A security alert for Mexico has many travelers understandably nervous. South of the US border is, of course, a popular, and easily accessible, vacation destination for Americans — 35 million people visited Mexico in 2016, most of them from the United States — so many are wondering if it is still safe to travel to Mexico in 2018. Concierge Realty’s most popular resorts are in Los Cabos and Cancun (which includes Playa del Carmen) areas.
Baja California Sur which includes Los Cabos, is listed as “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” by the Department of State. Quintana Roo, which includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum, is also listed as Level 2, with the same advice listed as in Baja. There was a security alert issued for the popular beach destination of Playa del Carmen issued on March 8, 2018 in response to an explosion on a ferry However, this alert was lifted just eight days later after new security measures were put into place for tourism ferries.
To put things in perspective, Level 2 is the same level of advisory that has been given to many other popular tourist spots, including Anguilla, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Italy. Those are places where many of us would not think twice about visiting.
A little knowledge and common sense go a long way when traveling south of the border.
Here are a few tips:

• Don’t go out alone at night. Make sure to ask around as soon as you arrive at your vacation destination if certain parts of town should be avoided, which taxi companies are reputable, where to exchange money safely and which bars/clubs have a good reputation.
• Use common sense. Don’t wear flashy stuff, never take your eyes off your personal belongings on any bus, subway, boat or taxi ride, and keep the phone number of your hotel or with you in case you get lost or any other problem arises
• Driving a car can be a great way to see the country. If you do decide to rent a car, make sure to stay on the toll roads and stay off the road after dark.
• Mexico has an excellent public transportation system that’s very safe and reliable. Public buses that run in towns and cities are also, for the most part, safe to use. It’s good to remember the more crowded a place is, the more likely a pickpocketing incident is. When traveling on the buses and subways, for example, always make sure your money is tucked away in a place that no one is able to reach.
• To ensure you have a safe taxi ride in Mexico, try to catch only authorized taxis. Find them outside airports, bus stations and in more touristy areas. They cost a bit more than other taxis, but all have recorded numbers, so if anything happens, the driver and car can be traced. Authorized taxi stands are marked by a sign that reads: “Taxis Autorisados.” There will always be other taxi drivers standing around trying to solicit your business, but it’s a good idea to avoid these guys and head straight to the authorized taxi stand whenever possible.
  Mexico is so beauitful and a wonderful place to visit for Spring Break because of the great weather. We would be happy to book you a week at a wfantastic resort where sun and fun await you!