@Pam in NJ - it is very good to hear Canada hasn't issued any kind of warning.

Thanks to EVERYONE on this message board for posting their knowledge and experience, I am feeling so much better!

Queriidos=Dears,
I have been coming to Mexico since 1970. I am American and bilingual. I/we (my husband and I) brought our son along since he was 6; he is now 34 and also bilingual. We first visited Zihuatanejo when my son was in 5th grade. Loved it. Every other year thereafter, Dane traveled with me (and many American Spanish students). We visited Isla Mujeres, Merida, Acapulco, Oaxaca, Hautulco, Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, etc. Zihuatanejo was always our favorite until 3 years ago.
My husband, Hugh, and I spent 5 winters (2 months every year) in Zihuatanejo from 2010 until 2015. Zihua was our second home, but no longer. There were signs...overheard conversations from taxi drivers and store owners like Arturo. We decided not to return 3 years ago though this year I almost suggested we go again next year. Not anymore. You may think the US State Department is alarmist; I do not. I respect their advice. As far as your claim that our government doesn't want us to spend dollars in Mexico, I disagree. My American dollar buys a great deal more there. We now look for other travel opportunities...Costa Rica, Portugal, et. Al. I just want you to know at age 70 and a well-seasoned traveler, I would heed the advisory re: Guerrero and the other 4 states with a no travel recommendation. Con respeto, Senora

My wife was born here long before your first visit, and though my first visit here was only 4 years after yours, I have lived and worked here for close to 29 years now. You may not have been aware that there were armed rebel groups operating in the State of Guerrero during your first visit. They kidnapped the governor to make their grievances known after government forces murdered innocent rural village dwellers who dared to criticize the thieves in our government, but instead of honoring the supposed pact they had agreed to for the kidnapped governor's release, Gov. Rubén Figueroa Figueroa ruthlessly hunted down and executed their leader, many of his family members and many of the common folks who supported the former school teacher turned rebel named Lucio Cabañas. Most of us here in Guerrero consider Lucio Cabañas a hero. Figueroa's son also became governor but was forced to resign in disgrace after he ordered a massacre of campesinos organizing political opposition. Whatever "signs" you saw or whatever you overheard in conversations from 2010 to 2015 only demonstrate to me that you were previously apparently blissfully unaware of Guerrero's true lawless nature. But the biggest danger in Guerrero isn't rebels or criminals. It is and has always been our government. A government full of too much corruption and impunity. They are who most good and decent citizens have historically feared. They are who are responsible for disappearing hundreds and possibly thousands of our citizens during the Guerra Sucia. There would not be criminal cartels operating with impunity in our state were it not for their collusion with caciques and politicians.

Even so, we are not at war with anyone. We have no nuclear missiles pointed at anyone and it is unlikely any are pointed at us. We have no terrorists. Gunslingers and ammosexuals cannot walk into the nearest sporting goods store to arm themselves and commit a massacre. No one is shooting up people in our schools, movie theaters, malls or churches. And frankly foreign tourists have rarely been the targets of any kind of violence. Much less than in almost any other tourist destination, including Florida.

So while I respect your opinion, I strongly disagree with your conclusions and I regret that you saw the need to register on my Message Board for the sole purpose of expressing such negative sentiments about a place that warmly welcomed you and your family year after year with open arms.

thanks for sharing the Canada warnings.....interesting that Guerrero and Michoacan aren't noted.

They are, under avoid non-essential travel, but Z is excluded...

Guerrero is Level 4 (do not travel). That's the reason for my message. But I feel that the threat level has been overblown. I checked, and our medical covers us in this circumstance, although early return flight isn't covered

Risk level(s)
MEXICO - Exercise a high degree of caution
Exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico due to high levels of criminal activity, as well as demonstrations, protests and occasional illegal roadblocks throughout the country.

Northern states - Avoid non-essential travel
Avoid non-essential travel to the following northern states due to high levels of violence, linked mainly to organized crime:

Chihuahua
Coahuila (except the city of Saltillo)
Durango
Nuevo León (except the city of Monterrey)
Sinaloa (except the city of Mazatlán)
Sonora (except the cities of Hermosillo and Guaymas/San Carlos)
Tamaulipas.
Exercise a high degree of caution in the cities that are excluded from the above advisory.

Safety and security situation

Western states - Avoid non-essential travel
Avoid non-essential travel to the western states of Guerrero (including Acapulco but excluding the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Taxco) and Michoacán (excluding the city of Morelia) due to the high levels of violence and organized crime.

Avoid non-essential travel
There are specific safety and security concerns that could put you at risk. You should reconsider your need to travel to the country, territory or region. If you are already in the country, territory or region, you should reconsider whether or not you really need to be there. If not, you should consider leaving while it is still safe to do so. It is up to you to decide what “non-essential travel” means, based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with a country, territory or region, and other factors.

Currently, Canada has not issued a travel advisory for it's citizens.....in fact, I don't recall Canada ever issuing a travel advisory for all of the years that the US has had one for Guerrero.

I take the US warning under advisement. I am aware of a higher than "normal" crime level in Zihua/Ixtapa but it seems to be isolated to the "drug trade" rather than random mass shootings. (please correct me if I'm missing something) And like everyone always says - don't wear expensive jewelry, flash money, buy drugs, etc. Be smart, travel smart.

We also read that the areas in Guerrero with the increased warning/threat are inland, hours away from the coast (again, please correct me if my info is incorrect). With all the propaganda these days, it's hard to know what to believe!!

Enjoy your trip and have a great time!!

You may think the US State Department is alarmist; I do not. I respect their advice. As far as your claim that our government doesn't want us to spend dollars in Mexico, I disagree. My American dollar buys a great deal more there.

Those State Dept. Warnings are 100% BS. Their motives are political, financial and absolute manipulative into getting the tourist money spent in the US. If Mexico doesn't do exactly what the US wants them to in the war on drugs they use these warnings to pressure them. I live in Mazatlan as much as I can and Sinaloa is in that warning too. I go all over Sinaloa and into Durango, Sonora, Jalisco etc. I vacation in Zihua a few times a year. I know whats going on with cartels as does most of the world. The difference is we know it doesn't affect us if we respect the laws and communities where most people that read the cartel news thinks EVERYONE is affected directly. I'm returning to Maz in a few weeks and can't wait, which is always the case.

Benefits are not payable for costs incurred for any loss incurred in a city, region, or country when, prior to the policy effective date, the Global Affairs Canada of the Canadian Government issued a warning to avoid all travel, or to avoid non-essential travel to that city, region, or country.