http://www.amnesty.org/en/activism-center/all-actions?tid=All&tid_3=All&term_node_tid_depth=1889
Introduction:
One woman's story of prosecution for abortion in Guanajuato, Mexico.http://www.hrw.org/en/audio/2009/02/26/punished-abortion-mexico
Here you can found some turists experiences from hell in Mexico, if you are thinking to came here please think twice!!! The reality is worst that you think. This are testimonies of real people, regular.
Actually the best way to get away with murder is , bring the one you want to kill to mexico, Kill the person here, return to US. I promiese you will never get caugth, even if you are sloppy .
Mexican law is so out dated and deeply corrupted that 99 % of all crimes are never solved.
from the 1% solved only 1% is actually caught.
from the 1% that is actually bcaught only 1% gets sentence.
So the mind state in mexico is that you can do ANY crime and the probability to get caught is almos zero, even if you are sloppy.
Do not leave the turistic areas .
Do not walk drunk in the streets at night.
Do not carry expensive watches jewelry.
Always carry a digital camera, all Mexican polices will run if you take their pictures.
Always carry a celluler phone, if you attempt a call securities and guards will run or stop.
remeber all security guard make 5 dolar per day.
Take care .use common sense.
max
Give this your attention, please. Everyone who agreed with this thread was calm and reasonable. A number of honest Mexicans agreed that Mexico is corrupt and dangerous and getting worse.
Everyone who disagreed, was in total denial, was foul-mouthed and attacked me instead of offering a single constructive solution to Mexico’s problems.
Tourists are in increasing danger as Mexican poverty deepens. Not from the war between the drug lords and the government, but from the police, the security guards, the hotel and resort employees. Mexico is steadily becoming more lawless and obviously, some of them don’t like people reporting on it.
My experience in Mexico is that Mexicans are good at hostility, it always lies just beneath the surface. They hate us for our better life, our greater prosperity, our lack of corruption compared to them and it’s why they flock here by the millions.
Now, if they would just leave their attitudes behind when they come here, but they don’t. Even when they share in the wealth, they still carry chips on their shoulders and try to turn our communities into the miserable barrios they fled from.
Some ways of life are just incompatible, and our “leaders” were fools to ever think NAFTA and open borders would work.
Mexico is a two-class system, upper and lower. It’s still a feudal system in actual practice, with no trickle-down to the masses. Those with prestige, rule and take the profits while the rest barely get by. From the government to the drug barons, this is true. Taking advantage of each other is the way of life in Mexico.
Our own government and corporations have taken advantage of and helped further their system and are partially responsible for the plague of Mexican peons who’ve come here to rip off whatever they can from our system. They’ve paid off the Elite and built factories that pay poor wages to the peasants, furthering their poverty.
Our money built a lot of their tourist resorts and gave the Elite some prosperity for a while, but they never took that prosperity and built on it or provided any alternative employment for the populace. Instead they just enjoyed the ride and sucked up the profits for themselves. Now the ride is over and the drug industry is the major source of income. The difference is that the drug czars want to be the new government while the Elite looks for new ways to take money from us, including colluding with the drug czars.
No one can expect to be as safe in a backwards, thoroughly corrupt country in worsening turmoil, as they would be in the U.S. or Canada or most Western European nations, so it’s all a matter of what level of risk you’re comfortable with for the sake of adventure.
Look, I came on this post for a reason. I want to warn others not to travel to Mexico because of personal experience. It’s a long drawn out story I really don’t want to go back over. In a nutshell, I had my head stomped in by Federales. I was minding my own business. Dressed meagerly. I had committed no crime or minor infraction. When I begged “por favor” “no mas” “no carcel por favor”, they all laughed and kicked me harder. I woke up in a little clinic with a pumpkin face and 30 stitches on the side of my head. Somebody watching had felt sorry for me. He and his wife carried me to their car and payed the doctor at the clinic to work on me. After the cops relieved me of my wallet, passport, and ring. I had a hell of a time gettin’ through customs, 6 hours. The customs man told me this kind of thing was becoming all to common and he wouldn’t let someone take his dog to Mexico. This, by the way, coming from a Mexican American customs agent.
beware of this country. My husband wrongfully thrown in their prisons and I have been trying to get helpf for months. The embassy is lazy and will do nothing. They will not return calls and when I get them on the phone they explain how busy they are, and their bad english they can not be understood. We have foreigeners here working at their embasseys why am I not able to speak with an american when I call the embassy. I have been sending money down there every week and still he has nothing to eat. DOT NOT GO TO MEXICO if you do bad things will happen. It has been months now and still no one will help. Even the attorneys are criminals.
