<p>
</p>
<p>MY point is that our resort was in a “good” part of town, and I didn’t feel safe the second I stepped out the front door. We made one trip into downtown Montego Bay, and that was more than enough for me. In most cities, you are safe in more areas than not. I did NOT feel that was true in Jamaica.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is not about rocket science and searching the web for stories. It is all about separating facts from fiction. The facts are already hard and gruesome enough that adding a heap of sensationalism and distortion is hardly needed. For some it is important to add a few details to add shock and “juice” to the story; for others it seems important to maintain the absolute innocence of the victims. Stories about children and infants are particularly effective. </p>
<p>An another poster wrote:, “There have been many people from El Paso who have visited Juarez without a problem - likely including the ones mentioned earlier in the thread - until the point in time when they happened to get hit in the crossfire.” This is all true, but the proper context has to be maintained when it comes to US citizens. In the several years of this atrocious battle for turf in Juares, how many American citizens have there been to be hit by crossfire? And how many innocents US citizens? </p>
<p>We are all entitled to our opinions, but not to our own facts.</p>
<p>As a Mexican currently living in Mexico (but who has lived elsewhere which has provided me with a more objective viewpoint, I believe), I would have to say that travelling to Mexico is safe if you use your common sense. </p>
<p>Believe it or not, Mexico City, which has previously been categorized as a rather unsafe city, has become safer than multiple cities in the border of the United States. Really, as long as you don’t wander during the middle of the night (past 10 pm) and avoid zones that obviously LOOK bad, you should fine.</p>
<p>Also, it is a great idea to learn basic Spanish if travelling to Mexico. Many tourists travel to the USA with some basic knowledge of the English language, so anyone travelling to a Spanish-speaking country should know the basics of the language.</p>
<p>Cancun is safer than Acapulco at this time (most students prefer Cancun anyway) but it is highly recommended that one should NOT, again, wander outside the Zona Hotelera (Hotel Zone) for obvious reasons. Any Seniors travelling to Cancun should really know how to say “Where is “this” hotel?”, etc. in Spanish as a precaution.</p>
<p>Cabo San Lucas, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad del Carmen, and Huatulco are all perfectly safe destinations, so it really should not be a problem travelling there.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, I exhort anyone visiting Mexico to use their common sense. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do in a big city in any country. Try not to wander off too far from your hotel, especially if you do not know any Spanish, and take as many precautions as you feel are necessary. As long as you follow these guidelines, honestly, you should have no problem being a tourist in Mexico. It is a great place that is going trough some trouble but do not let that discourage you.</p>
<p>Be smart, and you’ll be safe.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>A few months, former President Fox gave a fascinating interview to CNN’s Piers Morgan. Although nobody should think that this person had all the answers (he doesn’t) it was a sobering account of the reality of the crisis created by the drug trade. Google will point to a number of similar accounts and positions by appointed commissions and presidents. </p>
<p>Most of the positions are calling for the legalization of drugs and more support from the United States. While this is hardly the message we want to hear since we do not want to hear much about our failed policies and overall failure to control the problem in our own borders. </p>
<p>Yes, it easy to pretend that it is all Mexico fault and that the situation could be eradicated by attacking the corruption and throwing more money at the knees of Mexico. The reality is that the distribution of drugs only works when it is properly distributed throughout the country … otherwise the problems would be confined to a few border towns! People who are afraid that the the “big” crime might penetrate the US and that the cartels might jump the border are … years to late in their fear. They are in the US and operate in an impunity similar to what they enjoy all the way to the tip of Chile.</p>
<p>We know the US cannot control its borders, and cannot control the top levels of the drug trade on our soil. Criminalizing the lower levels and having prisons bulging with the lower offenders has not worked well, if at all. </p>
<p>Yes, it is easy to throw a finger at Mexico and look at the growing violence with scorn. In the meantime, although the country cannot claim innocence, we should recognize the heavy toll the country and its citizens pay on a daily basis for the privilege of being smack in the middle of the biggest producers and the biggest users.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s unfortunate that the best areas for visitors to Jamaica to walk around and not be bothered are the areas where the large resorts don’t exist. My favorite area for walking is Treasure Beach on the south coast, which has consciously developed tourism following its own “community tourism” model. There are no large gated resorts, only villas and small guest houses, and visitors are always out and about in the community, “sharing the wealth”, enjoying meals and drinks and activities from and alongside the residents of the community. Everyone benefits. Residents feel good about visitors and visitors feel good about locals. It’s a win-win. </p>
