Wow. Cartel violence and apology

[easyrider]

Medical tourism is a very common reason why Americans go to Mexico. Whether this incidence was a cartel mistake or not ,this recent event in the news and has caused many to reconsider their Mexican travel. For us, we are reevaluating the plan to drive to Puerto Vallarta or Cabo in the Silver Bullet. We still plan to head to Mexico. I'm thinking others will decide to head elsewhere for many reasons.

Anyone else making changes to their Mexico trips ?

Bill

 

[Sandy VDH]

I had to look up the story, since I did I thought I would post it here to share.

Kidnapped Americans found in Mexico; 2 dead, 1 injured

The four Americans entered Mexico from Texas and were kidnapped in an area known for conflict between cartels.

www.newsnationnow.com

 

[Roger830]

Here's another story.

Wife of Mexico kidnapping victim didn't realize he'd gone on trip

Eric Williams' wife revealed on Tuesday that she did not know her husband was traveling south of the border to support Latavia 'Tay' McGee at her scheduled tummy tuck surgery.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[amycurl]

I love how the first article says that to solve the problem we should close the border. The problem is that the US public is the largest single consumer market for what the cartels are selling. The only way to solve the problem is to reduce demand. Otherwise, the "invisible hand of the market" will always win.

 

[VacationForever]

We made the decision about 8 years ago to never return to Mexico and still stand by that decision.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

We made the decision about 8 years ago to never return to Mexico and still stand by that decision.

Same here...why risk bodily harm if there are so many other choices. Standing by for haters to chime in, ha!

 

[TravelTime]

We are planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta with our kids in July. These stories are scary but it is not new. I hope we will be safe. We plan to take the usual precautions like staying in tourist areas and not going off the beaten path.

 

[easyrider]

We were in Puerto Vallarta for most of Feb and the worse thing that happened was a fishing mishap with an Englishman. I accidently casted over line and he thought it was a fish on. His name is Gram. I could barely understand what he was saying. Soon after a guy named Barry from Winnipeg did the same thing to Gram. I have to laugh in that we all speak English but no one understood a thing Gram said.

We were all over PV at all times of day and it was safe. Probably the biggest danger is the uneven sidewalks, super big curbs and cobblestone making a person trip.

My thought is travel will decrease in certain areas but those that have been traveling to Mexico for years will continue to do so. I have extended family living in Mexico and I have extended family that will never step foot into Mexico. I really wanted to drive to Mexico next winter but the WA plate might make us a target so that's not happening.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

We made the decision about 8 years ago to never return to Mexico and still stand by that decision.

What happened ? Bad water ?

Bill

 

[VacationForever]

What happened ? Bad water ?

Bill

Drug cartels and potential kidnapping. I am less afraid of drug cartels, i.e. caught in gun fights, than kidnappings. For us, the risk far outweighs the joy we get from vacationing in Mexico. Kidnapping = almost certain death, plus it puts family in an extremely stressful situation.

 

[Passepartout]

Loyal readers will recall that in January, my DW fell on a sidewalk in Centro Mazatlan (breaking her upper right arm) and was cared for (with surgery) in a large Mexican hospital. The very NEXT DAY, the Federales captured the son of El Chapo Guzman, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacan, the capitol of Sinaloa State. Shots were taken at an Aero Mexico jet. There were threats made at the hospital where Paula was recuperating post op. They told us they were taking us to a 'safe house' with a nurse. Paula was spirited out of the hospital that night in the dark, put into an ambulance with nurses and firefighters and brought to me to care for.

She's still on the mend. Travel Insurance paid all the bills we accumulated for her care in Mexico, but not for ongoing care after returning home (make a note about that, travel insurance shoppers)

We will return to Mazatlan- even have reservations there for the first week in April, 2024 to catch the next total Solar Eclipse. It will start it's journey across N. America there.

The cartels (generally) don't bother nortamericano visitors. Too much trouble with the army.

Jim

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

We are planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta with our kids in July. These stories are scary but it is not new. I hope we will be safe. We plan to take the usual precautions like staying in tourist areas and not going off the beaten path.

