I am planning my first trip to Mexico City. Since I am not travelling alone, I have to ask some basic questions about the safety of the city for the benefit of my companions. For my part, I tend to think that everything written about it in American papers is absolute garbage—just like whatever Americans between the coasts think about NYC and LA is nonsense. (Everywhere I go I have to explain that Taxi Driver and Escape from New York are not based on facts). So I want to ask people who live in either LA, SFO, or NYC about Mexico City. Is it fairly safe if we stay in the center and just stick to the usual tourist sites? I know the question is broad, but, as I mentioned, I wouldn't ask if I traveled alone. Many thanks.

I was in Mexico City last year for about a week. I have lived in LA, New York and now San Francisco. I never felt unsafe or threatened anywhere I went. I stayed on the well beaten tourist path for the most part. I walked all over the city at all times of the day and night. Took the subway quite a bit (it's really fast and cheap). Took a bunch of cabs (Dealt with maybe 1 greedy cab driver and he had the upper hand so I paid $6 for a $3 fare)

You will have no problems enjoying this wonderful city. The only area that looked sketchy to me was when I was leaving the airport, and that's not really a place a tourist would hang out.

One other piece of advice, English is not spoken as commonly in Mexico City as in other international destinations, (i.e. many of the museums do not have English translations available either) So I got lost a few times and did have a hard time finding someone who could give me directions in English. For some reason I always found the best English speakers working at Starbucks!

Enjoy

On the other hand, one must use common sense in Mexico City as much as one would use it in any major city, including LA and NYC. There are neighborhoods one should avoid, one should avoid pirate taxi cabs, one should avoid large protest gatherings (going on now since the elections are contested and addressed in another thread), and one can benefit from local knowledge - when in doubt, inquire, ask for a taxi to be called from a known taxi rank, etc.

Do not flash about large amounts of cash or valuable items, jewelry, etc. as there are some who will try to relieve you of them. Be aware in crowded places, public transport and tourist venues such as the Z�calo. Read and research a bit - there is good information out about Mexico and Mexico City (or the Distrito Federal or Federal District, to be accurate).

It's not a nest of thieves and thugs, but it is certainly not Tokyo, either.

Posted by a genuine Chilango.

As said above, use common sense just like you would in NYC or LA, but in the tourist areas you should be fine. I think certain areas of Mexico City are really beautiful and full of culture. One of my favorite cities in the world!

The greatest risk you face in DF is the drivers. Be very, very careful crossing the streets - whatever rules of the road nominally exist are usually ignored.

That being said, I don't feel particularly unsafe in Mexico City, but I also speak Spanish and have a lot of experience traveling and living in Latin America.

When I'm in the city I try to steer clear of taxis - particularly ones on the streets - and take public transit everywhere. I feel much more comfortable on the Metro or even a pesero (i.e., minibus-type thing) than in a taxi because there are other people around. Mexico City has a really good transit system, and the subways actually remind me a lot of the ones in NYC. However, I know rather well-off locals who will blithely jump in a Beetle taxi cruising down the street in Polanco, and they haven't been killed yet.

I think if you stay in one of the nicer, central neighborhoods (Zona Rosa, Polanco, Condesa, Colonia Roma, Anzures, etc.) and don't wander aimlessly down side streets by yourself at weird hours of the night you should be fine.

Keep in mind that DF sees absurdly few tourists. When I've been there, the only foreigners I ran into either lived/worked there, or were American high-school kids on some kind of church-run, convert the poor people trip. It's a shame because the city is truly fascinating - but most Americans are either frightened of it, or just visit Mexico to get drunk by a beach.

Another cool thing about DF - it makes NYC look and feel like Indianapolis. Seriously.

Last time I checked---last year---Mexico City's murder rate was on par with Albuquerque, NM. It's now probably lower than Aurora, CO and Milwaukee, WI...

Well, that's pretty meaningless, IMO. Pure and honest statistics are difficult to come by in some countries, such as economic issues in Argentina, or crime (including homicide) or health stats in Mexico. "Big" homicides, kidnaps, etc. hit the papers (which are controlled by the government in many ways, from licensure of journalists to the government agency that is the sole importer and distributor of newsprint t outright intimidation and homicide of journos who do not toe somebody's line, whether crooked pol or drug lord) - but much of what happens in an impacted barrio may never make it because it's not "newsworthy" or because much of the evidence is buried, and many of those impacted would never dare reporting incidents.

