filming because of the cuisine is not unusual for large budget movies such as Titanic, which cost $200 million to produce. Five Diamond Chef San Román has delighted countless celebrity guests and dignitaries with cool pates, sizzling soups, artistic entrées and heavenly desserts the restaurant is recognized for. Specializing in French-Mexican cuisine in one of Tijuana's best view locations overlooking the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the golf resort, Rincón San Román features colorful presentations and ample surprises. Salads, soups, fresh fish, pasta, meats and desserts that are flavorful and fun, are served on hand-painted plates made especially for this casually-elegant restaurant. It's a fantastic spot to launch a Mexico getaway. For me, it was the perfect way to end my 'Tijuana 101' crash course.

My getaway and studies began at the U.S. border city, San Ysidro, where I parked my car in an affordable, secured lot and hopped aboard the bright, red Mexicoach bus that departs the Visitors Center every half hour for Tijuana. You can walk, drive across the border (Mexican auto insurance highly recommended), or opt for a direct flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), on the new Delta Air Lines service into Tijuana International Airport (TIJ). The flight takes approx. 55 minutes.