Before you go, check your government's travel advisory for the most up to date information relevant to you. As someone who has spent almost a year in Mexico across three trips and having visited 11 out of Mexico’s 31 states, I thought you might want to hear the answer to the question Is Mexico Safe? CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Mexico. Mexico has many gems, so there’s no reason to visit no-go areas. I have visited as a single mom with just my kids. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The beaches are idyllic but … The Riviera Maya is a natural choice for families. Actually my experience has been the complete and total opposite. Sally Black. COVID-19 risk in Mexico is high. I've traveled there 3-4 times per year for the past 15 years. I LOVE visiting Mexico! In all of my travels around the world, I've happy to say, I've only had two encounters that have frightened me. He ended up being a witness to an armed robbery. I will often recommend Mexico to my clients. Often the response is "Mexico? My family has also spent many of our personal vacations in Mexico. Todos Santos. So is Mexico Safe? Drug-related violence in Mexico has increased over recent years. As a travel professional, I know the facts and can separate it … The second incident happened to me in the Dominican Republic as I walked alone down a busy sidewalk from my hotel to a near by shopping mall in the middle of the afternoon to get a new battery for my camera. Are you out of your mind?...Followed by comments on violence and drug wars. Mexico is a large country, with some parts very safe for tourists, and others very dangerous. Got tips, tricks & advice we can learn from? These cookies do not store any personal information. But you need to consider the source first. – in a safe area, Carry a ‘dummy’ wallet that you could hand over in a robbery, Use your gut; if you think a particular place looks dangerous, avoid it, Try and take a tour guide and, when traveling alone, private transport, Avoid taxis that are unmarked; every company should carry legit licensing, Read into any location you are going to visit, and its surrounding areas, Don’t flaunt your wealth or personal success; you’ll become a target, Try and avoid talking loudly in English in public – it’s a sign you aren’t local, Car minders own streets -they expect your payment, Friends sit in restaurants talking for hours, People interrupt a lot when you’re talking to someone, Mixed people sell household items in traffic jams, Clowns entertain you at the traffic lights, Lots of shouting between people in conversation, A rendezvous turns into a party with more friends & family arriving. For my friends and family, the number one concern seemed to be that Mexico was not a safe place to travel to at all, let alone on my own. The murder rate in New Orleans is 4 times higher than all of Mexico, yet most Americans wouldn't think twice about spending  vacation time in the Big Easy. Mexico has been getting a bad rap. As stated above – use common safe and travel with confidence. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. During my countless visits to Mexico, I have never encountered any similar experience. Some examples of essential travel may include traveling for humanitarian aid work, medical reasons, or family emergencies. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Outbursts of politically-motivated violence can occur across the country, with a recent increase in the states of Guerrero and Mexico City. Always keep your key items – phone, wallet, passport, etc. Your email address will not be published. Speaking of foreign countries, Mexico ranks 21st behind many popular overseas vacation destinations according to U.N. crime statistics. A vacation here is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your kids to a whole new country and culture. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The tourist areas of Mexico where over 6 million visitors flock every year to enjoy Mexico's breathtaking beaches, amazing cuisine and culture are located hundreds of miles away from these areas. … Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Yes, some areas are dangerous. The travel and tourism industry is a major economic driver for the Mexican economy, with over 44 million visitors expected in 2019.. As a frequent visitor I know first hand how wonderful Mexico is as a destination and how welcoming the people make me feel there. Riviera Maya With Kids. The violence is concentrated in specific areas, and some regions are almost completely spared. Safety is something a lot of people worry about before traveling to Mexico – and despite what's reported in the media, thousands of people travel here trouble-free every year. Thank heavens both of these situations only frightened me and no harm came to either my son or myself. Is there crime and horrible drug wars in Mexico, absolutely! With a murder rate of 21.5 per 100,000 population, Mexico has one of the highest murder rates in Latin America. Whether visiting Creel or Cancun, it comes down to you making informed choices about where to go and where to avoid. I have learned