The 11th Annual Kuri Bandster Bash Is This Summer!

August 26th through 29th, Bandsters from all over the world will gather at the Grand Hotel in Tijuana to celebrate 11 years of Kuri Bandster Fun. Come join Dr. Kuri, his family, his patients, and others in the Bandster community as they get reacquainted, make new friends, learn more about life banded, and have a ton of fun together in Mexico!

Event and Registration Details

This year we are partying it up in a new location! The Kuri Bandster Bash will now be held at the Grand Hotel in Tijuana Mexico. To find more information on the Grand Hotel, please visit their website.

Due to the great success of last year’s Thursday night support group meeting, we have decided to bring it back! And that's not all - we're spreading out the education and exercise classes throughout the entire weekend. You'll also enjoy the familiar evening cocktail hours, free fills with Dr. Kuri at Hospital Angeles ($95 fee required by Hospital), and the themed evening events everyone raves about.

Complimentary Fills by Dr. Kuri & His Team

Dr. Kuri and his team will once again offer complimentary fills to all Bash attendees! All fills must be done under fluoroscopy, and the fee to the hospital for that is $95, paid directly to Hospital Angeles.

Travel Document Requirements

Passports ARE required to travel to and from Mexico. Please visit our Passport Page for all the information you need to secure a passport, or other WHTI approved document, in time for the event. If you are considering surgery around the time of the Bash, please ask your Facilitator about our Patient Travel Document Reimbursement Program.

How can I get a passport?

 

What Will We Be Doing?

This year our Bash Weekend is jam packed with social activities, exercise classes, themed parties, and bandster education. Here is a rough outline of our Event Schedule. Check back periodically for updates. If you’d like to be updated weekly as to what we have planned, please fill out the form on our Contact Us page. If you've already filled out the Contact Us form, no need to fill it out twice - you're all set to be kept informed.

The following event schedule is subject to change. You will receive a final schedule at check-in.

Where is the Bash?

Grand Hotel Tijuana

The Grand Hotel Tijuana, is located in close proximity to the Hospital Angeles, the Plaza Río Shopping Center, USA border at San Ysidro, and the Tijuana International Airport. This hotel offers fabulous amenities on site, such as an 18-hole golf course, pool and jacuzzi, tennis courts, gymnasium, sports and race book, business center, and concierge services. You can also go next door to their adjacent tower, where you will find relaxing spa’s and shops. These great amenities along with the detail, style and comfort makes it a perfectly suitable choice for our Bash!

Cost of Hotel: Approximately $80.00 for single room; $85.00 for a double - Approximately $45.00 for a third person in a double room. These rates are good two days before and two days after if you wish to extend your stay.

If you’d like to share a room with another Bandster, visit our Online Forum. There you can chat with others attending the Bash in the Kuri Bandster Bash group. Attendees are responsible for coordinating and finalizing these arrangements.

We have plenty of rooms on hold for our Bash guests, so please don’t worry. Check back soon for more information on how to reserve your room.

 

How Can I Get There?

You have a variety of options for travel. Below are some details to help you decide

• You can travel by Bus, Trolley and Taxi from the San Diego Airport

The following fees and directions from the airport to the border via bus and trolley are from the San Diego transit website:

1. From Airport Terminal 1 or 2, take the MTS Bus Route 923 DOWNTOWN
2. Get off at the stop on BROADWAY at KETTNER.
3. Enter the AMERICA PLAZA TROLLEY STATION and take the Blue Line Trolley signed BLUE SAN YSIDRO.
4. Get off at the SAN YSIDRO Trolley Station which is the last stop and proceed across the bridge to enter Mexico.


Regular Fare: $ 2.25
Senior & Disabled Fare: $ 1.25
Total Trip Time = 1 hr. 1 min.


For more info on schedules and maps for your routes:
Bus route 923
Trolley Information

• You can park on the US side of the Border, walk across and take a TAXI

Many patients choose to park at the Border Station Parking Lot on the US side of the US/Mexico border. A short walk into Mexico will lead you directly to a taxi depot. Tell them you are going to the Marriott Hotel Tijuana (previously the Hotel Emporio).

The Tijuana taxi system is an institution, populated by thousands of independent taxi operators. Taxis operate on a flat-fee basis, agreed upon in advance. The standard trip from the border to the hotel should cost no more than $8-10. You can try to bargain for less. Shorter taxi trips generally cost $6-7. Tipping is not expected. Taxis cruise up and down the city streets and can usually be hailed from any street corner. While at the hotel, you can have the concierge call a taxi when you need one.

• You can hire a private shuttle to take you directly from the Airport to The Bash:

If you require transportation to/from the San Diego Airport or the USA/Mexico border, please contact Alex at alextrans-m@hotmail.com. He has provided safe transportation to many of our patients over the last few years when travelling across the border for fill appointments

• You can share a Ride!

Save money and enjoy some extra company on the ride down to Tijuana! Visit our Online Discussion Forum to make arrangements with other attendees to share the ride and the expense. Just log onto the Forum, click on the Kuri Bandster Bash group, and start posting!

Travel Document Requirements

Passports ARE required. Please visit our Passport Page for all the information you need to secure a passport, or other WHTI approved document, in time for the event. If you are considering surgery around the time of the Bash, please ask your Facilitator about our Patient Document Travel Reimbursement Program.