Has any one travel to aguascalientes mexico?let me know how?

Question

i will be flying from chicago to aguascalientes mexico with my husband brother mother and 2 small children i am afraid because of the crime rate is very high so i hear the city is having its annual festival i will be staying in a hotel

Answer 1

Hello.

I'm answering from Aguascalientes.

Well, in first place, you asked how has anyone travel to here from Chicago; I've done it the opposite way. There were some charters flying direct Ags-Chicago; but as far as I know, no more. The way I did it was with American Eagle (AA) fly to Dallas-Ft Worth and makeing a connection there (I've done it from there to Lexington KY, Detroit MI, Madison WI and Chicago IL too) that is a great airport and so you don't need to go to México city airport (wich, actually is VERY crowded anytime, and dangereus). Flying on international flight direct to Ags is much more easier: the airport is very small, you just go down from the plane and ready, you arrived, customs are comfortable and people is much more frindly than in México city. Besides, that what you mentioned about the crime rate does NOT aplies in the specific case of Aguascalientes; I mean, the risky area is in the border line to USA, and México city airport is dangereus too (specially traveling with children and old people.); I do alway prefer connections in USA thanin México city (even traveling to Canadá or other country). From (and to) Aguascalientes you have international flights (... and connections therefore) to Dallas TX (American Airlines), Houston TX (Continental Airlines), Ontario CA and Los Angeles CA (Aeroméxico). Comming from Chicago, the easiest is Dallas, or maybe Houston.

About the crime rate, that is not true. Aguascalientes is one of the safest states in México. "Charlie" has explained it perfect. There are, certanly, some crimes as at any city; but not the way it happens on the border (that is the danger zone), or in México city (the size there is implicated with crime rate). Aguascalientes state has 1.5 million inhabitants, Aguascalientes city 800'000 (about same population as Phoenix AZ); México city has 8 million IN the Federal District PLUS 12 million in the metropolitan area (a city of 20 million inhabitants).

The "annual fair" you mentioned, is not an ordinary fair, it is the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, it means the "national fair", it last one month, and there are many shows and party, but to much alcohol too!. There are daytime shows for family and children, and there are night shows for adults only. There are really MANY things in the fair: concerts, bullfights, roster fights, casino, cattle show, sport events, theatre plays, and more. These year the special guest country is Spain, so there will be many cultural things from there; at the "Queen's Dance" dinner there is going to be in the show Miguel Bosé. I'll let you the link:

http://www.feriadesanmarcos.gob.mx/

The actual mayor in the city is Gabriel Arellano, and the state governor is Armando Reynoso. Aguascalientes is not such a "big" city (but it is very modern yet), we know personally the mayor (he is a friend of mine).

Answer 2

I see no one who has been there recently has answered, so I'll give you my thoughts.  I have seen several references on the web to Aguas- calientes being a safe city.  I live in Mexico and find reports on crime to be exagerated on the American news.  If you lived here and watched all the reports on shootings in malls, schools, kidnappings, and other crimes in the U.S., you'd be scared to go to the U.S. Most crime in Mexico has to do with drug dealers...if you are not involved in drugs, you are not likely to be involved in crime.  Are you afraid living there in Chicago?  You will be with family , and I truly believe you will be just fine.  I am a single American woman living in Mexico and know many others .We travel all over Mexico without any problems. I am not at all afraid to travel in Mexico.  I do not hang out in border towns, bars, or with drug dealers...in other words...same behavior I would have in the U.S.  I lived in one of the  safest cities in the U.S. before moving here, but my house was broken into twice, a tourist was shot in the parking lot of a neighborhood pharmacy, 2 women were murdered INSIDE the hospital where I worked, a woman was shot as she walked from her car into the mall near my house....all in just few years before I left....sounds awful doesn't it?   People just like to take notice of crime in OTHER places, not their own home town...bet you could top my crime stories with stories in Chicago. I want you to relax and enjoy your visit.  Hope you hear from some people who have been there recently.