<p>My daughter is traveling to Mexico City for business and I thought it was considered an unsafe place for Americans, especially a woman. She will not be alone; a male coworker will be there also, although I don’t know if they will arrive together as they are coming from 2 different countries.</p>
<p>She is staying near the Museum of Fine Arts and didn’t seem to be concerned about the area. I think all her travel has made her believe she is a knowledgeable traveler. I have head that she should not take a cab from the airport, but instead have a car service from the hotel pick her up. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I have a client who told me that him and his wife were robbed in broad daylight by a pistol wielding assailant on a busy city street, with passer bys looking by not doing anything, as if it were a normal occurrence.</p>
<p>When I went it wasn’t that bad, all you have to do is keep your items in plain view so that someone doesn’t rob you. It’s pretty much the same as any big city.</p>
<p>Are you talking about Modern Art Musuem at Chapultepec Park? If so, it is one of the safest places in MC, kind of like Central Part in NYC. People go running there very early in the morning. It is in Polanco, with very nice apartment buildings. It looks kind of like Paris. There are 3 major hotels there - JW Marriott, Continental and Niko (sp?). If she is staying at one of those hotels, she could easily walk to many outdoor cafes and upscale restaurants.</p>
<p>She should have a car service pick her up at the airport instead of taking a taxi. When she is going out at night, someone should be able to arrange for company car for her. If she needs to take a taxi, have the hotel call for it. As long as it is a known taxi service, with their name and license recorded then she should be fine.</p>
<p>She should be fine with drinks with ice. No need to worry about food at good restaurants. Not to eat from carts on the street. If she has a weak stomach, then stay away from salad and shrimp. When people get sick, they really do get sick. But there are very good hospitals if she should get sick.</p>
<p>MC is on fairly high altitude. Tell her to drink a lot of water. Have a glass a water by her bedside at night. If she feels her heart beating fast, take few sips of water, then she should be fine.</p>
<p>MC is not that dangerous. I am responsible for people traveling in and out of the city, and I haven’t lost anyone yet. The only time we’ve ever had problem was when people out partying too late - ran out of money (they don’t take too kindly to that), driving ricklessly, or getting into unknown taxi.</p>
<p>My S traveled there on business a few times and each time the clients sent driver, body guard to pick up/drive around in an armoured car. He’s assured me he was always well taken care of so I didn’t worry.</p>
<p>One time he hitched a ride to the airport with other colleagues in a rental car and police stopped them a short distance away from the airport. They were let go after paying a bribe.</p>
<p>It’s been many years since I’ve been as a tourist so I guess oldfort’s assessment is the best.</p>
<p>I just want to say that it is not necessary to have a bodyguard or an armoured car, sometimes it draws more attention. If you have a driver, sit in the front. I get visitors who ask for a bodyguard all the time. No, you are not that important. They don’t want to kidnap visitors and expats, they are too much trouble and do not have enough money. They like to kidnap wealthy locals. Try to avoid late flights coming into MC, tell your driver to avoid side streets, take the main drag. Trained drivers should know what to do.</p>
<p>Whenever my S travels there on business, he goes as the client/guest of wealthy locals, thus they send their own personal team (armoured car/driver/bodyguard) to accompany him.</p>
<p>For receptions or dinners at their houses, they have sent him there via helicopter.
