bellaboo

A general who was brought in to Cancun approx a year ago to help crack down on corruption/ drugs in the Cancun police force was found murdered...it was connected to the then police chief. I don't think Suze or anyone is saying there is "no" crime or drugs in Cancun, of course there is....but the huge violence/ drug cartel problems currently all over the media is "generally" referring the border area.

MikeT

But that story got a lot of coverage in the U.S., so we should at least acknowledge the concern and not say, "it has nothing to do with . . . Cancun." It was connected the drug wars that are ravaging the border.

syd

Just returned yesterday from a trip to Tulum, Merida and Cancun hotel zone. This was my 3rd trip to the general area over the past 15 years. There has alway been police presence at road checkpoints and occasionally on the beach. I can't say I noticed any dramatic difference this trip. In fact, this was the first time we were not stopped on the road. We saw a few trucks being pulled over and searched, but we were waved through all of the check points.

While we were not out partying late at night, we did walk to dinner in the evening/nightime, and never felt unsafe.

Read the US reports carefully to learn exactly how/which areas of Mexico are affected and make well informed decisions. It's a wonderful place to visit if you're comfortable doing so.

juicy4595

I just recently went to cancun for a college spring break trip. I felt really safe around our resort, but once we went out into the town you could feel tension in the air. I have been to cancun 6 or more times in my life and I have never seen so many police or ambulances there before. It might just have been because of it being spring break, but there were several rumors about rapes and killings and people being mugged. We also saw a lot of really ritzy looking cars being pulled over by the police.

Cancun is my favorite place to go. You just have to be smart and know where you are and know what you are doing at all times, you can't be stupid The people at the resort want to make you feel safe. They kept asking us if we felt safe and comfortable there. They know that all of this violence and everything is hurting their business.

All in all Cancun is a great place to go.

mexican32

I just think the US goverment wants the US dollar to be spent in the US..that's why they show all the bad things that happened in Mexico I would just tell you one thing nobody knows in Mexico that anything can happen to them in the us big cities as well, I took a trip to Anaheim last year with my sister and we were mugged a friend of us told me we were lucky not to have been raped...So they never warned u about those things when traveling to the US..It was a shame cause it was just 1 pm when it happened and nobody seem to cared!!I would say nowhere in the world is completely safe but US has its own violence as well!!

iamtysar

Reading these post, it seems like these issues have been going on for some time. And it seems like every year at this time they publicized the issues more. Maybe it is to keep people out of Mexico, maybe it is just to make you be more aware, and smart while traveling... ???

My husband and I were looking to travel to Cancun in May. Never being there before, we of course had concerns.. especially after hearing that we should avoid Mexico at all cost. So, now my husband (more then me) is very hesitant to go. It's very frustrating to be honest with you. I realize there is crime no matter where you go. There is just no avoiding it. So, any advice anyone can give would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

ShellD

My husband and I just got back from the Playa del Carmen area on Saturday. We were there for a week and have been to that area about 6 times in the past 10 years. We didn't notice anything unusual this time over other visits with regard to safety. The resort was crowded and so were the excursions we went on. We did not go into the hotel zone of Cancun or the town itself. There was no more noticable security at the airport other than a seemingly random bag search and pat down of passengers bording the return flight home, but I've noticed that flying out of other Central American countries the past few years.

We felt perfectly safe at all times and would continue to return to the Cancun area in the future.

jette

iamtysar, would you be afraid to travel to the beaches of South Carolina because of the high crime rate in areas of NJ? Would you advise foreign tourists not to visit Las Vegas because of the crime in LA?

Not to pick on NJ or LA specifically but the areas of concern in Mexico are primarily on the boarder and that's quite a distance from Cancun or PV.

Try and keep things in perspective and of course don't be foolish on vacation anywhere.

cocontom

Personally, I wouldn't go to Acapulco right now, but Cancun is fine.

There was a journalist killed, but it wasn't random- it was a hit.

