Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

basher

Dec 27, 2002, 5:46 PM

Post #1 of 13 (3841 views)

Shortcut

Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

I am going to stay at La Posada in Laredo and want to get up very early to cross to Nuevo Laredo and go through immigration, customs and register my car. Which is the best bridge to cross to do this. By early I mean 6:30 A.M.

stevek

Dec 28, 2002, 3:11 PM

Post #2 of 13 (3724 views)

Shortcut

Re: [basher] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

I can't tell you what time is best, but I can tell you that I got there around 1PM and it took 3 hours to get my car permit! I'll be going back that way in a couple of weeks and hope it's a lot easier to drop the sticker off than it was to get it!

Steve

Howard Botz

Dec 29, 2002, 2:43 PM

Post #3 of 13 (3699 views)

Shortcut

Re: [basher] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post | Private Reply

How about trying the Colombia Crossing just north of Laredo?

Others have commented that it is much easier to cross there. I am not sure if it has a

car permit facility though?

Howard

krj1

Dec 29, 2002, 4:19 PM

Post #4 of 13 (3687 views)

Shortcut

Re: [basher] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

At that hour use the old downtown bridge i think it is call bridge one. cross bridge turn imediately right the sighn says car permits. turn into the parking lot. In the building there are signs that will quide u. In November i was out of there in less thsn one hour.If you need more help email me.

mrkstvns

Jan 1, 2003, 8:17 PM

Post #5 of 13 (3662 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Howard Botz] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

I generally find Columbia to be much shorter than either bridge 1 or 2 in Laredo. There is a permit office there and I've never had it take more than about 15 minutes from arrival to back on the road.

There are a couple "gotchas" though. There is no place to buy Mexican insurance at Columbia if you are crossing from U.S. to Mexico. Also, the bridge closes at midnight and the U.S. Immigration office closes at 11pm.

Other than that, it's generally a great time saver.

Mark

Howard Botz

Jan 2, 2003, 7:47 AM

Post #6 of 13 (3648 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mrkstvns] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks for the information Mark....

This will be a permanent move for me and I will already have my car insurance and FM 3 when I arrive at the border.

May I ask a couple of more questions:

I have been told Colombia is closed on weekends and does not open until 8 AM or 10 AM?

Can you tell me about the facilities on the American side? Since I will have a rather long drive from Seattle I would like to spend one day doing laundry, cleaning the car, changing money, resting, etc. Are there motels/hotels on the US side and facilities to accomplish this.

Thanks again for your help and time.

Howard in Seattle

mrkstvns

Jan 2, 2003, 10:46 AM

Post #7 of 13 (3637 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mrkstvns] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

Howard,

Columbia is a remote outpost. There is nothing at the border crossing to keep anyone there longer than needed for buearacratic red tape. The U.S. side consists of lanes through which you pass for the U.S. Customs checkpoint and a building with the offices for immigration, agricultural inspectors etc. That is *IT*. There is no town here and not even so much as a gas station for at least 20 miles. (There is a toll booth a few miles from the bridge ;-)

On the Mexican side, there is an office for aduana and there is a Pemex station, but again, no hotels, no restaurants, no anything.

If you need laundry facilities etc., you are better off being in Laredo, even if it takes you longer to cross the bridge and take care of the red tape. Though you could always use Columbia and then wait for your rest stop until you reach San Antonio (2 hours north)...

Hope this helps,

Mark

Howard Botz

Jan 4, 2003, 1:18 PM

Post #8 of 13 (3611 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mrkstvns] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks Mark.

That helps a lot. I wont look for anything around the US side of the border before crossing into Mexico.

Howard

esperanza

Jan 4, 2003, 2:17 PM

Post #9 of 13 (3606 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Howard Botz] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Howard, Laredo Texas is full of motels, gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, retail shopping, etc. It's just the area out by the Colombia Bridge that's empty. Stay in Laredo proper overnight and then head for the bridge in the morning.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Howard Botz

Jan 4, 2003, 3:17 PM

Post #10 of 13 (3603 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post | Private Reply

This seems like the best solution--regroup in Laredo and then get up in the morning and drive to Colombia to cross.

Howard

Gone away

Jan 10, 2003, 10:12 PM

Post #11 of 13 (3559 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Howard Botz] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

I arrived in Laredo in the evening on Jan 4th and found an inexpensive motel to stay overnight. Left there on Jan 5th at 6am and crossed into Mexico at 6:15am after gotten some Pesos in Laredo, took 45 minutes for the permit and I was on my way.

The Columbia bridge does not open until 8am. The older ones are open 24 hours.

Howard Botz

Jan 11, 2003, 8:36 AM

Post #12 of 13 (3558 views)

Shortcut

Re: [RM] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks for your information. Laredo was certainly an easy crossing for you. I wonder if a first time 'crosser' would be as lucky? To cross or not to cross that is the question.

Thanks,

Howard

Gone away

Jan 16, 2003, 10:22 PM

Post #13 of 13 (3539 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Howard Botz] Laredo-What Bridge to Cross to Nuevo Laedo Early In the Morning?

Can't Post |

Just a quick follow up, why would anyone in their right mind stay in Laredo, I stayed in an inexpensive motel 5 minutes from the bridge, drive all the way back to the junction for the Columbia bridge and then retrace the steps to the border. the time taken to do all that in about 30 some odd miles doing the trip is not worth it. It may be later in the day, but certainly not at 6am. All the traffic at this time is from Mexico to the US.

As I said at 6:15am it took 45 minutes to do all the paper work and I was on my way.