First time in laredo

The Enemy · Jul 10, 2008

I've been doing this for 2 years and this is my first time in Laredo. Its a thursday, any pointers on what to do, see or what restaurants to go to or places to stay away from?

Tennesseahawk · Jul 10, 2008

If you get stuck there for the weekend, I suggest the Family Gardens Inn at exit 4 or 5 off 35.

Jack_Berry · Jul 10, 2008

this place came up in a laundry toom conversation with a t/t driver. he said it had good food and really nice rooms. family owned place not a chain.

mstaz · Jul 10, 2008

I have stayed at the Family Gardens a few times. The prices are very reasonable, the food is also good, they have a happy hour monday - sat evening. They also have a shuttle that goes to mexico.

GoGrammaGo · Jul 10, 2008

hey enemy....sent you a pm. Check your inbox!!

morningstar55ny · Jul 10, 2008

omg.. i love the mexican food there

Tennesseahawk · Jul 10, 2008

OVM... Depending on availability, last time I stayed there, I paid around $50 a night (CDL discount). Free nachos and hot dogs, steaks were a good price, and the rooms were nice! Their hotel store doesn't charge an arm and a leg for food. I suggest getting a room early, tho, as tractors end up filling the lot, making it hard for straights to park.

kangar0085 · Jul 10, 2008

mstaz said:
I have stayed at the Family Gardens a few times. The prices are very reasonable, the food is also good, they have a happy hour monday - sat evening. They also have a shuttle that goes to mexico.

You probably want to stay away from crossing the border or getting anywhere near it there's a huge drug war going on over there and I heard on the news that some 400 people have been murdered in the last month.

Lawrence · Jul 10, 2008

1. Drink LOTS of bottled water.
2. Eat at Tori's - just down the street from Wal-Mart.

CharlesD · Jul 11, 2008

There's a Montana Mike's there. Pretty good steak and reasonable prices. The HEB store on the Bob Bullock loop has a decent produce section. I like mangoes and they're always cheap there. I don't do much else when I'm in Laredo except get a steak and hang out at the J eating mangoes. Of course I usually don't spend more than a day there anyway. Always good loads out of Laredo.

Suds43 · Jul 11, 2008

CharlesD said:
There's a Montana Mike's there. Pretty good steak and reasonable prices. The HEB store on the Bob Bullock loop has a decent produce section. I like mangoes and they're always cheap there. I don't do much else when I'm in Laredo except get a steak and hang out at the J eating mangoes. Of course I usually don't spend more than a day there anyway. Always good loads out of Laredo.

Always good 'team loads' out of there, but if he's a single, chances are he'll probably be there awhile. Unless things have changed since I was there last.

CharlesD · Jul 11, 2008

Suds43 said:
Always good 'team loads' out of there, but if he's a single, chances are he'll probably be there awhile. Unless things have changed since I was there last.

I'm a solo and I always get out of there pretty fast. I'm independent too, so maybe that's different. The last time I was there my layover was something like five hours.

Suds43 · Jul 11, 2008

CharlesD said:
I'm a solo and I always get out of there pretty fast. I'm independent too, so maybe that's different. The last time I was there my layover was something like five hours.

Are you in a van, straight, or TT???

The Enemy · Jul 11, 2008

Thanks to all the responses. I run solo, but my G/F has been running with me the past few weeks, sort of a vacation for her since she hasn't done much traveling. We ended up staying at the Family Garden last night cause the heat has been getting to her the past few days, and she wasn't feeling well. I got the room for $45 with my CLC card. Clean place for the good price.

Anyways I hope to get out soon cause I really don't want to sit here in the heat, stewing. What are my chances as a solo, driving a Sprinter for a major carrier to get out on a friday. I don;t want to be like a P2 driver and sit here for 13 days.

jaminjim · Jul 11, 2008

The only time that I know of a driver sitting in Laredo for thirteen days , was the guy who parked at the Pilot and was in the traffic trying to get out of their parking lot.

Suds43 · Jul 11, 2008

Your right OTV....I agree

CharlesD · Jul 11, 2008

Suds43 said:
Are you in a van, straight, or TT???

Sprinter. And I'll second what was said about independents not being stuck with the silly rules about long runs for solos. I can take those 1000+ mile runs out of there without worrying about being told to swap it out with another driver after 700 miles or so.

CharlesD · Jul 11, 2008

OntarioVanMan said:
No kidding Jim!! We made the mistake of going there for coffee and wouldn't ya know it...train time as well!!!

The last time I was there I dropped a load at one of those warehouses over there. It must have taken me 35 minutes to get back over to the J for a shower.

RLENT · Jul 11, 2008

I was down there for the first time ever, day before yesterday ..... dropped at noon ..... they called me at noon the following day with a load going to AL .... but I had to drive to San Antonio to get it ....... pity ..... I was sorta enjoying the Laredo "cold snap" ..... (mid 90's for a high

)

arkjarhead · Jul 11, 2008

Stay away from the Gateway Truckstop at exit 3 I think off I-35. Unless you want to just see an old hole in the wall. They have a dirt lot, a/c doesn't hardly work inside, it's swarming with flies, and they have a full service bar. I stayed there once because my trainer was a drunk and needed to get liquored up before going to load produce out of the valley going to Hunt's Point. Once we got to Hunt's Point I felt like a drink, but that's another thread.