Should I go to Mexico?

Question

Recently a guy I knew from my town here just died in Mexico. I was planning on going on a trip there next year but now im really really having second thoughts cause this is not the first time its happened. Any advice?

Answer 1

As some of the previous answers pointed out, random crime can happen anywhere.  Common sense and good judgment should always be used when traveling.  

As for your general question regarding the safety of visiting Mexico, I can tell you that I have lived in Mexico for the past 17 years, in a small town in the northern state of Sonora, and have done a fair amount of traveling throughout the country.  I have never had an incident where I felt threatened.  In my opinion, it is safe to travel in Mexico.  I feel safer living in this community than I would in any U.S. city, and statistically, I am safer here.  There are a few thousand people living in my town, composed primarily of Mexicans, Americans and Canadians.

When we travel to other cities in Mexico, we hire a cab for the entire day, negotiating the full-day fee up front.  We choose a driver who is established as a regular driver for the guests of the hotel where we are staying.  You can get help from the hotel desk in selecting a driver who regularly provides service to their hotel.  This method has proven to be a very reliable, inexpensive, convenient, time-saving way for us to move around the city when we are traveling.

I have met many Americans who said they were apprehensive about visiting Mexico, but after they came and experienced it, they were very glad they did.  Some of them eventually bought property in Mexico.

Answer 2

If you don't feel it's safe, then don't go.  There are plenty of other warm spots to travel to.  Dominican is supposed to be great, Cuba (well as long as you're not American anyway), Costa Rica and St. Maarten are beautiful.  I am going to Curaçao in a couple of weeks, which is another island close to Aruba, also supposed to be beautiful.  The fact of the matter is though, there are dangers to tourists wherever you go.  No place is ever going to be as safe as home.  But then again, how safe IS home really?  You can die just as easily here as anywhere else, but then you will never have had the experience of visiting another place.  So, just go for it if you want to.  Yes, there are bad stories from Mexico, but compared to the hundreds of thousands who have had great vacations there, the bad stories are few.  You just hear more about them.

Answer 3

Don't go.  Security conditions in Mexico are getting progressively worse, especially in resort areas and border areas.  People who live there or who have been there frequently know how to avoid problems. People who are visiting for the first time are really at risk.  There are other places that have sunshine, beaches, beer and good food that are a lot safer.  If you are looking for a winter vacation w/beach etc. look at Cuba or Costa Rica.  They have wonderful places to visit.  If you can afford it and can go in fall or spring, look at coastal Portugal (very affordable) or Spain.  They are wonderful!

Mexico is not the only place in the world, plus, it's not that cheap anymore.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

You can go to MExico but make sure if you dont speak Spanish stay in the Turist zone.  This happens everywhere in the world.  It is like a Japanese Turist ends up in the middle of Compton, CA and he gets rob, raped and killed.  And they go back and say America is dangerous.

Answer 6

I am Mexican, after 26 years living in México without any bad incident, I can tell you why:

I ask in the hotel reception about:

* Save times,

* Save city areas

* Recommended activities

* I never use gold jewelry

* I distribute small quantities of money in my clothes.

Like you already read, everywhere could be dangerous, you only have to read your local newspaper...