Comments on: Playa del Carmen: Is it Safe??

By: Deba

Deba — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:53:21 +0000

We just relo’d from the US to Mexico City (we live about 15 min outside the DF) We were looking into vacaioning in PDC so I was searching for travel adivsories…and true, it is mostly Mexico City that has been listed as well as the borders..I was scared to DEATH to move here but did not want to hold my husband back from a good opportunity, and after I have been here a while, I find that day to life (even in Mexico City!) is quite normal…we are perhaps a little more cautious than in our Georgia town we came from…but feel safe sight seeing etc…media hype will be the bane of my existence here, I literally will not watch the news or pick up a paper b/c it instills fear in me that I KNOW is unreasonable…We travel almost every weekend to ruins and historic towns and the hishways are safe! We can’t wait to have some more time and get to the coast! Toni and Cheri, thanks for the reassurance to what I guess I already knew

By: Persective

Persective — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:21:02 +0000

Saying that Mexico is not safe because of drug wars going on near the border is like saying the United States is not safe because of the crime in LA. I am traveling to Playa on Monday with my husband. I have to say that listening to the media is a little unsettling, but if I think about it logically, I can see past the hype. The media has it’s own adgenda… it doesn’t report the news in an unbiased fashion. That’s the reality of it.

By: Tony & Cheri

Tony & Cheri — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:33:20 +0000

There’s nothing to worry about. The road is a large, modern highway traveled by thousands of people each day. There’s no more reason to worry about this road than any road in the US.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:10:10 +0000

I’m so glad I came across this post! I’m heading to Playa the first week of May with some friends (all females). We’re staying at a friend’s father’s place in a gated retirement community and planning to only visit resort beaches. My friend’s dad lived there for years as do other members of her family, so I figure it can’t be too bad. Another friend going with us was thinking of cancelling after reading the travel advisories, so I’m going to send her to this page. Coming from St. Louis, I’m hoping to relax and enjoy less fear of crime for a change

By: Eva

Eva — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:49:03 +0000

I live in both Playa del Carmen and Beverly Hills, CA.

When you are a tourist in Playa del Carmen or Cancun, or living there such as I do, you should just be careful as you would any city you are traveling to or living in. Yes I see the federales all the time in Playa and Cancun. One should remember, this is Mexico, not America. Things are done differently. There is a trickle affect down the coast due to the beheadings northern Mexico. But the federales are there to protect the tourists, so you are actually safer in the Riviera Maya than you would be in many other cities in America.

There has been theft in our apartment building in Playa, which is in one of the best, most expensive neighborhoods in Playa. And there was a member of Los Zetas staying in our building. One night he shot down from his balcony at a taxi driver. It was scary but this can happen in Los Angeles too so I wasn’t too worried.

The best things about living in the Riviera Maya are the beaches, inexpensive food, and great people you will meet.

Again, Playa del Carmen is a lovely place to visit or live. You just should be careful as you would anywhere.

By: Nina Y.

Nina Y. — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:44:15 +0000

We’re leaving for PDC in about 12 hours – so excited for the 85 degree weather! See you tomorrow, Tony & Cheri!

By: Tony & Cheri

Tony & Cheri — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:16:35 +0000

Well we are coming down in July/August as we are tired of the crime in St. Martin, even though we have been lucky over the years, we thought it was time for a change and where better to spend a week or so with “The other” Tony & Cheri.

Wish it was next week as we need some sunshine!

By: Josephina

Josephina — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:00:55 +0000

Thanks for the great information Toni and Cherri!!

I will be doing my 1st solo trip to Playa Del Carmen in the near future and I am not afraid for my safety! I have made several trip to the area in the past (as recent as Dec 2008) and I feel perfectly safe to return on my own and will not be staying in an All Inclusive.

I am <30 and female, if I feel safe going ALONE then everyone else should realize that it is just media hype and that Playa Del Carment really IS safe

By: Rich H

Rich H — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:52:40 +0000

Any of you guys ever try walking the streets of Atlanta, or Memphis, or New Orleans after dark?? Talk about panhandlers, drugs, and prostitutes – - WOW! I’ve been to the Yucatan many times and had zero encounters with any of that stuff, except for being solicited one time by a prostitute, and that only happened because I was in some crazy bar where I probably should not have been. You will be as safe as you choose to be, just like anywhere else in this world. It is a wonderful experience for anyone from 8 to 80. Go and enjoy yourself!

By: Mark (PdS)

Mark (PdS) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:08:03 +0000

The biggest crime in Playa, this week, was perpetrated by my dog. She ran off with my boxers and had them half buried, before I busted her. I chose not to involve the federales, this time.

The biggest question, this week, is why anyone would still believe the media, in this day and age. The peso is at 15 to the dollar. That means you could, feasibly, get 50% more vacation than you could have gotten, six months ago. You think that little nugget of information might be why the media conglomerates have decided to scare you about Mexico?