As an organization, our conferences are our flagship events. Our first bi-national conference happen to be at a time when international collaboration is more important than ever. We invite you to celebrate LMDA’s 40th anniversary as we continue growing across the continent. If you are willing and able, we invite you to cross between San Diego and Tijuana with the thousands of border crossers moving through who deserve a functioning and respectful border. As we cross, we do so recognizing those who are now and perhaps have always been prohibited from crossing borders. We see the act of participating in this bi-national conference as an expression of hope for the type of world we want to function in; one where international travel happens in an atmosphere of mutual exchange and safety.

Yes, LMDA has arranged travel with a local tourism bus company that regularly takes groups across both sides of the border, be it high school field trips or groups for cultural events. For the conference, the bus will be near the SDSU South Plaza Campus housing on Friday morning to take folks to CECUT and back at the end of the evening. Then, on Saturday, the bus will pick up folks at CECUT to go to The Old Globe, returning after the banquet. 

NEXUS is designed for pre-screened travelers to expedite their entry into and out of the United States and Canada at designated land, sea, and air ports of entry. While NEXUS members may be able to use Global Entry kiosks when entering the US via Canadian preclearance airports, it doesn't offer expedited entry to Mexico. 

Remember to always travel with your passport and/or proof of permanent residence in case you are required to prove your citizenship or permanent residence status.

U.S. citizens entering Mexico by land, a valid passport or an enhanced driver's license (if applicable) is generally required. You may also need a Mexican tourist card (FMM) depending on your nationality and intended length of stay. By air, a valid passport is required.

Yes, this is possible. There are several flights from Vancouver or Toronto into Tijuana, by way of Mexico City. Costs, however, are more than flights into San Diego and the timing is sometimes not ideal.

While the LMDA conference might be connected to your work, you are not being paid to attend. We advise you to let authorities know you are traveling for tourism/visiting the area and/or attending cultural events instead of answering “for work.”

The short answer is that yes, CBP can search your devices. Constitutional protections are generally weaker at US borders, including airports. Here is a link to a helpful resource about protecting your data on phones/laptops.

From Tijuana to San Diego, crossing the border is very simple. You can take an Uber and let the driver know you're heading to the border. There are two main pedestrian crossing points: El Chaparral and San Ysidro. Both options are safe for crossing.

• El Chaparral is open from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM every day of the week
  San Diego, CA 92173, Estados Unidos
  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PPFWNpTSjLgi1kAB7
  The advantage of crossing through El Chaparral is that once you're in the U.S., you're close to a shopping center, and it's quicker to request an Uber from there.
• San Ysidro is open 24 hours a day
  720 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, Estados Unidos
  https://g.co/kgs/5xfejGj
  The advantage of San Ysidro is that there's access to the MTS trolley right after you cross.

From San Diego to Tijuana, we recommend crossing through San Ysidro as there are more transportation options and it's the most commonly used crossing by daily commuters. You can take an Uber to the border or the MTS trolley green line stops at SDSU Plaza, then you transfer at 12th/Imperial to the blue line towards San Ysidro at the border.

If it's your first time walking into Tijuana from San Diego, I suggest heading to New City Plaza (a shopping center) after crossing—it’s about a 15–20 minute walk—and from there, you can request an Uber to your final destination.

New City Plaza
P.º del Centenario 9580, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RWQ3rdNbJbWeDxtGA

Attendees can reserve their San Diego accommodations until two weeks before the conference. On Wednesday, June 10th the Housing & Accommodation form will no longer be available. However, the registration form will be available through the conference. Please note, space is limited in both SD and TJ locations, so it is recommended to book as soon as possible.

Yes! We asked whether or not you intended to cross the border or use LMDA provided transportation in the conference registration form so we could book appropriate sized buses. You’re always welcome to travel across the border or across San Diego through other means.

We know that there is a lot of uncertainty around travel throughout North America at the moment, and we understand that your needs very well might change. Refunds on accommodations are at the discretion of the venue and their cancellation policies. Please note that SDSU accommodations are non-refundable.

• If you have general registration or finance information, please reach out to LMDA’s Executive Director, Lindsey R. Barr at admin@lmda.org.
• For general conference inquiries, please contact Danielle Ward, conference coordinator at conferencecoordinator@lmda.org. 
• If you would like to request accessibility accommodations please connect with us at accessibility@lmda.org.

San Diego International (SAN) is the airport on the US side and Tijuana International (TIJ) is the airport on the Mexico side, where Aeromexico and Volaris are the leading airlines. Travel from SAN to SDSU takes approximately 20 minutes (12 miles). Travel from TIJ to CECUT takes approximately15 minutes (5 miles).

Rental cars can be found at the arrivals area at TIJ. For SAN, the Rental Car Center at San Diego International Airport is located at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA 92101. There is a free shuttle you can take to/from the airport. Here is a list of rental car agencies available in San Diego. FYI: rental car companies require drivers to be 25 years of age or older, whereas the general minimum age in California is 21 years old.

Taxis and rideshare options (Uber or Lyft) are readily available at both airports to help with transportation to/from the airport. 

Traveling across borders, especially to Mexico, can impact your phone service, and the same goes for our international attendees visiting San Diego. Before you depart for the LMDA 2025 conference, we strongly recommend checking with your mobile provider about international roaming plans. Many carriers offer daily passes or international packages that can be significantly more cost-effective than standard pay-per-use roaming charges. Ensure you understand what's included for both calls, texts, and data while abroad, and how to activate your plan.