<p>It makes me sad that the mainstream path of Jamaican tourism has been to segregate tourists into walled off compounds where every penny they spend, down to drinks, food, tours and souvenirs, goes to the corporation that owns the resorts. It shuts area residents out (except for the maid/waiter/entertainment/etc jobs that pay around US$50 a week). Some local entrepreneurs decide that the only way to benefit from the presence of tourists is to harass the few that venture out for a sale or offer illegal goods. It’s been that way for over a hundred years in Jamaica and sadly it is still the model in most areas. And it is self-perpetuating, as the people who are so desperate for money make the people with the money uncomfortable and so few come out, and the cycle continues.</p>
<p>All that said, “feeling safe” and “being safe” are two different things. A pushy salesman is not the same as a robber, and a drug dealer or prostitute is not the same as a murderer/rapist. The vast, vast majority of pushy people trying to make a living in a very poor place will stop short of harm - for many “no thanks” will do it, for many it takes a firmer or repeated “no”. Not all, of course, but crime against tourists in Jamaica is actually quite rare, despite the discomfort of the “not safe feeling” that many visitors experience.</p>
<p>Sorry for veering off topic here, but it’s an issue close to my heart. And for typical spring breakers, Jamaica is really very safe. Alcohol poisoning, date rape, etc are larger issues in that community of visitors than is crime from local people.</p>
<p>musicprnt, I follow your argument and think I’d be in favor of legalization, with government distribution.</p>
<p>I’ve been to Mexico City more than twenty times. I have walked the streets of Mexico City after midnight. I have used the subway (which many think of as dangerous) very late at night. Absolutely nothing has happened to me. Not a penny has been stolen from me. I haven’t even had an insult hurled at me. If you learn a bit of Spanish (or at least not expect everyone to speak to you in English–that’s a hideously entitled attitude to have as a tourist yet it appears to be very true of people from the US) and ask the hotel receptionist (or whoever you may) to give you a list of neighborhoods you shouldn’t go to, you’ll be fine. A lot of it is just common sense.</p>
<p>And it angers me beyond belief to see people suggesting that the US government bans its citizens from going to Mexico. Some towns live off tourism, so make up your mind: stop being the country that consumes the most illegal drugs, hence fueling the drug war in Mexico, or at least don’t screw us over twice.</p>
<p>I have a grad student now, so it isn’t a question of ‘allowing’ or not, but I expressed concern when she wanted to go to Mexico last summer. Especially when she wanted to go to some other towns and see nearby ruins on their own. I hadn’t read up to see if Cancun was a problem area, but she had a magical 10 days there with her boyfriend at the end of last summer. She was happy the 4 years of HS Spanish came right back. Just to mention, I’ve been to Mexico 4 times, twice with her when she was smaller, PVarta and Guadelehara–I loved it.</p>
<p>This is a little different than an underage kid doing spring break somewhere. But uring her senior year of HS, she was 17 so it was no problem for me to tell her she wasn’t going to do a spring break anywhere. Her closest friends who were some studious boys camped along the highway along the coast and I didn’t think that was doable for a group of 17yos. I recall that a few girls had some ideas and that was out, though the others likely went somewhere. Mine came home from boarding school, so it was still a real break.</p>
<p>My D is heading to Tulum (near Cancun) with a girlfriend for five days at the end of the month. After reading this thread I am wondering if it is ok to have a glass of wine at 9:00 am…fortunately where they are going is not in one of the listed areas. They are seasoned travelers and past undergraduate age. They are looking for some sun, a few good meals and to visit the ruins that are near by.</p>
<p>I am a citizen of Mexico living in Juarez. I go to school in the bordering city of El Paso every weekday. To be honest, I have been victim of being carjacked, getting assaulted, and experiencing the death of one of my best friends (which appeared on national news for he was an American student; as a matter of fact, he was one of those crossfire victims that Xiggi mentioned). </p>
<p>And while it has been extremely difficult to cope with this daily violence, my family and I have been safe and well so far. We always take precautions such as not driving very late at night, avoiding isolated areas as well as not rambling through the skirts of the city, knowing who can be trusted and who cannot, and applying other similar measures. Of course, I realize that I have been lucky so far by not being at the wrong place at the wrong time. But besides all this, I still had and have a pretty decent, happy teenage life: I hang out with my Juarez friends about every week, serve at the Church every weekend, enjoy eating out with my family, and even go out to the park to run and play soccer. </p>
