Would You Travel to Mexico?

ExpatPumpkin · March 2010

There's been a lot in the news lately about violence in Mexico, and there are several posts a week over on the Honeymoon board about it. So I'm curious about peoples' thoughts on traveling there...

fallbride1109 · March 2010

I actually shared your information from the HM board with my husband last night. I'd love to take a vacation this summer, possibly to Mexico but he is very wary. Do you agree though that if we go, we shouldn't step off the resort? Not that we would--although we did do a "swim with the dolphins" thing when were in Cancun last time and took a public bus. I don't think he'd consider that now.

JessAndTrav · March 2010

I voted the second option, and it would have to be a resort that I'd heard of, not a privately owned and operated cabana.

In Houston, we regularly hear about the stories of violence going on in Mexico. Most of it is at the border or drug related, but last year, they were talking about after Spring Break how many kidnappings there were of females at South Padre island. Turns out, it was people from Mexico kidnapping them to become prostitutes.

lyndausvi · March 2010

I said yes.

Honestly there are other places I would like to go first. However the violence would not stop me..

FutureMrsTR · March 2010

We're actually planning on honeymooning in Riviera Maya. We'll go on a few excursions, but won't wander too far and I'm sure we'll be fine. In fact, I'm hoping that the fact that people are blowing it out of proportion drives prices down. I'm just sorry we missed the swine flu craze.

crfische · March 2010

I'm heading to Riviera Maya in less than 28 days. SO YES. IM GOING.

kate51485 · March 2010

I actually am prohibited from going there at this moment, my employer sent us a memo last week forbidding it.

ExpatPumpkin · March 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_would-travel-mexico?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fca9502b-7eea-4d46-be72-6f8e1d539dc1Post:0d675e1c-dfe0-4528-a97d-7cac1fae60e5">Re: Would You Travel to Mexico?</a>:
[QUOTE]I actually shared your information from the HM board with my husband last night. I'd love to take a vacation this summer, possibly to Mexico but he is very wary. Do you agree though that if we go, we shouldn't step off the resort? Not that we would--although we did do a "swim with the dolphins" thing when were in Cancun last time and took a public bus. I don't think he'd consider that now.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

<div>I think you'd be safer leaving your resort in Cancun than walking around your neighborhood in Dallas after dark... Seriously :) </div>

britne28 · March 2010

Last week I would have said beach areas but those are getting hit now. Acapulco was hit and a bunch of men were beheaded. Our company is opening a plant just across the TX border and they are dealing with issues. Already told them I would not travel to train anyone. No thanks.

FutureMrsTR · March 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_would-travel-mexico?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:fca9502b-7eea-4d46-be72-6f8e1d539dc1Post:08a79063-0159-4065-a8c1-5eddc85fcf8f">Re: Would You Travel to Mexico?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm heading to Riviera Maya in less than 28 days. SO YES. IM GOING.
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

Really? Where are you staying? We're hoping to book our honeymoon sometime next week :)

kikibaby · March 2010

Yep, we're honeymooning in Cozumel. I've been to Mexico 3 times and never had any problems at all. I understand most of the violence is in Juarez, right across the border. Not exactly a vacation town. People are worrying about nothing, I think.

ashmy211 · March 2010

I've been to the Riviera Maya and really liked it! I would definitely go back.

fallbride1109 · March 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_would-travel-mexico?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:fca9502b-7eea-4d46-be72-6f8e1d539dc1Post:07df0dbb-1af3-4ac3-b4a0-c6800ca5413f">Re: Would You Travel to Mexico?</a>:
[QUOTE]I voted the second option, and it would have to be a resort that I'd heard of, not a privately owned and operated cabana. In Houston, we regularly hear about the stories of violence going on in Mexico. Most of it is at the border or drug related, but last year, they were talking about after Spring Break <strong>how many kidnappings there were of females at South Padre island. Turns out, it was people from Mexico kidnapping them to become prostitutes.
</strong>Posted by JessAndTrav[/QUOTE]
Good heavens, I've gone to Padre every summer for years (until last year since it was before the wedding). I can't believe this.

Bubbalub · March 2010

I would go but I probably would be more wary than in the past of just renting a car and driving around like we used to. I would stay on the resort property.

But, that's really why I'm not interested in going to Mexico right now: we love to explore and it's too dangerous to do that. But it wouldn't keep me from going if I didn't mind staying at an all-inclusive resort or something.

JessAndTrav · March 2010

Expat, you just reminded me.

I'm wary of people being crazy at home, too. It doesn't just apply when I travel. My brother keeps walking around Houston taking pictures, and he goes to the sketchy places as well as the nice ones, and I always think, "I wish I wasn't too scared to do that!"

I'm also the person who pulls into her garage, starts to shut it, and when it's almost shut, she finally shuts off the car. I'm really paranoid about that type of thing.

crfische · March 2010

TR -- We stay at Secrets Capri. That's where we went on our honeymoon, and last year, we had planned to go there, but with the swine flu, or agent rerouted us to Jamaica, so we're going back this year. I LOVE IT THERE.

Jamaica? Not so much love. I'll never go back there. It was all well and good, but yeah. I won't go back.

