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SHOPPING
 Baja California offers you excellent shopping options. Most times prices are lower than the U.S. specially in fragances, jewelry, art objects, cosmetics and textiles.
You will find the best of all the art crafts from all regions of México: high quality ceramics, guitars, blown glass, wrought iron and silver, among others. Many common prescription drugs are available over the counter in Mexico at approximately ½ to 3/4 of U.S. prices.
In Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Mexicali there are large shopping malls as well as pedestrian streets full of shops, don't miss the opportunity to visit a Mexican Market (Mercado), pure poetry for shoppers!! You can find souvenirs, clothing, and toys and to keep up the energy for more shopping... enjoy a brilliant-red slice of fresh cut watermelon.
Store Hours
Most stores are open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and almost all of those located in the turistic areas, are open on Sundays.
Restaurant Hours
Hours vary depending on the type of restaurant, but generally, they are open from Noon to Half Past Midnight, except for those serving breakfast, which usually open at 7:00 in the morning.
Office and Banking Hours
Businesses generally operate from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; banks from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., although some branches remain open until 7:00 p.m. Banking services for currency exchange and checks are serviced only between 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Postal Service
Most mail is sent by airmail, but the postal service also provide service to those places not served by airmail. Post Office hours are from 8:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m. in the evening during the week, and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Taxes
The sales and service tax, is known as the Value Added Tax (IVA) and is 10% of the bill. Hotels, moreover, will add a 2% Tax to your room rate.
Tips
As in many parts of the world, tipping is customary in Baja California. It is absolutely expected in restaurants and Hotels. In restaurants the standard tip is 10 - 20% of your total bill. The tip to the bellboy is in proportion to the number of pieces of luggage, consider 1 dollar per piece. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers, unless they are providing some special service, if that's the case a 10% tip will be apropriate.
CUSTOMS
What to bring into México?
You can bring in your car, personal clothing, camera and other items for personal use without any problem. For general merchandise, such as food or medicines, there is a per-person limit of up to $400 U.S. dollars duty free. Anything over that amount has to go through Mexican customs and pay import duty. Firearms are illegal in Mexico although special permits can be obtained in advance for hunting. Check with the nearest Mexican Consulate for regulations regarding hunting permits.
What can I bring back to the USA?
Persons buying goods in the Mexican border zone are entitled to take up to $400.00 U.S worth of goods into the USA free of customs duties. Including one liter of alcohol (per person, this is 1 per returning resident, quota is also cumulative within a family, with respect to father, mother and children). Mexican arts and crafts are duty-free and don't count toward your $400.00 limit. This is also cumulative within a family.
For specific information regarding the law on bringing alcoholic beverages into California go to:
If traveling by common carrier (cruise ship, plane or train) more than one liter of alcohol is allowed however only the first is duty free. The following items are legal in Mexico and readily available everywhere in the border area, but cannot be brought into the United States: Cuban cigars, turtle products, switchblades, butterfly knives and fireworks. For full customs information, check the U.S. Customs web site:
CURRENCY
The national currency of Mexico is the peso, its exchange rate, in relation to the dollar, fluctuates from day to day (usually just a few cents).
Visitors may exchange money or traveler checks at any bank of at any money exchange house. Anyhow keep in mind, that U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere and there are ATM's all over the State specially in touristic areas (look for a sing that reads "Cajero Permanente") they will dispense bills in pesos. You can easily withdraw money from your U.S. account, but the money will be delivered to you in pesos. (Rest assured that during your visit to Baja California U.S. dollars will be widely accepted, altough figuring out pesos bills and coins will definitively complete your vacation in México as a foreing Country).
Most commercial establishments accept Mexican and international credit cards, such as Master Card, Visa and American Express some will accept also travelers checks. Personal checks are not accepted.
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