Friends just back from Cancun--robbed by police

[daboy]

FYI

A friend ( male 25) just returned from cancun. Day 2 he was stopped on street at about 10 pm and his money taken by police. Wisely he said nothing.
The next day about same time elsewhere other police stopped him and said they were going to arrest him for public destruction of some garbage can...sure.
They took his money, they were about to take his Ipod. He argued about his Ipod and other tourists started to stare. The police left with just the cash.\


db

 

[Thousand]

I heard that tourists get robbed and get things stolen at the resort too. Mexico doesn't seem like a good place to have a good time.

 

[asterwald]

I heard that tourists get robbed and get things stolen at the resort too. Mexico doesn't seem like a good place to have a good time.

Yup, Spain seems far better. Plus more historic.

 

[Rockslinger]

What happened to your friend is mild compared to getting murdered.

 

[danmand]

I love Mexico, go there 4 times a year. Came back through Cancun last night.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I know someone who just got back from Cancun. No problemo.

I think the police target younger and naive, less-credible types.

 

[harryass]

hmm maybe avoid going out at 10pm or later in Cancun?

 

[Flick]

In the days we were able to walk downtown Cancun and back to our hotel drunk without getting mugged. Florida, Bahamas and Myrtle beach is the way to go and exchange rate is excellent for Canadians.

 

[james t kirk]

When I was in Cancun, I just stayed on the resort and relaxed.

One day we chartered a bus and went to see the pyramid, then some cheesey market in Cancun. I liked the pyramid, but you can keep the market and you can keep Cancun. The locals see this pale guy in bad shorts standing 6'-3" and you might as well paint a target on me. I couldn't walk more than 10 feet and someone was hassling me.

I'll go back to Mexico, but I would not set foot off the resort.

 

[landscaper]

not incredibly surprising, unlike the resort ads most of Mexico is a third world nation with iffy government services and controls

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Mexico is a shithole compared to Costa Rica, Panama (PTY), Colombia (Medellin, Cartagena) and lots of other Latin-American places.

I'm presently boycotting MEHxico until they get their shit together

 

[Malibook]

I know shit happens, especially in Mexico, but 2 incidents to the same person in one trip is either extremely bad luck or a lack or common sense.

 

[great bear]

I know shit happens, especially in Mexico, but 2 incidents to the same person in one trip is either extremely bad luck or a lack or common sense.

If it happens twice in the same day it is probably Montezuma's revenge.

 

[Dick Meat]

Mexico is a shithole compared to Costa Rica, Panama (PTY), Colombia (Medellin, Cartagena) and lots of other Latin-American places.

^^this. Come to Colombia, you will not regret it.

 

[Molly Robinson]

Heading to Cancun next month, girls week away. I don't plan to go far from the resort bar

 

[lenharper]

went to mexico. had absolutely no problems. nor did anyone else. common sense is your friend, hysteria is not

 

[danmand]

Not being personally judgemental Molly but will use you as the example for purposes of discussion.

WHY WOULD ANYONE make a decision to go to Mexico when there are so many reports of problems, an undisputed lack of safe law enforcement, effectively NO help available from Canada if you find yourself in any sort of trouble whether or not is in any way your fault or not, and with so many other fantastic destinations available outside Mexico?

Just trying to understand why?

Can't be the cost difference of maybe a couple of hundred dollars, MAX.

Is it that people think bad things only happen to other people and can't happen to me? Do reports from people like danmand who say they haven't had any problems themselves make the reports from others like the OP who said his friends got ROBBED BY THE POLICE. Think about that. ROBBED BY THE POLICE! Where else does that happen except in Mexico?

Is it that Cancun has a particular pool resort bar (that you say you won't stray far from) that is so much better than pool bars at every other southern destination?

And what do people say when they DO run into trouble? They complain that Canada didn't help them. Although Canada tried to help them with Travel Warnings, they make a decision to go anyways.

Again, nothing personal, jsut using your upcoming trip as an example to ask the question

You are fear mongering, hysterical.

 

[Mencken]

Got to love all the hysteria and wailing about Mexico. Been there many times and walked the streets of Cancun and many other cities with never a problem. On the other hand if you walk around at night and are under the influence- in rip off areas (such as the little fake market area in Cancun) you have painted a target on your back.

Here's a challenge. Have a couple of drinks and walk around in downtown Chicago or Detroit at night. You'll wish you were in Mexico.

 

[lenharper]

imagine if you compiled a list of crime reports from some areas of Florida you'd be just as shocked, horrified and scared. obviously there are dangerous parts of mexico but I don't think many are vacationing in Juarez

 

[Mencken]

Common sense says not to travel for discretional recreation to places where law and order is controlled by drug cartels and violence from criminals and police is a daily fact of life. Especially when the same poolside drinking experience can be had at a thousand other places almost exactly the same.

But that is just my version of common sense. YMMV!

Common sense says you would not go to Juarez, or any other Mexican city located close to the US. But the resort areas are located a long ways from there, and crime against tourists is very very uncommon and low probability. In that respect Mexico is probably much safer than Jamaica, Dominican, and many other tourist destinations. You would be a 1000 times safer walking the streets in Cancun than walking the streets in Kingston, Jamaica - for example. If you response is to just stay at the resort, then they are all similarly safe. It becomes a matter of choice then - price, features, etc. You are less likely to get sick in Mexico than in the Dominican (at a resort), there are more activities available in Mexico, and prices are often better.