Also, my dad, brother, and his girlfriend just got back from Ixtapa, and they had no problems and probably didn't even know there were travel warnings out.

PsyDet 2155 · March 2010

it would have to be a resort that I'd heard of, not a privately owned and operated cabana <--ditto

aMrsin09 · March 2010

I voted No, but I wouldn't have gone there even befoe the recent round of violence.

I have heard for too many years about the "tolls" that the police collect on the West side, and the "bonds" that have to be posted when you didn't have enough in your wallet to satisfy the Tolls. This years Encinada Race was almost cancelled becuase the racers would have to get boats trailered back, families would get hassled driving down.

hayleymajayley · March 2010

I never even knew people were wary of Mexico until I saw some posts on this board about it! I've been to Guadalajara (stayed at a B&B, walked around the area we were staying in), Cabo (I never left our resort, my mom did by herself and didn't have a problem) , and my parents own a home in Loreto, where we are going for our Honeymoon, we have been there twice already. We have a truck down there and we drive from where the house is into town and walk around there. It's not real touristy, but there are little shops and stands aimed more at tourists. I've never heard of any violence in the area, and I've never seen anything shady any of the times I've been there. I love Mexico, and I hope to go back at least once a year if we can

ExpatPumpkin · March 2010

Here's my "go to" answer that I use on the Honeymoon board when someone asks if it's safe to travel there:

~~~~

The northern border area of Mexico is dangerous. I know because I live there, in a suburb of Monterrey. I assume that you're thinking about traveling to one of the beaches, however.

You will be perfectly safe at the tourist beaches... They are sooooooo far from the northern part of Mexico, it would be like saying you're scared to go to Denver because there was violence in New Orleans

I was just in Cancun earlier this month, for example, and everything was normal. No signs of anything being out of the ordinary. Perfectly safe. Tourism is such a huge part of the Mexican economy, so the government's in the business of keeping tourists safe.

Also the violence in the north is directed at Mexicans, not tourists... The two types of primary targets are:

- Drug dealers and/or people involved in the drug trade, because the cartels are duking it out.

- Wealthly Mexicans - kidnapping for ransom is a popular way for the cartel members to "earn" money to finance their turf battle. This is something that we take special security measures to avoid...

Tourists are specifically NOT targeted because the cartels do not want the U.S. to become even further involved in their disputes... So, just don't deal drugs or be a wealthy Mexican, and you'll be okay

~~~~

I don't think it's working, though

ac_in_dc · March 2010

I'm not sure. I'd have to do some research about the specific area I was going to and make sure I was comfortable with the situation. I'm living in a high-crime area right now and have lived in areas prone to terrorism overseas, and I've learned is that this stuff frequently is very localized, so you have to understand the dynamics of the specific place you're going. Does that make sense? Is that how it is right now in Mexico, too?

BecW2be · March 2010

I've never been interested in visiting Mexico. I'm not a big beach person, so there's that. It's just never made it on my list of places to see.

georgia_bride09 · March 2010

Our ship will port in Cozumel in about a week and a half, so I voted yes to the beach towns. The beach towns are the only places I'd want to visit in Mexico anyway, so all the reports haven't really changed my view.

Brie2010 · March 2010

Yup. We're taking our HM cruise there--Progreso and Cozumel. We don't plan on straying from the planned cruise stuff, though.

ac_in_dc · March 2010

I just read your answer, Expat, that makes sense.

I've never been to mexico, but from what I know the places I want to see there would be Cozumel (diving), Baja California (whale watching, kayaking, general wildlife stuff) and Oaxaca (food and cultural stuff). One of these days I'll make it there...

georgia_bride09 · March 2010

[QUOTE]You will be perfectly safe at the tourist beaches... They are sooooooo far from the northern part of Mexico, it would be like saying you're scared to go to Denver because there was violence in New Orleans ;) Posted by ExpatPumpkin[/QUOTE]

This is EXACTLY what I told my sister when she was telling me I should stay on the ship in Cozumel. Some people get worked up over nothing.

[Deleted User] · March 2010

I normally don't have a problem with it as long as you care careful, etc, but whenever we've gone to Cozumel we make the most of our trip and spend some time in the "city" as well. We travel outside the resort and get to know the rest of the area so I wouldn't like it much if I had to stay on the resort the whole time which means I'd probably wait and go when it's safer.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · March 2010

How about anywhere but Nuevo Laredo and the Juarez?

Also, is this an invitation? Can I come visit?!

Also, Kingston, Jamaica is one of the most dangerous cities in the world and yet people don't flinch at booking a HM at an AI in Jamaica.

Edit: I've never driven across the Mexican border and never would. I would rent a car in Mexico, however.

FutureMrsTR · March 2010

Am I the only one who is curious about Expat's "special security measures"? I'm totally picturing something straight out of James Bond.

kate51485 · March 2010

A friend of mine went on her HM to Jamaica this past October and she said it really sucked.

mandybear7 · March 2010

I've been to Mexico twice and have never had concerns about my safety. As long as you stay in resort towns or touristy areas, you should be fine. I never wandered through dark alleys or talked to strangers. Stranger danger anywhere you go!

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