recommend a Mexican location that would be great for a family year abroad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the current security concerns I would not go to Mexico. I love the people and the food, but last time we went I didn’t feel safe.

I would pick Peru, Costa Rica or Uruguai. Haven’t lived in these countries, but have visited and liked the people.

Mexico is a big country. Just like a lot of people don't feel safe in certain parts of the USA--some areas are safer than others, yet we live here and take precautions.

Much of Mexico is unsafe, and the parts which are ok are only relatively safe because of enhanced security required to protect the tourist trade. Voluntarily choosing to live there, anywhere, is a roll of the dice in terms of safety, much more so than the obvious inner city problem areas in the U.S. The cartels control and operate in vast swaths of Mexico while serious crime in the U.S. is highly localized and concetrated.

If you want to live somewhere inexpensive and Spanish-speaking, there are better options, like Spain.

[Anonymous]

Mazatlan is colorful and fun. I have several friends who are expats there

[Anonymous]

Puebla.

[Anonymous]

Almost anywhere in central Mexico is just 2-4 hours from a million other adorable towns and things to see and do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the current security concerns I would not go to Mexico. I love the people and the food, but last time we went I didn’t feel safe.

I would pick Peru, Costa Rica or Uruguai. Haven’t lived in these countries, but have visited and liked the people.

Mexico is a big country. Just like a lot of people don't feel safe in certain parts of the USA--some areas are safer than others, yet we live here and take precautions.

Much of Mexico is unsafe, and the parts which are ok are only relatively safe because of enhanced security required to protect the tourist trade. Voluntarily choosing to live there, anywhere, is a roll of the dice in terms of safety, much more so than the obvious inner city problem areas in the U.S. The cartels control and operate in vast swaths of Mexico while serious crime in the U.S. is highly localized and concetrated.

If you want to live somewhere inexpensive and Spanish-speaking, there are better options, like Spain.

Nope. Spain is not a better option, just a different option.

I used to work in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and I'm very familiar with the travel warnings. Yes, I would steer clear if northern border states and Sinaloa.

Most of the Bajío and central Mexico are fine. It doesn't mean crime doesn't happen but you're unlikely to encounter it.

If you read the U.S. Embassy's travel warnings, they are quite detailed and are often specific about which highway or which part of a city or state they don't recommend.

When it says, "U.S. Government employees are not permitted to travel to X" or "may only be in X during daylight hours" -- that's the main thing I would pay attention to in thise travel warnings. General warnings about petty crime or whatever are less concerning for travelers or temporary residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the current security concerns I would not go to Mexico. I love the people and the food, but last time we went I didn’t feel safe.

I would pick Peru, Costa Rica or Uruguai. Haven’t lived in these countries, but have visited and liked the people.

Mexico is a big country. Just like a lot of people don't feel safe in certain parts of the USA--some areas are safer than others, yet we live here and take precautions.

Much of Mexico is unsafe, and the parts which are ok are only relatively safe because of enhanced security required to protect the tourist trade. Voluntarily choosing to live there, anywhere, is a roll of the dice in terms of safety, much more so than the obvious inner city problem areas in the U.S. The cartels control and operate in vast swaths of Mexico while serious crime in the U.S. is highly localized and concetrated.

If you want to live somewhere inexpensive and Spanish-speaking, there are better options, like Spain.

Nope. Spain is not a better option, just a different option.

I used to work in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and I'm very familiar with the travel warnings. Yes, I would steer clear if northern border states and Sinaloa.

Most of the Bajío and central Mexico are fine. It doesn't mean crime doesn't happen but you're unlikely to encounter it.

If you read the U.S. Embassy's travel warnings, they are quite detailed and are often specific about which highway or which part of a city or state they don't recommend.

When it says, "U.S. Government employees are not permitted to travel to X" or "may only be in X during daylight hours" -- that's the main thing I would pay attention to in thise travel warnings. General warnings about petty crime or whatever are less concerning for travelers or temporary residents.