We were in Puerto Vallarta for most of Feb .......
We were all over PV at all times of day and it was safe. Probably the biggest danger is the uneven sidewalks, super big curbs and cobblestone making a person trip. .......
Bill

@TravelTime
Don't forget to watch out for the PV airport TS Shark Tank - just after you exit security.

and @easyrider is correct about the interestingly uneven sidewalks in centro / oldtown

We head home from PV on Monday (March 13) / arrived Jan 27.
We did take a 5 day side trip to Mexico City . Flew over & back on VivaAerobus

I am already searching Feb 2024 exchange options.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

We made the decision about 8 years ago to never return to Mexico and still stand by that decision.

Yeah, us too. We used to enjoy going to TJ for shopping, tourism, restaurants. Also sometimes we'd go down to La Fonda (on the way to Ensenada) for lunch and stayed overnight at a hole-in-the-wall hotel, La Misión. Fun, but the risk factor kept increasing. So, we haven't been down there in perhaps 25 years.

 

[pedro47]

That was a very violence abduction catcher by that video recording.

 

[Pizza67]

We've been going since 2006, mainly to the Vidanta RM property. We've seen and done pretty much everything we've wanted to see as far as going into town, Talum, etc. Since they've added so much to the resort, we don't even leave the property anymore. That said, we're heading down in May with no real worries.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Loyal readers ...my DW fell on the sidewalk......
We will return to Mazatlan- even have reservations there for the first week in April, 2024

The cartels (generally) don't bother nortamericano visitors. Too much trouble with the army.

Jim

Glad to hear Paula & you have 2024 travel plans
******
I agree with your statement re :
business operational issues - when the Mexican army is sent .
The Gulf Cartel & it's leadership will likely see drones & helicopters visiting them soon.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We were in Cabo earlier this winter and everything was fine. Usual precautions. We felt safe. Booked to visit again in 2024 and searching for 2025. We missed Cabo during the pandemic.

Would not go to TJ or other areas on the list. Too dangerous. I would like to visit Cancun. I recall that was a safe(r) area. I want to see the ruins and other area highlights.

 

[klpca]

My husband had to go to Reynosa for work - that was definitely unsafe. His co-worker was staying at the Holiday Inn, waiting for a shuttle and witnessed a shooting. How his company ever thought it was safe for employees to stay there is beyond me. There are places that we won't go - Tijuana and Reynosa for sure. We aren't particularly worried about Cabo and PV.

 

[Mongoose]

We won’t be taking trips there anytime soon. There are better, lower risk options.

 

[TheHappyWanderer]

We live very close to the airport and fly to Puerto Vallarta quite often. But sometimes we decide to take just a little extra overall risk and drive for a few hours over the mountains to the PNW coast instead for vacation.

I am reminded however of the old line from "Laverne and Shirley" comparing flying to driving. "Nobody has ever fallen 40,000 feet out of a Chrysler DeSoto." It is very true that we will probably never get kidnapped and murdered by a drug cartel while on our way to Florence, Oregon.

 

[Roger830]

It's safer now, a drug cartel apologized and identified the murderers.

The Mexican government investigating if the victims were involved in drug trade because of past drug convictions.

Mexican cartel turns in five members who kidnapped four Americans

The Gulf Cartel has handed over five members it claims were behind the kidnapping of four Americans, including two who died, and a Mexican woman who was shot dead last Friday in Mexico.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[jorcus]

I am in Playa Del Carmen now. This place is packed with tourists. It's ok if you want to stay home. Everyone else is here having a good time. They show Florida news on the resorts cable and yikes I'm ok where I am.

 

[easyrider]

We haven't decided where in Mexico we will end up but I'm thinking we will be somewhere in Mexico next winter. I saw on the news they are now speaking about the dangers of Medical Tourism that cost less than half of what it does in the states. I know a few people and would include myself and my wife that have had procedures in Mexico.

I saw on the news that the cartel apologized. I'm not sure what to think about that.

Bill

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I will repeat a prior comment I have made. I feel far safer in the tourist areas in PV, Zihua, Cabo than I do in Pioneer Square in Seattle. And that was before the pandemic. The situation is has deteriorated greatly since then. Yet there's no drum roll of people saying I would never travel to the Pacific Northwest because it isn't safe.

 

[VacationForever]

I will repeat a prior comment I have made. I feel far safer in the tourist areas in PV, Zihua, Cabo than I do in Pioneer Square in Seattle. And that was before the pandemic. The situation is has deteriorated greatly since then. Yet there's no drum roll of people saying I would never travel to the Pacific Northwest because it isn't safe.

Oh yes there is. I will never return to Seattle and Portland, 2 of my favorite cities before they became what they are now.