Protecting Yourself During Your Upcoming Mexico Vacation

Summertime in Mexico is tourist season. Americans often flock across the border during their time of of school or work. Yet, if you are planning a vacation, then you need to take your personal safety into account. How can you do so in Mexico’s popular tourist areas? Keep these tips in mind. 

Some of Mexico’s Tourist Problems 

Overall, Mexico is a perfectly safe place to visit. All the same, hot areas for crime, along with various tourist scams, exist. So, before you set out to explore your destination, keep up with some of the prevalent safety risks that exist in the country. 

• Many cities, but primarily cities near the Mexico-U.S. border have significant risks of organized crime. Gang activity, drug cartels and kidnapping risks do exist in certain parts of certain places. Tourists need to avoid these areas. 
• Besides urban areas, extremely rural areas do have some risks of criminal cartels hiding in the area. 
• There is a history of corruption in the public services in certain parts of the country. There are some risks of extortion by those posing as police, taxi operators and other officials. 
• On Mexican highways, some criminal elements attempt to mug or rob travelers by posing as stranded motorists or even as police. 
• In common tourist areas, there are some risks of pickpockets or scammers who try to steal victims’ belongings, personal information, credit cards or identification. 
• In areas known for nightlife, there are certain reports of attempted muggings, date rapes, assaults and similar crimes. 
• Most restaurants and dining establishments are perfectly clean and reputable. However, sanitation rules differ from those of the U.S. Furthermore, American tourists should not consume tap water in any part of the country. 
• Though very rare, there are some reports of resort workers who attempt to steal from tourists who leave belongings in their room unsecured. 

There are certain illnesses, such as malaria, that are more-common in Mexico than in the states. Therefore, Americans need to pay close attention to their own health at all times. 

Protecting Yourself During Your Travel 

No matter where you plan to visit in Mexico, it always helps to keep a few common safety precautions and driving tips in mind. 

1. Know Your Surroundings 

The best way to protect yourself is to keep your eyes open to your surroundings. Always be on the lookout for someone who might follow you, or who acts strangely. If you notice something strange going on, then you should move away from the area, rather than try to get involved. 

2. Eat and Drink Carefully 

In most cases, you should drink and brush your teeth in Mexico using bottled water. The public tap water system is okay for bathing. However, you should not drink it.  

When buying food, use your best judgement. If it doesn’t look safe to eat, then it likely is not. When consuming alcohol (or any drink, for that matter), don’t ever let it out of your sight. Also don’t accept food or drink from unknown parties. 

3. Guard Your Belongings 

• When sightseeing, keep your personal items close to your person. 
• If you carry a bag with you, place it over your opposite shoulder in a diagonal fashion. Do not leave the bag unzipped. Never place the bag on the floor or drape it over the back of your chair. 
• Keep your wallet, money and cell phones in your front pockets. Placing items in your back pockets make them prime targets for pickpockets. 
• Take photo ID with you at all times, but guard it carefully. 
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you. Also, don’t put expensive items like jewelry, credit cards or other valuable on display. 

Most hotel rooms include safes. Lock any valuables you don’t carry with you inside before you leave your hotel. Also close and lock your suitcases. If your room doesn’t include a safe, many hotels offer concierge services that will keep the items under lock and key until you claim them. 

4. Know Where You Are Going 

Never strike out on your own just to explore. Even if you don’t intend to stumble into the wrong area of town, you might do so simply out of curiosity. Rather, keep to official tourist guides and managed excursions to see the sites you want to see. In many cases, your hotel can provide you with guidebooks, maps or scheduled transportation. 

5. Get Appropriate Insurance Protection 

As you plan to travel, you might need a few forms of insurance. You might need: 

• Mexican car insurance if you plan to drive your American car across the border. Mexican law does not recognize American policies, but still requires drivers to carry coverage. 
• Consider buying travel insurance. The policy can protect you in cases where unexpected occurrences, like canceled flights or lost or stolen luggage, disrupt your trip. 
• Most travel insurance policies also offer emergency medical assistance in case you experience a health crisis abroad. 

For more assistance planning your trip, visit the U.S. Department of State’s Mexico page. With the right care, you’ll never have to worry about security on your Mexican vacation.