anuta_n

We are scheduled to travel to Mexico for a vacation in one week. We are staying in one of the all inclusive resorts in Puerto Aventuras. However, just today my husband was speaking to his friend who told him that they had canceled their Mexico trip in light of the escalated security risks due to the drug war that is going on there. He lives in California, has some Mexican friends and overall, seems to be more attuned to the situation over there in Mexico than we are. We are traveling with our 4yo son. Are the concerns overblown or should we reconsider our trip?
Thank you,
Anna

baldone

Stay home. Travel warnings for Europe as well. Riots in France. I've heard that California is crime-free, though. Or, just go and have fun like 1000's of other people.

hopefulist

We heard the same things before our trip to the Yucatán last summer and decided it was like saying, "Parts of the Chicago are very dangerous so don't visit Oregon". You can judge from our blog and photo collections whether whether we enjoyed ourselves or not.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

qwovadis

Always wise to review

travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html

for a heads up and www.insuremytrip.com but

In tourist areas odds are overwhelming you will be just fine.

Rare petty theft probably your biggest risk.

PacoRuiz

Hi Anuta_n, I sincerely understand your concerns. I've lived in the US for many years, but have been living in MX for 2 years, one of those in the Cancun/Riviera Maya.
I will be very honest with you. Yes. There is crime & grave situations happening with the war on drugs & Mexico. We can't deny that or hide it. HOWEVER: Let me ask you something: Are you involve with drugs in any way? Are you a drug dealer? Are you LOOKING for drugs in Mexico?
If your answers to these questions are NO, then you need not worry. ESPECIALLY if you're staying in an all-inclusive resort. You have NO IDEA how close these communities are! Looking at the hard numbers, tourism constitutes 80 percent of the state of Quintana Roo (where RM is located) revenue. And believe me, we are interested in safe-guarding that investment into our country. Therefore, we are DEFINITELY going to take care of our tourists. Also, think about this: the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Summit will be held in Cancun. Do you really believe that global leaders will take the risk of visiting Mexico if it wasn't safe? I don't think so. ADDITIONALLY, as hopefullist has mentioned: saying a part of the city is dangerous means the same setting

PacoRuiz

of Chicago / Oregon. The US/Mexico border--where most of the dangerous situations are happening are thousands of miles away.

anuta_n

thank you, everyone. You have really calmed our concerns. We are going as planned!

PacoRuiz

Hope you have great vacation.

ode

We just returned from Riviera Maya. We had a rental car, and was stopped by a policeman. We were NOT speeding!!! He wanted money. Two hundred dollars. To make a long story short, we negotiated him down to 80 American dollars. We will NEVER travel to Mexico again. However, if you stick to the resorts and only go with organized tours, you should be ok. It is unfortunate for the Mexicans who work hard for their money, but the police have too much power.

Juldie

Just returned from Riviera Maya. We stayed in another Palace Resort (Xpu-Ha)about 10 minutes south of Puerto Aventuras. We usually always rent a car when we travel to explore on our own and find off the beaten track places. This time we didn't rent one because we didn't want to venture off by ourselves with all we have heard of what was going on in Mexico.

Go and don't worry! We had a wonderful vacation. The people were so friendly and nice. We even took the public bus to go into Playa del Carmen one late afternoon but a cab back. This is a tourist area and people couldn't have been nicer.

There are these speed bumps in the road where police are pulled over. We asked a local what that is all about and he told us it is so the police can pull over the american tourists who don't know the bumps (traps) are there and get money from them, insisting they were speeding when they approached the bumps.

DON'T TAKE ORGANIZED TOURS THE HOTEL OFFERS, unless you like being on a bus all day long. There are some unbelievable independent tours with no more than 5 people. Check out Edventure Tours.

hopefulist

Juldie - What trip did you do with Edventure Tours? Add-ons?
http://www.edventuretours.com.mx/

Juldie

The tour we did with Edventure was the highlight of our trip and the envy of everyone at the resort when they heard about it.

We got picked up in a white van with a very friendly driver. He explained we were going to be met up with our guide who happened to be Daniel, one of the owner brothers. I had explained to them on the phone when booking what we wanted for out tour.

First we went to the Tulum ruins. We had a choice of going on our own or paying for a guide; we went with a guide. Shopped a little after the tour right there in Tulum

Off we went to an area where some on the tour zip-lined, while others canoed in a cenote, through a village where those natives who work there live. We met some of the little children as we walked into the grounds.

Got in the van and just a few minutes away went to another swimming area in a cenote which was crystal clear. Those of us who chose to, jumped off a wall about 15 ft. into the water - wow!

From there we got into the van and went to Dos Ojos to snorkel which you can read about on their website.

Then we went to Akumal, a wonderful, quaint, artsy village. We all had a well deserved lunch at a great restaurant. Headed off to Turtle Bay, the beach in Akumal and did absolutely amazing snorkeling among sea turtles. You head out right from the beach.

Got back into the van and went to the most beautiful lagoon to snorkel. It was a very special place, calm, peaceful, sun was starting to set, sculptures all around. It was like snorkeling in an aquarium!!

I don't know how many details or other comments you would like. Please feel free to ask me whatever. Just Do it! You will have no regrets. Daniel was so professional, informative, caring, friendly and excited to show us a great time. They ever give us a cd loaded with awesome pictures he took of us snorkeling.

hopefulist

That sounds wonderful - thanks for the review! We did many of those things on our own last summer during the week we spent in Tulúm Pueblo - the Tulúm ruins, Dos Ojos and other cenotes (snorkeling and diving), and snorkeling with dozens of turtles at Akumal. We will likely do them again in December with our daughter and her husband using our rental car. Maybe Edventures could put together a trip for the 4 of us to include things we haven't experienced in the area. Thanks again!

Juldie

hopefulist, I am pretty sure they would customize a tour for you. Have a wonderful trip! They love what they do and are very accommodating.

hopefulist

I already had their site bookmarked from previous threads - nice to have another positive review. Thanks!

suze

While there is unrest in certain parts of Mexico due to the 'drug wars' and other political situations, it has never yet and does not now effect tourism on the Mayan Riviera.