Travel Advisory?
We have a trip planned to Zihua in February, from the US. There is a travel advisory, because of drug cartels. Is it safe to travel?
Travel Advisory?
by Talley Ho 
, Playa la Ropa, Monday, January 16, 2023, 06:07 (317 days ago) @ cjlove
Yes.
Travel Advisory?
by jbmass 
, Mass,.. N.H...Zih., Monday, January 16, 2023, 07:14 (317 days ago) @ Talley Ho
Yes, from my experience so far, I have been here since the beginning of Dec. and have only noticed more tourists. If I am correct that has been in place for quite a while in the U.S.
Travel Advisory?
by Little Guy , Monday, January 16, 2023, 09:42 (317 days ago) @ cjlove
I don’t follow the US advisory, but I have some familiarity with the Canadian advisories. I suspect they are similar.
The Canadian advisories have been in effect for many years, even decades. During that time hundreds of thousands of foreigners have visited the Zihuatanejo area, taking home enjoyable memories.
During those years I have been to the area scores of times. This includes two drives from British Columbia to Zihuatanejo. I found the most risky times to be driving the freeways in in the Los Angeles area. Not only the drivers’ driving, but thinking how many had more than one drink in them and how many had a gun.
I suggest that people take the advice of a Canadian travel agent.
“Yes, there are unsafe and scary things that happen in Mexico. But really, they happen everywhere,” said Lori Smith, an agent based in Saskatchewan.
“I send a lot of people to Las Vegas or Orlando, Fla., and the crime rates are high in those areas as well.”
Her advice is the same no matter the destination, she said. “Have your wits about you, always … follow safety practices that you would follow at home.
“Don’t be getting floor-licking drunk and go out adventuring. That’s maybe a bad choice.”
An American ex-pat in the area once told me, “The biggest problems most Americans have when they come to Mexico occur when they leave their brains at the border.”
Travel Advisory?
by JeffMN , Minneapolis MN USA, Monday, January 16, 2023, 09:43 (317 days ago) @ cjlove
Sally and I have been coming to Zihua every Feb. / Mar. for 14 years, and it seems there's been some kind of caution like that every year. Way I figure, if you're not dealing drugs or trying to stop drug dealing, there's no reason not to come.
Travel Advisory?
by frostbite , Hamilton MT, Monday, January 16, 2023, 13:01 (317 days ago) @ cjlove
We visited Zihua twice a year for 20 years without any problems. When we rented our house out, our advice to visitors was to stay out of the non-touristy parts of town after dark, be polite and respectful to the locals, don't wear flashy jewelry, don't use ATMs after dark. No problems were ever reported, and we never had any.
Travel Advisory?
by mosesk , Ojai, CA, USA, Monday, January 16, 2023, 15:33 (317 days ago) @ frostbite
We visited Zihua twice a year for 20 years without any problems. When we rented our house out, our advice to visitors was to stay out of the non-touristy parts of town after dark, be polite and respectful to the locals, don't wear flashy jewelry, don't use ATMs after dark. No problems were ever reported, and we never had any.
Speaking of 'safety, this is probably as good a time as any to relay a story that happened to me Saturday night, April 16, 2022 at approximately 9:30 PM at Mercadito Zanka- the food court behind the Museum. I was drugged. And I was essentially unconscious for about 12 hours. I was on a date with someone I had met online and we (along with a friend of hers) went to grab a bite to eat and hear some music. A beer that was brought to me was 'spiked', most likely with the drug Rohypnol- commonly called 'roofies' and one of the popular 'date rape' drugs. I was EXTREMELY fortunate that I was not harmed nor had anything of value taken from me. It is not necessary to get into the fine details of the incident. What is important is to know that these attacks can happen anywhere, anytime, to anybody. Clearly it helps to know who you are out with, who is around, and to try to keep your eye on any food or beverage that is served. Obviously this is an unusual and fairly rare incident. Although I have spoken to several individuals who have themselves had this happen or know of others it has happened to. This in no way is meant to have anyone restrict their activities, their amusement, their entertainment. It hasn't for me. It has just made me more aware of the things I probably should have been aware of in the first place.
CHEERS!
Travel Advisory?
You may have brought this up before months ago.
How do you know you were not harmed if it was Rohypnol, which
erases memory. And if you were not harmed, what was the point in drugging you?
Just for kicks?
Travel Advisory?
by mosesk , Ojai, CA, USA, Monday, January 16, 2023, 16:18 (317 days ago) @ Yandosan
You may have brought this up before months ago.
How do you know you were not harmed if it was Rohypnol, which
erases memory. And if you were not harmed, what was the point in drugging you?
Just for kicks?
Perhaps I did bring this up previously.
The point in drugging me was for them to get whatever they could from me.
As I attempted to indicate I was extremely fortunate that nothing of grave consequence happened.
How do I know I was not harmed?
Because some of it was caught on video and it is possible to recreate some of it.
The other part is that I am a sentient being and I am able to recognize to some extent how I am.
Travel Advisory?
by Padrino , San Diego/Rosarito, Monday, January 16, 2023, 15:53 (317 days ago) @ cjlove
For what it is worth, my strategy is to walk most everywhere and follow the families with children. That is why Zihua is so compelling as you can easily walk the entire city and there are tons of families out and about. I also feel safe on the combis as this is the main form of transportation for the locals. An added benefit comes from the culture in Zihua regarding combis. When someone boards a combi, they greet their fellow passengers and the passengers respond. This gives you an opportunity to practice Spanish as you can strike up a conversation by saying how much you love their beautiful city. As a rule, I don't trust taxistas.
As others have mentioned, if you go looking for trouble, you will find it.
Travel Advisory?
by frostbite , Hamilton MT, Monday, January 16, 2023, 16:35 (317 days ago) @ Padrino
As a rule, I don't trust taxistas.
As others have mentioned, if you go looking for trouble, you will find it.
A taxista you can trust: Pedro Moreno 672-119-2398 or pedro.91477@gmail.com Speaks excellent English. I've known him for several years. He used to manage Casa Amarilla.
Travel Advisory?
by Padrino , San Diego/Rosarito, Monday, January 16, 2023, 20:58 (316 days ago) @ frostbite
A taxista you can trust: Pedro Moreno 672-119-2398 or pedro.91477@gmail.com Speaks excellent English. I've known him for several years. He used to manage Casa Amarilla.
A ringing endorsement! Many Graces!
