Does anybody travel to mexico? If so WHY???

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QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
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834
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I am, for the most part, pretty left leaning. But on this issue, I don't see how there is so much debate. It is plain to see that there is a massive problem with Mexico, and our immigration laws. Not Canada, not Russia, not China... Mexico. Every state should be following suit with Arizona, starting with California.

I have no idea why any American would want to go to Mexico, when you can visit equally sunny, San Diego. You have almost the same amount of Mexicans as in Mexico, but without the fear of incarceration or even death... well at least a very reduced chance of either...

Mexico isn't as dangerous as the media makes it out to be, if you go the border you'll see lines of cars at all time in SD going into TJ. Thousands of Americans go there every day, and they go because everything is 1/4th of the price. SD's expensive to party in, TJ? you can get 4 drinks for the price of one anywhere in SD. TJ isn't the safest place in the world, but I'll be going there this weekend. I've been to Mexico plenty of times, never got beat up or shot/shot at or robbed. I have however been held at knife point, robbed, and had a gun held to my head in the good ole' USA.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
96,908
16,174
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I went there 3 years ago with my wife and kid. We were just north of Playa del Carmen and we did the Chichen Itza thing and taxied into the town of Playa del Carmen for a visit. Seemed heavily patrolled including army checkpoint on the way to Chichen Itza. But it felt pretty safe.
 

chitwood

Golden Member
Aug 21, 2008
1,207
56
91
goin to Cabo san Lucas in less than 30 days for honeymoon... I am not the least bit worried
 

SonnyDaze

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2004
6,867
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I traveled to Tijuana a few times in the 90's while stationed in San Diego. I only went for the $5 bucket of beers.
 

coloumb

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,069
0
81
Tijuana - good memories. My dad [who owns a small bar in SD] took a friend and I to a few strip clubs and bars back in the late 80's. We [friend and I] never did go in the back room with a stripper for fear of being robbed or catching a disease... and neither of us would let a stripper sit on our face [you could lean back on the stage]. We [friend and I] later walked into/out of TJ without any issues either.

I think you just have to be careful where you go in any country and you'll be ok.
 

TechAZ

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2007
1,188
0
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Tijuana - good memories. My dad [who owns a small bar in SD] took a friend and I to a few strip clubs and bars back in the late 80's. We [friend and I] never did go in the back room with a stripper for fear of being robbed or catching a disease... and neither of us would let a stripper sit on our face [you could lean back on the stage]. We [friend and I] later walked into/out of TJ without any issues either.

I think you just have to be careful where you go in any country and you'll be ok.

TJ is filled with hookers, FYI....those strip clubs you were in, they will do anything you want for $20. It's like Costa Rica, legal (if not, it's not enforced) prostitution.

I would love to go to some places in Mexico, but there is no way in hell I would ever drive. I'll probably never go though, I have no desire to go to resorts....would just like to travel the coast.
 

Dangerer

Golden Member
Mar 15, 2005
1,128
0
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Mexico is a big country. You can't sum it up in a grand total statement of "it's a violent place" anymore than you could the US.

Personally, I have no reason to travel there so I won't but it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to understand there are areas to avoid. In the same way I wouldn't travel to parts of Detroit I wouldn't travel to parts of Mexico.

wat?
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Sadly I have known parents too cheap for insurance but make the pilgrimage their for drugs including their kid's meds...many self-prescribed.

When my family was on some hard-times, we used Mexico for prescriptions and went down there for dental work too.

I was actually really impressed by their dental facilities. The facilities seemed nice and I feel like I got equal or better care than I would have in the US. The total cost wasn't much higher than insurance premiums would have been.
 

amicold

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2005
2,656
1
81
Sadly I have known parents too cheap for insurance but make the pilgrimage their for drugs including their kid's meds...many self-prescribed.

That is sad ha, a lot of border folks on the sauce travel down their and buy redijects, stab themselves, and come back in a week.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,004
5,892
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I know it is supposed to be safer in the "touristy" areas, but I am paranoid and frankly, I'd prefer to avoid spending my money there.

well it sucks to be you.

spent less for flight + hotel with an ocean front room right in the downtown of Cancun for a week for less than I'm going to vegas for 4 nights.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,004
5,892
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Meh. Wife and I are taking a trip to Isla Mujeres next month. I have no worries.

went there for a day trip and drove golf carts around that island ... was freaking amazing, i'd like to stay there at least a night or two next time I go to mexico. while there you should check out the zipline that goes out over the ocean. we didn't have enough time to do it when we were there, but we drove by it on the golf carts ... man it looked so awesome.
 

CVSiN

Diamond Member
Jul 19, 2004
9,289
0
0
want to go on a cruise there for my 40th in August.. I'm not worried at all..
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
went there for a day trip and drove golf carts around that island ... was freaking amazing, i'd like to stay there at least a night or two next time I go to mexico. while there you should check out the zipline that goes out over the ocean. we didn't have enough time to do it when we were there, but we drove by it on the golf carts ... man it looked so awesome.

A quick google of that place looks pretty cool. How much is there really to do on/around the island? And what kind of cash are you looking at for rooms, food and entertainment for say...a 5 night, 4 day trip?
 

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
33,655
687
126
well it sucks to be you.

spent less for flight + hotel with an ocean front room right in the downtown of Cancun for a week for less than I'm going to vegas for 4 nights.

To each his own -- personally, I don't want to go to either of those places.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
When my family was on some hard-times, we used Mexico for prescriptions and went down there for dental work too.

I was actually really impressed by their dental facilities. The facilities seemed nice and I feel like I got equal or better care than I would have in the US. The total cost wasn't much higher than insurance premiums would have been.

I have some inlaws that live about 90 minutes north of Nogales. The retirement communities there would charter busses down to the border so that they could get cheap dental work and meds that Medicare wouldn't cover(or cover as cheaply).
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,004
5,892
126
A quick google of that place looks pretty cool. How much is there really to do on/around the island? And what kind of cash are you looking at for rooms, food and entertainment for say...a 5 night, 4 day trip?

not much, it is a very small island and doesn't look like there is too much to do. the downtown area is pretty cool but not sure how much to do there. we got to the island at like 9:30am then went on a snorkel trip, then hung out around a bar and restaurant area on the beach for a few hours and kayaked, then we drove around the island on golf carts. we left at like 5pm so we weren't there for the night time.

it looks like a very relaxing place to go though, like to stay there for a few nights.
 

Kyle

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 1999
4,145
11
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I'm actually in mazatlan now on vacation- no issues at all...beautiful weather
 

TechAZ

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2007
1,188
0
71
I have some inlaws that live about 90 minutes north of Nogales. The retirement communities there would charter busses down to the border so that they could get cheap dental work and meds that Medicare wouldn't cover(or cover as cheaply).

What kind of recourse does someone have if they get an infection, at a dental facility in Mexico?