Mexico. Would you be put off?
Discussion
After months on trying to find a summer holiday for June 2012 we (the mrs and I) have almost decided on Mexico, playacar, just south of playa del carmen.
Originally we'd thought about travelling to a few places in Spain and take in the Valencia f1 grand prix and a bit of footy.
The cost of going to Spain would be similar if not more expensive than going to Mexico especially when trying to match the comforts you get in Mexico (all inclusive, huge complex, nice beaches etc etc...)
Everyday there seems to be some other drug related news going on over there and after reading up, it only seems to be getting worse. I understand it's probably thousands of miles from the tourist resorts but I still can't help but think its the same country. When going on holiday I like to think I'm going to a place of paradise and not have to worry about where you venture out after dark.
Anyone have any thoughts on the place? Is it a matter of time (months or years) before thomsons/first choice pull out of there or am I totally overreacting?
Originally we'd thought about travelling to a few places in Spain and take in the Valencia f1 grand prix and a bit of footy.
The cost of going to Spain would be similar if not more expensive than going to Mexico especially when trying to match the comforts you get in Mexico (all inclusive, huge complex, nice beaches etc etc...)
Everyday there seems to be some other drug related news going on over there and after reading up, it only seems to be getting worse. I understand it's probably thousands of miles from the tourist resorts but I still can't help but think its the same country. When going on holiday I like to think I'm going to a place of paradise and not have to worry about where you venture out after dark.
Anyone have any thoughts on the place? Is it a matter of time (months or years) before thomsons/first choice pull out of there or am I totally overreacting?
Torquey said:
Anyone have any thoughts on the place? Is it a matter of time (months or years) before thomsons/first choice pull out of there or am I totally overreacting?
Mexico's a big old country, there hasn't been any problem at all in the tourist areas like Cancun, Playa de Carmen, Cozumel etc. squeezebm said:
We had a couple of weeks there last november in a tourist area....coppers are more tooled up etc with a couple of roadstops on the way to the resort.
Get into/around the resort area and it was fine really friendly happy people
Had a great time
How was the weather in November?Get into/around the resort area and it was fine really friendly happy people
Had a great time
Playacar is lovely.
We stayed there 3 years ago and had a great holiday at the Riu Tequila.
The only thing dodgy we saw was the local police in the back of a pick up armed to the teeth with what looked like machine guns.
This was when we arrived and travelled between Cancun and Playacar.
Just whatever you do go into the jungle!!!!
We stayed there 3 years ago and had a great holiday at the Riu Tequila.
The only thing dodgy we saw was the local police in the back of a pick up armed to the teeth with what looked like machine guns.
This was when we arrived and travelled between Cancun and Playacar.
Just whatever you do go into the jungle!!!!
Is there something specific that you want to see in Mexico, just wondering as there are safer places in the world that offer the same weather and same value for money that Mexico does.
My former boss was from Mexico and his stories put me of the place for life, having said that I know people who have been there and loved it. My opinion is that there are too many other places in the world to visit with less risk involved for me to bother with dangerous places.
My former boss was from Mexico and his stories put me of the place for life, having said that I know people who have been there and loved it. My opinion is that there are too many other places in the world to visit with less risk involved for me to bother with dangerous places.
ChrisBMW said:
Is there something specific that you want to see in Mexico, just wondering as there are safer places in the world that offer the same weather and same value for money that Mexico does.
My former boss was from Mexico and his stories put me of the place for life, having said that I know people who have been there and loved it. My opinion is that there are too many other places in the world to visit with less risk involved for me to bother with dangerous places.
Nope there is nothing specific I want to see, other than some nice beeches and sunshine. My former boss was from Mexico and his stories put me of the place for life, having said that I know people who have been there and loved it. My opinion is that there are too many other places in the world to visit with less risk involved for me to bother with dangerous places.
It just seems convenient (fly from Newcastle) and good value (probably cheaper than going to spain).
It seems that if you wear your blinkers the tourist resorts are fine. I you wish to explore, which I certainly dont(!), then its not pretty.
Think you have it about right there Torquey.
We have been to Playa del Carmen for the last three years. Either in dec or jan for some winter sun.
Its excellent value for money with some great quality resorts with good staff.
