Is Mexico Dangerous to Visit?

Chris schrieb:
> Hello,
>
> We were considering going to the Riviera Maya for vacation, but were
> concerned about Mexico being too dangerous. After reading the
> Consular Information sheet for Mexico, it said some really scary
> things. It would seem that you can't even trust the police in Mexico.
>
> We just wamting to go to a nice resort and not have to worry about
> anything. I would hate to have to go down there and then worry that
> someone is going to break into our hotel room with guns and rob us
> taking everything we have. And would we have to worry about getting
> robbed on the beach? There seem to be so many nice resorts in the
> Riviera Maya area. So, I'd hate to think that if we stayed at a nice
> resort we would have to worry about someone breaking into our hotel
> room and getting robbed. But, someone needs to tell me that it's safe
> down there.
>
> I'll admit that I'm not a worldwide traveler. I've been to Hawaii,
> I've been to Grenada, the Virgin Islands, and to most states east of
> the Mississippi and also to most of Canada. But, I've never been to
> anywhere in Mexico or Latin America.
>
> But, I hope Mexico isn't too dangerous to visit. We've always wanted
> to visit but were afraid of the crime. So, if anyone has some more
> insight on this, that would be great.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
>
> Chris

Having spent over a month travelling in Mexico, I would say the answer
is that Mexico is probably much safer than most other places in the
world, and the Riviera Maya is much safer than the rest of Mexico.
We have never had any encounters with the police despite driving
everywhere. There are military patrols at the state borders, but they
are looking for drugs and are not interested in gringo tourists.
Our daughter has been living in Mexico for nearly 2 years and has
never had the slightest problem. I only know of one incident personally,
a young man touring the country by bus got pickpocketed in Oaxaca.

T.

In news:446f296e$0$20181$8fcfb975@news.wanadoo.fr "Runge"
<philsa@bigfoot.com> wrote:

> You US people are completely intoxicated by the words danger and
> secure. It comes from your own country, not the others.

Unlike you oh-so-sophisticated Europeans who believe everything they see
on American TV shows and think they'll be shot dead if they walk on the
streets of any American city.


> "Chris" <snowfish@gct21.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
> 3c1t62142nifjcl89skjm4suo5hho1kg2k@...
>> Hello,
>>
>> We were considering going to the Riviera Maya for vacation, but were
>> concerned about Mexico being too dangerous. After reading the
>> Consular Information sheet for Mexico, it said some really scary
>> things. It would seem that you can't even trust the police in
>> Mexico.
>>




--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

Pickpokers en laCuidad de Mexic0!
"Bert Hyman" <bert@iphouse.com> wrote in message
news:Xns97C962BC5EB2VeebleFetzer@216.250.184.7...
> In news:446f296e$0$20181$8fcfb975@news.wanadoo.fr "Runge"
> <philsa@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>
>> You US people are completely intoxicated by the words danger and
>> secure. It comes from your own country, not the others.
>
> Unlike you oh-so-sophisticated Europeans who believe everything they see
> on American TV shows and think they'll be shot dead if they walk on the
> streets of any American city.
>
>
>> "Chris" <snowfish@gct21.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
>> 3c1t62142nifjcl89skjm4suo5hho1kg2k@...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> We were considering going to the Riviera Maya for vacation, but were
>>> concerned about Mexico being too dangerous. After reading the
>>> Consular Information sheet for Mexico, it said some really scary
>>> things. It would seem that you can't even trust the police in
>>> Mexico.
>>>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

No - the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the safest areas. But get out of
the resort explore the real country.

Small towns, ruins, local food is wonderful, and you'll have a much
more interesting (and still safe) experience.

Consider Merida as well, wonderful city, safest in Mexico, and great
food, Mayan culture, and people

"Richard Ferguson" <fergusonOMITsculpture@omitthisatt.net> wrote in message
news:fAwbg.78634$Fs1.18796@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I would note that I am sometimes accused of being alarmist about security
> issues, but I do think that your concerns about the resort areas are
> somewhat out of line with what people experience.

You? Alarmist? Heaven forbid.

My wife is a Cuban American who is fluent in Spanish. She had a
temporary work assignment in Mexic City a few years ago. Although
she herself had no problems, several of her colleagues did:

One group was held up at gun point in a restaurant near here hotel.
Watches and cash were taken. The restaurant owner refused to
call the police because he said that all the would do would be to
shake him down for bribes.

Two men had laptop computers taken while traveling -- at knife point.

A woman was attacked through her car window when stopped for a
traffice light. (She drove through the light and was O.K.)

A man was stopped for a supposed trafic violation. He paid of the
police officer rather than spending the day in court. (This is normal --
same cost either way; quicker to pay the officer.)

One person was involved in a trafic accident which was NOT his fault.
The other driver would have just walked away if he had NOT offered
the police money to arresst and detain the other driver.

I do not feel "safe" in Mexico city. I have also been other places in
Mexico, including Cozumel and Acapulco(sp?); I have felt safe in those places.

I offer the following advice:

Do not carry or wear expensive jewlery or watches.

(Women -- leave your wedding ring at home; buy a cheap ring to wear.
Even if you are NOT married, a "wedding ring" will often get you
treated better.)

