I'm planning a trip to Mexico's Mayan Riviera in the spring. I'm concerned about tourist safety. I've been hearing that it is not as safe as it used to be. There have been stories of bus hijackings in tourist areas. Not sure to take the family. Any info or advice?

Where are you planning on staying?

Most likely Playa del Carmen

I haven't heard about bus hijackings. Seems like an unusual thing. We've been to PDC twice and Tulum 4 times. Never had a problem - we always rent a car for our family of 4.

We tend to stay more in small indie hotels, rather than large AIs. If you're going the AI route, you have nothing to worry about since you'll be gated-off. But don't just leave your stuf laying around in your room - valuables can go missing. Common sense to lock-up your your passports, cash, camera, jewelry (actually I wouldn't bring it).

If you are going to a small hotel and eating out, etc - just use your common sense. PDC has become a bustling international community. Take normal travel precautions.

It would be unrealistic to say nothing bad has ever or could ever happen to tourists. That said, I’ve spent 4 vacations in PDC, planning the 5th this March and one of the things that brings me back is the safety of the area. Last year I traveled alone and I am a single woman. I stayed at a very small hotel in the north end of town and had no worries going out after dark as long as I didn’t stray too far from the busy areas. PDC is very popular w/solo travelers for this and many other reasons.

There are areas in my hometown I’d not venture into even during the day so all in all, use the same common sense you use every day and you’ll find the area completely enchanting.

I have not heard a thing about this, and have been there 6 times, planning my next trip back for this May. Usually the worst thing you have to worry about is someone at the Pemex trying to rip you off (get out of car, PAY ATTENTION, make sure they zero out pump before they start pumping and always confirm the amount of money you are giving them, or better yet ask for a specific amount of gas, like 200 pesos so they cannot pull the old switcheroo of trying to tell you that you gave them a 20 peso note instead of the 200 you gave them).

PDR is as safe as a resort area can be. All this area has going for it is tourism- therefore they take safety very seriously. Like anywhere you travel- caution always applys. I believe the problems in Mexico are around Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta. We just arrived back from PDR- there was no signs of problems anywhere.

Where did you get this "not safe" info from? Did you maybe read something about a bus hijacking years ago in an area hundreds of kilometres away?

I spent four weeks in Mexico recently travelling all over the south - no probs. And you should know that buses (including the lux ones) are generally used as much by Mexicans as tourists.

But then maybe you mean "Tourist Buses" that only tourists take?

Either way - do you really think you are more likely statistically to come to harm there than you are at home?

allenson-

Why did you say that about Puerto Vallarta? That is simply not correct information. There are no issues with tourist safety in Puerto Vallarta. I have never heard of anything like that in years of travel in that area!!

I was a little worried as well, as I know there was a Canadian couple murdered about a year ago and to my knowledge they never did figure out what happened to them.

A Canadian couple murderered WHERE? Mexico is a big country.

At the Barcelona in the Mayan Riviera.

I heard about the murder - it was at the Barcelo Maya in Riveria Maya. To my knowledge, they didn't figure out what happened...Strange circumstances and I think there were rumors that it was an "inside job" - meaning that these Canadians were there for a wedding and it could have been someone they knew that murdered them vs a local (nothing stolen, etc.). I don't know the latest, but actually, AFTER the murder, I stayed at the Barcelo Maya and found it to be VERY safe, I had not a care in the world and it was a very professional resort. I wouldn't worry about the Riviera Maya region at all. Beyond the normal precautions you would normally take, go and have a great time...

I read that they were looking for a hotel employee who had taken a powder.

We were in the Yucatan the first 2 weeks of December. We stayed near Progreso. One member of our group is fluent in Spanish and enjoyed reading the local newspapers (El Diario del Yucatan). There were murders in Cancun during that time period. However, the murders exclusively involved people who traffic in drugs and/or humans. There was no mention of any violence involving tourists. On a side note, the Yucatan is one of the safest-feeling places I've ever been to.

The couple murdered at the Barcelo was NOT an inside job. They were murdered by a security guard who has not been seen or heard from since the night of the murders almost 2 years ago. The staff at the resort cleaned up the crime scene before police even arrived. They tried to pin it on two women who were in the room across the way and they have also said it could be an inside job. This is all bullshit.

I've enjoyed my many visits to Mexico and will return again, but I will not stay at the Barcelo simply because of this murder/coverup.