Repeat:To any person not getting why they should not go to Mexico : As a visitor to a country where a large portion of the economy is dependent on cash from illegal activities you are Never Safe you and have NO guarantees of coming home unscathed ! that is the truth. The number of people killed in one small village in Mexico is over 6000 due to warring drug cartels. obviously the Mexican government lost the battle if it can’t protect it’s own people from the evil entities rampant in it’s populace. How can any person justify flying or driving into this country to enjoy a holiday or do business ? How absolutely absurd .
MEXICO CITY — Thieves apparently targeting people who exchange money at Mexico City’s international airport have shot a French citizen in the head.
Authorities are warning that gangs have put lookouts at exchange windows in the airport terminal.
The 55-year-old French biotechnology researcher, who works at a Mexican university, was attacked and robbed of ($6,336 US).
It happened on a street near the airport.
Assistant city prosecutor Luis Vasquez and police say the victim is in serious condition at a local hospital.
Officials at the French embassy say they could not confirm the victim’s name or home town.
Mexico City police chief Manuel Mondragon said criminal gangs have posted lookouts at some of the money exchange businesses inside the airport.
The lookouts tip off associates waiting outside who rob the victims after they leave the terminaJournalist killed in Mexico, 12th case in 2009
12/25/2009, 1:44 p.m. EST
The Associated Press
(AP) — MEXICO CITY – A journalist was gunned down this week as he left a holiday party in the Mexican Caribbean resort town of Tulum, human rights officials and an international media group said Friday, bringing to 12 the number of reporters killed this year in the country.
Alberto Velazquez of the newspaper Expresiones de Tulum was killed on Tuesday.
Velazquez had written articles critical of local officials, and his paper had received threats, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In a statement, the group quoted colleagues as saying Velazquez was shot by a gunman on a motorcycle, and they believed it was related to his reporting.
Velazquez founded the paper in June and worked as a lawyer, according to the Civic Association of Journalists of the Riviera Maya, a local press group. It said that Velazquez, as he was dying, reportedly accused allies of the mayor of Tulum of being responsible for his death.
No one answered phone numbers listed for the mayor or his top officials on Friday.
But the association quoted Mayor Marciano Dzul as condemning the killing and saying his government would not tolerate such acts.
Tulum, a beach town about 80 miles (129 kilometers) south of Cancun, draws many tourists from the popular resort city because of its coastal Mayan ruins.
The CPJ said at least 17 reporters have been murdered in Mexico since 1992 in direct reprisal for their work.
It did not specifically include Velazquez in that group, but urged a thorough investigation.
“Mexico has become a high-risk country for journalistic work,” the country’s National Human Rights Commission wrote, noting that in all, 57 reporters have been killed since 2000 and another eight are missing.
Attacks on journalists-including killings, explosives tossed at newspaper offices, beatings and other forms of harassment-have risen over the course of the decade, according to the commission, from 13 in 2000 to 78 this year.
The numbers of people murdered in Mexico everyday is shocking the media is reporting drug related murders are increasing at an alarming rate. Law enforcement specialists from the U.S.A and other countries are meeting in Mexico to assist in anyway they can. I think the corrupt structure of the Mexico is struggling and may do so for the next 10 years before there is anything remotely resembling the mexico of 40 years ago when it was fairly peaceful to travel there. The people of this country will only realize peace when they rise up and demand it.
Hi! I know that this post is old, but I wanted to say how I’m agree with the major part of what you say, Rastaman and Ashleigh. I’m very sorry for what happened to you Ashleigh and I understand why you’re so embiterred about Mexico.
I would like to specify that I’m not racist, I’m not an extremist of the Klux Klux Klan, and I don’t hate all the mexicans. I travelled in Mexico and I loved so much this country, and I’m grateful of all they did for me. There is very good persons in Mexico, but unfortunately, a part of the population is bad, and we can’t trust everybody there.