Do not carry large amounts of cash. Use credit cards or ATM cards
as much as possible.

Do not carry laptop computers. If you must:

Put it in a bag or case that does NOT look like a computer
case and lock it in the trunk of your car when driving.

Do NOT leave it in the car when you park. Not even for a minute.

Be prepared to give up a cheap watch and the small amount of cash you are
carrying. Don't fight them!

Whenever possible travel with a group of 3-4 people.

Don't travel at night if you can avoid it.

Just like many USA cities, parts of Mexico can be dangerous.
But with reasonable precautions, you will be O.K. and enjoy the trip.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Chris wrote:
> Hello,
>
> We were considering going to the Riviera Maya for vacation, but were
> concerned about Mexico being too dangerous. After reading the
> Consular Information sheet for Mexico, it said some really scary
> things. It would seem that you can't even trust the police in Mexico.

I just got back from a 2-week trip in Mexico (Merida - Valladolid and
the Riviera Maya)
traveling alone by public transportation and I did not encounter a
single problem. My last week (8 days actually) was spent in the Riviera
Maya and I regularly traveled between different locations along the 307
using the colectivos. Hardly any gringos use them but they're cheap and
very safe (the Mexicans traveling in these collective taxis seem to be
too tired to even think about robbing you.)

When I went into the water on the beach or in the numerous cenotes in
the area along the 307, I would lock my backpack with a combination
lock and tie it up to a tree or whatever with a bike lock, but to tell
you the truth, I don't think I actually had to go through all that
trouble.

No need to worry. Just relax and enjoy yourselves.

Viviane

> > We were considering going to the Riviera Maya for vacation, but were
> > concerned about Mexico being too dangerous. After reading the
> > Consular Information sheet for Mexico, it said some really scary
> > things. It would seem that you can't even trust the police in Mexico.
>
> I just got back from a 2-week trip in Mexico (Merida - Valladolid and
> the Riviera Maya)
> traveling alone by public transportation and I did not encounter a
> single problem. My last week (8 days actually) was spent in the Riviera
> Maya and I regularly traveled between different locations along the 307
> using the colectivos. Hardly any gringos use them but they're cheap and
> very safe (the Mexicans traveling in these collective taxis seem to be
> too tired to even think about robbing you.)
>
> When I went into the water on the beach or in the numerous cenotes in
> the area along the 307, I would lock my backpack with a combination
> lock and tie it up to a tree or whatever with a bike lock, but to tell
> you the truth, I don't think I actually had to go through all that
> trouble.

Can you let us know about those cenotes? Those are fresh water springs
with great visibility?

aaJoe wrote:
> > When I went into the water on the beach or in the numerous cenotes in
> > the area along the 307, I would lock my backpack with a combination
> > lock and tie it up to a tree or whatever with a bike lock, but to tell
> > you the truth, I don't think I actually had to go through all that
> > trouble.
>
> Can you let us know about those cenotes? Those are fresh water springs
> with great visibility?

Yes, they are very deep fresh water springs but the visibility isn't
always that great. Depends where you go. The clearest waters seem to be
in the cenotes that are at least partly protected by a cave or
something of the like, probably because there are less leaves and other
plant elements that fall into them, and the stalactite and stalagmite
formations are always interesting to look at, both under the water and
above. Good idea to bring your snorkeling equipment as you will see all
types of fish. I was particularly impressed with the blue catfish I saw
in a couple of cenotes. Many divers do the cenotes also and venture off
deep into cave-like waterways using flashlights in the water. A few
cenotes are free but you have to pay an entrance fee to most of them,
between 35 and 80 pesos usually. I particularly like the one called
Calavera on the road going to Coba from Tulum. It had a cave "infested"
with squeaking bats. Pretty eery.

If you have other more specific questions about the cenotes, feel free
to ask.

Viviane

> > > When I went into the water on the beach or in the numerous cenotes in
> > > the area along the 307, I would lock my backpack with a combination
> > > lock and tie it up to a tree or whatever with a bike lock, but to tell
> > > you the truth, I don't think I actually had to go through all that
> > > trouble.
> >
> > Can you let us know about those cenotes? Those are fresh water springs
> > with great visibility?
>
> Yes, they are very deep fresh water springs but the visibility isn't
> always that great. Depends where you go. The clearest waters seem to be
> in the cenotes that are at least partly protected by a cave or
> something of the like, probably because there are less leaves and other
> plant elements that fall into them, and the stalactite and stalagmite
> formations are always interesting to look at, both under the water and
> above. Good idea to bring your snorkeling equipment as you will see all
> types of fish. I was particularly impressed with the blue catfish I saw
> in a couple of cenotes. Many divers do the cenotes also and venture off
> deep into cave-like waterways using flashlights in the water. A few
> cenotes are free but you have to pay an entrance fee to most of them,
> between 35 and 80 pesos usually. I particularly like the one called
> Calavera on the road going to Coba from Tulum. It had a cave "infested"
> with squeaking bats. Pretty eery.

Have you been to any others in other area of the country? Is the
Yacatan the best for these? I heard there was at least one called
something like La Luna Media near San Luis Potosi.