“Reading is important – but read between the lines. Don’t swallow everything”. ~
Playa del Carmen (‘Playa’) has recently earned some major bragging rights which I’m just itchin’ to share with you 😀
AWARDS
I did my happy dance after reading that millions of people world-wide on TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards voted Playa one of their choices for Top 25 Destinations In The World for 2019. Thank you world for your vote!
Grab your diving gear and get here! Scuba Diving Magazine 2019 voted the Riviera Maya (Isla Mujeres, Cozumel Island & Tulum) the best scuba diving destination in the world. Its unique cenotes and caverns offer amazing diving opportunities.
World Travel Awards nominated Playa for Leading City in Mexico, and Cozumel Island was voted Top Island in Mexico for 2018. And Travel Weekly also gave a big nod to the Riviera Maya, voting it the Best Destination in Mexico for 2018.
It’s time to blow our own horn because way too often Mexico is singled out for violent crime and for being unsafe, which is totally unfair and without merit, as I’ll explain below. It just takes one negative blurb in the media headlines to override all the wonderful accolades and awards this area has earned, and drive tourists away.
For those of us who vacation or live in Mexico, have an investment property or a business there, we find ourselves all too often defending the area from very negative comments, much like we’d defend a friend being unfairly targeted by gossip.
In this blog I’ll explore on why travel to Mexico’s top tourist destinations is safe and the impact on the average tourist’s safety in Mexico. I hope to make you understand why so many people voted Playa as a top world destination.
SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION
Upon meeting new people who learn that I both work and travel regularly to Mexico, many of them are aghast. I hear “Don’t you know Mexico is unsafe? You’re going to get killed, robbed, shot…!” and blah blah blah. Either they think I have the I,Q. of a gnat, or that I’ve lost my mind. (I can assure you my I.Q. is higher than a gnat, and I have not lost my mind…Yet. 😎
Quite often those spouting these uninformed opinions have never even visited Mexico ironically. Their unfounded opinions are formed from a biased media who gets ‘clicks’ by stirring up a toxic cauldron of half truths and fear mongering. Or they’ve heard about “Mexico danger stories” from a cousin’s cousin Frank, who went to school with a guy who lives in…Siberia. Sigh. 🙄
I would never intentionally put my children, family or friends in harm’s way. My work is home-based, so I could avoid travel to Mexico if I really thought it was dangerous in any way, shape or form. But it’s not dangerous, and it has become a very big facet of my life in so many positive ways.
Unless you’ve been in hiding in the Witness Protection Program, you’ve heard of drug cartel violence taking place in Mexico. I’m not here to sugar-coat that these drug wars have led to violence and murders for those involved directly. I might add that much of the crime in Mexico is non-random; which means that the targets are usually involved in illegal drug trafficking or police/government officials attempting to regulate crime along the U.S./Mexican border.
However, and it’s a big ‘however”, out of the 31 states that make up the country of Mexico, only 5 of them have a level 4 travel warning issued by the U.S. State Department. The areas involved include Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa & Tamaulipas state; all of which are far distance from the Riviera Maya.
U.S. State Department Travel Advisories are rated on a scale of 1 to 4. (1 being “very-very-low risk” to 4 being “hell-no-don’t go”.)
To give you a perspective, Mexico is rated 2; exercise increased precautions. Canada is rated 1, and Denmark, Spain, Italy, England, France, and Germany are also ranked as 2 as well. So if all of Mexico is that dangerous, why is it still given the same rating as the above destinations we all think nothing of traveling to? It’s because the U.S. and Canada for that matter, do not deem all of Mexico unsafe. Far from it.
Throughout the year, travel advisories are also issued for parts of Mexico aimed at college age students traveling to Mexico (think spring breakers), warning them about the strong ocean undertow, crime that can be perpetrated on drunk tourists or those not exercising common sense.
Mexico is a huge country. In fact, it’s ranked #14 in size out of 196 countries in the world. That means that you can still visit many parts of Mexico without getting anywhere near the states that received the Level 4 travel advisory. The Riviera Maya is SO far from the border wars that it’s almost a country onto itself. Canceling a vacation to the Riviera Maya (and other safe destinations) because of isolated border violence would be like canceling a vacation to San Francisco because of the Boston Bombings.
Take a look at the map below to see the red areas that are deemed unsafe, and note the dark blue area which is the Riviera Maya/Yucatan peninsula where we travel to.
