Puerat Vallarta... wow

[Gripenfelter]

Originally Posted by unclesalty

I picked Cuba for my trip as I didn't have the balls to go to Mexico these days!

I have two clients who had horrible experiences in Mexico.

One couple was picked up by the Federalis and basically mugged. They let the husband walk back to the resort but 3 officers raped his wife before they let her go.

Another couple's daughter was kidnapped out of her hotel room and never seen again.

[asylumdown]

I wish I had pics of the underwater stuff, but my under water camera was stolen when i was in Honduras a couple of years ago and I haven't been near an ocean you can swim in until now.

As for the safety situation... the mental image I had of Mexico was formed and nurtured by too many hours watching American news so I was really nervous about it. However, I've travelled all over the planet and not once has the common media characterization of a place I've been to ever been accurate, so I really should have known better.

I was twisting myself in knots, hoping we'd make it to the hotel before some bandit kidnapped us and mailed our body parts back to our families, then I looked out the plane window as we were landing and the first thing I saw was a bright, shiny, orange Home Depot. Nuevo Vallarta where we stayed looked more like Miami or the nice parts of LA than the desperate favelas the news wants you to believe everyone lives in, complete with wrinkly old white people jogging with their small dogs everywhere. The old part of Puerta Vallarta was beautiful, vibrant, charming, full of laughing people eating in restaurants and cafes, and waaaaaaaay too many gay people for me to believe that anything bad ever really happens there. I'm sure there are parts of town you wouldn't want to walk through at night, as there are in any city in the world, but I sure didn't see one. I think it was when we were driving past the Vallarta Galleria mall (that could put any affluent American shopping mall to shame) when I realized I'd been an idiot for putting off going there fore so long.

Even the beach vendors that hawk trinkety crap to tourists on the beach are regulated there.

As far as the rest of Mexico is concerned... The murder per capita rate in Yucatan makes most of Canada look like a war zone. The dangerous parts are pretty specific, so you can reduce your chances of bodily harm or death by 99% by going to Mexico and NOT being involved in the illegal drug trade.

[ScubaSteve]

PV blew me away as well for diving. I went snorkeling around Los Arcos and came across a manta the was 16ft across. The manta actually swam with me for about 15-20 minutes, just playing in the water and even let me touch. Definitely one of THE coolest diving experiences I've had. There are some reefs just south of Playa de Los Animas that were completely untouched. Los Animas is a beach that is a 20-30 min boat ride from Boca de Tomatlan (just ask a fisherman to take you there... I think I paid him 30 pesos). I even camped out on the beach! Bloody awesome!

Now, as for the safety of Mexico, some areas are sketchy but Mexicans for the most part are some of the nicest people I've met. If you go in there with a warm attitude and make attempts to respect the language and customs, they'll treat you like one of their own. When I backpacked through Mexico, more often than not I stayed with random people I met than at hotels because everyone was so nice and wanted to learn as much about me as I did about them. But if you are the typical tourist who goes in there waving cash, disrespecting the culture, expecting them to speak YOUR language and generally looking down on people you're are asking for trouble.

That being said, bad things can and do happen when traveling. Having traveled worldwide, I've come across some crazy stuff. I've had friends kidnapped; I've been shot at, almost blown up, woken up in the middle of a border skirmish, held up and scammed (but that's half the fun). Oddly enough, most of the horror stories I've heard from other travelers (when I was abroad) about being mugged, robbed or otherwise abused happened right here in Vancouver and Whistler (Vietnam was a close second). As soon as you are out of your element, you're at risk.

[spawn]

What???
I've never been to the pacific yet & don't have the desire to go there, as I grew up on the west coast. That being said, I've been to the Mayan several times stayed on 8 ave in playa, That's 3 blocks north of the strip in a house. One night we heard the federally s beating up some crook outside. I stayed all over playa for a month & drank my face off walked every where without issue.
I've stayed in the middle of havana in casa particulars & walked allover downtown drinking every night. Same in Dominican, same in jamaica, even went to beach reggae party way far from the resort, lots of "stuff" goes on every where, & the best jerk chicken ever, "Street meat is king" but like other said if your smart you should be alright. We're going to the Dominican again in march or april for 2-3 weeks & just staying @ a buddy's in sosua.

Originally Posted by Gripenfelter

I have two clients who had horrible experiences in Mexico.

One couple was picked up by the Federalis and basically mugged. They let the husband walk back to the resort but 3 officers raped his wife before they let her go.

Another couple's daughter was kidnapped out of her hotel room and never seen again.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

For all those scared to travel to Mexico... Don't believe the media and the hype. Traveling anywhere can be dangerous, really doesn't matter where you go. Just travel smart!

Mexico is safe, the people are great and as a whole the country has alot to offer families who wish to have a tropical vacation and don't want to be stuck on the resort the whole time. I have been to the Mayan twice in the past year with my family, and will definately be back again soon.

Cuba is also great, same with Domincan Republic... The only problem as stated with others is the travel time. In the old days, you could go to both direct/non-stop... But now in Calgary, you have to go to Toronto... Sorry, with 2 kids and between 4-9 hours in layovers, just not going to do it. If someone knows a charter that still goes direct, let me know, as I would love to go back to these countries in the near future.

I just got back from Cuba last week, went to cayo santa maria. We flew direct from Winnipeg to santa clara and then 90 minutes by bus to the resort. www.Selloffvacations.com lists a handful of flights from calgary to cuba, both varadeo and the same area I was in.

You don't go to cuba for the food, but you won't go hungry. Most resorts have a grill station where they'll make you fresh food, omelets and waffles for breakfast, grilled seafood and meats for lunch and dinner.

We did some diving there and it was spectacular. Lots of fish, some coral and amazing water.