We have been out and about to the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá and Cozumel. They are a bit of a let down really, wouldn't bother again or recommend it.
The resorts are perfectly safe, lets face it you find the north americans there if it wasn't.
Compared to spain, we prefer it. The service and standards for the same money are higher. The people are very friendly and make for a relaxing holiday.
We have been to Playa del Carmen for the last three years. Either in dec or jan for some winter sun.
Its excellent value for money with some great quality resorts with good staff.
We have been out and about to the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá and Cozumel. They are a bit of a let down really, wouldn't bother again or recommend it.
The resorts are perfectly safe, lets face it you find the north americans there if it wasn't.
Compared to spain, we prefer it. The service and standards for the same money are higher. The people are very friendly and make for a relaxing holiday.
Every year me and the better half went to Spain, same place blah blah you know how it is when you get in a rut, any way we noticed the prices rocketing so i decided to look at other places, I checked out the prices at the time for Mexico, We paid 925 each, all inclusive, i suspect its a little more now but at the time it worked out around 300 quid cheaper each than Spain for 2 weeks.
Its not perfect, The sight of seeing armed up coppers in the back of pick ups opened my eyes, Also I remember on the way to Playacar seeing some 500k Condo's that had just been built and they looked brilliant, Literally 50 yards from the entrance was what can be described as a large shed with a corrugated roof with washing hanging outside, Then someone came outside and took it in. The poverty you can see compared to something like Spain has to be seen to be believed.
It was a brilliant holiday, no trouble as Playacar is gated and geared towards the tourists.
I will say this though, i walked into Playa Del Carmen which in itself is a very nice place, However go down one of the backstreets and you may see some of the 'real' Mexico, a couple of my Pals who are in their 50's had gone for a drink in some dodgy backstreet bar when the wives went shopping, Some bloke approached them and offered them a young 16 year old Mexican girl for sex and even said they could see how 'Tight' she was first, I'm cringing just typing this, Needless to say they buggered off sharpish.
Its not perfect but take it as what it is and you'll have a great time and that is a purpose built resort for tourists who spend money, But you are not seeing the real Mexico.
Its not perfect, The sight of seeing armed up coppers in the back of pick ups opened my eyes, Also I remember on the way to Playacar seeing some 500k Condo's that had just been built and they looked brilliant, Literally 50 yards from the entrance was what can be described as a large shed with a corrugated roof with washing hanging outside, Then someone came outside and took it in. The poverty you can see compared to something like Spain has to be seen to be believed.
It was a brilliant holiday, no trouble as Playacar is gated and geared towards the tourists.
I will say this though, i walked into Playa Del Carmen which in itself is a very nice place, However go down one of the backstreets and you may see some of the 'real' Mexico, a couple of my Pals who are in their 50's had gone for a drink in some dodgy backstreet bar when the wives went shopping, Some bloke approached them and offered them a young 16 year old Mexican girl for sex and even said they could see how 'Tight' she was first, I'm cringing just typing this, Needless to say they buggered off sharpish.
Its not perfect but take it as what it is and you'll have a great time and that is a purpose built resort for tourists who spend money, But you are not seeing the real Mexico.
my parents have been and know a few people who have been to the tourist areas and loved it, but like others have said its not a country you can just go exploring where you want when you want.
its not as widely reported over hear as its the americans who are trying to deal with it but from what i understand some of the cities/areas have a similar death toll to iraq
i only know as i tend to leave my tv on bbc/sky news and there are times when it switches to american news and mexico is featured alot in it, it now to the scale where the us army are there to provide security
im sure most of it is gang on gang but they are a very nasty breed of criminals out there. what makes it worse is most are religious and there are worship points everywhere in the crime hot spots, nothing wrong with this until the cartel are interviewed and openly say they will go to heaven etc
this is fairly typical of what pops up on the american news when it is about mexico ( possible work warning, work warning for the pictures link)
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2094...
mass graves are also discorved at a rather worrying rate
this link outlines the stats
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-1651...
