Taking the ‘cart’, as the locals of San Diego refer to as their train service, is the easiest and most efficient way to get across the border to Tijuana, Mexico. It is a 45-minute train ride from Old Town, the transfer station in San Diego, where a train from here will take you to the border of Mexico.

While wondering how much longer the 45 minute ride will be, you’ll notice looking out the windows, a change in scenery as the surroundings become more suburbia and boarding passengers are increasingly Mexicans. At this point, you’ll wonder if you already had arrived in Tijuana but no-one had let you known. Tijuana will be the final destination for the train, though technically you’re still be on American soil until you cross the border. This definitely isn’t a hard task either. It essentially involves walking over a large bridge that connects the States and Mexico. You can’t go wrong – just follow the crowd, many of whom are locals and are returning home from San Diego after doing their grocery shopping. Compared to Spring-break, where Tijuana transforms into another American city, during the low season you’ll stick out a like a sore thumb (excuse the cliché but it is true!)

Alternatively, you can drive to Mexico but realise while waiting in gridlock at the border crossing that the walk over the bridge would have been much more pleasant. Besides walking to cross through to Tijuana, will allow you to make a stop at the tourist information stand where you’ll be able to grab a map of Tijuana and have any of your questions answered.

Mexico is known to be the place to get all your ‘drugs’ and what do you know the very first store across the road from the bridge is a large pharmaceutical store. The store attendants are dressed in the stereotyped chemist clothing; white trench coat, black pants black shoes and thick geeky-looking black spectacles. All the attendants stand outside the storefront inviting you to come in to make purchases of any conceivable drugs.

This scene is repeated as you walk along the main road of Tijuana where there are endless selections of souvenir stores. This is when the power of bargaining comes in. Bargain! Bargain! Bargain until you get the price you want, if they don’t give it to you, just walk away and I’m sure next door will give you a better price on that Coroner shirt or that leather purse you want. Do the same when you get into the cab as well. They do accept US dollars, so if you can’t do the conversions from Peso (the local currency), the shopkeeper will do it for you.

Rosarito is the neighbouring city to Tijuana and is a 20-minute cab ride from the border that offers a more relaxed beach lifestyle. Stay at the Hotel Festival Plaza, a favourite place for those on Spring-break during June and July and so it’s best to book early if you’re going during this time. The money that you fork out for this place is worth every cent, with spectacular views of the beach no matter which level you are on. Another great thing is that everything is literally around the corner from the resort.

Across the road from the hotel is where you get to try a real taco, none of that dodgy boxed stuff we get in the supermarkets back home. The tacos are cooked fresh on the spot where there is meat roasting over a hot fire, a bit like a kebab on a spinning wheel. The smell of this stuff is so intense you’ll be drawn out from the hotel room. For just one dollar you can get yourself a soft shell taco that measures to the same size as the palm of your hands and it is sprinkled with a few pieces of the roasting meat, some coriander and a dollop of guacamole. This goes down nicely with a Corona in the other hand.

Speaking of drinking, down the street is where you can find the it place for Spring Break where it all goes off at Papas & Beer. It is the largest beach club on the West Coast and has attracted famous Hollywood stars including Leonardo DiCaprio. It can however, be deadly quiet during low season, but it is still worth checking out.

Finally, you’ll want to get down to Rosarito Beach and go horse-back riding. It won’t cost you an arm and leg to do it either. For US$10; yes that’s right 10 bucks you’ll get a half-an-hour ride along the beach. The horses are well trained and you’ll get taught the basics before starting. It is all very romantic, but just think about it, how often will you get to ride a horse along the beach?