Is Acapulco safe?

[HardDrive]

My wife has a conference down in Acapulco coming up. She wants to turn it into a family vacation. The media is going ape about the violence in Mexico. Is this hype? If you are a tourists, are you pretty much out of the crossfire?

[BRPORSCHE]

I believe that the violence is mainly around the broder.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

My wife has a conference down in Acapulco coming up. She wants to turn it into a family vacation. The media is going ape about the violence in Mexico. Is this hype? If you are a tourists, are you pretty much out of the crossfire?

Is it being held at an all inclusive resort?

They are generally considered safe no matter where you are.

But like anything else in this world, situational awareness is always a good defense.

[Scott R]

Yes and no. I've been there four times now to a place called "Las Brisas." It's safe up on the hillside at the resort, but down on the main drag (avenue of the Americas) its a bit hairy.

The main hub of Acapulco is the Walmart, everything spiders out from there. The further from the Walmart, they worse it gets. About three blocks down we were having dinner in an open air restaurant on the drag and a guy fell into the entry way having been stabbed on the beach.

Ok, so this was an isolated incident we thought. Two nights later, and a few doors down on the other side of the street, across from Hooters and Planet Hollywood, we witness a shooting. Well no more Mexico for us.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, but try and stay off the end of that avenue at night.

[m21sniper]

Nat Geo has a new show coming out very soon called "locked up abroad."

I'm hoping some of these people that reccomend 3rd world travel that entails wandering alone in the countryside catch a few episodes.

As bad as 3rd world criminals are, to be honest i find 3rd world police/governments to be far more 'dangerous'.

Getting mugged is one thing. Getting locked up in some 3rd world spithole jail for 10 years for some minor offense?

Much worse.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Nat Geo has a new show coming out very soon called "locked up abroad."

I'm hoping some of these people that reccomend 3rd world travel that entails wandering alone in the countryside catch a few episodes.

As bad as 3rd world criminals are, to be honest i find 3rd world police/governments to be far more 'dangerous'.

Getting mugged is one thing. Getting locked up in some 3rd world spithole jail for 10 years for some minor offense?

Much worse.

That's actually the "new season" of "Locked Up Abroad." Its on it's second season, first was great as well. You can catch the first season on Thursdays iirc. Most of them are people that want "endless summers" and end up smuggling for money to stay in these foreign places.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Scott R

That's actually the "new season" of "Locked Up Abroad." Its on it's second season, first was great as well. You can catch the first season on Thursdays iirc. Most of them are people that want "endless summers" and end up smuggling for money to stay in these foreign places.

Wow, didn't realize it was already in it's 2nd season!

Thanks.

PS: Agreed, most people that get into trouble are idiots.

Most.

[Rick Lee]

I've seen all the Locked Up Abroad episodes. Very few of those idiots didn't have it coming in a big way. The folks who were kidnapped weren't begging for it, but many of them were incredibly naive or careless. The drug mules were idiots and begging for trouble.

I'm dying to ride Copper Canyon and Baja, but will have to wait until things settle down some.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've seen all the Locked Up Abroad episodes. Very few of those idiots didn't have it coming in a big way. The folks who were kidnapped weren't begging for it, but many of them were incredibly naive or careless. The drug mules were idiots and begging for trouble.

I'm dying to ride Copper Canyon and Baja, but will have to wait until things settle down some.

There are a LOT of incredibly naive and careless posters in Pelican too, when it comes to foriegn travel. I've seen the threads and read the posts.

[vash]

sniper, where have you been? military travel? or you just seeing the world?

[JavaBrewer]

The wife and I were just discussing vacation options for the family last night. A few years back we had an incredible (no kids) trip to Puerto Vallarta. No problems at all and we felt moderately safe walking the harbor area and beaches. Now we're looking for a family trip and I'm leaning towards something other than Mexico due to the explosion of violence down South. I'm very likely over reacting but with two young blond/blue eyed 'Merkin kids in tow Mex sounds like more risk than I care to take.

I'm thinking maybe Seattle or possibly Vancouver BC.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by vash

sniper, where have you been? military travel? or you just seeing the world?

