The 10th Annual Kuri Bandster Bash Is This Summer!

August 20th through 23rd, Bandsters from all over the world will gather at the Marriott Hotel in Tijuana to celebrate 10 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!

What Will We Be Doing?

This year our Bash Weekend is jam packed with social activities, networking events, 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.

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

Where is the Bash?

Marriott® Hotel Tijuana

The Marriott Hotel Tijuana, is located in close proximity to the Hospital Angeles, the Plaza Río Shopping Center, and USA border at San Ysidro. Tijuana International Airport is a 20 minute drive away. The vanguard architecture of the ten-floor hotel makes it one of the city’s most modern constructions and its comfort, layout, function rooms and amenities makes it a perfectly suitable choice for our Bash!

Cost of Hotel: $95 per room, based on double occupancy (maximum of 3 guests per room). This fee includes access for two at the breakfast buffet. Please check with the hotel to see if there are additional fees for a third guest in the room.

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.

Please reserve your room now! Call Marriott World Wide Reservations toll-free 1-888-748-8785 (You will hear a recording in Spanish - Stay on the line for an English speaking service representative.) Simply tell them you are attending the Dr. Kuri Bash at the Marriott Tijuana. They will quote you a rate of $80.00 + tax (approximately $90.00). If you have any problems, ask them to connect you to the Marriott Tijuana and ask for Oscar Flores our event coordinator.

 

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: $ 4.25
Senior & Disabled Fare: $ 2.00
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 Gregorio at (619) 781-5631. 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 register and click on the Kuri Bandster Bash group, and start posting!

Travel document requirements have changed

As of June 1, 2009 Passports ARE required. Please visit our Passport Page for all the information you need to secure a passport in time for the event. If you are considering surgery around the time of the Bash, please ask your Facilitator about our Passport Reimbursement Program.