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 🙏

I went to Mexico around 20 years ago so my experience isn’t really up to date but I found cancun to be a shit hole with Tulum being much nicer. I felt very safe in Tulum and chichen itza which was awesome but less safe in Merida and I think narrowly missed being robbed (just based on vibes from a guy). However, I did a 3/4 week trip travelling around Mexico, Belize and Guatemala and wasn’t sick at all and I certainly wasn’t staying anywhere 5 stars at that time. It’s not like going to somewhere like India where I really did get very sick. Also at that time anti malarial tablets were advised for the region but that isn’t the case now.

I have been debating and pricing up an AI with the option of a trip to chichen Itza as my kids would love it but safety is in the back of my mind and would probably do Costa Rica instead or somewhere like Mauritius.