Matamoros border crossing (Laredo, McAllen, Allen: insurance, hotel, estimates)

[oceangaia]

We're going to Matamoros this weekend and want to know which is the best bridge to cross if staying in downtown Matamoros. The new international bridge (not the one with the railroad) seems to dump right into town and be the shortest path but perhaps the main bridge to the east at the terminus of 77 may have better services?

Anyone know for either bridge where you cancel your temporary car permit (still have it from a previous trip)? Are both of these bridges 24/7? How do they compare in border wait times?

[gguerra]

I wouldn't bother with the car permit thing.. It's not like they have a database and look your car up when you cross the bridge. They may even get after you or decide they want to fine you or something (you never know) Save yourself some headaches. The main bridge is called the Gateway bridge (off of International Blvd) and is the best/easiest crossing. It is closer to some of the tourist places (I do not know where you will be going). It may even be better to walk it (if you aren't going far). If you are just going for a casual visit, stay in the touristy areas, stay away from the back streets and be careful after dark.. Matamoros has been quiet lately, but stay away from Reynosa (across from Hidalgo/McAllen). Don't forget proper ID/passport

[oceangaia]

I am saving myself a headache. The car permit is valid for six months and it has not been six months so it is still active. If I don't turn it in and get it cleared I won't be able to get another one. They do have a database for that. We drive deep into Mexico several times a year to visit familia near D.F. We have always gotten it canceled upon exiting but this last trip we crossed at Los Indios on a Sunday and the permit office there is closed on Sundays. I have an annual full coverage Mexican insurance policy. This is my 4th visit to Mexico in 4 months. I know Mexico just not Matamoros.

Thanks for the name of the bridge. That one (off International) is the one we'll use to enter. We are staying near the mercado, whatever hotel has best deal with secured parking, maybe Best Western Plaza or Hotel Roma. Looking at getting some estimates for dental work, checking out mercado and centro and plaza allende. Daytime business only. Maybe drive out to playa Bagdad if time permits but probably not.

All I need to know now is the location of the permit return, particularly if
I can access it and turn back around to Mexico without being forced back over to the U.S. side because I don't want to deal with customs twice and I don't want to wait until Sunday in case it's closed. So the plan is hopefully cross into Mexico Friday, cancel the permit, and remain in Mexico until Sunday.

[gguerra]

You should be able to return/cancel the permit with the Mexican customs located on the Mexican side of the bridge as soon as you cross. If that is not the place they will guide you to the correct one . You should not have to return to the US..

[oceangaia]

Found it. The crossing was a snap, got a green light. The return station is a little shack on the right hand side of the road about a hundred yards before the bridge toll booth and just before a place where you can turn around. We will do it later since there was a line.

I figured as much but you never know. A little typing and reading is a lot easier than dealing with a hassle. In Nvo Laredo, there is a booth in one of the lanes on the periferico leading across the bridge, just before the toll booths. In that location there is no way to turn around and one year their scanner failed to read the tag and they could not complete it there, saying I would have to go to the booth at the main building. Faced with a long wait to enter the U.S. just to turn around, I had to argue and escalate to a supervisor before they moved some barriers and let me access an employee parking lot that let me back onto a Nvo Laredo local street.