I'm safer walking after dark in Cancun hotel zone than I am any day in downtown Los Angeles and New

FILE - In this March 15, 2012 file photo, navy sailors patrol import car rentals chicago as people sun bathe on the beach during spring break in Cancun, Mexico. import car rentals chicago While American tourism to Mexico slipped a few percentage points last year, the country remains by far the biggest tourist destination for Americans, according to annual survey of bookings by the largest travel agencies. (AP Photo/Israel Leal, File)
CANCUN, import car rentals chicago Mexico -- Tinkling drinks in hand, New Yorkers Lauren Levy and Jacob Schum settle onto lounge chairs a few feet from the Caribbean's lapping waves. Levy adjusts her yellow bikini. Schum smooths his blue Bermuda shorts. They smile at each other and sigh softly.
The couple had heard of Mexico's cartel killings, casino firebombs, bribery and corruption. But like millions of other Americans craving a break this spring, these workaholics couldn't resist the low prices, flowing drinks and sunny, 80-degree escape.
While American tourism to Mexico slipped 3 percent last year, the country remains import car rentals chicago by far the biggest tourist destination for Americans, with about 20 million U.S. visitors a year, according to annual survey of bookings by the largest travel agencies. It's as if the entire populations of New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia and Phoenix all went to Mexico for vacation each year.
And for those Americans who do stay away, it appears that it's also finances, not just violence, that's to blame. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the economic recession forced 4 percent fewer Americans to travel abroad in 2011 compared with 2010.
The U.S. State Department warns of "gun battles in broad daylight" as Mexican drug dealers import car rentals chicago fight to control the lucrative trade in marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine that reaps an estimated $25 billion in U.S. sales each year.
Mexican officials say 47,515 import car rentals chicago people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between Dec. 1, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2011. Most were people involved in the drug trade, but the number of U.S. citizens murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.
Certain areas are more dangerous than others, the State Department says. Tourists are advised to stay near resorts import car rentals chicago and not to travel at night in the resorts of Acapulco and Mazatlan, for example. And in February, import car rentals chicago 22 Carnival Cruise Lines passengers were robbed at gunpoint during a shore excursion near the Mexico seaside resort of Puerto Vallarta.
Mexican and U.S. law enforcement officials say the region is relatively free of violence because trafficking in the area is controlled almost exclusively by just one cartel, the Zetas, a brutal and high-tech gang founded by rogue Mexican Army special forces who deserted their units and entered the drug trade. import car rentals chicago In contrast to many other areas of Mexico, import car rentals chicago the Zetas are virtually uncontested in Cancun, Latin America security analyst Samuel Logan says.
Logan said the cartel maintains control over the region by shaking down business owners, forcing them to pay for "protection" or risk attacks. He said the cartel likely has far more weapons and power than local law enforcement, and that they're likely paying import car rentals chicago off politicians and police.
McKay said going to bars, buying drugs or getting involved in illicit activity would put a tourist at great risk in Mexico. But he said it's a safe vacation for the multitudes of bikini-clad visitors who have a singular goal when they reach the numerous resort cities that dot the east and west coasts: to lie on the beach with a beer and a taco.
Other Americans come south to visit family or travel on business. But the draw of sunshine, low prices and close flights are for many in need of a vacation import car rentals chicago the key, irresistible combination. And Cancun, with miles of all inclusive luxury resorts, is the top tourism spot in Mexico. Tens of thousands of bell boys, concierges, clerks, cooks, security guards and housemaids in starched uniforms here depend on the tourist dollars to send their children to school, put food on the table, take care of their elderly.
import car rentals chicago American tourists in many Mexican resort cities often vacation in a bit of a bubble. They are met at the airport by a driver holding a placard with their name, whisked past street markets, taco stands, schools and health clinics in an air conditioned car. They settle into their resort for the entire stay, venturing out only for an occasional shopping trip in a secure part of town.
Strolling through an upscale La Isla shopping mall in Cancun, Irene Hanson pushed import car rentals chicago partner Debbie Streeter's import car rentals chicago wheelchair past one familiar shop after another: Cold Stone Creamery, United Colors of Benetton, Roxy. The Boston import car rentals chicago couple has traveled the world over the past two decades, and said they were looking forward to swimming with dolphins later in the afternoon.
