MGRR has never recommended to anyone that they avoid travel to Cancún (or anywhere else in Mexico, for that matter, even those areas statistically far more dangerous). You may have noticed that there is periodic commercial advertising on this site (lodging and vacation packages, for instance) which is plainly targeted to Riviera Maya travelers. I have no interest in poisoning a local economy on the Caribbean coast which some say is suffering (others claim it's booming and indeed has never been better).
But I believe that people are entitled to the facts on any subject so that they can make their own informed decisions. There is almost a complete absence of English language news reporting on the at times brutal reality of life in Quintan Roo's famous tourist spots -- places like Cancún, Isla de Mujeres and Playa del Carmen. The U.S. press rarely covers such stories (usually only around spring break time), and even the mainstream Spanish language press in Mexico for the most part ignores the area, or gives it sparse coverage.
Is this apparent avoidance of unpleasant Q.R. stories a calculated strategy to protect the very important tourist industry there, which earns lots of money for many U.S. businesses as well as many in Mexico? I have no evidence to so conclude, and I don't make any such allegation. Perhaps it's just because there is so much violence in other regions of Mexico, and because the Yucatán peninsula even today remains a bit more isolated than many parts of the country. Whatever the explanation, MGRR will continue to report "hard news" along the country's southeastern coast just as it occurs, even when that news is very ugly.
June 30 - SORRY, READERS, THE LINK AND VIDEO HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM THE FOX NEWS HOUSTON WEB SITE . . . IF SOMEONE FINDS IT, PLEASE ADVISE.
FOX News Houston report on Cancún travel: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/120406-danger-in-cancun-scares-off-vacationing-couple.
Danger in Cancun Scares Off Vacationing Couple: MyFoxHOUSTON.com
MGRR stories on related topics
Crooked Cancún cops shake down New Yorkers: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/crooked-cancun-cops-shake-down-new.html.
Cancún, no longer an oasis for most: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/cancun-no-longer-oasis-for-most.html.
Cancún hotel exec offers gloomy prognosis for local industry: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/cancun-hotel-exec-offers-gloomy.html#more.
Hotel Oasis Cancún slow in cooperating with police: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/oasis-cancun-slow-on-cooperating-with.html.
Brutal execution at Grand Oasis Cancún: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/brutal-execution-at-grand-oasis-cancun.html#more.
Los Zetas execution squad boss arrested near Hotel Oasis Cancún: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/los-zetas-execution-squad-arrested-at.html.
Execution in Cancún hotel zone: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/execution-in-cancun-hotel-zone.html.
Yucatán a haven for Mexican fugitives: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/yucatan-haven-for-mexican-fugitives.html.
Los Zetas working as spies in Cancún hotel zone: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/southern-zetas-operate-in-cancuns-hotel.html.
2012 Spring Breakers cancel Cancún travel plans: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-break-nears-but-us-students-are.html#more.
American student nearly killed in 2010 Cancún attack: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/american-student-who-was-nearly-killed.html.
American tourist, 15, sexually assaulted in five-star Cancún hotel: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/american-tourist-15-sexually-assaulted.html.
Cancún #1 choice of U.S. travelers: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/cancun-easily-1-choice-of-us-travelers.html.
Business is booming in Quintana Roo: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/despite-drug-violence-quintana-roo.html.
U.S. issues new travel alert for Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/us-issues-new-travel-alert-for-mexico.html.
Mexico calls latest U.S. travel warning "ridiculous": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/latest-us-travel-alert-is-ridiculous.html.
Mexican governor goes to Texas to challenge travel alert for spring breakers: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/mexican-governor-will-travel-to-texas.html.
Los Pelones flourish in Quintana Roo: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/los-pelones-executions-continue-in-qr.html#more.
In Cancún, Los Zetas deliver drugs by taxi and death on demand: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-cancun-los-pelones-happily-deliver.html.
Mexico's Caribbean Riviera Maya in the hands of drug cartels and extortionists: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/mexicos-caribbean-riviera-maya-in-hands.html.
300 Q.R. businesses fold in 2011, facing ubiquitous extortion: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/300-businesses-close-in-cancun-riviera.html.
Who's running Quintana Roo, anyway? http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/los-zetas-are-taking-over-cancun-playa.html.
Can promotion of gay wedding industry check rising Los Zetas effect? http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/can-quintana-roo-state-save-itself-from.html.
Two women executed in Isla de Mujeres: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/10/two-women-executed-in-plush-isla-de.html.
Chief of Tourist Police executed in Playa del Carmen: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/chief-of-tourist-police-executed-in.html.
yes they should.
ReplyDeleteNote to readers: Ramon Arellano Felix was a Mexican drug trafficker who worked with the Tijuana Cartel. He was killed by Mexican police after a routine traffic stop on Feb. 10, 2002. U.S. officials said earlier this year that the cartel is today but a shadow of its former self.
ReplyDeleteJune 30 2012, just returned today from a fabulous week in Cancun. The only downfall was our trip to the airport this am when we were pulled over in our car rental by a mexican police officer. It was 5:30 am and we were driving from the hotel area when we were pulled over with the claim we were speeding. He asked for our drivers license and said $200 usd or we go to police station. My husband said we did not have the $ and tried to negotiate. No way, his gun was visible and he would not bargain. We came up with the cash, it was 5:30 am and no one was around. His word against ours. DO NOT rent cars in Cancun. Shame on me, I research hotels,activities and restaurants. Should have researched security and corruption. Learned my lesson hope this helps other travelers.
ReplyDeleteYep, that cop was laying in wait for you, just like one of those Billy Bob-driven black-and-whites in the Dukes of Hazard (you do remember the Dukes of Hazard? . . .)
ReplyDeleteInstead of Cancún, may I suggest Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri next time? What you lose in Caribbean beach front you gain in nasty smelling lake front, great barbecue and cold beer, and people who say charming little things like, "I'm a-fixin' to go fish'n today." And you can't beat Casey's General Store for coffee and iced donuts in the morning.
Or for a really 'safe' vacation, try Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans... oh... wait... strike that...
ReplyDeleteOr how about Jamaica? That shining beacon of vacation security in the Caribbean, which mysteriously rates consistently high among foreign visitors despite having a crime and murder rate many times that of Mexico...