Is it safe in the cancun area?
 

I am traveling to Mayan Riviera in July with two teenage daughters. Is it safe there? We have reservations at an upscale resort that was told to me to have tons of security. Does anyone know? I am concerned over the press lately....

Just look a couple of posts down, and there's another post with your same question. Most people are avoiding the border towns but feel safe traveling to Cancun.

There is nothing reported going on in Cancun. What you are hearing about in the news has to do with inner workings of drug cartel and politics of Mexico, mostly along border towns.

It has nothing to do with tourists or Cancun.

returned from Cancun with my teen daughters last week. In hotel zone everything was safe. we rode buses and hit shopping centers felt quite safe.

There's nothing going on there except the police chief of Cancun was arrested in connection with the brutal kidnapping, torture and murder of retired army Brig. Gen. Enrique Tello.

No corruption there at all. Have fun.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=100619355

I've not been there, but friends and their extended family just returned from a 5 day wedding celebration in Cancun. It included middle aged who were in bed by 11:00pm & younger who danced the night away. My friends rode the bus everywhere, even going in to town for some dental work & visiting the local market. None of them ever felt at risk or uncomfortable, although they also had some reservations, following the murder of Gen. Tello & the US government warning Spring Breakers to avoid Mexico.
I'll be in Cabo, later this month, visiting a friend who has a winter home there. She said that the biggest danger continues to be the terrible drivers & hasn't felt any threat from the drug lord violence, although she does live in a gated community.
So it probably is back to the above advice of avoiding the border towns and using the normal care that we would anywhere.

Most of the violence is in border towns like Juarez and Laredo. Don't go there. Anyways, as I've said before, due to the USA's failure to control her borders, you don't have to go to Mexico to find drug cartels and violent gangs. We now have violent Mexican gangs in 230 USA cities. The extremely violent El Salvadorian gang MS13 is in the USA and Canada. This group would kill their own grandmas for a buck. Also, with the rate of illegal immigration from our uncontrolled borders, in a few short decades, you won't have to go to Mexico because you'll be living in the United States of Mexico. Great, huh? All thanks to our greedy business leaders who want cheap slave labor, to the republicans who are in with big business and the democrats who want more latino votes. Also blame the American public, either too brainwashed with political correctness to take a stand or too apathetic to take a stand, more concerned about the "big game" or the latest sale at Macy's or what Brittney Sprears is doing to see that their country is being sold to Mexico by our politicians for 30 pieces of silver!!!

YIKES!!!

Chip on your shoulder anyone....?

I'll ignore the above post. I've never been to Cancun proper, but have spent a lot of time in Playa Del Carmen, Akumal, Tulum and the surrounding areas. The Riviera Maya area is quite safe, and the residents are very friendly, warm people. My wife and I have wandered around Playa del Carmen into the late hours and never felt unsafe. We often meet folks who are staying in a self contained all inclusive resort who are amazed that we venture out into the 'real' Mexico - we find this hilarious. That being said, I've heard that downtown Cancun has it's share of pickpockets and other unsavories that frequent touristy cities around the world.
If you are staying in an upscale resort, your biggest threat will be sunburn or too much Corona.

"Chip on your shoulder anyone....?"

No, just telling you the truth. We have gangs in 230 American cities so it's laughable to get worked up about Cancun when it's right in your own country because the American people do nothing and so do our politicians.

"I'll ignore the above post."

Yes, you'll ignore the problem. Too bad you children and grandchildren will be living in Tijuana North(former USA). That is the price THEY will pay for your apathy.

I recently sent one of my most precious people to Cancun. My daughter & mother of our 3 year old grandson. If I thought there was any danger to her I would not have paid for her ticket. Of Course all was perfectly safe!

To the op, sorry...I didn't actually respond to your query. We were there in March, rented a vehicle for the week, toured around, felt comfortable & safe.

Are there unsavory characters & dangerous areas, of course. Just use good judgment & common sense & you will be fine. Enjoy your vacation with your girls.

Corli33, perhaps you could find a "political" forum to vent your frustrations on....?

Just got back last night. I do live there part time and do not have anything to gain from posting here (just to be upfront about it). I travel solo and have a condo in PDC. The weather was hot, the beach was great, and the people were the same as always - friendly. Cancun airport was busy but the bus south was ontime and had absolutely no problems whatsoever. I was also there in Feb, Dec, and Jan, last October and all last summer. Going back in June for two months.

positive article:
http://current.newsweek.com/budgettr...src=newsletter

colokid: I'm headed back to pdc tomorrow! (You helped me last year on my first trip (thanks again)).

Glad you getting to go back. Have a great time.

Great article Bitter - thanks for posting. My family just returned from our first trip to Cancun four days ago. Before leaving I spent a lot of time trying to reconcile the state department alert versus the press hysteria. I was told by family and friends that violence was widespread throughout the country and that the state department was telling Americans not to go to Mexico at all. Thank goodness I filter what I watch on the news and can google a State Department alert and take the time to read it.

We had a wonderful time in Cancun. We walked all over, took the bus and never felt unsafe. I have never encountered nicer people and such great service. We can't wait to explore more of Mexico.