Any Cdns put off with gang violence reports from Mexico?

[Sillyminny40]

We have been to Mexico several times but these latest reports have my mom questioning why anyone would go there. We went to WDW this year but really love the heat in Mexico every 3rd year.

[ahalla]

You won't find me going anytime soon, if at all, ever. There are plenty other places you can go for warmth. The violence seems to be expanding and is encroaching on the tourist areas. I'd rather not take the risk.

[highland3]

My TA friend told me the only paces to avoid are near the border.

The only area I would go to is the Mayan Riviera.

[lisalonglash]

Funnily enough, pretty much the only area my dh and I have never wanted to go is Mexico. I wish we did want to, travel is dirt cheap from Vancouver for Mexico vacation packages! I have never felt comfortable with the idea of vacationing in Mexico, not even when I was younger. I don't know how rational that feeling is, but we would seriously go pretty much anywhere else before we'd go to Mexico. Luckily, there's a whole word out there to explore, so not wanting to go to Mexico isn't a big deal :goodvibes

Many of our friends and family vacation in Mexico regularly and love it! I'm glad they have a great time (and love looking at their pictures, gorgeous scenery!), but, unfortunately, it's just not on our list of places to go.

To everyone who does enjoy Mexico (and I know that dh & I are most definitely in the vast minority with our opinion), I'm glad you do! It's quite an economical place to vacation, not to mention being able to enjoy the glorious weather! :thumbsup2

[Sillyminny40]

Yes, the Mayan Riviera area is pretty safe. Border areas really bad and extending into the U.S.

[TheZue]

I went once and that was enough. But I don't like being in totally secluded tourist areas. We went to club med and even the people working there were imported and weren't Mexican. It was just too sanitized; and I like Disneyland so that's saying something. The best part of the trip was the hour we spent on public transit actually seeing Cancun. The gang wars have just reinforced my feelings. If I want a warm day next to a beach I think I'll go to Hawaii.

[seashell724]

I saw a special on the violence on W5 last year. After watching that I say, NO WAY to Mexico, esp. for Canadians. They did a really in depth story that covered all basics. Maybe it is on their website somewhere for you to watch.

[drag n' fly]

Packages to Mexico are very cheap from Western Canada. With that being said I do not recommend travel to Mexico especially for Canadians. You will find it quite glossed over by the Mexican govt. and by the travel agents trying to sell packages to there, but the reality is you are safe no where in Mexico even in the AI. The entire law system is corrupt. The drug wars are spilling into the resort areas. You get exactly what you pay for in Mexico. Do not stay in less than anything but a 5 star. We used to leave the AI all the time to see and experience the "real Mexico" but I do not recommend that anymore. If you do go make sure you are insured very well and take note of where the closest embassy and or consulate is to where you are staying.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/mexico-mexique/offices-bureaux/index.aspx?lang=en

[Tantor]

No desire to go there anymore. Too many other places in the world to go.

[Susan2771]

I have been to Mexico a couple of times and never felt like my safety was in danger and we have done it all there. Stayed at resorts, gone on extensive tours, zip lining, rappeling, snorkeling, kayaking, visited a number of towns, ate at local restaurants, taken cabs into Cancun, Cabo and Playa Del Carmen at night and never did we have a problem. 1000's of people visit Mexico every year and have a fabulous time. Granted we have never been to any of the border cities and we would avoid them in the future. No destination is 100% safe in my opinion but knowing ahead of time what's going on and being aware of what is going on around you is always important no matter where in the world you are.
Have a great time wherever you end up going :)

[Rachael Q]

We just returned from a week in Mexico. We stayed in a town about an hour up the coast from Puerto Vallarta. We stayed in a hotel (not an all inclusive). Every evening we walked into town to try a local restaurant for dinner, and during the day we would be on the beach or catch the local buses for sightseeing or shopping.

We never felt in danger. We didn't carry a lot of cash, we didn't wear a lot of jewelry and we made sure our valuables were looked safely in our room.

