Travel Warning – Mexico

So, me and family are supposed to go to Manzanillo Mexico in February. The US Government just issued a level 4 travel warning “Do Not Travel” for 5 Mexican states including Colima, where Manzanillo is located. My Grandparents used to own a condo there, and so we generally know the resort area and have always been comfortable. But, that was years ago. My Grandma is getting up there in age and this was kind of the family going back for a reunion and probably her last trip down there.

I’ve never had to deal with a level 4 travel warning. My instinct is to cancel the trip, but any other travelers out there have had to deal with this before??

Yeesh, that doesn’t sound good. No experience on my end but here’s more info for you in case you haven’t seen it.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/high-risk-travelers.html

FWIW, the travel advisory does not prohibit US Govt employees from traveling to and from Manzanillo via the airport so that might help, staying in a gated resort would give a better sense of safety, too.

When the FW and I went down about 12 years ago, we loved going into the old town and to the public beaches but I don’t know if I’d be comfortable doing that considering the current warning. It does look like the majority of the warnings are about the capital city of Colima, though.

If you used a travel agent, they’d be worth their weight in gold for a case like this. Tough spot to be in, hope this helps and good luck.

Man, really sorry to hear that.

It’s been a few years but the last time we went to Mexico I’ll say I did not feel very safe anywhere off the resort. The cab ride from the airport to our resort felt like we were riding through a militarized zone, police with machine guns were common at most intersections and check-points had been set up all over the place.

I did read recently that some places in Colima are experiencing murder rates that you’d expect to see only in war zones.

My wife and I went to Belize a while back. Of course our safety was on our minds but really it felt quite safe. I think staying at the resort and not walking around at night would go a long way in keeping you safe. Good luck with your decision.

What is the travel warning for Chicago? I think a lot of people from outside the US would be hesitant about traveling to a lot of our cities as well?

Joe Scegura wrote:

What is the travel warning for Chicago?

It’s pretty tough to compare a city of 2.6 million to a city of 180,000. The sheer number of homicides in Chicago is far higher, but the homicide rate in Manzanilla is nearly 2.7 times that of Chicago according to this and this.

Im heading down to Lake El Salto in two weeks and this is located in Sinoloa which is one of the travel areas as well. We get picked up from the airport and travel main highways all the way to the lake. This will be the 4th time Ive been down to Mexico fishing and have never felt like we are in danger. Also I know a lot of guys that drive across the boarder to fish in Mexico and they are safe as well. They always advise don’t go off road and don’t drive at night. Be smart about where you go and you will be fine. Most drug cartel are not going to want to mess with tourists because it will bring a lot of attention to the area.

I went to Acapulco when there were similar issues going on, and never felt at risk. I don’t recall if it was level 4, or not. But we also had everything setup as far as transport and staying at a big resort. If it was/is a DIY trip and just renting a house I would probably still go but might have second thoughts.

Mexico has always had warnings for different areas, typically level 2 or 3. The border crossing states are level 3 right now, for example. Level 4 puts this region in the same category as war-torn Syria, Yemen, and Somalia.

I don’t know man……….. stressing me out.

No way I would consider going to Mexico let alone the high risk areas. My wife and I have removed that from our list. I would love to see natural Mex, Central Am, South Am but no chance of that happening.

I think for me the biggest factor is the unknown. There are plenty of places in Chicago (or minneapolis) I’d feel very comfortable around, and other places in those cities where I wouldn’t feel so safe later at night. The difference is that I know which places are generally safe and which are not in those cities. In Mexico I really don’t. I just know most resorts are fairly safe around the resort grounds, but anything else I’d feel uncomfortable.

We use to go to Ixtapa about every 3-4 years. Since all this crap is going on we quit that all together. I miss it, but I take a vacation to relieve stress not increase it.

When we go to Mexico, it is usually Cozumel… very little crime and very friendly. I do not feel at all uncomfortable leaving the resort day or night. Like a taxi driver told us one year, the criminals stay away from Cozumel… they have nowhere to hide if they commit a crime on the small island. That being said, I think I was ripped off on some supposed “high quality” t-shirts one year…

Here is a message I just got from the guy I work with that helps with my Mexico trips and goes down there all the time.

It is a bad joke. More government BS. Honestly, nothing has changed or is any different down there than it has been for decades.
This is basically a re-spin of what the State Dept. has communicated for a very long time. It’s nothing new.
The only thing that is different is that they decided to launch a new worldwide “Travel Guidance Advisory System”, in order to differentiate more clearly the difference in a travel alert, warning, advisement, etc. It’s honestly more for the government employees, but then they say they want the public to know the internal restrictions they may put on themselves…and then cover their ass by communicating it to the world, and needlessly scaring people.
Honesty. Those people killing each other over our money, and the rights/routes to sell us illegal drugs don’t care about gringo tourists.
It’s ironic, because they actually respect Americans, since we are their customer. The last thing they want to do is mess with a gringo bring the heat upon themselves.
Again, this is nothing new, and nothing has suddenly changed…other than them launching their “new and improved” travel guidance system.