Great advice! Especially the point about where U.S. Government employees are not permitted to travel.

And hello fellow former U.S. Embassy Mexico City employee!

[Anonymous]

Guanajuato city would be my choice. It's so cute and walkable. Lots of cultural stuff going on, including a major literature/music/humanities festival. There are universities there, including Universidad de Guanajuato right there in the city center. Good Spanish language schools. Very centrally located to explore central Mexico, from Mexico City up to Zacatecas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the current security concerns I would not go to Mexico. I love the people and the food, but last time we went I didn’t feel safe.

I would pick Peru, Costa Rica or Uruguai. Haven’t lived in these countries, but have visited and liked the people.

Mexico is a big country. Just like a lot of people don't feel safe in certain parts of the USA--some areas are safer than others, yet we live here and take precautions.

Much of Mexico is unsafe, and the parts which are ok are only relatively safe because of enhanced security required to protect the tourist trade. Voluntarily choosing to live there, anywhere, is a roll of the dice in terms of safety, much more so than the obvious inner city problem areas in the U.S. The cartels control and operate in vast swaths of Mexico while serious crime in the U.S. is highly localized and concetrated.

If you want to live somewhere inexpensive and Spanish-speaking, there are better options, like Spain.

Nope. Spain is not a better option, just a different option.

I used to work in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and I'm very familiar with the travel warnings. Yes, I would steer clear if northern border states and Sinaloa.

Most of the Bajío and central Mexico are fine. It doesn't mean crime doesn't happen but you're unlikely to encounter it.

If you read the U.S. Embassy's travel warnings, they are quite detailed and are often specific about which highway or which part of a city or state they don't recommend.

When it says, "U.S. Government employees are not permitted to travel to X" or "may only be in X during daylight hours" -- that's the main thing I would pay attention to in thise travel warnings. General warnings about petty crime or whatever are less concerning for travelers or temporary residents.

It's glaringly obvious that if USG personnel are being told not to travel somewhere, naive tourists and ex-pats would do well to heed that. The question is whether a country which generates such warnings for even part of its territory is a place you can reasonably conclude is as safe as first world countries. I don't think so, but everyone has their own risk comfort level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oaxaca maybe?

That's mean.

[Anonymous]

Monterrey? Too big?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd do Costa Rica instead.

But maybe some people on this board will have good Suggs.

Have fun, OP! Sounds cool to me

lol. no.

[Anonymous]

I know several Mexicans who will not travel back to their home country without armed security. I would also choose another location.

[Anonymous]

Merida

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know several Mexicans who will not travel back to their home country without armed security. I would also choose another location.

That's silly. Maybe -- maybe -- if they are extremely wealthy and/or connected with organized crime they would use armed guards.

Man, I hate these types of "I talked to a Mexican once" comments because the commenter has zero idea what they're talking about and no relevant experience. Of course Mexicans who have lived abroad for many years have different ideas about what's going on in Mexico.

[Anonymous]

The fear mongering in here is incredible. I’m not going to spend time on the safety piece because it’s not going to be an issue. As long as you keep a good head on your shoulders, take the same precautions you would in any big US city, don’t do anything illegal, and you will be just fine. Depending on the town certainly safer than living in Baltimore (by a lot) and frankly a lot of parts of DC. Now for the actual response:

Los Barriles in B.C.S is spectacular. Lots of expats but not touristy at all. It’s between La Paz and Cabo on the Sea of Cortez. I’ve been going there my whole life. Never ever had a single issue or scary moment. The people are warm and wonderful. The geography is stunning. Across the Peninsula is Todos Santos on the Pacific Side. A little more built up and attracts a lot of artists etc.

Check both out. I’m as gringo as it gets and I’ve never once ever had anything remotely sketchy happen in all my time in these places (probably about 8 years of my life total). I do speak Spanish, but most of the Mexicans’ English in that part of the country is better than the Yanks’ Spanish.