Another spring break, another Mexico travel alert from the US State Department. Every year, college students and families taking spring break vacations seek out great travel deals — and there certainly are some worthy money-saving hotel packages in Mexico. But care must be taken to consider where to go, if Mexico is the destination. The border states are often dangerous, with plenty of crime (from pickpocketing to murder) that makes those border states unwise choices for travel.
I spoke with Prof. Bruce Bagley, a Latin America expert and chair of the Department of International Studies at the University of Miami. This Mexico expert couldn’t have been more clear regarding travel. “The border states are the focal point of violence, but perception of violence [determines vacation destination decisions] and overall Mexico tourism is down 10 percent from last year. It will probably drop further.” He continued to say that popular tourist destinations with family-friendly resorts, such as “Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, have never been safer.”
Mexico is a large country, with a lot of lovely upscale and/or family friendly resorts. Its cultural and culinary
histories of different regions are also varied, and people can travel to the country year after year and have completely different experiences each time if they so choose. But don’t go to the border states. According to Mexico’s Department of Public Safety, the country-wide murder rate has fallen since the late 1990′s. In some real, measurable ways, Mexico has gotten safer. The US State Department’s Mexico travel alert really only pertains to those states – Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, etc. – where the drug war is up front and corruption looms large. There are so many other Mexican travel destinations that aren’t an easy drive across the border, but make for safe and interesting spring break vacations. There is no reason to risk your family’s safety by taking a vacation in a border state, no matter how cut-rate the travel deals and hotel packages may be.
Now, tourism dollars provide the country with more economic stability than does the so-called drug money. We can have safe, wonderful and culturally interesting vacations in Mexico, and know that we’re contributing to the financial health of our neighboring country to the south. Don’t scratch Mexico off your list of potential travel destinations (spring break or otherwise) despite all the warnings we hear on the nightly news. Choose your Mexican vacation spot wisely, and it may be the best trip yet.
Last year at about this time we were in Puerto Morelos, part of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, for spring break. One of the best family vacations ever, courtesy of Azul Beach and Azul Sensatori. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back there with my family — or anywhere in Cancun/Playa del Carmen area — again this year. Resort areas feel very, very safe.
I’ve been to Akumal (on the Riviera Maya), Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. I’d recommend any of those places in a heartbeat. I’ve got a few posts about our trips here (http://wandermom.com/tag/mexico/).
Amen! Thank you for posting this. As a full-time travel agent in Texas the media frustrates us by constantly bashing Mexico as a country when in all reality the drug wars are mainly going on in the border towns. It’s like saying “No, don’t go to California… didn’t you hear about the gang killing in Detroit last month?” r.i.d.i.c.u.l.o.u.s.
Thank you all for the long distance support, and great information on Mexico. I just think that people are missing out on a great experience in areas in Mexico away from the issues that are at hand. mexico is a wonderful, friendly place that offers a diversity of experiences that many people wont see due to poor media reporting. Viva Mexico and what it has to offer.
Hola! I was in Cancun, Mexico recently and it was safe and family-friendly. Agreed, travelers should stay away from border towns.
Here’s my post on Best Things to See and Do in Cancun, Mexico
http://www.nancydbrown.com/journal/2009/12/27/best-things-to-see-and-do-in-cancun-mexico.html
what a great article. you know the state dept has to cover themselves, but still…it is always a good idea to take them with a great deal of research.
I basically agree with your assessment. Like the other commentors I wouldn’t hesitate to travel to places like Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta. I took a vacation there with my family in June and we had a great time with no troubles. Both places were extremely affordable. Mexico City has gotten some great press coverage lately.
Having said that, though, I don’t think it’s entirely accurate to say that the trouble spots are limited to the border states. Last weekend, nearly 20 people were killed in Acapulco. None of them were tourists. But that’s still a troubling development given that it’s spring break season.
Here is my take on the situation:
http://travelojos.com/2010/03/violence-greets-spring-break-season-in-mexico/
Traveling to Mexico is like any other destination, you must use good judgment as to where you go and what you do. Although a trip to San Carlos is the extent of my Mexican travel experience, I’m anxious to experience more of the diverse country.
Since I live near the border of Mexico and Arizona, I do understand the warnings about the border states. Many students from the University of Arizona and Arizona State travel to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) for spring break. They do need to be careful. First of all they’re college students – a good target. Second of all, at that stage in life, they’re invincible. Combine travel by car with alcohol and you have a potent formula for potential trouble.
I do think that our government tends to scare away tourists to Mexico, unnecessarily.
Wise advice, to choose other parts of Mexico to visit. However the drug violence continues to spread in a wider arc. Yes, they kill each other, but bystanders can be victims, too.The reporting I have read does not sensationalize the violence in Mexico–it brings to our attention something few Americans are aware of. If your idea of visiting Mexico is to stay in a big gringo resort, then you will be safely insulated from the violence–and from Mexico.
I wrote a post today about a new book on the immigrants coming across from Mexico in to Arizona. I interviewed the author of the book and asked her if Arizona’s borderlands are safe for tourists. You can see the interview at A Travelers Library.com
I am in Mexico at this moment. I have been traveling around the country for almost a month now and frankly, I feel safer here than I do in some U.S. cites. In fact, the ONLY time I have ever had a problem was in Hawaii – the good old USA, where I was robbed by kids hopped up on crystal meth and received absolutely no help from the corrupt police department.