It’s difficult for me to make me a precise opinion about Mexico in my mind, because this country have a lot of differents faces. This is a country of extremes. Extreme beautifull and extreme ugly. Extrem rich, and extreme poor. For this reason the peoples who said that is a wonderfull country have raison, but those who talk about the dark side have reason too. This country is totally bipolar, and this is very confounding.
Usually, the tourists see only the good sides of Mexico. They go in the beaches, and in the beautifull small colonials towns. And they are so naive than they think that everyone is good, and their big smiles are always sincere. Yet everbody in latin america know that the mexicans are always smiling, but you never no what they’re thinking about. It’s the reason why you can’t trust peoples you don’t know well in Mexico. It can be dangerous to be too much confidents in people who seems helpful. We have to be always suspicious.
But It’s not the idea that the yuppies backpackers want to have of a travel. I talked a lot about Mexico with backpackers travellers in others web sites. In Canada and Europe, is very socially valued for the youngs students to travel alone as backpacker, without travels agencies. They believe that they are greats adventurers.
They despise and laugh of the americans tourists who go in all includes hotels in Cancun. A lot of people in the world think that all the americans are idiots and uncultivated, but I know that it’s not true. The backpackers believe themselves braves, mostly the youngs women. A lot of young women want to be free to travel alone in all the countries they want in the world, even countries very dangerous and hostiles for women alones. And above all for occidentales blonds women.
Contradict their idea of total freedom, make them angry. To talk about the risk to be raped, make them crazy. They don’t want to heard about that. But in the eventuality of this happen, how they will be prepared to react?
I said to them many time DON’T TRAVEL ALONE IN MEXICO. Mexico is not the place for a woman alone. Go with a man, with a group of friends, or with a secure organised tour. (but now even this, is not totally safe). But am I crazy to talk about organised tours to a great adventurer??? They will laugh of me, for sure!
They think I’m paranoid and racist. But I just want the truth to be known. I saw the securities measures the mexican take everyday there. It’s crazy how they live, and I can’t imagine me alone there travelling as a backpacker, and to go in the most dangerous places juste because “I want to be friend with the trues peoples and I’m a socialist who want to save the world”. I some case the ideologies take more place than the common sense.
Now I would like to talk to the young women backpackers travellers. Before to go in Mexico, see this video, to know the difficult situation of the mexicans women. It’s a other world. You can’t imagine it, but it’s true.
Don’t say “this is don’t concern me because I’ a foreigner”. Please be empatic. The mexican women are our sisters. If it happen something wrong to my sisters, I feel sad. It’s for this reason that personnally, I boycott Mexico until the human rights of the women were not respected.
The war of drug cartels is not the only problem. The cartels do also kidnapping and HUMAN TRAFFICKING. It’s the risk you take.
The risk is not only in the borders towns. It’s in whole the country. You can disappear, like many women were missing there. Every mexican girl live with this fear everyday. If you’re alone, you’re more vulnerable, because they know that nobody will help you.
See this videos. It’s hard, but you must to know the truth:
Human traffiking in Mexico
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/mexico.human.traffic.drug/index.html?eref=rss_crime&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss/cnn_crime+(RSS:+Crime)&utm_content=Google+International
Muertas de ciudad Juarez:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFixUgJkVA
And now watch how the popular mexican culture consider the women as sexual objects. Forget the mariachis and the Charros. This is the past. Now the young mexican peoples like this shit. The ghetto culture of United State is very popular in this country, because it’s perfectly compatible with the macho culture in Mexico:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMQx9ytWGTw
Lastly, you must to know that 45% of the mexican population is under 20 years old. 60% is under 30 years old.
The majority are poors and live in very dangerous neighborhoods. Don’t go there, even if you dream of social justice. You can’t do nothing to change the others country.
The others backpackers will give you safety advices like “don’t go out at night, don’t wear jewelry…) They attempt to put rules on something that is totally irrational. The crime in Mexico is irrational, because you can’t expect rational behaviors of poors children. In ciudad Juarez they learn to kill at 14 years old. In Mexico city, they put a knife into a young student women in the UNAM area, just for the fun to kill.
Watch the children of the street in Mexico. They inhale glue all the time, and their brain is broken for all the live.
