How safe is it for Americans who dont speak the language to travel to Mexico right now?

Question

I am a white american girl that doesnt speak spanish fluently. My cousin from mexico would be escorting me, but i am still scared about going. I would be crossing Ciudad Jaruez and taking a bus from there to Delicias, CHichuahua....

Answer 1

I echo Charlie's advice. I've been here 5 years w/o a problem. The thing about listening to the news (in general) is that's it's always BAD NEWS. Mind your p's and q's, you'll be fine. Mexico is a very beautiful country with a lot to offer to the tourist. I feel safer here than I did in Chicago!

by the way........with or without Spanish, you'll be okay. I learned after I got here. Being with your cousin will make it a lot easier and probably more fun.

Answer 2

Cancun and Cabo are safe!

In the capital of  Mexico. I don't really know. But go to Cancun!

If you wanna take a luxuriouse car, take people from Sanfer of a gang (i'm soriuose)

Answer 3

Relax and enjoy yourself!  One of the best ways to travel is with someone who knows the area... and the language!  If you have a bit of time, learn a bit of Spanish and read a bit about the area to which you'll be going... both will help you to enjoy your experience.

I was in Delicias last summer and it is a smaller but delightful city.  Our family (we have two teenagers) enjoyed the small museum in town and it was  a pleasant stop on our way to Chihuahua.

Hopefully you will have time to explore the area -- Chihuahua is a wonderful, historic city and the train for the Copper Canyon leaves from there.  You also might want to explore the Zona del Silencio or go to Cuatrocienegas.

Other than that, just take the normal precautions that anyone does when traveling anywhere-- make sure you have your money and documents in a safe place, make certain that someone knows your itinerary, and if your cousin doesn't have cell phone that works in Mexico, consider purchasing one while here.

I've pasted some links that are in English... buen viaje!

Answer 4

Safe as any other of the major cities in the world, they are blowing up trains in Spain, setting cars on fire in Paris. Please give Mexico a break, tourism is down 50 [ercent, come on down we need the money. Limited Spanish language capability is OK, keep smiling and tipping.

Answer 5

I don't believe that you would be any more or less safe as a fluent Spanish speaker or whether you didn't speak a word.  Many Mexican people speak at least some English, esepcially in the north.  Relax, and enjoy your trip.

Answer 6

You will be fine, especially since you have your cousin with you.  be modest, aware of your surroundins, don't flase cash, keep your purse over your shoulders at all times...thesame common sense things you should always do. I am a  single American woman living in Mexico and my spanish isn't fluent either.  I have never had a problem.

Answer 7

As safe as with any other person, really.

Wether you speak the language fluently or not doesn't make any much of a difference, specially if your cousin is taking care of you and you're basically staying near the border.

Although, in cities like Ciudad Juárez (as with any other big one in the world) try not to wander alone at night.

Answer 8

It depends of where you are. In border cities, we have now a problem, but the governmente is doing his job. Deeper is safe. In many places you will find people who speak english. Remember that all of we took english lessons in shcool.

Answer 9

Well its never that safe to go into small citys in Mexico, but if you go to one the the big tourist destinations like Cancun or Cabo most people speak English and are very friendly so you will be safe.

Answer 10

well what parts??? the border towns are not safe right now.... i wouldnt rec it. i live about 15 mins. from a mexico border towns and its been advised to be esp careful(drug dealers-fighting).

but id say in deeper/resort areas its safe.

Answer 11

I don't know the north that well, but I will say this; despite Mexico City being the claimed world's capital on kidnappings, I've only met one person who had an attempted kidnapping (I don't have a lot of millionaire friends though which are the type of people that are usually kidnapped) and I've been in dangerous neighborhoods alone in the evening all the time and I've never ever been mugged. Heck, I've never even had a pickpocket steal my cellphone in the subway. And for the record, I'm white and I'm half gringa though I'm fluent in spanish.

Ciudad Juarez isn't exactly the safest city in the country, but if you're with your cousin who speaks spanish and probably knows which are the bad parts in town, you'll probably be fine.

Just use common sense: Don't go wandering in a dark alley in the middle of the night. If you have to go somewhere at nighttime, be in a place with a lot of people and where there's a lot of light. Don't flash your cash everywhere. Don't walk around carrying a laptop (I know a guy who got violently mugged because he was walking around at night looking at his laptop in a semi dangerous neighborhood) and use common sense about pickpockets (cellphone pickpocket stealing is more common than you think here).

A lot of mexicans speak rudimentary english. It's an obligatory subject from kindergarden to university in most private schools and I know people that went to public schools where it was an official subject as well. I even had occasions where people would walk by to me speaking to me in english wondering if I was a tourist walking by just because I'm white haha.

Besides, everyone knows the first words in a new language you learn are swear words and you'll pick those up real quick.

Have fun and also wash your hands if you're planning on eating tacos in the street.

Answer 12

DONT WORRY

you'll be safe... Delicias is a beautiful town, and there is a great nightlife in Juarez... A lot of my "gringo" firends love coming to Juarez, nice restaurants, nice bars etc...

You need a copy of your birth certificate and a photo ID to get a tourist visa in order to get beyond the border region

Answer 13

...with your cousin escorting you?!  You shouldn't have a single worry then.