{"id":209,"date":"2019-06-11T13:26:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T13:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/?p=209"},"modified":"2025-06-26T15:09:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T15:09:08","slug":"protecting-yourself-during-your-upcoming-mexico-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/protecting-yourself-during-your-upcoming-mexico-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Yourself During Your Upcoming Mexico Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"        <div class=\"o-component s-cms-content\" id=\"acf-cms-content-block_b248ede7a0f70b2f34c55ff7b499288f\">\r\n                       <p data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Summertime in Mexico is tourist season. Americans often flock across the border during their time of\u00a0of school or work. Yet, if you are planning a vacation, then you need to take your personal safety into account. How can you do so in Mexico\u2019s popular tourist areas? Keep these tips in mind.<\/p>\n<h3 data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Some of Mexico\u2019s Tourist Problems<\/h3>\n<p>Overall, Mexico is a perfectly safe place to visit. All the same, hot areas for crime, along with various tourist scams, exist. So, before you set out to explore your destination, keep up with some of the prevalent safety risks that exist in the country.<\/p>\n<ul data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\">\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Many cities, but primarily cities near the Mexico-U.S. border may experience issues related to organized crime. In some areas, there can be concerns involving gang presence, drug trafficking, or occasional safety risks.\u00a0 Travelers are advised to stay informed and avoid regions where such concerns are common.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">There is a history of corruption in the public services in certain parts of the country. There are some risks of extortion by those posing as police, taxi operators and other officials.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">On Mexican highways, some criminal elements attempt to mug or rob travelers by posing as stranded motorists or even as police.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">In common tourist areas, there may be pickpockets or scammers who try to steal victims\u2019 belongings, personal information, credit cards or identification.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">In areas known for nightlife, there are certain reports of attempted muggings, date rapes, assaults and similar crimes.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Most restaurants and dining establishments are perfectly clean and reputable. However, sanitation rules differ from those of the U.S. Furthermore, American tourists should not consume tap water in any part of the country.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Though very rare, there are some reports of resort workers who attempt to steal from tourists who leave belongings in their room unsecured.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">There are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wwwnc.cdc.gov\/travel\/destinations\/traveler\/none\/mexico\" data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">certain illnesses<\/a>, such as malaria, that are more-common in Mexico than in the states. Therefore, Americans need to pay close attention to their own health at all times.<\/p>\n<p>Protecting Yourself During Your Travel<\/p>\n<p>No matter where you\u00a0plan to visit in Mexico, it always helps to keep a few common safety precautions and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/drivingtips\/\" data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\">driving tips<\/a>\u00a0in mind.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Know Your Surroundings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The best way to protect yourself is to keep your eyes open to your surroundings. Always be on the lookout for someone who might follow you, or who acts strangely. If you notice something strange going on, then you should move away from the area, rather than try to get involved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Eat and Drink Carefully<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In most cases, you should drink and brush your teeth in Mexico using bottled water. The public tap water system is okay for bathing. However, you should not drink it.<\/p>\n<p>When buying food, use your best judgement. If it doesn\u2019t look safe to eat, then it likely is not. When consuming alcohol (or any drink, for that matter), don\u2019t ever let it out of your sight. Also don\u2019t accept food or drink from unknown parties.<\/p>\n<p data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\"><strong>3. Guard Your Belongings<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\">\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">When sightseeing, keep your personal items close to your person.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">If you carry a bag with you, place it over your opposite shoulder in a diagonal fashion. Do not leave the bag unzipped. Never place the bag on the floor or drape it over the back of your chair.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Keep your wallet, money and cell phones in your front pockets. Placing items in your back pockets make them prime targets for pickpockets.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Take photo ID with you at all times, but guard it carefully.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you. Also, don\u2019t put expensive items like jewelry, credit cards or other valuable on display.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Most hotel rooms include safes. Lock any valuables you don\u2019t carry with you inside before you leave your hotel. Also close and lock your suitcases. If your room doesn\u2019t include a safe, many hotels offer concierge services that will keep the items under lock and key until you claim them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4.\u00a0Know Where You Are Going<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Never strike out on your own just to explore. Even if you don\u2019t intend to stumble into the wrong area of town, you might do so simply out of curiosity. Rather, keep to official tourist guides and managed excursions to see the sites you want to see. In many cases, your hotel can provide you with guidebooks, maps or scheduled transportation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Get Appropriate Insurance Protection<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As you plan to travel, you might need a few forms of insurance. You might need:<\/p>\n<ul data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\">\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/mexico-auto-insurance\/\" data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\">Mexican car insurance<\/a>\u00a0if you plan to drive your American car across the border. Mexican law does not recognize American policies, but still requires drivers to carry coverage.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Consider buying travel insurance. The policy can protect you in cases where unexpected occurrences, like canceled flights or lost or stolen luggage, disrupt your trip.<\/li>\n<li data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">Most travel insurance policies also offer emergency medical assistance in case you experience a health crisis abroad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" data-ada-not-tabbable=\"true\">For more assistance planning your trip, visit the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/traveladvisories\/traveladvisories\/mexico-travel-advisory.html\" data-ada-original-font-size=\"14\" data-ada-original-font-weight=\"400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of State\u2019s Mexico<\/a>\u00a0page. With the right care, you\u2019ll never have to worry about security on your Mexican vacation.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\r\n\n\n            <div class=\"o-component c-quote-options\">\r\n                                    <p class=\"c-quote-options__title\">Find Low-Cost Insurance Coverage<\/p>\r\n                                                    <div class=\"c-quote-options__content s-cms-content\">\r\n                        <p>At Sanborn&#8217;s Insurance, our agents are here to help you find customized and affordable car insurance you need to stay safe on the road. 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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travel-safety"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1527,"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209\/revisions\/1527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sanborns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}