Where do you like to safety vacation in Mexico?

[typhoon55]

We’ve been to the Cancun area (Riviera Maya) in June 2022 and April 2023. I am cautious by nature and would absolutely never take my DD to a place that I didn’t think was safe. I have zero concerns about how we choose to travel in Mexico.

We arrive at the airport and take a private car (arranged through our resort) to the resort. We choose not to leave the property for the duration of our stay and enjoy all of the on-site amenities. We use the trip to relax and unplug, so we are more than fine spending our days on a beach lounger with a book while someone brings us tropical drinks.

BUT every single person that we have encountered during our stay who works there is the kindest and warmest and most hard working person you could ever hope to meet. They are such wonderful wonderful people. I cannot say enough nice things about them. Hokey as it may sound, I consider myself lucky to have met them.

Now, I’m sure there are bad people and bad areas. We have the same thing in my local metro area. But I wouldn’t tell you not to come to my city because of it.

I too have gone to Cancun many times, the latest October 2022. We arrange private transporations from a compnay we always use. Stay onsite and relax and unwind. Have never had any problems and yes the people at the resorts are very friendly and helpful.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The Mexicans probably say the same things about Chicago, Baltimore, Oakland, and so on

Or a mall, school, grocery store, concert, club, etc. in anywhere USA.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We've only been to ports on cruises, but we've always felt safe in Mexico. If I was going on a land vacation, I would avoid border towns. I would take tours, when leaving coastal resort areas. Renting a car to see the area on my own would be out of my comfort zone. If visiting Mexico City, I would treat it like any major city in the US. We'd have no problem traveling there.

 

[Donzie]

Where do you like to safety vacation in Mexico?

Mexico pavilion in Epcot. Still fun and safe! Ride on the boat and say hi to Donald before they change the theme.

 

[mousefan73]

Honestly, at this point, I feel like going to Mexico is safer than shopping at an outlet mall in the states right now

 

[White Cat]

Honestly, at this point, I feel like going to Mexico is safer than shopping at an outlet mall in the states right now

You might think that. And in this kind of thread it’s in fashion to say that. Others have in this thread made similar remarks. I’ll take my chances in the US before I would in Mexico.

 

[sam_gordon]

You might think that. And in this kind of thread it’s in fashion to say that. Others have in this thread made similar remarks. I’ll take my chances in the US before I would in Mexico.

Personally, I'm not seeing much difference currently.

 

[White Cat]

Personally, I'm not seeing much difference currently.

There is quite a difference.

 

[sam_gordon]

There is quite a difference.

If you say so. I would still have no qualms about vacationing in Mexico, provided transportation to my resort was arranged ahead of time (or I was visiting on a cruise and had transportation planned to the excursion).

Of course, I don't worry about going anywhere in the US either. If I need/want to go somewhere, I go.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

We felt perfectly safe in Cozumel on our recent cruise. We had a boat ride to our excursion, and then grabbed a taxi back to the port because we were ready to get back a little early. I felt a little less safe at Chichen Itza, largly because it was super crowded, and I didn't like being that far away from the ship (over 2.5 hour drive). But, still not really concerned. I would probably be okay traveling to most places in Yucatan Peninsula area.

 

[Christine]

My adult daughter went here last week: https://www.xcaret.com/en/parks-and-tours/xelha-admission/

Xel-Ha Park. She complains a lot about things, usually, lol, but had nothing but great things to say. She felt it was very clean and safe. Whether it is or not, is another matter.

 

[kdonnel]

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Mexico/United-States/Crime

Looks like by some measures the countries are nearly identical, by some Mexico is orders of magnitude worse, and by some the US is orders of magnitude worse.

My biggest concern when in Mexico is what do I do with toilet paper? Am I in an area that supports flushing or do I toss it in the provided trash can?

https://www.expatinsurance.com/arti...ed-toilet-paper-mexico-mexicans-dont-flush-tp

 

[russell23]

Just came back a week ago from a 6 night stay at Puerto Vallarta. Our group consisted of 5 ladies who did not speak Spanish and we did not bring our kids/husbands.
Stayed at an airbnb and ubered to places we needed to go. We would split off and a couple of us did different excursions including a dinner/show/boat ride that left us back in P.V. at about 11pm and we had no issues catching an uber back to our airbnb.
Also, took a solo uber ride to the airport to return home as I left a day earlier than my friends. All this to say that I had a great time and felt just as safe as any other destination spot.