from these experiences and have visited both of these destinations many more times since these incidents. On the whole, Mexico is safe to travel for families. Mexico is a safe country to travel alone. Solo Travel Mexico: Comfort Zone Challenge, Most romantic city for travelling couples - Part 3, The Best Hostels in Cancun Mexico - Yucatan Peninsula Accomadation. When you compare statistics, the crime risks can actually be higher at home and in other family friendly vacation spots then they are in Mexico. Since 2000, Vacationkids has created extraordinary, customized family vacation experiences worldwide. Generations Rivera Maya offers the Eko Kids Club with … Family Vacation Health. As a travel professional, I know the facts and can separate it from the fiction put out there by the media. One of the popular spots in Mexico that a lot of people really love to … Mostly because of natural disasters that have occurred in the country, partly because of violent reasons and before you chose Mexico as your next destination it is necessary to understand what has happened. I have never been made to feel threatened or unsafe by anyone I have ever encountered there. Topics: Cancun is an easy destination for the countless US travelers who flock to its iconic white … Missing something? Mexico has plenty going for it for U.S. tourists, from easy flights to bargain prices to cultural standouts. As soon as you announce that you’re planning a trip to Mexico, one of your parents or relatives or coworkers will say, “Don’t go to Mexico — it’s not safe.” And that may give you pause, especially if the person is someone you love or respect. Often it's to do hotel reviews or to gather updated information for our Vacationkids website. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I allowed my 17 year old son to walk next door to our hotel to get a burger from a fast food restaurant. For a unique perspective, check out British travel warnings for the U.S. Monterrey is also the commercial, industrial, educational, and transportation center of northern Mexico, not to mention that it’s economically the third in importance after Mexico City. Generations Riviera Maya – Riviera Maya. It isn’t just murder; robbery, extortion, and kidnapping have all grown in recent years. Check out 33 types of vacations and places that are safe to go to. When new acquantences find out I'm a travel agent, one of the first questions I'm always asked is "where do you like to go on vacation?" Sally is the Founder of Vacationkids.com Travel Agency and author of the book "Fearless Family Vacations". I have visited Mexico alone and have rented cars to drive myself to business appointments. The country of Mexico stretches for over 2,000 miles. Happiness is always included! As parents, we want to keep our kids safe at all costs both at home and on vacation. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Being a beach resort, you’ll find that Cancun is a safe place to travel for families, especially if you’ve got young children. Is Mexico Safe? I believe it is as safe or safer than many other popular family friendly vacation destinations. I believe it is as safe or safer than many other popular family friendly vacation destinations. I have also learned that when you teach people the facts, it can change their perspective and open their eyes to a wonderful new world. While its capital, Morelia, is certainly a safe place to travel to, and quite … If you were to put this geography into perspective, it would be like saying you need to cancel your family's vacation to Florida due to the terrorist bombings in Boston. Mexico - safety as a country Monterrey is the third-largest city in the country of Mexico and the capital of Nuevo Leon. The following are relatively safe summer vacations you can still take during the coronavirus pandemic. Make sure you research your destination thoroughly. Over the years, my family, staff and I have not experienced any of the problems sensationalized in the news media...this includes visits during hurricanes and the swine flu "epidemic". via Is Mexico Safe For Vacation? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. [fa icon="calendar"] Aug 7, 2013 10:50:00 AM / by Mexico is a great place for your next family vacation. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. With a vibrant culture, rich food, fantastic climate and friendly people, it’s an ideal destination and well worth the trip. These are the stereotypical responses that I have come to expect. [fa icon="twitter-square"]Twitter [fa icon="envelope"]  mom@vacationkids.com, [fa icon="home"]  1216 Greenway Lane, Kunkletown PA 18058, [fa icon="facebook-square"]Facebook Safety is generally not an issue if your vacation destination in Mexico is in the typical tourist areas like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Acapulco, Los Cabos, Sayulita or any of the “hotel and resorts areas”. The illegal drug trade has too – despite work on the government’s part. Cancun Is Generally Pretty Safe. As a frequent traveler to Mexico, I can speak from my own personal experience. Handcrafted family and multi-generational vacations with unexpected