A key accessibility feature at our conference will be AI translation services available via a mobile app. If you're interested in using this service, having a reliable internet connection through your phone plan is crucial. This will ensure you can access the real-time translation seamlessly. Alternatively, consider purchasing a local SIM card in your destination country or utilizing Wi-Fi hotspots, though these options may not cover all your communication needs. A little preparation can save you from unexpected charges and keep you connected!

¡Hola a todos los asistentes de México! Sabemos que cruzar la frontera para la conferencia LMDA 2025 en San Diego significa ajustar el uso de tu teléfono. Antes de viajar, te recomendamos encarecidamente contactar a tu compañía de telefonía móvil para preguntar sobre planes de roaming internacional o paquetes de viaje. A menudo, estas opciones son mucho más económicas que las tarifas estándar por uso en Estados Unidos. Asegúrate de entender qué incluyen (llamadas, mensajes, datos) y cómo activar tu plan.

Una característica clave de accesibilidad en nuestra conferencia serán los servicios de traducción por IA disponibles a través de una aplicación móvil. Si te interesa utilizar este servicio, es crucial que tengas una conexión a internet fiable a través de tu plan telefónico. Esto asegurará que puedas acceder a la traducción en tiempo real sin problemas. Otra alternativa es considerar la compra de una tarjeta SIM local en San Diego si planeas una estancia más larga, o utilizar puntos de acceso Wi-Fi, aunque estas opciones podrían no cubrir todas tus necesidades de comunicación. ¡Un poco de preparación te ayudará a evitar sorpresas en tu factura y a mantenerte comunicado sin problemas!

Check Your Passports! 

When traveling to Mexico, US citizens must present a valid passport, whether you're flying or driving. (A REAL ID is not sufficient.) For air travel, a passport is mandatory. For land travel, you can enter with just a passport card, but a passport book is still recommended for international travel. 

To get or renew a passport, visit the U.S. State Department's Travel website, or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center: 1-877-4USA-PPT; TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. Additionally, instructions for obtaining a passport are available through the U.S. Postal Service. They now have online renewal for passports with at least 6 months remaining. ACT FAST! Processing of the passport application takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

Currently, Mexican citizens (including children) crossing into the United States are required to present a passport with visa, or a Border Crossing Card. Mexican citizens may present a Border Crossing Card (BCC) as a stand-alone document for entry by land from Mexico. The BCC also serves as a nonimmigrant visa, and together with a valid passport, it meets the documentary requirements for entry at all land, air, and sea ports of entry. Check with US Customs and Border Control for the most up-to-date information

When travelling to the United States by air, Canadian citizens (including children) must present a valid Canadian passport or NEXUS card. However, to travel from Canada to Mexico by land, you will need a valid passport and, if you are staying over 72 hours, you must complete a tourist card (also known as a "Migratory Form") before crossing the border, which can be done online prior to arrival. You do not need a separate visa as a Canadian citizen to enter Mexico by land. Check Consulado General de México en Montreal for more information.

LMDA is providing one group transportation option for those registered to cross between SDSU and CECUT on Friday and CECUT and The Old Globe on Saturday for ease in getting to/from the main conference events.

App-based ride-sharing services are also available throughout San Diego and Tijuana.

While there isn’t an easily accessible way to get from SDSU to Balboa Park via public transit, if you are looking to get around San Diego in general or down to the border, you could use the MTS Trolley. 

The Green Line picks up at SDSU and ends in downtown San Diego where you can transfer to the Blue Line to San Ysidro at the border. If you want to visit UCSD/La Jolla Playhouse, transfer to the Blue Line at Old Town and head north.

Some conference events take place off-site (Beach Bonfire, Dinner in Tijuana, After-hours bar meet-ups), and attendees are responsible for transportation to and from these events if they’d like to attend.

LMDA is offering group transportation via a charter bus Friday morning from SDSU to CECUT with one evening return and Saturday morning from CECUT to The Old Globe with one evening return. App-based ride-sharing services are also available options for getting around,

Here are the addresses you will need for all of the conference events:

• SDSU — Main Theatre
  • San Diego Conference Hub
  • 5500 Campanile Dr. San Diego, CA 92182 
• Centro Cultural Tijuana — CECUT
  • Tijuana Conference Hub
  • Paseo de los Héroes 9350, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 
• The Old Globe
  • Conference Host Venue
  • 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
• Ski Beach Park
  • Beach Bonfire Event
  • 1600 Vacation Rd. San diego, CA 92109 (specific location TBA) 
• Caesars
  
  • Join the President
  • Av. Revolución 8190, Zona Centro, 22000 Tijuana 
• Mingei Museum, Balboa Park
  • Site of Conference Banquet
  • 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 
• San Diego State University — South Campus Plaza South Campus Plaza North Residence Hall
  • Hotel in San Diego
  • 5140 College Avenue, San Diego, 92115
• Hotel Real del Río
  • Hotel Venue Option in Tijuana
  • José María Velazco 1409, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico
• Hotel Real Inn
  • Hotel Venue Option in Tijuana
    
  • Plaza de los Héroes 9902, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

LMDA adapts to each conference location’s up-to-date guidelines and we will continue to be mindful in addressing protocols for any prevalent illnesses. For the most up-to-date information in the area click here.

If you develop any symptoms of illness, please refrain from attending conference events. Be in touch with a member of the conference committee for assistance and support.