What one other commenter said is true, the U.S. State Department must cover its butt by issuing these warnings. But think about it this way. When the twin towers were taken down on 9/11, did the rest of the world advise against traveling to the U.S.?
I have been in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa and am now in Chihuahua – all areas about which there have been warnings, but I walk around all alone at night, with my expensive camera clearly in sight, sometimes puzzling over a map. Clearly, everyone knows I am a tourist. Yet I have had no trouble. Instead, scores of people have graciously helped me along the way.
Like everywhere else in the world, in Mexico we just need to be vigilant, behave correctly, stay away from drugs and alcohol so that you’re working with a clear mind, don’t flash a lot of cash, and don’t walk around with a terrified look on your face. Talk to the people. Smile. Be gracious. Discover the real Mexico.
I am currently in the tiny village of Urigue, at the bottom of the deepest canyon in North America, at Entre Amigos Hostel, paying $10 per night. This place is hard to reach – very remote – but worth the effort for its stunning beauty. Took me 12 hours the famous El Chepe train and then by buses the rest of the way. If you wish to follow my journey, I will be writing about the canyon in chapters on my blog, http://holeinthedonut.com.
Checking in from Cancun…and thinking that it feels just as safe as the most touristy part of any other country I’ve ever been in. I never had a moment’s hesitation in coming, even traveling with the in-laws and three children. 1400 miles is a long way away…several states worth of distance in the good ol’ USA…Would you hesitate going to California if there was violence in Colorado?
Come on down. Beaches are empty. Water and weather is perfecto.
Hasta luego,
Lisa
P.S. I can’t wait to read about Barbara’s non-touristy trek!
It’s completely ridiculous. I spent almost two months in Mexico last summer with my family after the last warning and felt far safer than I do in a typical U.S. city. It’s not just me though: look at the stats. Per capita they have fewer guns, fewer homicides, fewer holdups, fewer prisoners, and on it goes. The violence in Mexico is far more isolated to a specific region than it is in its neighbor to the north. Tijuana may be like going to Detroit, but otherwise the number of tourists harmed in Mexico is miniscule.
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DON’T GO TO MEXICO! You Are At Risk For Extortion.
My family lives in San Diego and a visit to TJ is regular thing for many San Diegans, whether it is cheap smokes or booze or even medical prescriptions.
My 52 year old sister went to get her prescription for a non narcotic drug filled at the pharmacy that she had been doing for years. When she left the store two Officers grabbed her for no reason and put her in a police car. The one male officer took her purse went into the store and came back out holding different pills that she never saw. They were narcotic. A muscle relaxer for the back.
They drove her around for 4 hours. She said” I only have $23 dollars on me”.
They then took her to jail and charged her with drug trafficking.
At the trial that we spent $10,000 for the ass wipe lawyer who did nothing, another police officer showed up who wasn’t even involved with the case and testified. The woman officer who was involved didn’t say a thing even when my sister told her to confess that this guy wasn’t with her. They called my sister a liar. The woman officer kept her head down. We have no rights in this country. You are guilty until proven guilty anyway. The USA won’t help you. Trust me on that I emailed every Politian in this state and they couldn’t help.
My sister was sentenced to 5 years at La Mesa prison.
She was released last week after 3 1/2 years in that hell hole.
Wanna know the conditions in that place are like?
She shared a 8×8 cell with 7 other woman and there was only six bunks. They were fed stew every day. They were let out of their cell three hours a week. There was no hot water or heat and they had to put cardboard on the bottom or the bars to keep the rats out.
When you go to prison the Wonderful country of Mexico doesn’t pay for you to be in there. We had to pay over $200 a month to keep her alive in there. That pays for personal needs and maybe the warden’s house payment.
We couldn’t visit her because the guards shake you down for money and that would guarantee you a visit. We had a church in San Diego bring supplies and money.
Go to channel 10 in San Diego’s web site and see the news story we did on my sister. Go to videos and type Mexican prescription. http://www.10news.com/video/19033315/index.html
This story aired a year ago in 2009.
We are not the only family that this has happened to. It is an extortion scam and they hurt many people.
We lost many nights sleep thinking what was happening to our family member in that horrible place.
Please don’t visit Mxico. If you do and you see the police go the other way. Keep extra money in you sock just in case.
Remember you have no rights in other third world countries. Our laws don’t apply there.
I just want to warning you about this tour called bar leaping tour and party hopper tour in cancun, they sale drugs for kids inside the tour, my wife and me we bought the tour trew our travel agency and the rep said that this will be the best way to go on the discos but at the city we saw that the guides from the tour the were offering drugs to the kids and also the service was really bad!! they screw our vacations with this…make sure your kids know that and don`t take this tour cuz when i asked about it in the hotel they said that the owner is involved with the drugs…WARNING!!!!!
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Nice blog…i really like it.
I just got back from Guadalajara — and would not go back or for that matter anywhere in Mexico. i speak fluent spanish and have traveled all over Mexico, 10 years ago and beyond. The country has changed and people are more desperate. People with nothing have nothing to loose and are taking more risk and are way more aggressive. The roads where so dangerous – even in the day crazy drivers and we were almost crushed by busses twice.
Of course the majority of the people are wonderful and nice, but the amount of desperate people has increased, and it is way more dangerous!
we’re considering a trip to Puerto Morelos, MX. and would like the latest news on any drug problems/wars in this town/area. Thanks.
Lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need, thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here…………
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