Who has been to Mexico lately? thoughts

[Dr. Xikar]

Wait.. My bad, we may have done Tulum for the ruins... I'm sorry... I can't remember.

I also just read the whole page - sorry I didn't sooner.

If you're staying in Xpu-Ha, avoid the main road unless you have a hired taxi-driver, some of the drivers are agressive... Better to let a native with the experience do the driving... Otherwise, you'll have a great time. That area is close enough to the tourist traps to be safe... However, you're fairly close to the "border"... What I mean is, if you travel too far north from where you are you'll enter the bad area, but if you stick with the south, playa del carmen, LCDH, stuff like that, you'll be perfectly fine

EDIT: I don't know which we went to, Tulum or Chichen Itzu, but there was a Senote nearby (a natural sink hole) that we biked to, zip-lined over, rappelled into, swam around in, etc... It was pretty amazing. If the ruins you go to have a Senote nearby, DO THAT.

 

[dpricenator]

Tulum is right on the coast. Probably the most picturesque of the Mayan Ruins.

 

[Clint]

My wife, 6 year old daughter and I went to the Myan Riviera 2 years ago...As others have said, just stay with the groups, and you'll be fine.

The LCDH in Playa Del Carmen is diagonally across the street from a Starbucks, FYI....Usual high prices, but nice selection.

You may want to also check out the boat tours to Isla De Mujeres....Reasonable fee (haggle, haggle, haggle!!) includes ferry to the island, (From Cancun) swimming with a shark, lots of scuba diving, lunch, and a cool little island with some amazing houses.

Have fun!!

 

[Dr. Xikar]

If someone offers you a deal on cubans, don't buy, IT'S FAKE

If you're not sure whether it's a real cuban or fake, haggle - If they let you haggle, IT'S FAKE.

If it has a glass front, IT'S FAKE.

If you're in LCDH, don't bother haggling. They know that everything they have is real, and is in high demand, so they won't take less than the sticker says; if you don't buy it at that price, someone else will.

Sorry to harp on this, but there are so many fakes in Mexico.. I got burnt pretty bad the first day, so this is a hot-button for me.

 

[elderboy02]

I wouldn't go to Mexico. I feel safer in this county with our Military.

 

[dpricenator]

If someone offers you a deal on cubans, don't buy, IT'S FAKE

If you're not sure whether it's a real cuban or fake, haggle - If they let you haggle, IT'S FAKE.

If it has a glass front, IT'S FAKE.

If you're in LCDH, don't bother haggling. They know that everything they have is real, and is in high demand, so they won't take less than the sticker says; if you don't buy it at that price, someone else will.

Sorry to harp on this, but there are so many fakes in Mexico.. I got burnt pretty bad the first day, so this is a hot-button for me.

Not that it is bad info, but Eman knows better.

 

[Dr. Xikar]

Not that it is bad info, but Eman knows better.

Yeah... It's mostly just me kicking myself.

 

[La Chupacabra]

My wife and I have owned a home in Puerto Morelos Mexico ( about half way in between Cancun & Playa Del Carmen) for over ten years. We spend anywhere from 4-5 months a year in Mexico. We have many Mexican friends and spend a vast amount of time out side the tourist areas in the locals area. I have never had a problem out side of one occastion I got my money roll picked in Cancun, and that was at a tourist bar ( Senior Frog). Most of the violence your read of is in the drug corridor and on the border towns.
Saying don’t go to Mexico in general is like my telling my family back in Ireland don’t go to Orlando, Florida because there is gang violence in South Central LA.
Also in Play del Carmen there is a La Casa Habana and on 5th ave a very nice Cuban café called La Bodeguita del Medio. They also sell legit cigars.

 

[e-man67]

Great Info guys I really appreciate it!

 

[e-man67]

Tremendous! Mucho Gracias Amigo!

 

[La Chupacabra]

You know what? I thought I'd post my email to Eric for all to see........ hope it helps someone else too!

Eric,

I'm gonna play both sides here, okay?

Firstly... as you well know... Mexico isn't always the safest place on the planet, right? Before leaving, you need to register for the State Department's Smart Traveler program. Go to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ to do so. In the event of an emergency, the US Embassy will know where you and your family are... and how to contact you...... and how to evacuate you if it came to that. To be double-safe... ALSO email your trip details directly to the main Mexico embassy... the email address is acsmexicocity@state.gov. Next... you should visit two websites: (1) http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html and (2) http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/main.html. Those are (1) the State Department's pages for Mexico and (2) the Mexican Embassy itself. Read up! Lastly.... you should ALWAYS know where your nearest consular agency is in case of emergency while in country. For your stay, it is in Cancun... U.S. phone number is 202-640-2511 or 011-52-998-883-0272 in Mexico.

All of that said..... and you may read some scary stuff on those pages......

Resort areas and tourist destinations do NOT... say again... do NOT have the levels of drug violence and crime that the border regions and trafficking routes have, okay? If you're simply street-smart and only go to legitimate businesses and tourist spots during daylight hours... known tourist hangouts and bars/clubs at night...... you will be just FINE! In fact...... I've often felt MUCH safer ALL OVER Mexico than in places like Detroit, Chicago, L.A. and our own nasty capital D.C.! Just use common sense and don't get involved with any drugs and you won't have ANY problems, mon frere. The VAST majority of violent crimes in Mexico have victims that are...... you guessed it..... other Mexican citizens involved in criminal activity! That will NOT be you and your family.

Because of the press coverage about drug violence... people have this black-cloud view of ALL of Mexico...... and I certainly wouldn't want to be hanging out in a back alley in Juarez at 2am......... but you and your family will have an absolute blast where you're going and you shouldn't regret anything at all about booking a tourist trip to Mexico, alright? Just be smart... walk with confidence... and deliberately have a good time......... when you get back, we'll hear all about how you and your wife were surprised at how safe it all was!

!Tienen ustedes un GRAN tiempo en Mexico... y traerme algunos puros de La Casa del Habano! !Jaja!

!Salud!

:applause: Agreed.

 

[Vegan702]

Not the place I want to be in at this time. Only a little more time before they start going after the tourists, etc.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110221/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_drug_war_mexico_16

 

[thatjohnguy]

When i was there 2 years ago we went off resort and witnessed nothing concerning. I t was a beautiful location... would go back in a heartbeat. Sometimes I wonder if its just media and politics.