Is it safe to travel to Tijuana for treatment?

Our clinic is inside the medical tower of Torres Plaza Agua Caliente, next to Hospital Angeles Tijuana, and the hotels we recommend are in safe, tourist-friendly areas nearby, including the Grand Hotel Tijuana, just steps from the clinic. Our drivers, who cross the border every day, pick you up in the San Diego area and take you between the border, your hotel and the clinic, and a medical pass helps you cross back into the United States faster. We monitor local conditions and contact you if anything could affect your plans. If you feel unsure, talk to your advisor about how your visit is organized.

Safety is a reasonable concern for anyone traveling to another country for medical care, and it is one of the questions we receive most often. This guide explains where our facilities are, how your transportation and lodging are organized, what official travel information says and the practical steps that make your visit smooth.

Where you will be

Our treatments are performed at Russald Medical, inside the medical tower of Torres Plaza Agua Caliente, Floor 2, Suite CM3, in Tijuana. This complex is located in one of the city's main medical and business areas, close to Hospital Angeles Tijuana, hotels, restaurants and shopping centers. The laboratory that processes our cells is located in the same building.

During a typical visit, you move only between a few places:

• The San Diego area, where our driver picks you up.
• The border crossing.
• Your hotel, in the same area as the clinic.
• The clinic, where you have your tests, consultation and treatment, and where you spend the night after your procedure under nursing and medical monitoring.

How transportation works

When transportation is part of your plan:

• Pick-up: our driver meets you at the San Diego airport or at an agreed meeting point in the San Diego area.
• Experienced drivers: our drivers cross the border every day and know the routes and the crossing process.
• Door to door: the driver takes you to the clinic, to your hotel and back, so you do not need to drive, take taxis or find your way.
• Driver information in advance: before your trip, we send you the driver's name, photo and car information, and the driver contacts you to introduce themselves and confirm the pick-up.
• Medical pass: your transportation includes a medical pass that helps you cross back into the United States faster.

If you live near the San Diego airport area, our team can, in some cases, pick you up at home and take you back once your treatment is complete.

Where to stay

The hotels we recommend are all located in a safe, tourist-friendly area near the clinic:

• Grand Hotel Tijuana: the closest option, in the same complex as the clinic, just a few steps away.
• K Tower: a few minutes from the clinic.
• Hotel Lucerna and the Tijuana Marriott: within a short drive.

Your advisor can share current rates and help with your reservation, including lodging for your companion, who stays at the hotel during your night at our facilities.

A typical visit, day by day

• Arrival day: you land in San Diego in the morning, ideally between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Our driver picks you up and takes you across the border to the clinic for your blood tests, medical forms, payment and in-person consultation with the doctor and the stem cell specialist. Then the driver takes you to your hotel to rest.
• Treatment day: the driver takes you from your hotel to the clinic in the morning. After your procedure, you spend the night at our facilities under nursing and medical monitoring.
• Discharge day: after your final check, the driver takes you back across the border to the San Diego airport or your meeting point. We recommend booking your return flight in the evening, between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm, to use the medical pass and avoid traffic.

Most of your time is spent inside the clinic and your hotel, with short, planned transfers between them.

What official travel information says

We encourage every patient to review official travel information before any international trip:

• The U.S. Department of State publishes travel advisories for each state in Mexico. Its advisory for Baja California, the state where Tijuana is located, is at Level 3 ("Reconsider travel"). The advisory notes that high homicide numbers in Tijuana are concentrated in non-tourist areas and recommends staying on main roads and avoiding remote locations. It also states that there are no additional travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Tijuana.
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance for medical tourists, recommending that patients check the qualifications of the clinicians and the credentials of the facility, plan their travel around their recovery and carry copies of their medical records.

Our visit structure follows these recommendations: you stay in the main medical and tourist area, travel on main roads with our drivers and spend most of your time inside the clinic and your hotel.

How we keep you informed

• Before your trip: your advisor confirms your itinerary, pick-up details and hotel.
• During your visit: our coordination team is available to help you with any question.
• If anything changes: we monitor local conditions, traffic and events. For example, when a large event in the city increased security and traffic around a hotel, we informed our patients in advance about possible delays during check-in and pick-up.

Practical tips for a smooth visit

• Keep your phone charged and save your advisor's and driver's contact information.
• Stay with our transportation for your transfers between the border, the hotel and the clinic.
• Carry your documents: a valid passport or the documents that apply to you to return to the United States.
• Carry limited cash and keep valuables in your hotel safe.
• Tell your bank that you will be in Mexico, especially if you plan to pay by card.
• Ask your advisor before going out to explore, so they can recommend places nearby.

Why patients choose Tijuana

Tijuana is one of the most important medical tourism destinations in North America, with many U.S. patients crossing the border for medical care. Patients choose it because of:

• Proximity: the clinic is a short drive from San Diego, so you can fly into San Diego and be at the clinic the same morning.
• Access to treatments regulated in Mexico: our cell therapy is provided under the regulations of COFEPRIS, Mexico's federal health authority.
• A short stay: most treatments require only a few days, including one night at our facilities.

Questions to ask before you travel

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) encourages patients to research any clinic carefully before traveling for treatment. Useful questions include:

• Where exactly will I be treated, and where will I stay?
• How will I get from the border to the clinic and back?
• Who will be my contact during the visit?
• What happens if I need medical help after I return home?

Our team will answer each of these clearly.

Common questions

Do I need to drive in Tijuana? No, you do not need to drive at all. When transportation is part of your plan, our drivers take you everywhere you need to go during your visit.

Can my companion travel with me? Yes. One companion is welcome, and we can help reserve a hotel for them.

Is the clinic close to a hospital? Yes, it is very close. Our clinic is in the same area as Hospital Angeles Tijuana.

What if my flight is delayed? Tell your advisor as soon as you know. The team adjusts your pick-up time and, if needed, the schedule of your tests and consultation.

Can I visit the clinic before booking? Yes. Many patients who live in Southern California visit before deciding. Your advisor can help you arrange it.

Questions to ask your advisor

• Who will pick me up, and where?
• Which hotel do you recommend for me and my companion?
• How does the medical pass work for my return?
• Who do I contact during my visit?

Bottom line

Your visit is organized so you stay in Tijuana's medical and business district, with door-to-door transportation by drivers who cross the border every day, recommended hotels near the clinic and a coordination team that keeps you informed. We encourage you to review official travel information and to ask us any question before you travel. A medical evaluation can help determine whether this type of regenerative treatment is appropriate for your condition, goals and medical history.