I love Mexico and wouldn't hesitate to go back.

I often wonder what other countries post about traveling to Canada. Vancouver, right now has it's own problems with gang warfare and deaths. 32 shootings since late January.

[hockeymomNS]

I feel that there are too many other choices to risk my family. My son's friend is an international business major and well let's just say that even some businesses that Canada deals with down there, will have meetings in the US or Cuba. Apparently this is true for some South American countries as well.

[Sillyminny40]

Just read on CNN.com about the 88 yr old American who went down for dental work in Mexicali. At a gas station, a woman app'd his grandson to take photos of her daughter's face and then claimed he was asking for porno photos. The two men were put in jail. The old man was let out today after $$$$s to lawyers etc. The kid is still in jail.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/16/mexico.american.released/index.html

None of this makes me want to go back after being there happily for 7 trips. Seriously.

[cey]

Mexico just doesn't interest me. Too many Canadian have had really bad experiences! Safety is a huge concern for me when I travel! :scared1:

[Charleyann]

We were in Cozumel on our cruise in December. We are going back again this December. I loved the shopping and Chankanaab PArk. Can't imagine not being able to go. How sad!

Charleyann

[tone.def]

Have been there, done that, no real interest in returning. There are many other places to experience.

[calgarygary]

I feel that there are too many other choices to risk my family. My son's friend is an international business major and well let's just say that even some businesses that Canada deals with down there, will have meetings in the US or Cuba. Apparently this is true for some South American countries as well.

Canadian tourists are in no more danger in the tourist areas of Mexico than they are in the tourist areas of the U.S. It is just that something happening to a Canadian in New York or Orlando is not as sexy to the media as something happening in Mexico. However, if I were doing illicit business, I would certainly stay clear of Mexico right now.

[vegs1]

Just returned from a glorious week in the Mayan Riviera. Had a great time and at no time felt threatened or unsafe in any way. You have to be careful no matter where you go. Most problems in Mexico are along the US/Mexico border in cities such as Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales.

I'd be every bit as careful in a city like Chicago, Los Angeles or Vancouver. Travel smart, don't flash jewelery and money and you will be fine.

Happy Travels.

[lisalonglash]

Canadian tourists are in no more danger in the tourist areas of Mexico than they are in the tourist areas of the U.S. It is just that something happening to a Canadian in New York or Orlando is not as sexy to the media as something happening in Mexico. However, if I were doing illicit business, I would certainly stay clear of Mexico right now.

Perhaps it's merely my perception, but I disagree that we are in no more danger in Mexico than, say, Boston. I don't understand the "sexy" reference, but I've certainly heard a lot more nasty stories from family/friends vacationing in Mexico than I've heard from family/friends vacationing anywhere else.

[vegs1]

Mexico has definitely had a bad reputation for crime and corruption and has probably been well deserved. I know I've been to various areas of Mexico nine times and have not had even one single incident to relay back to anyone other than the great time we've had. We've always had excellent service and found the local people to be very kind. I'm sure that is not everyone's experience.

It is really up to each individual to decide what is right for them and where is safe and where isn't and I personally wouldn't tell anyone where I thought they should vacation as what is right for me might not be for anyone else. All I know is that I would not personally visit the border area but was quite happy in the Mayan Riviera and will definitely go back.

[Joann]

It has also gone into Acapulco I saw on CNN a place was bombed there... Cancun is not so greatnow either and I am proof!! Last Feb we went and me and my sister in law almost went to jail for drinking a beer on the street which u can do.... They we dirty cops asking us for 100 US each or 36 hours in jail, no bages showing nothing, but dressed in their swat uniforms and the 1 cop called in 4 more to surrond us. We said no to paying and my hubby and his friend were off by a store watching it all.... incase we were takin away they would be out , not with us in jail. I had a wierd feeling about it so I put my acting into play and made myself cry in hesterics making a scene. I then yelled over to my hubby who was watching and new what I was doing. I yelled that they wanted money or we go to jail, my hubby yells back .. oh ya? The one cop then quickly says one of them is u husband? I said yes he quickly goes over to him as he thought we were two girls alone, an says to him ..."is she gonna stop that crying?'' Hubby says I dont think so knowing what I was doing... he whispers to the other cops and tells us to get out of there fast! I then walked away and stoped the tears! I asked the hotel manager about this and he said yes they were dirty and hoped we did not pay them off which we did not but another couple we watched from Poland did pay them 100 bucks! Mexico is turning bad in all ways and since then I have heard many more stories all bad!

