Honest opinion of Mexico first time

[itspastanight]

Hi I have a few questions as we are considering going to Mexico for a holiday.

1. How would we relax when so many travellers have said to stay inside the resort because the police are so corrupt that they will bribe you for money etc… this would mean not travelling or exploring around, I think this would be a pointless holiday if we had to stay in the complex only.
2. What are the differences between the areas in Mexico, like the Caribbean Coast, is there a certain place which is best?
3. Any places to go and visit? We are a couple in our 30’s.
4. Also I have heard of people coming down with food poisoning there. Im well travelled and haven’t been sick abroad but just a bit scared about hearing this now. Is this common?

thanks 🙏

Point 4.

I am very well travelled and had the worst food poisoning ever in a Mexican resort. I can't even explain how bad and how my poor husband had to help clean up the room with me using whatever we could get our hands on. Doctor had some brilliant meds though.

I will NVER go back which is a shame as my Ds backpacker there and said its a great place inland!

Been to Mexico twice, down the coast Akumal, Tulum areas.
Loved it.
Went out every day, to Akumal beach famous for turtles, monkey sanctuary, the parks like Xcaret and Xel -Ha, diving, ferry to Cozumel, lots of zip lining and swimming through underground rivers.
There is heaps to do.
Just use a driver (ask your hotel) they’ll pick you up after. Would I drive myself through Mexico City? - no. Did I feel safe going out in a taxi and walking around busy areas during the day? - absolutely!
Id avoid staying in or near Cancun, definitely go down the coast, much nicer, big variety of hotels from huge AI to boutique quirky small hotels.
We never got sick. I’m not aware it’s a country’s famous for holiday-gastro problems like Egypt for example.
Yes, there are dangerous areas, yes, take all the usual precautions, don’t use ATMs at the side of the street etc, but millions go to Mexico every year and have a great time.
ive only been to Caribbean side so can’t comment on the other side.

It’s a country very well known for tourist stomach upset - google Montezuma’s revenge

I went to Mexico as a single parent a few years ago. I didn't stay on a resort. I booked a few different places via airbnb/booking.com and we travelled to them via public transport (not huge distances, longest bus ride was around 3hrs). Ate food in local places. Had a great time!

We went last month and had a great time, would definitely go back. We traveled independently, no resorts or package holidays.

Had first night in Cancun to recover from the flight. Then hire car and drove to Merida for 4 nights and Playa del Carmen for 5. Driving was easy. We did get scammed at the first petrol station we went to though! We soon wised up after that.

Used Booking.com/airbnb, and TripAdvisor for restaurants.

We saw lots of armed police, and lots of check points on the roads, but they weren't interested in us. Lots of police in Playa but it actually made me feel a lot safer.

You can't drink the water in Mexico, and my husband did get sick but I think that was from food prep by BIL 🤣.

We went to Cancun several years ago. I hated it as I got the runs the first day and couldn't leave the hotel for fear of needing a toilet. After a few days i felt a bit better so we started going out. The beaches and the sea are beautiful, but I would never go again.

We went to 3 Mayan sites which we found fascinating (Chichen itza, Ek Balaam and Uxmal) and Celestun to see the flamingos (my favourite day).

How did you guys get to the tourist places, did you drive or do the hotels usually book transportation? Im mainly concerned about getting the shits, that would make me too scared to leave the hotel area. I suppose it’s just luck, obviously I usually only drink sealed bottled water and no ice, no salads, but I am not sure that’s enough. I’ve heard that accidentally getting ocean water in your mouth can make you sick. But the police issue and general scams is really putting me off. It’s a shame, I’ve always wanted to visit Mexico. I would hate to spend all that money and just have an awful experience. Then again there will be thousands of other tourists there too, and I am obsessed with reading reviews on hotels and places, especially the food aspect of their stay.

We went to Mexico for our honeymoon. We stayed at secrets the vine in cancun and it was amazing. No issues with food/guts at all. Didn't notice anything untoward with police when we ventured out into the town centre. It was paradise.

