RV Tourism in Mexico

wa_desert_rat wrote:
You can believe what you like... but when the U.S. Dept. of State issues travel warnings it's because their consular officers - who LIVE in that country and who deal with people who have had problems as part of their every-day jobs report back to headquarters in D.C. and, as a result, we get this: "The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling to certain places in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by organized criminal groups in the country."

You might wonder, "what places?" And the report goes on to say that it could happen anywhere.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

Now you can parse out some sentences in that to make it look better and they have to be "diplomatic" after all, but in stark contrast - despite the attempts of some on this forum to make it appear that travel in the USA is no better - the Government of Canada, in its advisory to Canadian citizens contemplating travel into the USA simply says this:

"There is no nationwide advisory in effect for the United States (U.S.). Exercise normal security precautions."

But for travel into Mexico the Government of Canada says this: "MEXICO - Exercise a high degree of caution" and goes on to say: "Due to high levels of organized crime in rural areas, including on major highways, you should exercise extreme caution in the states of Baja California (North), Morelos, Nayarit, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Zacatecas."

It's worth noting that it's "extreme caution" for the places they named and just "high degree" of caution everywhere else.

Figure it out.

If you can get into Baja California, Sur you're pretty safe, I think. Probably not easy to run drugs up the Baja what with ferries and only one highway and all.

Nevertheless, it's not Tucson. And I think boondocking is out...

WDR

I think it's always wise to be aware of travel advisories but I think you also have to take them with a grain of salt. Stats for murder rate in Washington DC are much higher than Mexico City. Other US cities are even higher. It wouldn't stop me from seeing either one of the capitals but I think one has to dig a little deeper than just travel advisories. I think Canada needs to consider adding cities like Baltimore, Washington, New Orleans etc to their travel advisories. It would give a more balanced and reliable global picture.