Traveling to Ciudad Juarez, any good cheap hotels, things to do, things to avoid?

Should I make reservations in advance or is it easy to find a decent cheap hotel room when I get off the bus? I've heard the city is dangerous. Any areas to avoid?

The last answers are wrong, i live there and it's fun, the best hotel to stay is Camino Real but it cost like $100 a night very nice hotel, you could go to hotels like the Fiesta inn or Hampton Inn, also if you are looking for something cheaper try to go to a motel i would not recommend them but you could get one in the street paseo triunfo de la republica this street has a mall which has a bookstore mexican stores, shoe stores, cake stores and even a supermarket, also there are great cafes like the malas compa帽ias and the dali coffee shops, for cakes go to Julia is great, if you want to see some typical things go to the downtown to see the church and the square, but don't go alone, also try going to mercados like the cuahtemoc or the juarez mercado they have great deals, you could tell them to maybe get a little cheaper and they will, most of the vendors speak english, also go to misiones it has this arcade one side for kids and one for the grown ups, also go to parque borunda you will find mexican food and a lot of things, in the mercado juarez there are mariachis and food, a lot of american people go there, also don't walk alone on alleys, or anything dark, if you see strange people don't talk to them or smile, the thing with the death of some women is not happening anymore now it is because some drug dealers or something like that, if you want specific information post more questions here, good luck.

huumm honestly.ciudad juarez is no great thing and besides its is very famous for "las muertas de juarez" the dead of juarez" meaning that the places is famous because woman there are killed,no joke.

it doenst ALWAYS happen, just be careful and have fun.

I would just avoid going to Juarez, lol. There really isn't much to see.

If you are going there for business and have some spare time, try to go further south to the state's capital Chihuahua, Chihuahua. It's a little more interesting and a lot less dangerous.

THE TOP 2 ANSWERS ARE WRONG. AND THE THIRD ONE IS RIGHT. JUAREZ IS MOSTLY INFAMOUSE FOR ITS MURDERS OF WOMEN BUT IT HAS ITS UGLY GHETTO AREAS , MIDDLE CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS, AND RICH NEIGHBORHOODS TOO. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, MEXICO, AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. EVERY CITY OR COUNTRY YOU GO TO WILL HAVE ITS BAD AND GOOD AREAS. JUAREZ ISN'T JUST A POOR OVER CROWDED AND OVER POLLUTED BORDER TOWN, IT HAS ITS NNICE PARTS TOO. TRY LOOKING FOR TRAVEL GUIDES. IF YOU GO JUST AVOID EL CENTRO (DOWN TOWN), THOUGH YOU CAN FIND ALOT OF COOL STUFF AT LOW PRICES, IF YOU GO JUST BE CAREFULL. HAVE FUN IF YOU GO AND BE CAREFULL.