To be concerned about 22yo Dd solo travelling Mexico for 2 months.

[Maggiethecat]

Dd has a Mexican friend who lives there and will stay with them for 2 weeks in Guadalajara and the rest of time on her own in places like Mexico City, Oaxaca

She booked before the recent El Mencho unrest which I understand has calmed down a bit and her travel insurance, based on FCDO position at the moment, covers her for where she’s going.

We have discussed with her risks and risk mitigation but do feel that I will be anxious for the whole time she’s away.

Am I reasonable to be very concerned?

It’s the sad life you’ve chosen to live in. It’s perfectly safe to walk after dark in most parts of London (and the rest of the U.K., and big chunks of the rest of the world - not just Singapore). I am 61 and I go to London alone a fair bit, as well as other travelling. Nobody around to ferry me about, and no need for it either (for reference, when I stay in London it’s usually a hotel in Whitechapel so not the posh end).

Well dusk falls at a similar time every night in Singapore doesn't it. Around 7.

My view is that not letting your adult daughter walk alone after 4.30pm in London is not keeping her safe it's keeping her scared and under your control. I'm surprised she allows it.

But then I think we probably have differing views of what 'safe' means in terms of whether or not it's a binary state and how it applies to London (where I also live with my teenage daughters and lived as a young woman myself too) or anywhere else.

The world today is very different from how it was 10 or 20 years ago.

I went to an all inclusive resort just outside of Tulum about 8 years ago. Even then the drug cartel violence was spilling into the more touristy areas, and we were warned about no go areas.

One person from our resort went for a walk along the beach, and was attacked and very badly bitten by a stray dog. He would have needed surgery on his leg. One of the staff said he was very lucky it was just one dog and not a pack of them.

Foreigners are targets for theft, mugging abduction, and rape, especially young pretty Western girls. Drink spiking is common, as is bootleg liquor, which can blind you as well as make you very ill.

Yes, many people visit and nothing happens. But it only takes one wrong turn to be in the wrong place at the wrong time...

I don't think you're wrong to be concerned...

@Maggiethecat Not sure why you think his opinion carries more weight.

I think the suggestion is that two opinions carry more weight than one.

Can I put this bluntly? That's nuts.

I went backpacking in Mexico at 23. Had an amazing time and met my husband.
As long as she is sensible, i'm sure she will be fine x

We ask her to come back on the tube by 11:30pm

You're... giving your adult daughter a curfew?

That's incredibly controlling and weird. She's a grown woman!

I’ve travelled Mexico pretty extensively as a solo woman and love it - not had any problems, but like anywhere, you need to be sensible! Make sure she has an e-SIM so she can be in contact. I hope she speaks some basic Spanish, and will pick up more along the way if not fluent.

I absolutely wouldn’t go to Guadalajara at the moment (didn’t really rate it much anyway tbh), but Mexico City and Oaxaca should be ok. I think she can always think about having an escape plan or changing itinerary to go to Guatemala, Belize or another C American country instead/as well. Mexico City airport is well connected and there are lots of regional airports to fly to Guatemala etc, and the ADO buses cross from E Mexico to Belize. That way she can still have fun travelling without major concerns over unrest?

Areas with all inclusive resorts are often the worst, because all inclusive resorts destroy the local economy. All the tourist money goes elsewhere.

@WanderingGiraffe - she has O2/Volt travel inclusive which gives unlimited data, texts, calls while there. Is there any advantage of having an eSIM on top?

I’m thinking in terms of possible extra service provider in case there is an issue with service through O2 but I’m not sure how this all works.

For her own safety. 11:30 is late enough anyway. Even on the tube a lone woman is unfortunately at risk. It's never a woman's fault, but you can never guarantee safety here.

You can never guarantee safety anywhere. Your daughter at 22 should be doing her own risk assessments.

@Maggiethecat I feel your pain - mine is off to Mexico on Thursday, although only for 2 weeks. She's had it booked for ages and is really excited while I'm trying very hard not to rain on her parade. For the first time ever, I've asked to track her phone, which she agreed to and now I'm keeping my (many) worries to myself.

Her safety is her own business. You shouldn’t be making determinations for her.

No, if she’s got a decent roaming package with O2 then that’s fine too. She’ll be able to stay connected!

Hope it all goes well for your Dd. Is she going solo?

Great, thanks!

Ah I'm so sorry OP, I need a coffee.

So sick of people not reading threads properly.

Ignore me, and sorry again. Edited to remove my stupid first response.

It’s worrying wherever they go but you just need to trust they have the coping skills for whatever happens.

Dd (18) and a female friend travelled independently around Central America last year for 4 months. We were concerned but they had a marvellous time. Remarkably few incidents non major.

They palled up with several other young women from Australia and the UK to travel with. The culture doesn’t seem that sexually aggressive to young women which was heartening. Stick to the back packer trails she should be fine. Note this was before the recent unrest.

But she’s an adult. You can’t dictate to an adult what they do ‘for their own safety’.

How long are you going to keep forcing your adult daughter to come home when ordered ‘for her own safety’? Are you still going to be controlling her like this when she’s 25? 30? 40?

How do you think adult women survive independently?

18 seems very young for such a big trip (thinking what I was like at 18!) but I suppose 2 of them together makes it easier.

Did they do Guatemala? Dd may have a week there. Talking about some fantastic hiking trip.