Extremely different lifestyles.</p>
<p>That’s great your son is very well looked after. I just want to let others know that it is not necessary to have a bodyguard and armoured car to travel around in MC. Yes, it is a very different lifestyle. There are a lot of wealthy people and also a lot of poor people, very difficult to witness the contrast sometimes.</p>
<p>The water in some parts of Mexico has gotten better than it used to be. But in some towns the air has gotten more dangerous - due to occasional high lead content.</p>
<p>I agree with pretty much everything oldfort has said. I backpacked in Mexico for 6 weeks this summer (spent 1 week in Mexico City) and felt safe at all times. I’m a guy who doesn’t look like an important business executive though, so that’s an advantage. I felt very comfortable on the subway and on the streets at most times of day (despite accidentally wandering down a prostitute-lined street at 5 AM when my bus pulled into town, haha). It’s a humongous city, so of course there are bad neighborhoods with crime, but it’s nothing to worry about in my opinion. If she’s staying near the Palacio de Bellas Artes (I’m not sure what Museum you referenced, the Chapultepec area is very safe too like oldfort said), then that’s a highly trafficked, touristy area. Also, I ate (absolutely delicious) street food nearly everyday for 6 weeks, and I never had any health problems, but I understand some people have more robust stomachs than others. Overall, I’d say just don’t go out by yourself late at night (duh) and take authorized taxis from the hotel if possible. I don’t know much about how business works there, but the thought of bodyguards and armored cars for everyday transactions seem quite laughable to me. </p>
<p>Aside from all of that, tell her to enjoy her time in Mexico as much as possible. I really love Mexico and its people, and Mexico City has many incredible tourist destinations - the National Palace, Frida Kahlo’s house/museum, Xochimilco, and the Anthropology Museum were my favorites.</p>
<p>Always use a car service in Mexico City - to/from airport and all meetings. The taxi you hail on the street can be driven by criminals looking to steal from tourists/foreigners.</p>
<p>Based on FBI crime statistics for 2010 and Mexican government data released early this year, Mexico City’s drug-related-homicide rate per 100,000 population was one-tenth of Washington’s overall homicide rate - 2.2 deaths per 100,000 population compared with 22.</p>
<p>There are several cities in the United States that are more dangerous: Saint Louis, Detroit, and DC come to mind. I have lived recently in those and in Mexico City and I would be much more worried about St Louis (the murder rate there is shocking, twice I heard shooting outside my door in a “good” neighborhood near a college). She just needs some street smarts, as you would in NYC or DC: Don’t walk alone in a neighborhood you don’t know, walk in well lit places, don’t wear flashy jewelry, etc.</p>
<p>oldfort,
My son and his GF have planned a trip to Mexico City next month. They are on a tight budget and have thus chosen the Best Western Majestic Hotel which is located in the “historical center” of the city right near the Zocalo. Can you or anyone else tell me if this is a safe area?</p>
<p>momof3sons: The zocalo is definitely a safe area with lots of shops, restaurants, museums, and historical buildings in a very close proximity. If they’re on a budget, I would recommend taking the subway around town; it only costs about a quarter to get on and has service to most of the city. I never felt unsafe on the subway, though some people advised me to not take it. It gets very, very crowded on the main lines by the zocalo during peak times, but it felt just as safe as NYC’s subway system to me.</p>
<p>bjs_7 is more adventuous than me. I don´t know if I would take a subway or a bus, especially as a woman. There are buses designated just for women (pink), I think that should tell you something.</p>
<p>The historic area felt safe to me whenever I visited during the day, never been there at night. I just checked the Best Western hotel rate, it is not that much cheapter than the Marriott in the city center, which is very close to Zona Rosa, Polanco, museums and the park. All of those would be walking distance to the Marriott (or Sheraton), and the American Embassy is right there. Zolcalo is pretty far from the city center. Santa Fe is too far out.</p>
<p>I was just in Mexico City, and I think oldfort’s advice is right. It certainly doesn’t “feel” dangerous in the busy, built-up areas–lots of stores, restaurants, and well-dressed people on the streets.</p>
<p>I went to MC on business about 15 years ago and the company for which I worked had a special safety hand out which told us to stay in the hotel (don’t walk around and don’t eat out unless a local is with you) and only use the company’s car service. I essentially ignored this advice and had a great trip in MC while following typical big city visiting advice … stay on major streets, don’t carry a lot of cash or wear expensive jewerly, etc. The hotel advised one special thing … do not EVER take a street cab as many cabs are involved in robbing visitors … they gave me a list of cab companies to contact that I should call to send a cab (and to not even take a street cab from these companies (it could be a fake cab)).</p>
<p>I thought Mexico City was amazing and a great place to visit … it just takes a little more care than typical</p>