I am searching for a suitable place for a family get together, including one son who lives in Santiago Chile. We are all interested in Mexico but our old haunts along the border, Sinaloa state and Chihuahua are now the focus of drug crime. Are Mexico City and the colonial cities just north still safe for gringos? What about Oaxaca? Forgive me if this is an old topic, I am fresh to this forum.

Review www.travel.state.gov Mexico

Certainly safer than the border areas if careful

still many safety issues

but I might go for Panama(PTY) midway lots to do

www.copaair.com great connections to there...

I forgot to say three of us are coming from the UK.

Thanks, qwovadis, but that travel info site makes grim reading and the fares are surprisingly high. I'll have a look at Panama, I understand there's a boat to Cartagena from there.

I really like Mexico City, and my experiences there (over about 11 days with all my visits) are positive. No one can guarantee anything, but if you stick to tourist areas and use common sense and follow the commonplace precautions listed in guidebooks, I think it's quite unlikely you will come to harm. Tourists are not getting gunned down in drug wars, even in border cities.

I think it would be a real shame if you and your family missed out on the glories of Mexico City because of a perception that it isn't safe. It's one of the most fascinating places on earth. Just keep your wits about you, as you would in any major city. Please enjoy!

The above is pretty much an ad, but I have to say I have visited la Hacienda de Cortez and it is really nice as is las Mananitas in Cuernavaca, but it depends if you want to be that far from Mexico City and pay that much. Mexico City is fascinating. you also have to be careful as it is around 19 million people and ranges from extreme poverty to incomparable luxury. If you want no stress, I would lean toward Oaxaca. Very pleasant walkable and, at least for us over the last 20 years, very safe. Lost of indigenous culture and activities.

You could always stay in Puebla, a gorgeous colonial city just under two hours bus ride from Mexico City. I recommend the Hotel San Leonardo which is the old Holiday Inn Centro Historico.

I am sorry to be so late thanking people for these helpful replies, I have been away in my usual stomping ground, Italy. Mexico City, the colonial towns north and Oaxaca all sound perfectly feasible with the usual precautions.

Thanks, I was also looking for this information and it's very useful!

Hi

I went to Mexico City in 2005 and to this day I think it one of the most eye-opening, amazing trips I have ever taken in my life. Admittedly, we're five years later now, but truly I felt as comfortable as I did travelling in London in 2009, with similar street-smarts required; the only extra precaution I took was not hailing a "Taxi Libre". If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate spending a few days in Mexico City.

Best wishes, Daniel

I would go, but don't be isolated. This was a long time ago, but friends (two adults & two children) of ours were held up at gunpoint in broad daylight on the university campus.

Don't forget to visit the area around the city:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623007244140/

Ooops. I did not notice the date of the original posting.