There are many reasons why people want to take trips to Mexico. The beaches in Cancun and Cozumel are some of the most beautiful in the world. Additionally, Mexico is usually only a relatively short flight away from wherever you live in the U.S. This means that you usually spend less money on airfare, and it’s easier to go there if you need to get away over a long weekend. You couldn’t conceivably take a three-day trip from Los Angeles to Scotland and still have some time to enjoy yourself. In a lot of instances, taking a trip to Mexico makes sense, and it can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately for tourists, Mexico isn’t as safe as it used to be. If you want to take a trip there, despite safety concerns, here are some ways you can stay safe:
1. Avoid traveling to border towns. Cities on the U.S.-Mexico border like Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, and Juarez may be a short trip from where you live, but they’re usually the least safe places to go. Consider going to coastal destinations like Cancun instead. There’s considerably less involvement in drug trafficking and crime in coastal cities that are far from the border.
2. Before you take your trip, research where you’re going. It’s important for you to know if there are any unsafe areas and neighborhoods you should avoid once you arrive.
3. Don’t wear a bunch of fancy jewelry or flaunt your expensive electronics publicly. It’s all right to sport your expensive gear when you’re limiting your activity to a resort. However, if you venture out into town, away from your hotel, you don’t want to increase your chances of getting robbed. So, keep the way you look simple, and don’t give anyone the idea that you might have a lot of cash in your wallet.
4. When traveling away from your hotel or resort, only take enough cash for the day with you. Leave your credit cards in a safe place in your hotel room. If you do get held up, it’s a lot better to only lose 220 pesos than to lose all of your credit cards and the identification you keep in your wallet.
5. Try to always stay in a group or at least with another person you know. Individuals are far more likely to be targeted by criminals than groups or pairs of people are.
So, there’s no need to be afraid of traveling to Mexico. Just go prepared!
Author’s Bio: Logan B. is a world traveler and jet charter enthusiast who strives to spend as much time as possible at the world’s most beautiful beaches.