Central America- mostly military related, yes.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

The wife and I were just discussing vacation options for the family last night. A few years back we had an incredible (no kids) trip to Puerto Vallarta. No problems at all and we felt moderately safe walking the harbor area and beaches. Now we're looking for a family trip and I'm leaning towards something other than Mexico due to the explosion of violence down South. I'm very likely over reacting but with two young blond/blue eyed 'Merkin kids in tow Mex sounds like more risk than I care to take.

I'm thinking maybe Seattle or possibly Vancouver BC.

Why not Italy, or Austria, or Ireland, or France?

What's wrong with the 1st world as a vacation destination? Or a 1st world colony/territory? This is what i'll never understand.

Unless it's a money issue.

[fingpilot]

There is a drug war going on in Mexico.

You will be a target if you go.

Acapulco is the first big city headed nortbound from Central America.

Do you really want to take the risk? Yoo many actually safe places to go.

[126coupe]

I would not go to Mexico if the trip was free

[imcarthur]

When it comes to vacations, if you have to ask: Is it safe? Then it usually isn't. For business, you can travel quickly & quietly & with security if necessary. But that is not a vacation. I do agree that an all-inclusive vacation changes the equation as long as you spend 100% of your time on their property.

Last year, when I started vacation research my wife said she was sick of cobblestones: i.e. Europe. We were thinking African safari & I had narrowed it down to a self-drive in Kruger. Fly in to Johannesburg, rent a car, drive to Kruger & spend a week in the in-park accommodation driving the massive park. Round it off with a deluxe hotel just outside the park at the tail end. And then maybe a two or three night stop in Cairo on the flight back. I had it 80% planned. Then Kenya had their recent problems in Central Africa. And Zimbabwe was always in the news - next door to SA. And I started to read about the very real crime problem in Johannesburg. Posters on the Kruger forum told me that you are safer inside the park with all of the wild animals roaming around, than you are outside of it. It gave me the heebies & I switched my focus back to more cobblestones. Living on the edge to me has zero appeal. We're going to Sicily. And Rome, again.

Ian

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

When it comes to vacations, if you have to ask: Is it safe? Then it usually isn't. For business, you can travel quickly & quietly & with security if necessary. But that is not a vacation. I do agree that an all-inclusive vacation changes the equation as long as you spend 100% of your time on their property.

Last year, when I started vacation research my wife said she was sick of cobblestones: i.e. Europe. We were thinking African safari & I had narrowed it down to a self-drive in Kruger. Fly in to Johannesburg, rent a car, drive to Kruger & spend a week in the in-park accommodation driving the massive park. Round it off with a deluxe hotel just outside the park at the tail end. And then maybe a two or three night stop in Cairo on the flight back. I had it 80% planned. Then Kenya had their recent problems in Central Africa. And Zimbabwe was always in the news - next door to SA. And I started to read about the very real crime problem in Johannesburg. Posters on the Kruger forum told me that you are safer inside the park with all of the wild animals roaming around, than you are outside of it. It gave me the heebies & I switched my focus back to more cobblestones. Living on the edge to me has zero appeal. We're going to Sicily. And Rome, again.

Ian

I am not sure if it's still true, but at one point S.Africa had one of the highest rape rates on earth.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

When it comes to vacations, if you have to ask: Is it safe? Then it usually isn't.

Damn straight. Knowingly putting your wife and kids in a dangerous situation is utter stupidity.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Why not Italy, or Austria, or Ireland, or France?

What's wrong with the 1st world as a vacation destination? Or a 1st world colony/territory? This is what i'll never understand.

Unless it's a money issue.

Done those places several times. I'd like to hold on Europe w/kids until they are in their teens. Yes money is an issue. This would be a point burner (airline & hotel) vacation.

[vash]

forget mexico. i wouldnt go. the economy is really bad over there and even the relatively normal people are turning to petty crime to put food on the table. nevermind the drug cartel power struggle.

but to lump all third world countries into the "no fly zone" isnt fair. i have met some of the poorest and nicest people during my world wanderings. i dont travel like an idiot. i am on orange alert all the time, and i have a blast. when i travel, i like to see what the people do, eat and see. i dont want some pasturized version set aside for the farange. the US, is the polar opposite of third world, and some places here are just as dangerous. travel smart.

i want to see the world. but i will see more of the U.S. for awhile, just till the world shananigans simmer down.