For example, my brother in law had his engineering offices invaded by armed thugs who cleaned out all valuables and cash, and was made to write checks on the company account. He was also told any attempt to put stops on the checks or report to officials would result in attacks on his family, and they proved they knew where he lived and some of the details of his three children's schools, etc. (Note: this would not apply to visitors - he was a resident; I am merely illustrating how there is in fact a paucity of actual data because much is not reported.)

Or, when the regular outbreaks of cholera (or violence) occurred in small villages south of Acapulco, the information was suppressed, lest it hurt tourism to Acapulco.

So, though I lived in Mexico and visit regularly, I do take precautions and would not advocate for glossing over the genuine problems that exist. In the D. F. I would not take pirate taxicabs, for example, because though the risk may not be super high, it is there and it far exceeds the risk of taking a taxi from an established taxi rank or one called by your hotel, restaurant or host. Use ATMs in very public places, preferably bank vestibules during working hours. Get local knowledge as to whether an area is secure at night, etc.

These days, I would be careful of large crowds - the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD, left) Andr�s Manuel L�pez Obrador ("AMLO") lost the election, the seven person Federal Elections Tribunal unanimously ruled last Friday Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI, center-left) candidate Enrique Pe�a Nieto won the election 38% to 31%, a margin of over 3 million votes. Small groups of protesters shut down highway toll booths and created other minor disturbances, but AMLO has called for major protests, beginning with a call to action in the Z�calo 9 September.

Six years ago, when AMLO lost to the National Action Party's (PAN, center right) Felipe de Jes�s Calder�n Hinojosa by a narrower margin, protests blocked intersections, established blockades and caused damage, etc. for months. This year, he says the PRD protesters will obey the laws, but I do not believe he has full control over them and his speech incites: "I am telling the people of Mexico that I cannot accept the judgment of the electoral tribunal that declared the presidential election valid. The elections were not clean, free and genuine. As a result, I will not recognize an illegitimate power that's emerged as a result of vote-buying and other grave violations of the constitution and the law." In some cases, violence occurred, sometimes among protesters, sometimes between protesters and those sent to enforce the laws.

So, in the D. F., avoid any large gatherings on Reforma or the Z�calo, and don't linger if groups start coalescing (flash mobs, etc.) Use common sense, be situationally aware and remember tourist hit spots are thievery hot spots. If it comes down to giving up material stuff or risking your life or safety, give it up and move on. And don't expect law enforcement to take much of an interest in helping or solving anything, either; make your reports to your Embassy and to local tourist protection authorities.

Visit the U S Consular Affairs website Mexico information here. (Note: there are no travel advisories or warnings for Mexico City at this time.)

And, yes, two Americans being chased by bad guys on the Mexico - Cuernavaca road (not the toll road, AFAIK,) and got shot up by police at a roadblock - they were CIA agents in an uparmored Toyota Land Cruiser with U. S. diplomatic plates with an armed escort en route to a Navy base (yes, in the mountains, as the Naval Infantry, the U. S. Marines equivalent, are the prime anti-drug force in Mexico,) and most likely were targets; 12 police officers have been detained. So, avoid traveling to known "covert" bases in black SUVs with blacked out windows...

This is a great place to stay near downtown: http://theredtreehouse.com/

Quote:

Originally Posted by a7m

I want to ask people who live in either LA, SFO, or NYC about Mexico City.

Wouldn't it be better to ask directly to people who live in, say, M�xico City? Perhaps a "gringa" who has been living there and has tons of suggestions and insider tips about the city, the culture, the touristy and the not-so-touristy things to do, the does and dont's?

I am pretty sure that you will enjoy your stay in my city. If you need anything just send me a DM and I'll give you my mobile number. Just in case.

In M�xico, the term "G�era" is an informal way to describe a blond woman.

"�Qu� Tal, G�era?" is an English language resource for events, music, fashion, food, and lifestyle in Mexico City.

I hope it helps you.