Road Trip to Mexico - Maybe NOT

[shred_da_gorge]

Baja is million times safer, the mainland is the real mexico

Really? I think not...
http://www.surfermag.com/features/carja ... 0IrSV6w.97

So you read about people dumb enough to drive their expensive toys through Tijuana in the dark and now you'll never kite La Ventana? Fly to Cabo or La Paz. The biggest danger driving from there is hitting a cow.

Read the article a little more closely - the ambush took place at the border at 4:30 AM. They were still a long way north of the Baja Peninsula. If you must drive, caravan, and don't cross in the dark.

[Cosmicocean]

@ Yoda,

The article you mention is from 6 years ago, and as said above they were driving at night, so i still would argue that baja is a million times safer than mainland, pretty
Much a white people's playground in comparison.

And at risk of getting flamed here, just to put it in perspective, consider there are actuall prisoner camps for inmigrants in arizona were hard working people are held
With others that might be dangerous, then they get deported and they roam around
Mex with huge resentment that results in these things

In my 20 years experience of annual travel to the whole mexican pacific if you avoid the thugs the everyday people are some of the kindest good hearted humans you are likely
To find anywhere in the world.

Peace

[le noun]

I've done the drive from cabo to SF. Stopping by la ventana, and Punta san Carlos.
I know Bruce has done it for years every year with wife and children and dog without never having any trouble.
Multiple military check points on the way (kind of impressive at first but then you realize they're actually super cool and just curious about the sport).
Didn't drive at night and went through Tecate to pass the boarder (not Tijuana).

But unless you're planning on stopping along the way to kite and surf, I don't really see the point of driving. Just take a flight and rent a car from cabo to la ventana.

[Erik]

Flying down that way over Christmas. I have a UAL flight on hold, but am aware (I called them up to confirm) that they will not take kiting gear down during that time.

I'm wounding if anyone rents out split kiteboards. When I usually travel I fly other airlines like Alaska, that don't charge, however I am booking this trip a little late and UAL is my only real option.

Alternative to renting, does anyone have great ideas to sneak a board through? I've heard success with putting them in a suit bag and taking them on the plane

[le noun]

In that case just put your kite in a regular sized check-in luggage and rent a board down there. It's not like there wasn't any option to rent equipment once you're in la ventana...

[Frappes]

Why won't they take kiting gear?? I'm flying down in January - it it going to be a problem?

[Erik]

Why won't they take kiting gear?? I'm flying down in January - it it going to be a problem?

Read here under Winter Excess Embargo:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/conten ... bargo.aspx

And here under kiteboards, the last statment stating that kiteboards fall under the embargo
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/conten ... ports.aspx

I also called United up and they confirmed that I would not be able to take a kiteboard during this period.

[JimmyJack]

I am going down in Jan as well and both Alaska and Virgin allow you to take it. United is the worst, always.

[Frappes]

Thanks for the info - luckily my flight is on the 16th!

[Erik]

I am going down in Jan as well and both Alaska and Virgin allow you to take it. United is the worst, always.

I'm not going to argue with you there. American Airlines are also ass