 

[White Cat]

If you say so. I would still have no qualms about vacationing in Mexico, provided transportation to my resort was arranged ahead of time (or I was visiting on a cruise and had transportation planned to the excursion).

Of course, I don't worry about going anywhere in the US either. If I need/want to go somewhere, I go.

I spent last week in nyc wearing a $60,000 watch. My wife a $30’000 watch wearing very recognizable Cartier jewelry. Wearing jeans and t shirts. No problems. There is not once city in Mexico that I would attempt that. I know what would happen. Yes I know people get mugged in nyc. But not so much in the main areas.in Mexico, it would be any where. I have family that has lived in Mexico for over 40 years. And what’s the point of going to Mexico and vacationing inside of a compound.

 

[White Cat]

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Mexico/United-States/Crime

Looks like by some measures the countries are nearly identical, by some Mexico is orders of magnitude worse, and by some the US is orders of magnitude worse.

My biggest concern when in Mexico is what do I do with toilet paper? Am I in an area that supports flushing or do I toss it in the provided trash can?

https://www.expatinsurance.com/arti...ed-toilet-paper-mexico-mexicans-dont-flush-tp

Or if the police hassle you for bribe money.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I asked about Mexico on The Dis a few months ago. I was nervous. Very nervous. But I got a ton of great advice here.

I am happy to say, our trip was a HUGE success. We went to Cabo San Lucas, but stayed in San Jose Del Cabo. I felt very safe. WAY safer than my recent trips to Seattle and Los Angeles, where I was constantly followed and harassed by unstable men.

I will go back to Cabo for sure.

 

[sam_gordon]

I spent last week in nyc wearing a $60,000 watch. My wife a $30’000 watch wearing very recognizable Cartier jewelry. Wearing jeans and t shirts. No problems. There is not once city in Mexico that I would attempt that. I know what would happen. Yes I know people get mugged in nyc. But not so much in the main areas.in Mexico, it would be any where. I have family that has lived in Mexico for over 40 years. And what’s the point of going to Mexico and vacationing inside of a compound.

So there's no muggings/crime "in the main areas" in NYC? You're funny.

Did you happen to look at the link @kdonnel posted and explain why Mexico is "so dangerous" compared to the the US?

 

[dioxide45]

We are in Cancun now. Need to always have transportation from the airport pre-booked. If you don't, you may get conned into a timeshare presentation on the way out of the airport. I am not as concerned about violence as I would be about getting scammed somehow. We went to get groceries yesterday afternoon. First taxi back to our resort wanted $400 peso, I knew it was too much. The second was $200 peso. Still a lot for less than a mile of driving, but it is the going rate. We have done a lot of exploring over our six trips here. We have taken the ferry over to Isla Mujeres and taken the public (but first class bus) to Tulum. We even rented a car once. The public bus up and down the hotel zone is safe, other than the fact that they drive very fast.

I wouldn't have any concerns about traveling to the tourist hotspots in Mexico. Cancun, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta. I probably wouldn't bother with Acapulco.

 

[dioxide45]

Or if the police hassle you for bribe money.

That is only an issue if you rent a car. Many take private or group excursions.

 

[RoseGold]

I worked temporarily in Mexico City and almost bought an apartment there, so I guess I have a very different point of view. I wouldn't go to any of the resorts or especially the cruise ports, mostly because they don't appeal to me, but also because it's where I would view myself as a target.

But I am completely comfortable in (nice parts of) Mexico City, even with kids. I take Uber everywhere including from the airport, I stay at a stunning Airbnb, I eat at nice restaurants, I go to the playground. It's a major city, a busy airport. Parts of it are very, very wealthy. If you're a target to get kidnapped, you know why. That's not me.

I've talked a lot of families with kids into trips to Mexico City over other urban destinations. It has a lot to offer, and without the baggage of the rest of Mexico. If you're going to visit some museums and kids' attractions, Mexico City is hard to beat.

My wife a $30’000 watch wearing very recognizable Cartier jewelry. Wearing jeans and t shirts. No problems. There is not once city in Mexico that I would attempt that.

I wouldn't wear a 30K watch on the street in any major city, but that's a city thing, not a Mexico thing. And actually there are parts of Mexico City I would feel safer wearing that than any city in the US. At least in Polanco, security is obvious and the 30K watch is the cheapest one.