Mexico, Riveria Maya, is it that bad?

[m3jappa]

I am under some pressure to go on a family holiday next year which is fair enough as we never go away.

Looking at mexico, Rivera maya for 2 adults and a 2-3yr old and a 7yr old.

Initially looked at the hard rock resort which looks good to me, i want to do some diving, i fking love mexican food, want to check out some mayan ruins. In all it sounds perfect and it is sensible money.

But.....

Googling the area seems to suggest its actually really bad with cartels, theres been a few murders, people getting caught in cross fires etc.

Now the cynic in me suggests they may have been out looking for cocaine and ended up in a predicament but looking at some of the people killed i seriously doubt they even know what coke is let alone use it.

So, am i right to be concerned or are these freak events.

Is it like saying England is a dodgy place because theres some st holes here and there, some of which i have been in and never had an issue.

[a311]

Been to the Yucatan peninsula area a few times now, tourist areas and off the beaten track and had no issues at all. The resorts are very Americanised, and the big resort hotels have security with gated access.

The cartels aren't scared of going toe to toe with the government though I think you'd be very unlucky to get caught up in any of that.

[squareflops]

Albeit around 2015 I went to Riviera Maya and stayed at the Grand Sirenis in Akumel. As said the resorts are very well manned and at no point was there any feeling of trepidation about being there or going on excursions. Ill add that Mexico has been my favorite long haul destination to date. The resort was spotless and the food / drink / service was impeccable. We did day trips to swim with whale sharks, went to Coba and Tulum and a few others places that I'll never forget. I massively recommend Riviera Maya*

*Experiences may vary

[Muzzer79]

I’ve been twice to the area

As long as you stay in the resort, or on organised tours, you’ll be fine.

They have security, etc. Last thing they need is tourists getting killed.

Seriously, this is a non-issue. The people killed will have strayed into the wrong places at the wrong time.

[twing]

Felt perfectly safe there, PDC on the other hand felt a bit sketchy at times, definitely wouldn't be going there at night.

[toon10]

Didn't have any issue when we went in 2018. We stayed at the Grand Bahia Principe resort which was very safe. We did a couple of tourist excursions (Xcaret, Tulum ruins, etc.) and went to Playa Del Carmen for the day. There were a couple of sketchy looking people about in town but no worse than other places I've been. I felt less safe in Barcelona to be honest.

[m3jappa]

Thanks all. I will talk to the mrs and see what happens.

I know the media sensationalise everything, making it sound worse than it is and generally i wouldn't give a st but cartels are scary

I don't fancy being a star in one of their viral videos thats for sure.

[DeejRC]

We stayed there 3-4yrs ago. Safe enough, but ...ho hum. Coba and Tulum were either incredibly sanitised or very commercial. My wife went 20yrs ago and much preferred it then, much less Americanised. I found the food bland in the resorts...its Mexican food, not Tex Mex. Basically...not worth returning to for us.

[StevieBee]

m3jappa said:

Googling the area seems to suggest its actually really bad with cartels, theres been a few murders, people getting caught in cross fires etc.

If you're prone to selecting holiday destinations based upon the results of such Google searches and news stories, then I fear your horizons may never exceed a week's camping in Dorset.

Mexico's a big country. The vast majority of its population by orders of magnitude are nice, law abiding citizens. The only violence you are likely to encounter there are two Iguanas fighting over a dropped burger.

We did Hotel Grand Riviera Princess there in '17. Stunning holiday..... and I'm not your usual all-inclusive type of holidaymaker.

[Ayahuasca]

There is a lot of cartel activity in Yucatán, but it is not directed at tourists. You’d have to be very unlucky to get caught in crossfire.

The cartels need the tourists to come as hotels and restaurants and beach apartments are a great way of laundering money.

Just keep your wits about you and you will be fine.

[Muzzer79]

m3jappa said:

Thanks all. I will talk to the mrs and see what happens.

I know the media sensationalise everything, making it sound worse than it is and generally i wouldn't give a st but cartels are scary

I don't fancy being a star in one of their viral videos thats for sure.

If you're staying in a resort, there is literally a 0.000001% chance of you even seeing anyone from a cartel, let alone being murdered by one.

Stay in a resort, go on organised excursions, you will be as safe as in any other holiday location in the world.

[ED209]

Been to that area a couple of times, felt really safe apart from Play Del Carmen at night. Used local buses, taxis and ferries by ourselves and it was fine.

[Ayahuasca]

Now Acapulco, on the other hand …

[J210]

Iv been to a very nice hotel near Puerto morelos and never had any issues

Walked up the beach away from the hotel zone and all the locals where friendly. Walked in to Puerto morelos and was a small friendly town.

The cartel dont give a st about tourists. ultimately its how they make money and protect the hotels

[geeks]

Ayahuasca said:

Now Acapulco, on the other hand …

Going loco?

[skinnyman]

Two weeks in Puerto Morelos, albeit around 15yrs ago, no issues at all. Resort was very secure, did a night out in Cancun, another in Playa Del Carmen, taxi there & back, no problems.

[egor110]

I'd be more worried about the influx of seaweed than the cartel.

[Ayahuasca]

egor110 said:

I'd be more worried about the influx of seaweed than the cartel.

Ooooh yes at certain times they have a thing they call ‘red tide’ which is millions of microscopic algae things that sting. You want to avoid that time of year.

[egor110]

Ayahuasca said:

egor110 said:

I'd be more worried about the influx of seaweed than the cartel.

Ooooh yes at certain times they have a thing they call ‘red tide’ which is millions of microscopic algae things that sting. You want to avoid that time of year.

Google saragasso it's huge amounts of stinking seaweed ruining the beaches.

There's a Facebook group where people update it daily .

[J210]

egor110 said:

I'd be more worried about the influx of seaweed than the cartel.

Agree. The sea grass in Riviera Maya has been bad for years. A little bit better on the coastline opposite Cozumel. But way worse then up at Playa Mujeres area