i am by no means saying dont visit the tourist areas, like i say i know people who have done so and loved it but please dont go thinking its over hyped in crime terms, and if your abit 'streetwise' you can go off and explore where you want
its not as widely reported over hear as its the americans who are trying to deal with it but from what i understand some of the cities/areas have a similar death toll to iraq
i only know as i tend to leave my tv on bbc/sky news and there are times when it switches to american news and mexico is featured alot in it, it now to the scale where the us army are there to provide security
im sure most of it is gang on gang but they are a very nasty breed of criminals out there. what makes it worse is most are religious and there are worship points everywhere in the crime hot spots, nothing wrong with this until the cartel are interviewed and openly say they will go to heaven etc
this is fairly typical of what pops up on the american news when it is about mexico ( possible work warning, work warning for the pictures link)
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2094...
mass graves are also discorved at a rather worrying rate
this link outlines the stats
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-1651...
i am by no means saying dont visit the tourist areas, like i say i know people who have done so and loved it but please dont go thinking its over hyped in crime terms, and if your abit 'streetwise' you can go off and explore where you want
Ive been to Mexico twice.
First time in 2007 we stayed just outside Cancun in the Moon Palace Resort, Second time in 2010 near Tulum, Riviera Maya in Grand Bahia Principe.
Over the two holidays we didnt see any problems at all. Regularly went out the resort on excursions and also got on the local buses and walked about the towns. No problems at all.
Very heavy police presence everywhere tourist related.
First time in 2007 we stayed just outside Cancun in the Moon Palace Resort, Second time in 2010 near Tulum, Riviera Maya in Grand Bahia Principe.
Over the two holidays we didnt see any problems at all. Regularly went out the resort on excursions and also got on the local buses and walked about the towns. No problems at all.
Very heavy police presence everywhere tourist related.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
My Country Manager based in Tampico got stop / robbed / attacked last week in Tampico.
400yds from the Office Yard, and 800yds from the HEAVILY armed Police Station.
Took his car, ID, wallet, sunglasses, briefcase, Mobile phones and warned him (3 sub 25yr olds with Automatic weapons) if he reported them he would be round to his house (with his ID saying where, and his house keys)
Use sun cream. It's dangerous out there.
Tampico is a fair distance away from Cancun, i don't think Cancun or PLaya Del Carmen have the same issues as the rest of Mexico.400yds from the Office Yard, and 800yds from the HEAVILY armed Police Station.
Took his car, ID, wallet, sunglasses, briefcase, Mobile phones and warned him (3 sub 25yr olds with Automatic weapons) if he reported them he would be round to his house (with his ID saying where, and his house keys)
Use sun cream. It's dangerous out there.
I spent a few weeks in Mexico city followed by a few days in Acalpulco
I wouldn't recommend either as a family holiday location, saying that i had an amazing time whilst there.
During my visit to Acapulco, State police had taken over the apartments we were staying in, as part of some drugs operation. Word got out that one of them had been killed in a gun fight during our stay whilst they had been out on patrol.
When we were out and about, we carried two wallets each. The one with all the cash was hidden, and the other contained a few dollars was in the back pocket so it could easily be handed over without any fuss should we get stopped.
Mexico city was the same. The locals drive everywhere, even if they have been out on the piss. It's far safer than using taxi's, and if stopped by the local police, it's very common for them to accept bribes.
Kidnapping and ransom demands are also very common in Mexico city. The family we staying with in Mexico city had experienced it at first hand.
The main reseaon for my trip over there was to attend a wedding, one of the guest at the wedding drove everywhere in an M3, followed closely behind by a team of armed guards in a 4x4, to ward off any potential kidnapping. His family had a bit of cash, and kidnapping was a daily threat for them.
It really was like the film Man on fire
Amazing places to visit, but you need your wits about you. Thankfully we had friends from the area to show us about and keep us away from trouble.
Progressive said:
We went in October of 2011. That month is supposedly the worst month for weather. Generally it was scorching although did rain. Maybe 9 of the 14 were excellent. I've heard many times that the 'forecast rain every day' is slightly deceiving.
I've started looking at Mexico for an end of summer jaunt as we are away in April to the Canaries for some early sun. Pretty sure I saw on the First Choice site that October was a more drier month with less average rainfall than September. 
Anyone else been September / October? Obviously July/August was the preference, however work is being a pain for granting holidays
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