Travel Warnings-Mexico

[bejazd]

We have lots of clients and employees that live in TJ , Rosarito, and Ensenada, so we've been down there for quite a few weddings etc. Not going to any now. Aside from the increase in violent crime, the border wait time is about 2/12 hours to cross at San Ysidro. And, keep in mind you now need a passport to re-enter the States, even if you're only going across to shop for the day. Not worth the hassle. Enjoy San Diego, shop, eat and stay here instead! and above all, be SAFE.

[Educatingblue]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Why are you and your husband going to TJ? It's where college kids go to party, or where other tourists just pass through on their way to other places. It's really dirty and skeezy, just warning you.

We will actually be passing through as well. We are flying in to Las Vegas, hanging out there a few days and then driving to San Diego to see some friends.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Mexico's not a safe place to be right now. A few weeks ago, rebels in Tijuana stormed the police chief's house, killing him and his family. My mom and some of her friends cancelled their trip they were going to take to further south in Mexico this spring.

wow that's really scary

i was actually in tijuana for work just a few short months ago. it was my first trip to mexico - believe it or not.... and i grew up in south texas!

[Scandia]

I went on a cruise that included Mexico this year. Had a lot of Spring Breakers in it. I had no problems whatsoever. But two people apparently got fake IDs in Cozumel and tried to use them to buy alcohol on the ship. They were kicked out of the ship and had to go straight home from Cozumel. Another girl got so drunk that she just passed out on a street in Cozumel- but was found and rescued on time.

Overall, I felt very safe both in Cozumel and in mainland Mexico. But then, I did not drink while in foreign soil, took good care of myself and my belongings, and spoke Spanish to the natives so they knew not to take advantage of me.

[jon1856]

Sort of a sub section to this thread:
Briefing: The gang war that’s ravaging Mexico
How powerful are Mexico’s drug gangs?
In much of the country, more powerful than the government itself. Mexico’s three main drug cartels are effectively in control of swaths of the country’s Pacific Coast, industrial heartland, and tourist havens of the Gulf Coast.
With their staggering income from drug smuggling—$8 billion to $23 billion a year, according to U.S. estimates—the gangs can afford more powerful weapons than the police, and they don’t hesitate to kill the politicians, cops, and journalists they can’t bribe or intimidate.
http://www.theweekdaily.com/news_opi...ng_mexico.html

Drug trade tyranny on the border

Mexican cartels maintain grasp with weapons, cash and savagery
TIJUANA, Mexico - The killers prowled through Loma Bonita in the pre-dawn chill.
In silence, they navigated a labyrinth of wood shacks at the crest of a dirt lane in the blighted Tijuana neighborhood, police say. They were looking for Margarito Saldaña, an easygoing 43-year-old district police commander. They found a house full of sleeping people.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23656496/

[epchick]

Just a note after re-reading this thread.....if you visit Mexico don't assume that because you speak Spanish to the "natives" that you won't get taken advantage of. I know it sounds harsh, but they can tell who is a tourist and who isn't, especially if you aren't of Mexican descent.

I learned this when I was traveling in Mexico a few years ago. I was in a sort of touristy city in southern Mexico and was looking for gifts and I was just talking to the people who worked at the shops about tourists and such. Its amazing what they were telling me, like the price differences for people who they think are non-Mexican tourists vs. Mexican tourists.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by Scandia

IBut then, I ....spoke Spanish to the natives so they knew not to take advantage of me.

LOL

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

There have been a few Canadians murdered in Mexico over the past couple of years too. I don't know if it's a conincidence or not, but many of them were of Italian descent. Does Mexico have something against Italians?

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/...html?id=272603

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

There have been a few Canadians murdered in Mexico over the past couple of years too. I don't know if it's a conincidence or not, but many of them were of Italian descent. Does Mexico have something against Italians?

Lastest Canadian Government travel warning:
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-...country=184000

[epchick]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Lastest Canadian Government travel warning:
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-...country=184000

Is this type of information not readily available to the public anywhere else?

I ask this because a lot of that information seems VERY common sense for anyone traveling (especially to a foreign country).

I don't know if there is information like this about Canadians travelling to other countries, but most of this information isn't necessarily Mexico-specific.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by epchick

Is this type of information not readily available to the public anywhere else?

I ask this because a lot of that information seems VERY common sense for anyone traveling (especially to a foreign country).

I don't know if there is information like this about Canadians traveling to other countries, but most of this information isn't necessarily Mexico-specific.

IIRC, I posted most of this well up top. If not:
http://travel.state.gov/ US
www.fco.gov.uk UK
www.smarttraveller.gov.au AUSSIE
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/ctry/reportpage-en.asp Canada

I would be not be too surprised if most major countries have similar sites.

And I have this as part of my travel info listing; did not have to look up.
And I have used them along with CDC's site prior to my travels.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by epchick

I ask this because a lot of that information seems VERY common sense for anyone traveling (especially to a foreign country).

I agree, but I still don't understand tourists who forget their brains at home when they go travelling.

For me, the test is, "would I do this at home?", such as "Would I go motorcycling without a helmet?"

I shake my head at people who rent motorcycles/scooters, whatever in Thailand (or other exotic land) and do so without a helmet (maybe helmets aren't available to rent, but I wouldn't be willing to risk a brain injury overseas). I'm just saying. I sure as h*ll would not get on some motorized type of thing like that without a helmet.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by epchick

Is this type of information not readily available to the public anywhere else?

I ask this because a lot of that information seems VERY common sense for anyone traveling (especially to a foreign country).

I don't know if there is information like this about Canadians travelling to other countries, but most of this information isn't necessarily Mexico-specific.

Have you read the travel warnings and country-by-country information sheets available on our state dept's Web site? It's full of plenty of common sense stuff, too...things like "Don't try to bring drugs into the country."

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Have you read the travel warnings and country-by-country information sheets available on our state dept's Web site? It's full of plenty of common sense stuff, too...things like "Don't try to bring drugs into the country."

As per the following:

Originally Posted by jon1856

http://travel.state.gov/ USA
www.fco.gov.uk UK
www.smarttraveller.gov.au AUSSIE
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/ctry/reportpage-en.asp Canada