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Old 11-22-2010, 11:56 AM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,793,239 times
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I am not certain where to post this, but this is as good a place as any. My son is supposed to spend Christmas Break with the family of a friend in Mexico. However I have heard that some parts of Mexico are completely out of control and the government and police are basically useless, while other areas are reasoanbly safe. Does anyone know what parts of Mexico are unsafe for travelers and where things are still reasonably under control?
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Old 11-22-2010, 01:23 PM
 
Location: Orange County, California
1,016 posts, read 3,056,445 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coldjensens View Post
I am not certain where to post this, but this is as good a place as any. My son is supposed to spend Christmas Break with the family of a friend in Mexico. However I have heard that some parts of Mexico are completely out of control and the government and police are basically useless, while other areas are reasoanbly safe. Does anyone know what parts of Mexico are unsafe for travelers and where things are still reasonably under control?
There are many places that are still safe to visit - we're going to Cabo over the Christmas holiday. I'm even going to drive with my kids 45 miles north to Todos Santos to volunteer at a sea turtle rescue one day.

Check out the US Dept of State travel website for detailed info: Mexico

THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, including urban and rural areas. Visitors to the U.S.-Mexico border region, including cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, and Matamoros should remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times. In its efforts to combat violence, the Government of Mexico has deployed federal police and military troops to various parts of the country. Checkpoints have increased in border areas. U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways. Sporadic outbursts of politically motivated violence has occurred from time to time in certain areas of the country, particularly in the southern states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca.
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Old 11-23-2010, 10:11 AM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,793,239 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cabolissa View Post
There are many places that are still safe to visit - we're going to Cabo over the Christmas holiday. I'm even going to drive with my kids 45 miles north to Todos Santos to volunteer at a sea turtle rescue one day.

Check out the US Dept of State travel website for detailed info: Mexico

THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, including urban and rural areas. Visitors to the U.S.-Mexico border region, including cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, and Matamoros should remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times. In its efforts to combat violence, the Government of Mexico has deployed federal police and military troops to various parts of the country. Checkpoints have increased in border areas. U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways. Sporadic outbursts of politically motivated violence has occurred from time to time in certain areas of the country, particularly in the southern states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca.

Thank oyu that is helpful. Now I just need to figure out where he is going and which states they will have to drive through.
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Old 11-23-2010, 02:46 PM
 
Location: Orange County, California
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You're welcome... Most of the border towns, unfortunately, are pretty unsafe due to the current drug mafia instability. I would completely avoid the El Paso - Ciudad Juarez border. This is a very good read on the topic: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34215.pdf

It may be a good idea to have your son fly to meet his friends at the destination, rather than drive to it. What is the city that he is travelling to?

In my opinion, the safest tourist destinations in Mexico are Cabo San Lucas & Cozumel. I happen to have had the privilege of living in both places, so I may be able to answer any questions you may have about either. I also have driven the entire Baja Peninsula, and feel that once out of the border region with the US, it is pretty safe.
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Old 11-23-2010, 04:07 PM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,793,239 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cabolissa View Post
I also have driven the entire Baja Peninsula, and feel that once out of the border region with the US, it is pretty safe.

Recently? I used to do mission work in Colonet. I am curious how they are doing.

I will find out which city my son is going to.
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Old 11-26-2010, 11:50 AM
 
Location: Winnetka, IL & Rolling Hills, CA
1,273 posts, read 4,418,969 times
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All of Mexico is more dangerous now that it has been in the past. They've had a spike in murders in Cancun as well as the tonier resort communities of Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. I think if you have to go to Mexico stay within the larger resort communities. Your son should be safe if he takes the same precautions he would if he was traveling within any other third world country. I used to have a home in Cozumel, and was recently in Punta Mita, Puerto Vallarta about 8 weeks ago.
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Old 11-30-2010, 01:49 PM
 
Location: a swanky suburb in my fancy pants
3,391 posts, read 8,778,850 times
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Don't go below San Diego and you'll be fine.
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Old 11-30-2010, 02:04 PM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,793,239 times
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He is going to Cancun. They are staying at a walled in resort with guards. That does nto seem like an unusual level of risk. It is my understanding that they are flying right to Cancun.
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Old 12-01-2010, 01:56 PM
 
Location: Orange County, California
1,016 posts, read 3,056,445 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coldjensens View Post
He is going to Cancun. They are staying at a walled in resort with guards. That does nto seem like an unusual level of risk. It is my understanding that they are flying right to Cancun.
This should be fine... Great beaches!

Tell him to stay aware of his surroundings (there are many nightclubs in Cancun that allow minors to drink).
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Old 12-02-2010, 10:32 AM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,793,239 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cabolissa View Post
This should be fine... Great beaches!

Tell him to stay aware of his surroundings (there are many nightclubs in Cancun that allow minors to drink).

Maybe I should feed him some anabuse (I think that is what it is called, it makes people get violently ill if they drink alchohol - it is for recovering alcoholics). - I am noly kidding. I am not worried about him drinking, but I could see him getting in trouble some other way, most likely by buying a really cool looking knife or some fireworks and trying to sneak them back home in his suitcase. Mostly I do not want him in one of the areas where they have so many shootouts, kidnapping, muggings etc.
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