Unfortunately, on the rare occasion that a person gets hurt or dies in the tourist destinations, the media doesn’t usually give the whole story of what really occurred. Yet the headlines will scream tourist hurt or dies in violent Mexico. Was it a random act of violence (rarely) or an accident? Were they drinking too much, doing illegal drugs, hanging off a balcony, getting into a bar fight or walking into oncoming traffic in an inebriated state? This happens frequently in the high-tourist/party areas, especially during spring break. Sadly, the leading cause of tourist deaths in Mexico is vehicle accidents followed by drowning.**
And unless you have a dog in the fight i.e. you’re involved in drug cartels or trafficking, you’re part of the Mexican police, or you’re hitting on a drug lord’s wife in a bar 😉 , plain old gringos like us are simply NOT targets in Mexico.
And let’s face it, how often do you walk into drug deals in your own country? How often do you disrupt drugs being transported? Frankly you’re no Walter White from Breaking Bad, and they’re just not interested in you… (The only dangerous thing to happen to us to date, is a nasty hangover after enjoying an extra shot of tequila that we certainly did not need (wink wink).
On an upbeat note, a record 41.4 million* international tourists came to Mexico last year and almost every one of them went home safe and sound, relaxed and with a happy story to tell! Those numbers are a pretty important fact that cannot be overlooked or dismissed.
Bottom line is I love Mexico, and I feel very safe in the Riviera Maya which includes Playa del Carmen. We walk around freely, take day trips to other parts of the region, and envelop ourselves in all that it has to offer. Because I make a living due to Mexico, when misleading news reports come out, it’s at the expense of many people’s livelihood in areas that rely on tourism. One negative unfounded headline has serious effects on many of us, including the wonderful Mexican people who benefit from tourism as well.
I’m not penning this blog to encourage tourists to visit Mexico to line my pocket. To be honest, I am writing it because I have had the most personal growth in my life from going to Mexico. It’s magical; it takes you by the hand and leads you on amazing experiences that will last forever in your memory. It’s a place that has something for everyone, whether you’re a nature, history, food, sports or adventure lover.
It’s a place where I learned so much about history, about a different culture, where I’ve tried new activities and challenges, and learned a new language. It’s where I have met the most incredible people who have become family. Each trip I make there is like going back home. A home where I am so welcomed, embraced and taken care of…
But no place is perfect, including my home city in Canada. Violence can happen anywhere. Knowledge is power, and power is being informed.
Basically use your noggin and you’ll have no vacation headaches. Check the travel advisories; talk to those who’ve gone to the area you wish to travel to and pick their brain. There are many Facebook groups on destination travel that can enlighten you before you travel. Use common sense such as lock up your valuables, don’t buy drugs, don’t do drugs, don’t get drunk and wander around in the wee moments of the morning.
So before canceling your next international trip based on the media or cousin Frank’s opinion, dig a little deeper. Do your homework and don’t fall victim to misinformation or half-truths, or news that is meant to propagate fear or paranoia. Don’t let fear and fake news stop you from experiencing a new cultural life-changing experience like I have.
Once you visit Mexico, you too will understand how diverse, wonderful and safe Mexico is… Salud!
Contact us today at info@yourbestgetaway.com And YEP we are on Instagram now so check out our fun posts here!
“PLAYA” Gal (a very satisfied client now working to promote Playa Beach Getaways.)
Sally Foran is a happily married mom of 3, residing in Canada and is a frequent traveler to the Riviera Maya MX. She is an aficionado on ‘everything Playa del Carmen’ and writes with joy and passion about the area. Sally has completed online courses to act as a certified travel agent for the Riviera Maya MX. She is also a witty blog contributor to Work & Family Foundation Canada, and NAVUT (offering professionals new to Ottawa the inside scoop!) Sally has also been awarded Blogger of the Week, and nominated as Blog Treasure Hunt of the Month on TravelBlog.Org which enjoys over half a million bloggers world-wide.
Playa Beach Getaways / Your Best Getaway is a Denver CO. based company owned by Tonya Sarina offering luxury oceanfront condos & villas in Playa del Carmen & Cabo. They have earned a rating of Excellent by Trip Advisor, FlipKey and VRBO and continue to earn raves from satisfied guests who return time after time. They have also been awarded a “Super Host” designation on Airbnb & continue to earn rave reviews on the above popular booking sites.
*Facts according to Mexico Daily News/Secretariat of Tourism Mexico **Facts according to Time Magazine