Traveling in Mexico

[tommy_ed]

im planning a 6-month to a year trip consisting mostly of living in a tent. was thinking of making my way into southern mexico for a few weeks, but considering i don't speak spanish and i'm a skinny white boy, does this sound like a bad idea? hahaha i'd really like to see some of the cities down there, but i don't know much about mexico. am i going to get kidnapped by "banditos"? hahaha I'll have a glock .40 pistol with me, but i don't know how i would go about taking it across the border. (is it legal, etc.)

has anyone on here done much traveling in mexico?

 

[woop]

In all honestly, right now probably isn't the best time to go to Mexico. There are a TON of turf wars going down there right now from the drug trade, and most of the border towns on the Mexico side of the border are basically run by druglords (or are ghosttowns). I've seen a ton of reports of people getting kidnapped, held for ransom, or basically killed and dumped into a ditch. That pistol will do nothing for you when a car pulls up with 5 dudes holding AK-47's.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Directly from the donkey's mouth:

Guns are Illegal in Mexico

Apparently if the United States Consulate is to be believed, even bringing in ammo or pocket knives will land you in El-Jailo.

Make sure to think it through with great care.

 

[Bob Maxey]

In all honestly, right now probably isn't the best time to go to Mexico. There are a TON of turf wars going down there right now from the drug trade, and most of the border towns on the Mexico side of the border are basically run by druglords (or are ghosttowns). I've seen a ton of reports of people getting kidnapped, held for ransom, or basically killed and dumped into a ditch. That pistol will do nothing for you when a car pulls up with 5 dudes holding AK-47's.

And . . . do not depend upon the Mexican police to help you, either.

 

[woop]

And . . . do not depend upon the Mexican police to help you, either.

Wait, you mean those people talking and laughing with the druglords, accepting money from them, were .. police?

 

[Bob Maxey]

Wait, you mean those people talking and laughing with the druglords, accepting money from them, were .. police?

I'll say yes, yes they are. All I know is I won't be headed to Mexico any time soon.

 

[krouget]

im planning a 6-month to a year trip consisting mostly of living in a tent. was thinking of making my way into southern mexico for a few weeks, but considering i don't speak spanish and i'm a skinny white boy, does this sound like a bad idea? hahaha i'd really like to see some of the cities down there, but i don't know much about mexico. am i going to get kidnapped by "banditos"? hahaha I'll have a glock .40 pistol with me, but i don't know how i would go about taking it across the border. (is it legal, etc.)

has anyone on here done much traveling in mexico?

To be honest, this really does sound like a bad idea. The US State Department currently has a travel warning for Mexico, and advises against traveling there at this time.

Current Travel Warnings

Mexico

And though I know you're partially joking about the banditos thing, a friends cousin was more recently abducted and held for ransom, which turned into a very unfortunate and sad situation. Traveling alone to unfamiliar areas with little US presence is just not the best idea.

If you have an itch for traveling, I'd look elsewhere, including various parts of the US. If you haven't explored all of the US, I've had friends take cross-country road trips and described some amazing experiences.

 

[Vihzel]

I spoke with my Mexican cashier friend at work and she would not recommend it at all. She said that she wouldn't travel alone in Mexico and she's from southwestern Mexico, speaks Spanish fluently, and looks like a hardass.

 

[tommy_ed]

i've pretty much conquered the US haha i'm planning on most of this trip being in the states and possibly canada, but i was thinking about adding mexico. however after reading this i'm gonna go ahead and NOT do that. hahaha thanks for the advice guys, i'll keep my skinny ass on this side of the border

 

[jamor]

Mexico is an awful place to be unless you are at a really touristy resort town with a close airport. Stay away.

 

[G.Armour]

Wouldn't go to Mexico due to all the gang activities down there right now. I have heard of so many tourists getting kidnapped or shot..

 

[Bob Maxey]

Wouldn't go to Mexico due to all the gang activities down there right now. I have heard of so many tourists getting kidnapped or shot..

If you do a little research, you will discover that Phoenix Arizona ranks number two as far as kidnapping goes.

I still love AZ

 

[Martimus]

Directly from the donkey's mouth:

Guns are Illegal in Mexico

Apparently if the United States Consulate is to be believed, even bringing in ammo or pocket knives will land you in El-Jailo.

Make sure to think it through with great care.

To elaborate on this point a bit, I used to live in Yuma, a border town on the southwestern Arizona border. One of the major employers in Yuma is a Marine Corps Air station. Back in the late 1990's, a Marine stationed at MCAS Yuma had driven his truck to the border to pick up some buddies. He made a wrong turn while driving and accidently crossed. When you cross the border you play the Mexican lottery. Push a button and if the signal light turns red your vehicle gets inspected. Well his truck got inspected. They found a single spent brass shell casing in the back of his truck.


The Marine got arrested by the Mexican police and spent several months in jail before the US embassy was able to arrange his release. While guns can be found all over creation in parts of Mexico, don't ever, ever attempt to carry one across the border without a permit from the Mexican government! Mexican jails aren't nice places and you have NO rights while in Mexico.

If you do a little research, you will discover that Phoenix Arizona ranks number two as far as kidnapping goes.

I still love AZ

The kidnapping problem here in Phoenix is somewhat overblown in the media. Yes there's a kidnapping problem... but the victims are mostly undocumented immigrants being held captive by the low-lifes who brought them across the border. Their captors figure that they can blackmail their families back in Mexico for more money...

 

[Bob Maxey]

The kidnapping problem here in Phoenix is somewhat overblown in the media. Yes there's a kidnapping problem... but the victims are mostly undocumented immigrants being held captive by the low-lifes who brought them across the border. Their captors figure that they can blackmail their families back in Mexico for more money...

Does that distinction really matter?

 

[NYCHitman1]

In all honestly, right now probably isn't the best time to go to Mexico. There are a TON of turf wars going down there right now from the drug trade, and most of the border towns on the Mexico side of the border are basically run by druglords (or are ghosttowns). I've seen a ton of reports of people getting kidnapped, held for ransom, or basically killed and dumped into a ditch. That pistol will do nothing for you when a car pulls up with 5 dudes holding AK-47's.

Haha.. I went to Cancun for 6 days last year and the day I got home I turned on the news and 3 Americans were found dead on a beach with their hearts cut out and "Z"'s slashed on their backs.

If you wanna put yourself at risk, you'll go to Mexico.

Does that distinction really matter?

Yes. It's one thing if Americans were being kidnapped and held for ransom but it's another when illegals enter our land and are taken for ransom.

 

[tommy_ed]

yea like i said earlier, i changed my mind after the first 4 posts lol

i'll be sticking to the US and Canada!