We were just in Tulum last month. At no point were we even uncomfortable, and I'm pretty paranoid when it comes right down to it.

colokid

I live part time in Playa del Carmen and travel back and forth frequently. Folks who are visiting the Riviera Maya and Cancun and who are there for touristy types of entertainment should have no problems. Those who are looking for drugs, illicit activities, or other problems outside of where typically they would travel might be less safe. That being said, I question those statements that there are no drug or violence problems in the area. There are areas that I will not go in but I have never felt unsafe where I live. I walk or take taxis everywhere in Playa. I don't walk around with my purse hanging out in the street, don't flash money around at all, don't walk the beach at night, and always lock my doors. Some of my neighbors have been broken into and had their belongings stolen. This was especially a problem during the H1N1 concern and tourism was down. It was also a time when many of the construction projects that employed a lot of workers from other parts of Mexico were finishing up and people were losing their jobs.
For those traveling to our area for fun and relaxation - that's why I go there too. And will return again to Playa next week. The tourist areas are fine. On another note...I live in a part of the U.S. that has had two school shootings in the past 5 years. I am much more concerned about my safety going to work every day in that setting than I have ever been in Mexico.

LoraB

It is very true that these types of crimes happen daily in the US, but when you are out of the country and are involved in a legal matter/crime, things are definately different.

suze

I don't disagree with that statement. But the fact remains that the troubles in Mexico are political and drug cartel related, and would not affect your typical tourist going to the mainstream tourist destinations like Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, etc. staying in a resort, doing tourist activities.

rdesabatino

I lived in Belize 14 years and traveled over the border into Mexico at least twice a month. I've been to Cancun and throughout Quintana Roo both by bus and car. I've driven from Florida to Belize through Mexico. I can say without any reservations that Mexico is a safe country with friendly people and helpful authorities. Yes, there are the occasional bad news reports about bribes "mordidas" and violence, but using common sense and being courteous will go a long way in helping you enjoy your stay. Go Mexico!

RAC

Timeshare salesman are a bigger problem in Cancun than drug violence targting tourists.

You're more likely to get attacked by a crocodile than a drug cartel there.

colokid

Just got in last night to Playa del Carmen via Cancun. Other than it being very hot, all is quiet here this morning and I'm heading for the beach. I'll be here for six weeks. Let me know if you have any questions.

emd3

It is a pretty basic safety rule, but don't get drunk and then hang out on the beach or by your pool really late at night. That probably seems like a no brainer, but on 3/15/10 a recent Rutgers college grad got drunk and went down by the pool at his resort in Cancun at 3 am and ended up in a coma after being beaten. I am sure things like that happen on many beaches late at night, all over. You just do NOT go down by the beach at night and of course no going in the ocean after dark either- that seems to be when a lot of people drown (duh).

Don't go near water if you are drunk and don't let your friends do so either, and that includes pools, in whatever country you are in. It just seems like a these things happen a lot in Cancun, but it is probably just that so many people go down there and get completely drunk and do stupid things to endanger their own safety, things they would not do if they were not drunk.

http://tiny.cc/z01o0

and http://tinyurl.com/252xyec

Steve_ODell

If you are afraid to leave the U.S....Then don't...Some people aren't meant to have their lives changed by seeing the "big picture"...Some people are meant to live out their days, never understanding that: people are people, it's o.k if you're afraid to come outside of your fence, it just leaves more world for the rest of us OR perhaps you'll begin to realize that you are being manipulated by a media/government that wants you and your money to stay put and die never knowing the beautiful truth of the life you have been given. www.belizeontv.com

LLindaC

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08...oing-violence/

The bombing took place last month. Google Mexico and violence and you'll see what's going on. I just returned from Cancun and I felt very safe in the hotel zone. I had no interest in going downtown. The side trip to Isla Mujeres was also loads of fun. People were very nice there, food was great. Going off season is a good time to avoid the party kids, evidently. There's crime everywhere, just use your head. If you are terrified, take a trip to the British Virgin Islands, one of the safest places in the world.

maribethp

All things considered, weighing the risks, I would avoid Mexico and visit the many other tropical areas about which there is little concern. Why risk it when the other areas are also appealing and restful???

suze

What "risks"? I say the same thing I said a year and a half ago on this thread. To date tourism in the Cancun area has not been affected.