20 tourists kidnapped in acapulco

[el_inombrable]

first of all Acapulco has had drug problems for years, indeed throughout the state of Michoacan warrior is near the center of operations of various drug cartels.

and although all are narcos mexico, we can say that it is still safe to travel to the country's top destinations such as Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and nothing else.

now, 20 men going together to vacation to Acapulco is not very common.

[joelaldo]

Originally Posted by el_inombrable

first of all Acapulco has had drug problems for years, indeed throughout the state of Michoacan warrior is near the center of operations of various drug cartels.

and although all are narcos mexico, we can say that it is still safe to travel to the country's top destinations such as Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and nothing else.

now, 20 men going together to vacation to Acapulco is not very common.

This is the problem with using Google translate: It translated, MICHOACAN GUERRERO into MICHOACAN WARRIOR. Yes, Guerrero's literal English translation is warrior, but it is a state in Mexico named after a famous Mexican forefather.

I agree with you that these guys probably had some connections. But there are mistaken identities ALL the time. It is still safe to travel to Cancun and Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta ONLY if you're going to fly. Mexico is becoming like Colombia in the sense that it is no longer safe to drive the backroads

[el_inombrable]

Originally Posted by joelaldo

This is the problem with using Google translate: It translated, MICHOACAN GUERRERO into MICHOACAN WARRIOR. Yes, Guerrero's literal English translation is warrior, but it is a state in Mexico named after a famous Mexican forefather.

Ha, i dont see this, I usually use google translate to correct my posts, but some time is worse.

Thanks for the correction.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by el_inombrable

first of all Acapulco has had drug problems for years, indeed throughout the state of Michoacan warrior is near the center of operations of various drug cartels.

and although all are narcos mexico, we can say that it is still safe to travel to the country's top destinations such as Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and nothing else.

now, 20 men going together to vacation to Acapulco is not very common.

I know when I was in Acapulco wandering around - years ago and back when Juarez was nothing but a friendly sleepy border town, people said do what you want and go where you please in Acapulco but do not leave the town and wander around Guerrero. This guy told me all the states except Guerrero and Sinaloa were okay to travel in. He was from Guerrero so I believe he knew what he was talking about.

Even back then when you drove from Mexico City to Acapulco and back the other way, agents with machine guns would search your car and if you rode the bus in, they would come on the bus and check packages and suitcases.

I don't think many Americans go to Acapulco any more - and really not many have for years. Probably not so much the cartel problems there but it wasn't the in place any more. That seems to be Cancun now.

[joelaldo]

Originally Posted by el_inombrable

Ha, i dont see this, I usually use google translate to correct my posts, but some time is worse.

Thanks for the correction.

HAHAHA


Other places in Mexico that will be translated by Google translate if you don't do use <>. (For example, <Sonora> )

La paz- Peace
Sonora- Sound
Nuevo Leon- New Lion
piedras negras - black stone
Delicias - Delights
Nogales - Walnuts
Agua Prieta - Brown water

etc. etc.

[AntonioR]

Originally Posted by joelaldo

Travel warnings for the following countries:
Colombia
Mexico (http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html - broken link)

Speaking of U.S. State Department... isn't it frightening that the warnings are more serious, and the lists of dangers longer in the Mexico page than in the Colombia page.

Indeed, it's very frightening.

Reading the travel advice that the Canadian government has against the United States, if I was living abroad, I would probably think twice before visiting the US, especially Florida. It's a good thing I live in the U.S., thus have a better handle on things. For example, I'm not afraid to visit Florida but I certainly would had, had I read the Canadian government's advice!

Ironically, the Australian government considers the US a destination where tourists should "exercise caution" (see here), yet for places like Portugal, Japan, and Ireland they give a lesser risk than that for the US.

The New Zealand government puts the US and Mexico in the same risk level, quite different how they categorize Colombia, Brazil or Peru.

Of course, there is the issue that "critics have speculated that some advisories are unduly influenced by politics, so checking an American advisory against a Canadian or an Australian one can give you a fresh perspective -- or confirm that a threat is cause for a change in your travel plans." (Read more here!)

Following the advice of checking various sources it becomes perfectly clear that travel warnings really depends on many things beyond actual risk/crime. It's interesting how the advice created by the US government tend to be a little bit more alarmist than those of other governments regarding the same countries!

Food for thought!

[pigeonhole]

Are the risks of being kidnapped as high in Costa Rica ?

[DiverTodd62]

Travel advisories are limited in their usefulness because they are too broad and general, and are mostly a matter of CYA.

But if you look at all the warning about the U.S. they are all based on the DHS terrorist threat level and are all about potential terrorism. Aside from 9/11 this isn't supported by actual incidents, and such incidents tend to happen around the world every few years outside certain Middle Eastern hotbeds.

If you look at the advisories on Mexico they tend to be about violent crime, which is supported by actual incidents on a daily basis.

[Ketabcha]

This is such a shame. Mexico needs the tourist dollar and many in the US love to go to Mexico for a vacation.

We used to drive all the way from north Texas down to San Juan de los Lagos once a year. The drive was long but it was also a lot of fun. Then we would drive to Mexico City. La Capital is one of the most historic cities in the world and there is so much to see.

There is no way I would make that drive in today's Mexico. Too dangerous.

[Willy702]

Originally Posted by Ketabcha

This is such a shame. Mexico needs the tourist dollar and many in the US love to go to Mexico for a vacation.

We used to drive all the way from north Texas down to San Juan de los Lagos once a year. The drive was long but it was also a lot of fun. Then we would drive to Mexico City. La Capital is one of the most historic cities in the world and there is so much to see.

There is no way I would make that drive in today's Mexico. Too dangerous.

I doubt driving there is all that dangerous, its just expensive because one should stay on the toll roads as much as possible. I'm sure if you drove to Dallas or Houston for a week your chances of being a crime victim would be pretty similar.