How safe is it for Americans to go to Mexico right now?

Question

I really need help with this! My grandpa is dying and i have only seen him 2 times in 20 years. In fact iv only been to Mexico to see my family twice. But im so scared to go! I need some advice! and reasurance

Answer 1

Im British and I live in Mexico, not only that, I feel safer here than I do back there.

How sad is that for the UK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Go, pay respects to Grandpa, you'll be fine. Media has over reported criminality in Mexico. Problems are isolated, some of which have happened months ago. Be careful as you would in any other county in the world. Bien Viaje

Answer 3

STAY IN A GROUP!!!

DO NOT GO ALONE!!

The POLICE in Mexico will shake you down and rob you so don't expect any help if you get robbed by a normal criminal...

My friend's husband came out of a bar in a TOURIST TOWN and got punched in the face... He started fighting back, got one guy on the ground, then heard "CLICK" of a gun being c.o.c.k.e.d... (As in pull the hammer back, incase Y!A insists on blocking the word as a "Swear" word or whatever...) One of the 3 guy's that tried to rob him had a gun and a badge...

They arrested him for assulting police officers and it cost him $500.00 to get out. AND ONLY $500.00 because that was all they had!

They got a flat tire on the way back to the states and had a BUNCH of problems trying to find a way to get money just so they could get back across the border...

If you go to a tourist town and STAY IN THE RESORT then you are safe but over all... You are screwed if you go off the beaten track...

I know people that have lived there for business and they had to have body gards assigned to them and the international school their kids went to had ARMED GUARDS at the front gate to check in and check out the children every day because the kids were constantly being abducted and held for ransom.

If the kid's parent or assigned guardian didn't arrive in a car to pick them up, the kids were not allowed out the gate...

There was a gun fight a block from the school and this was the "International" and more well off area of town... Not "Rich" but just where the employees of big companies lived...

Mexico has some good areas... It is BEAUTIFUL!! But it is NOT safe unless you go out in a well armed group...

NEVER LET YOUR GARD DOWN!!

I am 100% not exagerating... It can be a VERY dangerous place...

Answer 4

I think you should be fine. I haven't heard that many bad things about Americans in Mexico recently and its very popular for vacation. good luck. sorry about your grandpa.

Answer 5

You are going to be fine, Delicias is a very quiet town/city.

Answer 6

I'm more scared to go to the USA than I am to travel in Mexico.  There are way more dangerous people in your country....

Answer 7

Yup.  It's cool.

Been to Mexico twice in the past three months, as an American.  To Alamos (400 miles south of Nogales) then another time went to Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.  Only experienced some anti-American c**p a few times, all in Alamos, all when we and the locals had been drinking (so I guess we should have expected it).

Don't sweat it.  Have a good time.  Try to speak a little Spanish down there, and you'll be fine.

Answer 8

don't worry at all, just be yourself, be polite and the people will be polite back to you, the only people who come to any trouble in mexico are the ones who are on vacation and are real a**holes, getting so drunk they get loud and pushy, if you treat the mexicans like you like to be treated you will have no trouble at all, we were there and we don't speak and spanish and we had no trouble at all.

Answer 9

I have travelled to Mexico many times including one occasion in which I studied abroad there for three months, although as my travels have mostly taken me to places more in central and south mexico I cannot speak much as to what the state of Chihuaha is like. However, for what it is worth let me give you my perspective and experience travelling there as an American. There is a rational middle ground as to what your attitude should be toward safety in Mexico. First off, anecdotal evidence really has to be taken with a pinch of salt: just because something awful happened to someone else does not mean the same will happen to you. Likewise, just because someone else travelled there without incident does not mean that you cannot have trouble there yourself. Obviously, there are reasons that Mexico has earned somewhat of a reputation for danger or else that reputation would never have been created. Safety IS a consideration. Notwithstanding, I do have to echo what some have said in regards to the "bad news media" giving us an exaggerated image of the dangers and making it out to be worse that it really is. I don't think Mexico is as "extreme" dangerous as many Americans seem to have gone so far to perceive it to be. Do you need to be safety-conscious? Yes. Paranoid? No. I would not allow concern about safety to stop you from travelling to Mexico. Simply follow the advice you have gotten from the others about going around in groups and staying alert. Keep your wits about you and you'll likely be fine.

Answer 10

i always go to mexico. its fine. there never seems to be a problem. i think it will be ok.

Answer 11

I compeletly agree with the answer above.  However, there are some mexican police who can give you some trouble if you become to showy or flashy.  Always travel in groups and try to have your cousin with u amap.  Try not to look too much like a tourist.

Sorry 4 ur grandpa =(

Hope he feals better.

Good LUCK!

Answer 12

Your fine,

I live in Mexico city for 5 years with no trouble.

The only trouble you really hear of is when Canadians or Americans are in Mexico causing trouble (usually alcohol related).

your with family you will be o.k.

Just enjoy yourself  and be relaxed.

Answer 13

It is very safe,very, very safe infact the crime rate in mexico is lower than that of the u.s. I have traveled to mexico many times with family and have never had any problems.

Answer 14

its Safe, just stay away from DRUGS.

Answer 15

you'll be fine.

its the resorts that are being targeted by the bad people.

and its not that they are looking for americans specificly, its tourists in general.  the see you walking around spending money with cell phones hanging off your waist and a camara around your neck and they go after you.  But Chihuahua?  you'll be fine.  Go see your relative.

Answer 16

You should be safe.  We only hear of the bad things happening thanks to the media, people travel to Mexico and have a great time and are safe.

Answer 17

Hi there! I read your question and i can understand your concern, with the reputation mexico's got, but let me tell you:

I spent a whole year in mexico when i was 17 (two years ago) on high school exchange program.  i traveled alone a lot, and i even moved around mexico city at night alone. nothing violent ever happened to me during the whole year! there are some safety tips you should follow, but personally i followed few of them, but nothing ever happened to me or any of the other 30 exchange students that were there=)

please don't worry and especially not if you're travelling with a mexican relative. he/ she'll know his / her way about and be able to give you tips.

by the way: as a swiss, i can tell you that the USA's reputation isn't that of a very safe country around here either, what with all the teenagers shooting each other at school and stuff... you see, it's all relative =)

mexico is really, really beautiful, enjoy your stay there!