[calgarygary]

Perhaps it's merely my perception, but I disagree that we are in no more danger in Mexico than, say, Boston. I don't understand the "sexy" reference, but I've certainly heard a lot more nasty stories from family/friends vacationing in Mexico than I've heard from family/friends vacationing anywhere else.

The sexy reference is that publishing stories of Canadians assaulted in New York, L.A., Orlando, etc. does not grab the public attention the same way that publishing stories about Canadians assaulted in exotic places. Hopefully, when you suggest that Boston is a safe city for Canadians you are not suggesting that Roxbury after dark is a great place for a stroll. Although not a Canadian, an example of the press' fixation on reporting of crimes in exotic locales was the murder/disappearance of Natalie Holloway. There are by far, more crimes committed against Canadians in the U.S. than any other country of the world other than Canada. I am not suggesting that Canadians are unsafe in the U.S., just that the danger in Mexico although real, is not as great as the current press suggests.

[lisalonglash]

The sexy reference is that publishing stories of Canadians assaulted in New York, L.A., Orlando, etc. does not grab the public attention the same way that publishing stories about Canadians assaulted in exotic places. Hopefully, when you suggest that Boston is a safe city for Canadians you are not suggesting that Roxbury after dark is a great place for a stroll. Although not a Canadian, an example of the press' fixation on reporting of crimes in exotic locales was the murder/disappearance of Natalie Holloway. There are by far, more crimes committed against Canadians in the U.S. than any other country of the world other than Canada. I am not suggesting that Canadians are unsafe in the U.S., just that the danger in Mexico although real, is not as great as the current press suggests.

Again, my perception seems to be different than yours (and that's OK). Of course I'm not suggesting that anyone walk in a less-than-safe neighbourhood after dark - that's just common sense. Every city has it's shady areas, after all. Our local press is just as fixated on something bad happening to a Canadian in, say, New York or Los Angeles as they are on bad happenings in Mexico IMO (that's true of our newcasts in Vancouver, but perhaps it's different elsewhere in Canada?). We'll just agree to disagree, OK? :flower3:

[xipetotec]

We have been to Mexico several times but these latest reports have my mom questioning why anyone would go there. We went to WDW this year but really love the heat in Mexico every 3rd year.

We just got back from the Xcaret area of Riviera Maya and we had a wonderful time and the people we dealt with were friendly and wonderful.

[Sillyminny40]

We just got back from the Xcaret area of Riviera Maya and we had a wonderful time and the people we dealt with were friendly and wonderful.
Yup. Stay in the resort and do excursions only with recommended guides. We have never had a problem as we steer clear of non-tourist areas.

[calgarygary]

Again, my perception seems to be different than yours (and that's OK). Of course I'm not suggesting that anyone walk in a less-than-safe neighbourhood after dark - that's just common sense. Every city has it's shady areas, after all. Our local press is just as fixated on something bad happening to a Canadian in, say, New York or Los Angeles as they are on bad happenings in Mexico IMO (that's true of our newcasts in Vancouver, but perhaps it's different elsewhere in Canada?). We'll just agree to disagree, OK? :flower3:
A very common occurrence on the boards. Hope winter has finally broken in Vancouver because it wants to hang on here in Calgary.

[lisalonglash]

[/b]
A very common occurrence on the boards. Hope winter has finally broken in Vancouver because it wants to hang on here in Calgary.

We actually HAD winter this year - we're not even remotely used to it and we coped badly :laughing: It seems to be autumn here again instead of spring, darnit :headache: