Is it safe to go to Mexico? As the owner of a Travel Agency I get asked daily about this. Crime is causing Mexico to get a bad rap in 2009. Not since 2005 and Hurricane Wilma has Mexico had to deal with such negative publicity. The question, is it really safe or has the media blown this out of proportion?
There have been many reports about the violence committed by Mexican gangs. Truth be told, the main area of violence is near the US border not in tourist areas like Cancun, Riviera Maya or Los Cabos. This does not seem to be emphisized by the media. I understand that if the government issues an alert it is for the country but we need to understand if there was some unrest in LA would it cause people not to travel to Las Vegas? Mexico is a large country.
The media attention was triggered by a February 20th update by the U.S. Department of State to an existing Travel Alert. The update related to incidents in border towns including Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and the city of Chihuahua. The most popular tourist destinations (Cancun, Rivera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Acapulco) are more than 600 miles from the affected border towns and remain safe for travel.
Having said this I do understand the concerns of my clients. I want them to have the best possible memories for their vacation and would never send them where I thought they may be harmed. But as in other areas of the world we must be vigilant. We must be careful and use common sense when traveling anywhere. I highly recommend travel insurance especially for trips outside the country. Today there is insurance you can buy so you can “cancel for any reason”.
We must understand that tourism helps the Mexican economy and the government will do all they can to keep tourist areas safe. The Mexican Tourism Board notes: “Whether traveling on the border or if you find yourself in another area of the country, stick to legitimate businesses and tourist areas. Be aware of your surroundings and your stay should be memorable and safe experience.”
I visited Riviera Maya in September 2008 and am planning on going back by this fall. I stayed at Secrets Silversands in Riviera Maya. It is a very contemporary property with an intimate feel. To find out more about this resort and other vacations visit www.luxurydiscountvacations.net