Mexico - stay in resort or explore?

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PYT

In Cancun, it is safe to explore outside the resort. Even taking the bus is safe, as long as you stay within the tourist district and downtown. We went last month and were hesitant to take the bus even when the hotel concierge advised us it was very safe and way cheaper than a taxi. When we wanted to go downtown, we opted for the bus and it was fine.

We did notice how safe we felt in Cancun rather than in any other city in Mexico. This would be because Cancun relies mainly on tourism, so why would it's people cause harm to it's tourists. Many locals there would tell us this. We didn't really see many policemen in the week we were there.

The tours are great and you feel especially safe with your tour guides. I highly recommend Xcaret and Chichen Itza or Tulum.

caroline1409f1

We stayed all inclusive in the Riviera Maya and went on organised trips from the resort to Tullum and Chitzen Intza (sorry, can't remember how to spell it). Be organised, be careful and you should be fine - it's like anywhere else really - keep your wits about you and be sensible. It's good to experience a country while you're there on holiday otherwise why bother - one swimming pool is like another at the end of the day?

jason h

No, it is not dangerous, if you are a smart traveler. Cancun's hotel zone is very touristy. Take cabs to and from places, and you will be dropped off right in front of any place you want to go. Check out the Jungle tour in Cancun, you drive small boats and snorkel. Lots of fun if you enjoy snorkeling. Enjoy the resort for the first couple of days. Then when you get tired of that, I suggest you take an all-inclusive tour to Chichen-Itza. They pick you up from the hotel and take you on a double decker bus to Chichen-Itza, feed you etc. Playa Del Carmen is a great little town 5Th Ave. is great and safe.
Cozumel is very safe, you can take a ferry ride from Playa Del Carmen. 40min. $20pp round trip. When you are in the Riviera Maya, check out Xcaret(.com) and Xel-Ha(.com) Tulum. To put your mind at ease, I travel to the Yucatan quite a bit. I have never had any issues. Be smart, though! Check out Playatrips.com, the operator is Tello and he is a great guy. If you are going to be down there for two weeks and you enjoy snorkeling, check into the resorts or local scuba shops discover scuba. The water is so beautiful and clear it is a great place to take scuba lessons, and you have the time to do it. (Take plenty of small US bills as well. They always give you back pesos in return, that bites. I normally, for one week take $100.00 ones and at least that in fives and tens. Mainly, because I eat out at night and I take the tours and for the taxi's.

Gina

I would go out and explore by taking a few tours and by riding the bus (like 70 cents) within Cancun. If you never go out of your resort, you really don't get to see the true culture there. You wouldn't even really know you're in Mexico while in Cancun if it weren't for that humongous Mexican flag they are flying there.

It is not unsafeto leave the resort, I just donâ€™t recommend renting a car because the police are corrupt, as I have had an experience with them before. They will pull you over for an imaginary infraction and tell you that they are taking you to jail unless you pay them cash.

It's just all about common sense. You will have a blast, and good luck! I recommend Joe's Jeep Adventure! It is great! http://www.jeepadventures.com.mx is the website. I also recommend a tour to Xel-Ha once you are in the Riviera Maya.

mgmdude

Dangerous? I'd have to dispute the prior posting. I have had the opportunity to visit the Yucatan six times in the last twelve years and have not seen anything that could be defined as dangerous. There is so much to do outside the AI. You can see the ruins, cenotes or snorkel/dive while down there. If you go to Cozumel, check out the eastern side of the island. It is less developed and more relaxing. If you take the ferry from Playa del Carmen, hang out on 5th av and catch the vibe down there. If you decide to do a day trip to any of the ruins, (Tulum, Coba or Chichen) you can take a bus from the station in Cancun. It is cheaper, the bus is still air conditioned and they will drop you off at the door step of the location of your choice. In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet other people during your journey. Of course you have to be smart while on the road. Don't run around flashing your cash. Take the same precautions you would take in any large city and you will have a great adventure and cultural experience.

Gary M

Hey listen, my wife and I took a bus all over Cancun. We went to the places where the workers lived.
I have never been afraid to mingle with the Mexican people in a resort area.
I have been in much worse areas of Mexico than Cancun.
Tijuana is on of the worst. and I never really felt scared there either.
If you were to go into the heart of Mexico like Mexico City it would be a much different story.
But in the resort towns, the people are very friendly, nice and hospitable.
One of the best times we had on our all inclusive vacation was to meet some locals and have dinner with them.
What a fantastic time we had, they played musical instruments and we partied with them and sang and had the best time I ever had my entire stay.
Don't let other people talk you out of meeting foreign people just because they have fears.
We're all really the same when it comes down it.

Cozumel is great too.

widewillie

First of all...congrats on the wedding and the honeymoon...may you always be as happy as you are on your wedding day!!

Cozumel is beautiful...the people are friendly and the water is an unbelievable turquoise color...wow.

If you want to venture outside the resort or the downtown area, ask the concierge at the hotel for his/her help and input on safety...that's what they're there for. There will also be reps from local companies that offer a very wide variety of day trips and activities right in the lobby of the hotel...they make it so easy :o)

If you want, you can always check the US State Department's website for travel warnings...but Mexico on the whole is safe for tourists...their economy depends on it.

I've been traveling to Mexico for many years...and the real danger isn't found traveling outside your hotel. While staying at an The RIU Palace Hotel (a 5 Star all-inclusive) last year my wife and I contracted Typhoid Fever and Giardia...and very nearly died. Please learn from our mistake...see your doctor prior to leaving for either a shot or a prescription for ciprofloxacin....trust me on this. Then you can eat the food and swim in the pool without hesitation.

Enjoy...and again, congratulations!!

Ram

If you don't go outside the resort, would you know the difference if you were in Cancun, Galveston or Miami beach?? That's the point of going international, so you can see the other cultures and lifestyles. Cancun is safe, use common sense as anywhere else and you'll be fine. You'll come back home and say to yourself "Why were these people telling me all these negative things?"...

Fall

We went there last summer. We always felt perfectly safe. Just use some common sense. Don't walk in dark areas at night.... We walked around a lot at night and there were people everywhere. I'm not sure about the laws in Mx but most places(outside the US) that depend on tourism have very severe penalties for commiting a crime against a tourist. There are a lot of police around and stuff too.

chicnlips2012

explore

Thia

If you look on the Foreign Office travel website, they have all the info to all parts of the world.

Oh_cielos

Explore, it is quite safe, especially Cancun and Riviera Maya.
Taxi drivers can charge you a bit more than they should, though.
Travel agencies tell you to ONLY book with them, that way they get the comission. If you cross the street and go to any travel agency you will see they charge so much more.
Congratulations on the Honeymoon!!!

kevin p

explore it and have fun good luck

Midway 56

Stay in resort. It can be very dangerous outside the resort. A lot of corruption in Mexico including the police. People get hurt down there and also go missing.

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