Vacationers are still afraid of drug wars, cartels, and violence in Mexico, even though we don’t read as much in the media these days about drug-related deaths as we did three years ago (of course, other than the recent Guerrero mass murder).
Each year, Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel and tourism website, publishes the Travelers’ Choice Awards rankings for global, national and regional travel preferences in a number of categories. The 2014 award numbers clearly indicate that vacationers are still wary of visiting Mexico, but take comfort in the comfort, safety and security of Mexico’s all-inclusive resorts, and prefer them to others around the world.
Mexico did not rank at all in the global categories of Best Small Hotels, Best B&Bs and Inns, Best Rising Destinations, Favorite Restaurants, or in the more general category of Best Destinations. It obtained a rating in the category of Best Beaches in the World, as number ten out of 25 for Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres. Similarly, it earned the World’s Best Hotels rating, but only for The Saint Regis Punta Mita Resort in Punta de Mita. And presumably due to the dollar/peso exchange rate, it ranked 21st and 25th in Bargain Hotels in the World, with The Bungalows Hotel (Cabo San Lucas) and Luz en Yucatán (Mérida) respectively.
However, it is in the World’s Best All-Inclusive Resorts category that Mexico really shines, which suggests that, seen in the context of its lack of location in the other categories, yes, the public still fears for their safety due to drug violence in Mexico. , cartels and wars, but that vacationers feel safe and protected when they stay in an all-inclusive resort, isolated from everyday Mexican life.
In the category of the 25 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, Mexico held 11 rankings, including the first five of eight places. Here are the impressive results:
1) Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso (Playa Paraiso)
3) The Beloved Hotel (Playa Mujeres)
5) Excellence Playa Mujeres (Playa Mujeres)
6) Le Blanc Spa Resort (Cancun)
8) Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun (Maroma Beach)
16) Excellence Riviera Cancun (Puerto Morelos)
17) Live Aqua Cancun All Inclusive (Cancun)
19) Club Med Ixtapa Pacifico (Ixtapa)
21) Secret Silversands Riviera Cancun (Puerto Morelos)
22) Palace of Cozumel (Cozumel)
25) Palace of the Sun (Cancun)
Mexico is generally a safe country to vacation. Just stick with it anywhere you don’t see rampant drug-related violence and turf wars between drug gangs. Of course, naysayers who have never been here would disagree. Consider, for example, safe havens like Chiapas, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende and similar expat enclaves, the Yucatan, the Pacific resorts…and yes, all-inclusives. Be no more or less careful than you would on holiday in any other developing country and you should generally be fine; and better yet, enjoy your trip to Mexico as much or more than in other vacation spots.