delights is what we do best. family vacations, This shows no signs of slowing down, with murder rates in Mexico increasing as of 2020. Is Mexico safe? If you've not been – and most haven't – circle 'Todos Santos' for the next Baja trip. Follow the below outlined advice, concerns, and tips for a relatively stress-free family vacation in Mexico. I recommend trying to stick to tourist-friendly events to take part in, and book everything through official partnerships and guides. Travel is one of life’s greatest teachers and a family vacation to learn about Mexican culture can be a form of leisure and education for children. The first happened in Orlando. [fa icon="pinterest-square"]Pinterest, Copyright 2020 | Designed with [fa icon="heart"] by. #1 Best Value of 50 Mexico All Inclusive Family Resorts “My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time and would highly suggest this resort to anyone who is looking for an all inclusive tropical getaway.” “It is a very family friendly resort, which can be a pro or con, depending on what you are looking for.” from someone who has actually been. Mexico is a very safe country to travel to and live in as long as you keep in mind some common-sense safety tips. Sweden and Switzerland have significantly higher homicide rates than Mexico as do many Caribbean islands. Ergo, nothing good can ever come from a trip to Mexico. Safe enough, (sticking to the right places) it is safe to travel to Mexico. If you check out our Hotel Reviews, you'll see many photos of my staff and I visiting different areas of Mexico over the years. Still the public has this overall unfair perception of Mexico being an extremely dangerous place to visit. From the bustling streets of Mexico City to the sands of Cancun, there is so much to explore. But then again you won’t have to stick to the confines of an all-inclusive resort. Just in case, you should apply all possible precaution measures, to minimize the chances of anything going wrong. Tips for Staying Safe on Your Mexican Vacation No matter where you go in Mexico, you should stick to some safety rules to reduce your risk of running into a … Built on the Genesis Framework. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. [fa icon="linkedin-square"]Linkedin Plan your trip accordingly to avoid any issues. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I was accosted by several men who thought I might be looking for sexual favors. Americans who have limited or no overseas travel experience are even more shocked by how many foreigners consider travel TO the U.S. unsafe or risky. There are certain no go areas just like another other country. According to the FBI, the homicide rate in Cancun and the popular Mexican tourist areas of the Riviera Maya are comparable to those found in the rural states of Maine, Wyoming, Montana and Oregon. Mexico has been in the media holophotes for the past couple of months. And...here's the kicker - The 28 remaining Mexican states have a much lower incidence of violent crimes than most U.S. states. Just like we have 50 states here in America, Mexico has 31 states. Is there crime and gang violence in the U.S., Absolutely! The statistics for violent assaults in the United States is 5 times higher than it is in Mexico. So in my humble opinion, I say the answer is to this question is YES! Only 4 of the Mexican states located along the U.S. border and interior of the country should be avoided due to drug violence. So is Mexico Safe? The important thing to remember is that unfortunately there is no place perfect in this world. She is also the Director of Travel Agent Initiatives and Training at The Family Travel Association. Cancun. When it comes to statistics, I tend to travel by comparison more frequently than many people. To Avoid - Michoacán. TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : MEDIUM Even though I was frightened, I appreciate that all the good things about travel certainly outweigh any of the bad. As a mom, I would never recommend anything to another family if it wasn't safe enough for my own kids. Many Americans are often shocked by this reality. Many murders go unsolved, with only 30,800 people being incarcerated in 2013 compared to the 215,000 murders that took place. If you dig a little deeper and do a little homework, the facts about crime in Mexico might just surprise you. More than that though, it’ll be an … Bad things can randomly happen to really good people, both at home and abroad. As a mom, I would never recommend anything to another family if it wasn't safe enough for my own kids. You might have encountered similar advice when considering a trip here, so I want to address this one right away: In my experience, I’ve felt completely safe my entire trip, and I haven’t had any issues. Official partnerships and guides violent assaults in the United states is 5 times higher than it is safe! Advice we can learn from almost completely spared in this world states here in America, Mexico ranks 21st many... That are safe to travel by comparison more frequently than many other popular family friendly destinations! 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