Street kids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nHbGHl55ck
Now, to stay in the subject, which is tourism in Mexico, Calderon is doing a disinformation campaign for the tourism industry, to boost the tourism economy, which is the third most important economic activity in Mexico. He seems like a desperate man.
Imagine Mexico without tourists. It would be a country devastated and in deep economic crisis. Millions of americans visit Mexico every years and adds to that the Canadian and Europeans.
Calderon know that save the reputation of Mexico is very important for to survive, not for our well-being to us, ordinary tourists. And also for the whole North Amercian and international tourism industry in which Mexico has a very important place. This is why we are kept ignorant about the risks for us to go there with our children and our grand-mothers.
But the truth is that Mexico is becoming like Guatemala, Salvador, Colombia, and others crap hole of latin america, where nobody want to go for vacation (except some crazy backpackers), even if the beaches are beautiful. Mexico is becoming also like Haiti, who was in the past the “pearl of the Antilles”, and became a dangerous places controlled by gangs. It’s sad, but we, the tourists don’t have to pay our lives to keep the illusion that Mexico is a tropical paradise only to boost the travel industry economy. Maybe we should go to vacation in Salvador it’s more quiet… no, I’m joking.
They need the tourists, for survive even if they hate the “gringos”. This is very contradictory. A study showed that the suicide rate of Mexican workers in the tourist industry, is very high in Cancun. The tourists are not very aware of their lives and their psychological distress and misery.
“President Felipe Calderon say: Don’t talk bad about Mexico.
If you don’t have anything nice to say, then just don’t say it, Mexican President Felipe Calderon seems to be telling his countrymen. Speaking Friday during an event to promote Mexican tourism, the conservative Calderon complained that Mexicans both here and abroad talk too negatively about their country…” he said.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/03/public-relations-problems.html
This isn’t recent, it was posted just over a year ago and the violence was bad then. It’s gotten a lot worse and our government has gone to the point of telling the college kids to NOT GO to Mexico on Spring Break because it’s TOO DANGEROUS.
Max, the Mexican who commented just before you did, says STAY OUT!. Last time I went, you could get your money back minus commissions. I guess they’re having so many cancellations that now they’re refusing refunds as you aren’t the first to say you can’t get one.
You can get a refund on your airfare. I strongly suggest you do that and eat the loss on the resort. Playa and Cancun are two of the worst rated tourist destinations in Mexico now for danger.
The money is spent. Let it go, get your airfare back if you can, from the airline, not the travel agency, and use it to book a motel at some nice place near home and thank your lucky stars you didn’t go to Mexico. Losing out on one vacation is a disappointment but not one that ends in tragedy. Life will go on.
Money!!! Rockermama or I should say : Every person who has enough of it right now to put towards a nice break in winter…..When you open your wallet and put out your hard earned CASH. THINK am I putting this money to an entity that promotes PEACE and democracy ? What is the structure of this places Government do they believe things WE believe? We are very powerful when we have the wallets ,that have this free money in it. We have a responsibility to the Peace of our planet to not spend it where there’s EVIL .Thousands of people are waking up to this power and are using it and Countries that do not provide protection for us (people with the wallets ) are pissed. When you give birth to a child and have more than a handful of brain cells clinging round your head, you promise to protect that child with your life. I must say that I felt so much relief when I was there that I hadn’t brought my kids. My sun is very well traveled and knew when I told him my experience in Playa. He talked very deeply about the things he’s seen when he’d toured all of Asia and how the conditions citizens there live under, will haunt him till he dies. We agreed that we can help by traveling to countries where the citizens are safe which means …… We are safe. You are not safe in Mexico and that’s a fact . I repeat the U. S ,Canada and Europe etc have safety The best service i’ve ever had is in America . Many American’s haven’t traveled their own country, it’s Awesome!! ,I want to drive the whole south. To me it’s like a totally different planet, relaxing on any of your warm coasts rocks too. If you do the math at the end of the day you spend less and learn why your so great. What I really think is interesting about America is when you go to a different state it’s a new culture ,Learn why your great then go where it sucks you’ll see what were going on about on here. Just because a place is beautiful doesn’t mean it’s safe Germany was beautiful in 1938.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A dozen Mexican soldiers were arrested on suspicion of working with the violent Gulf Cartel, the Mexican army said on Thursday, a blow to President Felipe Calderon’s military-backed campaign against drug gangs.
