Ok sitting here in NY reading all these reports saying don't travel to Mexico it is "not safe". As first timers coming in April what are your thoughts on this?
It is just like anywhere else in the states. If you want trouble you can find it. But if you just enjoy your vacation, you will be fine. Check out this web site. Mexico No advisory is in affect for Cancun.
its actually a very good question one i would certainly ask myself regardless of where i planned on traveling another thing i would also keep in mind is that the media loves to sensationalize news....in fact, i think they are more interested in creating news than they are actually reporting news......so they print headlines to grab the imagination -------- headlines like "AVOID MEXICO" most people fail to read the fine print - but the detail is there - and in this case - my suggestion to you would be to read and research it for yourself so you can have a comfort level with your vacation certainly never trust a headline from any media source as the final word LMAO the reality is you have about as much of a chance (maybe even less) of running into problems in the hotel zone in cancun as you would in any other vacation spot. the best rob
I was just there in Feb. I actually read an article on the flight down about this issue. It listed the safe places in Mexico to travel and Cancun was one of them. Use common sense while off the resort and trouble can be avoided. I have been to Mexico six times and never had a problem. If you are worried, get a direct transfer to hotel and don't leave the resort.
Just as the person above said. You have just as much a chance of something happening in Cancun as anywhere else. You just have to use common sense. Don't go off in areas that aren't for tourist. Pay attention to what is going on around you. No different than any other place. The other thing that people don't realize is that if something bad happens an hour away from cancun, people don't know the name of that place so when the media reports it they say "cancun". When it really was no where near there. The hotel zone is basically safe, just use good judgement and you will have the time of your life. We have been to cancun about 30 times and never had a problem in either the hotel zone or the downtown area.
I've traveled all over Europe, been to Mexico several times, etc -- It's all about avoiding offers that are "too good to be true" -- Don't get in weird cars on "tours" -- Avoid a lot of the offers and barkers at the airport -- Being aware of your surroundings -- Don't let just anyone touch your luggage -- Not drinking drinks you didn't see prepared -- Not flashing big money or jewelry -- -- Keep your valuables (money, passport, etc) with you while traveling etc -- Recognizing that Mexico and Cancun are NOT the U.S. but are countries and cities with their own ways of doing things and their own customs so don't FREAK OUT just because something isn't EXACTLY as it is in the U.S. -- Taking time (sober!) to plan your day/evening and your route beforehand -- Staying with your friends and/or having a back-up plan if you get situtated -- Drinking etc responsibly -- Etc -- Just the same as you would anywhere, even in your own hometown. Every season, there are a few stories like this about Mexico -- the guns, the drugs, pick-pockets, whatever... The same stories come up about NYC, Vienna, LA, London, any place the media can get you scared.
Cancun's safe. Having said that, be smart of your surroundings. MAP: Mexico - State by state travel advisories| CBC News Someone mentioned carrying money in two pockets in the case someone tries to extort you,/bartering. You 'only' have the $20 you pulled out.
On average, 2.5 people are murdered in New York City EVERY DAY! In 2011, the number killed was 903. That's in ONE city. But when ONE American gets murdered in Mexico, well, all of a sudden it's not safe to travel anywhere in the country?! The media is out of control.
One thing to keep in mind is that Mexico is a BIG country, and while there is a lot of violence along the border and other places, they don't represent Mexico as a whole. Today, I wouldn't go to Jaurez or Tijuana unless I was inside a tank! But there are many areas just as safe as anywhere. As far as Cancun goes, I 'felt' a lot safer there than I do in parts of my own hometown. If something bad does happen to you there, you've either got the worst luck in the world or you went looking for trouble. If you stay in the hotel zone especially, you'll be just fine.