<p>There is one thing that I need to mention, not everybody in the city contributes to the violence. By that I mean that because I am from Juarez, people automatically give me the stereotype of being part of this mayhem. That is not true at all. The vast majority of the population (I am talking about 90s%) are strongly against the violence and the reputation it has given the city. Everybody in my city wants to live peacefully and several protest have been made to counteract the entire violence movement. For example, about four months ago, a government committee called on the most successful people of the city, including me (but not to be cocky or anything, but to emphasize that young students can also be seen as role models), to an event called Juarez Competitiva, which demonstrated what Juarez really is and who makes it up. On another instance, mass protests around the city have taken place. Most of the people in this city are good, honest, and hardworking people who have been the unfortunate victims of an unwanted violence. Instead of berating the nation, you should give us a hand and, at least, lessen the strength of our horrible stereotype. </p>
<p>I’d really appreciate if you understand my position and see that as long as there are good people, there is hope for the city. Thank you.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>H and I did an all-inclusive as close to Tulum as you can be without being at Tulum, three years ago. Literally, I think our resort property abutted Tulum. We never thought twice about our safety. But it WAS an all-inclusive, and we did not need to leave the resort for anything (my kind of vacation!). We did do a snorkeling trip with an outfitter that was arranged through the resort and took us off resort property to three snorkeling spots. Again, we felt incredibly safe. The most scared I got on that whole trip was when I was snorkeling and realized I’d gone out too far and had to fight the current to get back in close to shore. It was exhausting, even though I was wearing a life vest. And we had been warned that you shouldn’t go past a certain spot or the undercurrent would be fool you; but once you stick your head in the water, start exploring for sea life, you can easily lose sight of your land markers.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>… Guadalajara.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As long as Juarez produces young minds like you, there will be a better future.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any detailed knowledge about the situation in Morelos near Cuernavaca? My daughter is supposed to do a service trip in 2 weeks.
From the State Dept – “You should exercise caution in the state of Morelos due to the unpredictable nature of TCO violence. Numerous incidents of narcotics-related violence have occurred in the city of Cuernavaca, a popular destination for U.S. students.”</p>
<p>You could also walk into the wrong neighbourhood in the Bronx. Or the bad part of DC. But you likely you won’t, because of cultural literacy. Just keep your wits about you.</p>
<p>Doesn’t the orginazation she is going to be working with have info available, tell you what is going on there?</p>
<p>I live in Jamaica, and Ohiobassmom has it just about right.
I’ll just add that there are a lot of service groups that come to Kingston for Spring Break. The groups vary from high school groups, church groups, colleges, medical students, doctors etc. My three children, while on their breaks from school, often join various groups to act as liasons between the locals and these groups, especially the medical teams. There have been a few scary incidents, but nothing life threatening, and in their opinion, the service groups are safe and looked out for by the locals.
On the flipside, I have been on cruises that stop in Jamaica. The first time I got off the ship in Ocho Rios. It was a horrible experience. The next cruise, I didn’t bother to get off.</p>
<p>xiggi,</p>
<p>This is the only response you will receive from me and yes, it addresses the first student I know about and not the other two, but I don’t have any more time to waste on you. If you still want to assume I have fabricated the rest, go to town. I am posting the link because I do want the other, respectful posters who have some valuable and important points to have the information. </p>
<p>[Coronado</a> High School Student Killed In Juarez | KTSM News Channel 9](<a href=“http://www.ktsm.com/news/coronado-high-student-killed-juarez]Coronado”>http://www.ktsm.com/news/coronado-high-student-killed-juarez)</p>
<p>Same here! </p>
<p>None of this discussion would have happened, had you presented the facts correctly. All that was needed was to be clear it was a horrible accident that took the life of one student. You decided to write about three students shot and killed. Hence, my comments!</p>
<p>mom0809, I know a couple of people also who did service in JA for college spring break. One fixed up a school in St. Thomas, now that he’s older he brings his family to JA on holiday. But not on a cruise - they are fond of Silver Sands and Treasure Beach and he’s returned to St. Thomas too, Lyssons.</p>
<p>I’ve met dental assistants who come for a program sponsored by Sandals, and I’ve met a couple of Peace Corps folks too, stationed in Accompong.</p>
<p>Spring Break can be MUCH MORE than a drinkfest.</p>