Mexico's tourism ministry reports a record 190 million domestic and international import car rentals chicago visitors toured the country's attractions in 2011, an increase of 3.7 percent from 2010. Most of those tourists were Mexican.
"I have no safety concerns," Streeter said. "I grew up street-wise and I can tell if someone is trouble, but these people make their money off tourists. They're not going to hurt us and scare others off."
CANCUN, Mexico -- Tinkling drinks in hand, New Yorkers Lauren Levy and Jacob Schum settle onto lounge chairs a few feet from the Caribbean's lapping waves. Levy adjusts her yellow bikini. Schum smooth...
CANCUN, Mexico -- Tinkling drinks in hand, New Yorkers Lauren Levy and Jacob Schum settle onto lounge chairs a few feet from the Caribbean's lapping waves. Levy adjusts her yellow bikini. Schum smooth...
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I went to Mexico for 4 days just last month with my boyfriend. We mostly stayed at our resort, with a shuttle import car rentals chicago bringing us there. When we did go out, we went to Tulum and the market area around there. We landed in Cancun and everything seemed just dandy :)
Very true. There have been many fatalities over the year with spring breakers falling from balconies. I remember one specific incident at the Oasis where one spring breaker was so high on who knows what he thought he could fly and died. I also recall an incident where a guy was arrested for climbing up the giant Mexican flagpole--bigger import car rentals chicago than any flagpole or flag I've seen in the US-- in Cancun trying to steal the flag. Apparently, the story was he "wanted a souvenir" and was too trashed or high to realize what he was actually doing.
Cancun is far from any trouble. It's a mistake to go and be so terrified you don't leave Hotel Gringo. Mexican people are super nice and friendly, especially when you approach them with the same respect you desire. I'm going to the Yucatan in October and I plan on travelling all over and have no fear at all. It's thousands of miles from the border import car rentals chicago violence, and I speak fluent Espanol.
I live in Mexico import car rentals chicago City. I went downtown yesterday and there were SO MANY tourists in the Bellas import car rentals chicago Artes to Zocalo area! Lots of Americans (mostly middle aged) but other nationalities as well as Mexicans. No one seemed even a little nervous!
Mexico is an absolutely gorgeous country, not just on the coast but in the mountains. Mexico could be an economic powerhouse with their resources and workforce if they could ever clean up the crime and corruption. Many years ago I rode my motorcycle import car rentals chicago from the Pacific to the Gulf Coast, the only crime at that time was an occasional pick pocket in a city, but nothing like it is today. What a beautiful import car rentals chicago place with so many absolutely stunning locations. I will always have high hopes for Mexico, but it is going to take the people inside the country getting angry enough about the crime and corruption to clean it up.
I was privy to visiting Mexico back in the late 70's and early 80's while stationed in San Diego and the night life and shopping during the day....was just wonderful. I can't imagine what its like today, but back then, the only crime I ever saw was US sailors trying to sneak stuff back in the states without being detected.
I've lived in Mexico 25 years. The populace is powerless. Mexico poses as a democracy but, in reality, is an oligarchy. Corruption is endemic. An infamous quote from an infamous politician: "A poor politician is a politician who is poor". The justice system is a funhouse labyrinth. Until 2008, it operated under the Napoleonic Code: Guilty until proven import car rentals chicago innocent. (think Patriot Act) Mexicans, for the most part, are stoically cynical. They have a saying: "ni modo", meaning that's the way it is and there's nothing the bleep you can do about it." I've witnessed two high-jacked presidential elections (1988, 2006) and the assassination of a populist candidate (1994). The choices for the upcoming fake election in July are laughable. No importa, the prince has already been anointed. The War on Drugs, battleground Mexico, has re-militarized the country. Tourists in Cancun are safe but the human rights of the natives import car rentals chicago are not. The warring cartels and their tentacles are populated with ex-military, ex-police, off-on shore bankers, arms dealers, et al. Their foot soldiers are kids with no futures. Poverty is endemic. I could go on but I won't. Despite of this bleak picture, I have hope. The Mexicans are tough, resourceful and have a different sense of time and community. We will last. I am one of them now. Americans ought to view Mexico as a looking-glass mirror of their own corpocracy. The War on Terror is a high-growth, high-yield industry.
I'm safer walking after dark in Cancun hotel zone than I am any day in downtown Los Angeles and New York. I did notice in the last coup