The troops are accused of collaborating with four municipal policemen in the central state of Aguascalientes who provided protection for Gulf cartel capos, the army said in a statement.
The arrests come as Calderon sent thousands more troops to the violent border city of Ciudad Juarez in an attempt to curb spiraling drug violence that killed more than 6,000 people last year.
Calderon deployed the army to fight organized crime since taking office in 2006 partly because soldiers have traditionally been seen as less corrupt than police.
But several recent high-profile arrests — including a presidential guardsmen who allegedly received $100,000 a month to track Calderon for drug traffickers — reveal infiltration in the highest levels of Mexico’s security forces.
The Gulf cartel is fighting a turf war for control of smuggling routes with its main rival the Sinaloa federation, led by Mexico’s most wanted man Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman.
The Gulf cartel’s feared hitmen known as the Zetas, infamous for torturing and beheading their enemies, were founded by a group of military deserters.
Ok,
I have to chime in here.
Ive heard all of the stories about Mexico. About 2.5 years ago, I was introduced to a charity that takes college kids to mexico (Baja, Tijuana) to help in building projects. I took my family one christmas, and had the time of my life. I made some contacts with our LDS Church in baja, and have made life long friends. I went to Baja 5-6 times in 2006 alone. Nothing has made me happier than to help the less advantaged..
Now the story..
In about oct of 2008, I drove with 3 friends to TJ. We flew my 20 year old son in to Sandiego and picked him up. It was one of those trips where nothing went right, the family we were supposed to help was late getting home on the day we were supposed to do work.. We were bored, we decided to go to the revolution Street (Something told me not to)..
We looked at parking at a lot, but at 3pm on a saturday, we parked a couple blocks away on the street, thinking that would be safe. People everywhere..
Walked around, bought a few things..
Gone maybe one hour..
Came back, Van was gone.. My friend that spoke strong spanish, found out with some calls, that someone had supposedly broken into the van, and the cops arrived and had the van towed..They took everything that wasnt bolted down. It was like a scene from “The Grinch that stole christmas”
To this day, I dont know which part the smash and grab guy got, and which part the cops got..
Anyway…
This was a friday, and to make a long long story short, it took the entire weekend and monday to prove the government that the van was mine.
(The papers for the van were taken too.)
Bottom Line…
Its one thing to know that the chance of a smash and grab is real..
Its totally another thing to see how officials didnt care 1% about our situation. We had a Mexican friend in Baja that was an attorney, still got no attention from the government. It was amazing how little care we got from officials.
I like to to think that if a tourist came walking into my local police station, (in the USA) destitute, that even the jerkiest American cop would try to help some how, some way. Im no cop lover, in fact our small town cops are absolute jerks.. However , you will NEVER see one of them trying to extort money from someone they pull over.
I haven’t been back. I’m torn , I love those people.. but everything that has been said here is true..
1. Totally corrupt system.
2. High level of desperation, means stealing is a way of life.
3. No standards in almost anything.
Anyway, I had hopes of actually buying a home on the beach in Playas TJ or Rosario etc..
Dont think that will ever happen.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:12 am MEXICO CITY — Thieves apparently targeting people who exchange money at Mexico City’s international airport have shot a French citizen in the head.
Authorities are warning that gangs have put lookouts at exchange windows in the airport terminal.
The 55-year-old French biotechnology researcher, who works at a Mexican university, was attacked and robbed of ($6,336 US).
It happened on a street near the airport.
Assistant city prosecutor Luis Vasquez and police say the victim is in serious condition at a local hospital.
Officials at the French embassy say they could not confirm the victim’s name or home town.
Mexico City police chief Manuel Mondragon said criminal gangs have posted lookouts at some of the money exchange businesses inside the airport.
The lookouts tip off associates waiting outside who rob the victims after they leave the terminal
January 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am Ever since my trip to playa del Carmen I have made it my cause to not travel to any countries where the same rights I Have in Canada, are not afforded to the people who live there. Therefore I have passed up, since my trip to playa, two trips to Shanghai,2 to Singapore 1 to to a Moslem country and oodles to different warmer climate countries. It makes me sick we do trade with these pigs. My husband has to go and consult for his co. Basically our lifestyle kinda contributes to the continuing global success of these uncivilized countries believe me we are working hard at creating a business here that would end the trips to these evil places. I guess what i’m saying is we are all responsible in affecting other countries bad politics by stemmin’ the flow of $$$$$$ It’s been happening to Mexico this last year I think we can see the mexican’s are ramping up the violence on tourists Because: there’s less tourists ,Less crime loot to go around .