We went to the Dominican Republic last spring and we saw more there (military checkpoints, truck-mounted machine guns and poverty) than I ever did in Mexico. I haven’t been to Mexico since 2005, but I don’t know that it got that much worse in the tourist towns. Only town I ever felt somewhat uncomfortable in was Puerto Vallarta. I don’t think I’ll ever go back, but the sense of crime isn’t the reason, it’s the lack of interest.

bassfshin24 wrote:

It is a bad joke. More government BS

That was my first impression too.

I wish Mexico would just build walls between all the safe and non-safe parts. That way I could visit the safe areas without having to worry about anything bad ever happening you know?

Of course, that would also make getting into the safe areas physically impossible, because walls are known to be completely impregnable.

If you can’t find a place in this country to vacation you aren’t trying very hard.

Level 4 is that new alert level orange?
Its confusing the DHS replaces the HSAS with the NTAS. Its nice to see they than can pinpoint the dagerous areas around the world.

Violence can happen anywhere, anytime. But it doesn’t hurt to put the odds in your favor. I scratched Mexico off the list years ago…

suzuki wrote:

No way I would consider going to Mexico let alone the high risk areas. My wife and I have removed that from our list. I would love to see natural Mex, Central Am, South Am but no chance of that happening.

A lot of people from the U.S. and on this site think same way. They are scared to go anywhere outside the country. Your missing out. Mexico, central and South America have amazing places and even better fishing. I try to go twice a year.

Enjoy your trip to Mexico. It’s a beautiful place.

Just got got back from Matzalan in sinoloa and never felt that our safety was in any danger. Been going to Mexico for years and always enjoyed the trip. Can’t tell you what to do but the government warning would not stop me from going.

MnPat1 wrote:

They are scared to go anywhere outside the country. Your missing out.

Shhhh have you seen how cheap it is to travel, no need to encourage demand. There’s plenty of places in the US this time of year, with never ending beautiful beaches, 90 degree weather and phenomenal service for next to nothing…

Come to Florida. Travel level 0 and we take US dollars.

Common sense goes a long ways when traveling…anywhere ! We go somewhere every winter (cabin fever) and most times was to Cozumel, we have gone to Puerta Vallarta too, when hurricanes made Cozumel uninviting and never felt uneasy about either place. Also as stated in the Dominican, we went to Punta Cana and there was more of a military presence and very dirty looking on our way to the 5 Star resort… once there, it was very safe feeling and almost paradise. This year we are doing Hawaii for our 25th anniversary… gonna go to Pearl Harbor, stay on Oahu 3 days, then go to Kauai for 7 more. FWIW, we were told the Big Island (Hawaii) is not as safe as the others… so everyplace has its undesirable areas I guess. Have fun and use common sense, you’ll be fine.

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MnPat1 wrote:</div>
They are scared to go anywhere outside the country. Your missing out.

Shhhh have you seen how cheap it is to travel, no need to encourage demand. There’s plenty of places in the US this time of year, with never ending beautiful beaches, 90 degree weather and phenomenal service for next to nothing…

My wife and I have been to Mexico the last two years and it was wonderful both times. Never felt unsafe. Everything is cheap, everyone at the resorts drop anything they’re doing to help you. The travel warnings are BS unless you are planning on going to small towns or run around the cities after dark. Just be smart and you will be fine. I would still go.

I have a question. It’s a serious question. I’m not trying to be disrespectful so please don’t take it that way.

Most all of us rip on companies that move to Mexico (or other places outside the good ol US of A), but when we decide on taking a vacation, it’s ok to take our cash to a foreign country(?) In fact, it might even be a status.

If this is bad, then I’m just a guilty as anyone. Fishing at Christmas Island took money out of our country too.

So I’m not pointing fingers. Just asking the global question…why is it not ok for companies to move out of the US but it’s ok for individual people/families to take their vacation dollars out?

On a side note there has been 75 women strangled or suffocated in Chicago since the early 2000’s. 50 of those murders are still unsolved. No travel advisory there.

I’m not sure that’s apples to apples BK. A company takes millions of dollars and jobs for an extended amount of time, maybe forever. A family vacation is a couple thousand for a week.

I picking up what you’re putting down…but really, it’s still money going out.
Money that would keep people employed in the US.
Tourism is big business… just look at Explore Minnesota, Explore Where Ever.

I agree with BK. We have stopped going to Canada for spring fishing trips as dealing with the border is a pain as there are so many other places domestically to try. I am no fan of the communist state of California but when we visited our daughter in San Diego last winter it was great. I could never live there but a great place to visit. How can you not love a place that proclaims itself the micro brew capital of the United States! Can’t wait to get another growler of Tony Gwynn IPA.

Interesting perspective BK, I like the reasoning.

My uncle had an entire clip emptied into his chest in a public square years ago down in Mexico, nobody heard or saw anything. Seeing the wrong Mexican gal I guess, or mistaken identity, noone really knows for sure.

I won’t be traveling there anytime soon.