I was recently in the west coast, in Puerto Vallarta. You get sunsets over the water on the west coast!

Felt completely safe, as much as at home. PV surprised us overall with how clean and generally chill it is, not what we were expecting at all.

We ate everywhere, including street carts, and had no trouble. Roughly 30000 US expats live there in peak season, which I think says a lot about the safety and amenity. Wonderful place.

I went on a package holiday to Mexico, just north of Cancun. We had a lovely time. Swam in the sea and did trips out, we did book organised trips, and used taxi's. There are hundreds of companies doing them, and the road up and down between Costa Mujeres and Tulum is just full of white mini buses ferrying tourists about.

To be honest, it felt much safer and friendlier than I expected in this area and I'd consider hiring a car if I went back again.

We booked transportation to xcaret with our tickets, they have loads of buses just ferrying people about. We used Cancun Adventures to visit Tulum, a cenote and a snorkeling site, the guide was really informative and had a PhD in Mayan culture. And we also used taxis.

None of us good food poisoning and we did lots of swimming in the sea and ate salad and had ice in our drinks at our hotel.

I think like anywhere, of course people will be out to scam tourists and you should avoid too far off the tourist trail and definitely keep away from anyone selling drugs but generally Mexico makes huge amounts of money from Tourism on the Yucatan so they are invested in keeping tourists safe and well. Other parts of Mexico might be a very different story.

I think it just depends on your gut....and if you eat.too much of certain things.

I'm Mexican and I've had two British husbands, my sister has a Swiss husband. My BIL ALWAYS gets sick even when eating at home.

My ex-husband never got sick nor at home nor in Cancun.

My husband got sick once in Puerto Vallarta, but we just think something didn't agree with him as he has also eaten proper street food in Mexico City.

In terms of venturing out of the hotel I've done it in public transport and driving a rental car. It's pretty safe believe it or not. In fact with my husband on our honeymoon we ventured and bought some coke... And we're both still here ;)

I've been to at least 20 resorts so happy to give tips.

I think it depends how you're doing it. I've been twice, both times as a package so both times booked excursions via the rep at the hotel. Neither time had stomach issues either and not heard of that until reading this thread!!

100% there's people trying to carry your bags and charge you $10 for the pleasure, and the queue at immigration after your flight can be loooooooong but we've loved it both times and would absolutely recommend going.

Stayed at Maroma Beach first time, but visited Tulum as well. Second time stayed further up in Playa Mujeres which was gorgeous, visited Isla Mujeres that time as well.

Mexico is an amazing place to visit.
We went to the Pacific Coast. No issues with safety at all, felt fine walking around towns outside of resort.
I did get the worst food poisoning/stomach bug I've ever experienced though. It didn't make for a great flight home...
DH had already visited the other coast of Mexico several times before I met him and raved about it, that's why I wanted to go.
Would visit again, but would be more wary of where I ate...

A friends Dd is just back from 3 months backpacking on her own in Mexico. She had a fantastic time, met some great people and would go back in a heartbeat. Like anywhere be sensible, don’t walk around quiet places, don’t flash your money, jewellery etc and be careful where you eat and drink.

Another vote for Puerto Vallerta and also go up the coast to Sayulita. We had an amazing time and no issues at all stomach wise and we weren't careful at all.

On the advice of various locals we actually used Uber. Because the cars have trackers in them it's considered safest.

Local bus was my main mode of transport. Used Uber a couple of times for places not on a bus route.

I spent a month in San Miguel de Allende when I was 19. I was volunteering but would 100% go back for a holiday. You can get a direct bus there from Mexico City. It’s inland, but has so much going on - art, incredible food, beautiful architecture, tours aplenty. It’s a popular place for American arty types to retire. I did get the runs a few times, but never drastically ill and it was very safe.