January 29th, 2009 at 11:57 am Well Traveled:
You are right, you can travel many times to Mexico without any problem as long as you don’t have any trouble, abuse, or drive with a rented car plate
FYI: You don’t need to be a traveler to get it, you can be a Mexican too !!!
I am from there, lived in Mexico City for 20 years and in Cancun 18 years, and as a Mexican and business owner I can tell you it can be much much worse than this stories, which usually remain hidden. There is no police (yes, in that sense), no justice, and lots more corruption and evil than you can see in the TV, for sure the US Travel Advisory is true, and in my opionio they are always short.
FYI:
I am part of that 40+ million ouside of the country now (and not in the US), my english may not be perfect but sure I am not an orange picker. Many Mexicans leave their country every year due the absolute corruption and not for money, looking for better life and due the fact it is impossible to deal with corruption there since people in general belive that is normal. (As a matter of fact, the number of Mexicans outside the country is bigger than the population: 110 M).
Yes, US have it’s own things and is shitty too and the social security is a joke, but nothing compared, you can’t smoke, you can’t do this or that, but at least you can go to a police station with your wallet in your pocket… (this does not mean they are not corrupt also).
(I lived 2 years in US, so I know what I am talking about).
To close this, just today, I received a message from Cancun hotel industry board looking for a Mexican mid-class 28 years old guy disapeared on Jan, 19 2009. A mid-class guy ! not even from an accomodated family anymore…
For all interested in real Mexico, try to find a recent documentary made in Europe called “Narco Mexico”, is just a sample in my opinion but reflects preety well the real real thing.
January 30th, 2009 at 9:25 am Hey Juan no argument from me in regards to this not being a racial issue. I realize it’s political corruption for sure!! I can’t imagine the frustration you and the good people from Mexico must feel at the absolute evil that can happen to the innocent there. When you use the term “orange picker” ….is that in response to the american anger at so many Mexicans being there ? Don’t get me started on the beautiful mansions created for americans at bargain prices ,By the hard working Mexican men and women they love to hate.Makes me sick .America created this dilemma for themselves that’s a whole blog onto itself! But not like Canada’s perfect either the majority of Canadians don’t understand in a concrete manner what we took away from the “First Canadians”,” Indians” in your country. Jaun what is mexican mid class? Whats accomodated family? I’m now going to find that Doc. Narco Mexico Thanks alot get your friends to write here maybe we’ll shake things up.Because if you read the pro stories here and on other blogs it’s so obvious it’s the Mexican tourist people, not regular folk like yourself. ; ) Adios
February 6th, 2009 at 9:20 am Lucy…
Stay in a large group on tours. The ruins are spacious and it’s easy to get separated and alone or with one or two others, which is what robbers look for. Remember that YOU are the money source for the area, as a tourist.
Don’t take anything fancy or expensive, such as rings or other items, NEVER leave anything of value in your room and if you take a camera, keep it with you and hidden except when you use it.
Don’t rent a car or take road trips with a few friends only. Stay around lots of people.
DO NOT exchange your money at the resort. You will be given two thirds to one half of actual value, plus you’ll give away how much money you have. Do your money exchanges at a local bank and look up the going exchange rate before you leave. When you do exchange dollars for pesos, do it in small quantities rather than all in one big lump, as you will be observed in the bank. If you display a lot of cash, you’ll be in real danger.
DON’T get drunk. Avoid alcohol in Mexico unless you’re at the poolside in your resort, WITH FRIENDS, but then drink lightly. You’re being observed. Always remember that someone looking for victims is very likely watching you and your friends.
Stay alert and use caution. Consider that you’re going into an area where there’s lots of wild animals and since none of you have guns, your best protection to scare off predators is having a large group. Look at it that way, and stick to the rules, and you should have a fine time.
Then don’t ever do it again.
