There are virtually NO horror stories related to average people. If you go out seeking to buy drugs in large quantities, then you're asking for trouble. 99.9% of the problems are people doing just that.
You'll be fine... Here's a map from 2011 showing the travel warnings (though 3 years old, it hasn't changed much for your purposes). I'm providing this just for a visual context of how safe Cancun/Hotel Zone is. The second link goes to the State Department's travel advisories for Mexico, which is current. You'll see that the entire peninsula has the all-clear signal. Search the page for Cancun for the specific section. http://www.travelweekly.com/uploadedImages/All_TW_Destinations/Mexico/410x232_photos/T0502MAP(1).jpg Mexico Travel Warning
I have to agree with most of the posts you see here but have to add our two cents worth We have spent a fair amount of time in Mexico both in resorts and sailing on the Pacific coast. We have NEVER felt unsafe at anytime! We find the people to be warm and hospitable. We walk downtown in Cancun, use public transportation, and the cheap local cabs after nights off the resort and still always feel safe. That being said we don't drink until we black out, I don't hit on the locals wives, we don't buy or sell drugs, we would never flash a wad of cash in a local bar, and generally we are not douches. I tried to see were you are from but it is not posted but I can guarantee you there are parts of your city that are less safe than Cancun. I like to tell the people I run into here that are afraid, what would happen if your local bar served as much booze as you could drink for $50, how many fights or stabbings would happen! Don't worry go to TTR and have a blast if you are that afraid stay on the resort
We do the eye roll also when people tell us we are crazy for going to Mexico. We feel safer in Cancun than we would in Detroit or New Orleans. And the violent crime stats prove that out. Use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. We do that no matter where we are.
For at least the near future, I would avoid the all-inclusive resorts in Syria and Iraq. But that's just me. ~Maxx
Thanks so much for your replies everyone. It makes me feel a lot better to hear them. Maybe I'll give Mexico a chance then...
If you look for trouble anywhere you can find it no matter if your in Mexico or the States Cancun's very safe no cartels trying to kidnap you or drugs that you can see on the streets. The resorts wouldn't have this type of activity tourism brings in a lot of money in.
Before our first trip, our daughter was so freaked out that we were going to Mexico...she spent days trying to teach us how to say "don't hurt me and I will be your drug mule" in Spanish...silly child Rita