I lived in Mexico City for 5 years and drove/cycled all around Mexico. Yes I did get food poisoning but to be honest - I've had that everywhere I 've lived. Never felt unsafe - yes the police are corrupt but Mexican culture is overwhelmingly polite and Mexican people are the kindest, funniest and most wonderful people in general. I would go back in a heartbeat. It's very safe to travel around - the long distance coaches are great

Hotel Xcaret with access (and transport) to all the associated parks - fantastic food, staff, the lot! Great holiday/.

Totally get your concerns about traveling to Mexico. It's natural to worry about safety and health, especially when it's a new destination. I had similar worries before my trip to Cozumel last year. But you know what? It turned out to be one of the most relaxing vacations ever. I found some great insights on https://cozumelmexico.net/is-cozumel-safe-for-travelers-essential-safety-tips-revealed/ about staying safe and exploring the island without worries. As for food poisoning, it's always good to be cautious, but with a bit of care in choosing where you eat, it's usually fine. As for places to visit, the Caribbean Coast is stunning! Tulum and Playa del Carmen are perfect for couples in their 30s.

I’ve been to Mexico 3 times and I’d say it’s the best cheapish destination in the Caribbean, loads to do for young couples, plenty of culture and fabulous snorkelling. I’ve never had food poisoning or heard of anyone getting it out of the many people I know who’ve been. Obviously take Imodium and all the usual travel precautions. Again, safety wise, stick to tourist friendly places and organised trips and you’ll be absolutely fine. FWIW I found Mexico way nicer and safer than Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

I went to Mexico about 20 years ago, so this might be out of date:
Flew into Mexico City, took buses (and the odd colectivo) to Oaxaca, the Pacific Coast (Mazunte), San Cristobal de Chiapas and the jungle near Palenque.

I found people very chilled everywhere, and didn't feel threatened, with the exception of accidentally stumbling across a patch of waste ground near the bus station in Mexico City where lots of lone men were congregated- that had a weird vibe. People in Mexico City were very friendly and chatty for a capital city, wanting to practice their English. Funnily enough, I found people more reserved (but not nasty) in the rural areas like Chiapas, but they are indigenous people round there who have suffered horribly at the hands of Europeans, so I can understand that.

I liked staying in Mazunte the best, I think because our guest house had a good mix of Mexicans and other nationalities, and we all hung out together. But it is where I got a horrible stomach bug!!

Mexico's regions are all dramatically different to each other, and I hear that there are a lot more problems with crime and disorder in the North.

(Although saying that, our bus did get held up somewhere in rural Chiapas! By Zapatista allies, if not the Zapatistas themselves. But it was the world's gentlest hold up! There was a road block, a guy came on the bus and talked to the driver, the driver spoke to the bus and very gently told us they were asking for 10 pesos or something per passenger, everyone coughed up, we carried on. Looking at the faces of the (heavily indigenous) people milling around the roadblock, they were all pinched with hunger. I didn't resent it).

I've been to both coasts of Mexico multiple times and always felt safe. I've heard a lot of Americans say they feel safer in Mexico than in the States so if you would go to the US then you should be fine in Mexico.

I've got the runs in Mexico but nothing too drastic. To be honest I think it's the heat more than the food but have heard people mention the cooking oil they use. Taking a probiotic for the weeks before you go is supposed to help but I've never tried it personally.

There's so much to see and do there I would definitely recommend.

@crackofdoom I did that exact same trip also 20 years ago! Back in 2004. We stayed in Zipolite though not Mazunte. The whole trip was an amazing experience and the Mexicans were so friendly. Thankfully neither of us had any stomach issues. People tried to put us off going saying we'd be mugged, kidnapped etc but it was all fine. I think most of the dangerous regions are further north and in certain places like Acapulco.

There were only a couple of scary experiences - one was an overnight bus journey over the mountains from Oaxaca to the Pacific coast. There was thunder and lightning all around us ( and below us at one stage) and fresh landslides along the road so I thought we were going to be swept into a ravine. Second experience was more weird - we heard volleys of gunshots near our accommodation in Chiapas (Zapatista region) and our landlady didn't know what it was. We found out afterwards that local farmers shoot at the sky to make it rain.

Just be sensible and do your homework beforehand.