February 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pm Lucy when the sun starts gettin low beetle your hiny’s back to the resort if some one has to smoke in the dark be there with them. Watch the beach as soon as it’s pitch dark out you’ll see the security guys creeping the beaches. Take 500.00 us keep your visa hidden on your person. ,I wore capris to town with a pocket that snapped shut I kept small bills in my front pockets. No purse. Better yet if you hook up with some North american guys bring them on your outings. Good luck
February 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pm Woodbridge couple murdered in Mexico
Found in room with their throats slit, report says
Kelly Patrick and Natalie Alcoba, National Post
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A Woodbridge couple attending their daughter’s wedding at a posh Mexican resort on the Mayan Riviera have been found viciously slain in their rooms.
Press reports said the bodies of the husband and wife were both found with their throats slit. Pamela Greenwell, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Canada, confirmed a Canadian couple had died in the Mayan Riviera, near Cancun, and that Mexican police authorities were investigating. She would not release their names or any information about their deaths.
However, the Playa Del Carmen newspaper Quequi reported yesterday the deceased were Dominic Janeiro, 59, and his wife, Annyziata, 55.
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Dominic Janeiro
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The newspaper said the couple arrived at the five-star Barcelo Maya resort on Saturday morning with 18 guests for their daughter’s nuptials. According to the newspaper, the group held a party on Sunday evening that lasted until about 2 a.m. Afterwards, Mr. Janeiro and his wife returned to their room at the Maya Caribe, one of four intertwined resorts in the Maya Barcelo complex located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, about 80 kilometres south of Cancun.
When the groom’s parents tried to phone the Janeiros early the next morning, there was no answer. Suspicious, they contacted the bride — whom CityTV reported was a salon employee named Lilly — groom and several other guests and knocked on the Janeiros’ door. There was still no reply, the newspaper reported.
A resort staff member with a master key opened the door. Mrs. Janeiro’s body was found in the bedroom. Her husband’s was discovered in the ensuite bathroom, the newspaper reported. Both their throats had been slit — Mr. Janeiro’s from ear-to-ear– according to the paper, which also said a knife that appeared similar to those used in the resort’s kitchen was found nearby.
Although a lamp had been knocked over, drawers opened and the couple’s personal belongings strewn about, nothing valuable was missing, the paper reported, adding authorities were treating hotel employees as possible suspects under the theory that the couple may have interuppted a robbery in progress.
Nick D’Alessandro, the couple’s nephew, told CityTV the family was in shock. “Everyone needs to go through their grieving process and wait. We want answers just like everyone else does. So we hope we get them.”
March 1st, 2009 at 8:24 pm We just got back from Cancun January 12, 2009. We had a nightmare from hell trip and it cost us about $6,000 when it was all said and done.
First off, we got robbed at the airport in Cancun by a couple of “airport security” wearing fake airport uniforms. Our CONQUEST van that was supposed to take us to our hotel (Gran Melia) threw our bags out of the trunk and took off on us!! So we were then approached by these airport people who said they would get us another van… but when we got to the hotel DEMANDED $60USD for the trip!!! Luckily I had that amount on me.
Next, my hubby got drugged at the Gran Melia pool bar by one of the servers! And NO I am not joking! I went up to the room and he showed up about 10 minutes later accompanied by 2 men.. They saw me and then left right away. If I was not there I think they would have robbed him. He fell asleep and didn’t remember a damn thing!! He had only 2 drinks that day!! We made a complaint straight away to the hotel, they did absolutely NOTHING about it. They had 2 security guards come take a statement, they didn’t even speak english. They had a notepad to take their “notes” but didn’t write more than 2 words the entire time. They treated us as if we were lying! We were staying in a 5 star hotel and we got treated like dogs!
AS A CANADIAN, I HATE MEXICO.. I will NEVER go back. I will NEVER give them my money again.
It was our first trip to Mexico, and we will never EVER go back.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 am My wife recently booked us a trip to Cabo San Lucas for a week at the cost of $4700.00 US. Looking at the news, hearing the reports of drug cartel violence, and reading this forum has made me very leary of travelling to Mexico. Sadly, I’m trying to cancel or book a different destination with the travel company she used, and we aren’t having any luck whatsoever. They simply will not refund our money or direct us to a different destination. How bad is Cabo San Lucas right now, in terms of drugs and violence? Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I can get my money back from this booked vacation? I even bought the travel insurance and they won’t refund me……