Safety Tips in Mexico

In PLAYA DEL CARMEN.. the hotel Caribbean Paradise has a really bad reputation of a hotel that your belongings are stolen from your room. big complains of french people.. French travel forum routard.com Warnings to attend private parties, available drugs and bad people.

In hostels take care your money and computers...
in bars and restaurants people stealing bags.

Cases of robbers stealing bags in buses from long distance buses.. common cases.. PALENQUE to SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS - TULUM. Be aware when you put your bag under your sit or besides..

ACAPULCO have a international red alert violent place, I recommend to have your warnings at night.

Sporadic cases of robbers with machine guns stoping buses at highway from ACAPULCO - PUERTO ESCONDIDO at night.. sometimes robbery with violence... try not to drive at night the highway.
Also from Palenque to San Cristobal at night some cases of robberies.

Take your warnings if you smoke pot in the beach,is forbiden and you can be in jail.
Strong corrents and get drown Zipolite and Mazunte. Forbidden to drink alcohol at the streets.

in Guatemala, Antigua ( some cases in mexico city ).. IN SOME ATMs criminals can put a optional entrance or small cameras to put your plastic card in the machine ,so if you want to get money, they can copy and get your nip and take all the money they want. Used authorized banks not small random ATMs

In the state of PUEBLA, Mexico, have been some robberies with PIRATE taxis outside street bus station.
I recommend to take authorized taxis INSIDE bus stations. Better spend some more pesos and be safe than lose all your belongings and banking savings. keep your banking cards in a safe place not in your pockets neither wallet.
(this situation happen to me, NO JOKE )

...robbed at gunpoint while descending from Cerro de la Bufa in Zacatecas.

MALARIA AND DENGUE its more common in rainy seasson in the area of the border with Guatemala and Chiapas and Tabasco state. Around Yucatan can happen just in huracane seasson (sept-oct) if there is a natural disaster, goverment always prevent with campaigns of prevention.

DRIVING A CAR IN MEXICAN HIGHWAYS I recommend to drive highways during day, states with crime problems are Oaxaca Coast, Guerrero Coast, Michoacan Coast, Baja area border with USA, Tamaulipas state, Nuevo Leon State, Veracruz state north the state.

NARCOTRAFIC / MURDERS most of them happening in the sates at the border with USA.
Warnings at Torreon, Tamaulipas, Chihuahua,Culiacan, Ciudad Juarez, Monterey.
the narcotics is a huge problem in Mexico thanks to the big demand of USA consumers, recently the mexican goverment attacked the points of narcotrafic so in revange the capos and mafias has killed people involved in antinarcotics and narcotrafic dealers, just as punishment not to abandon the business and against police for revange.

MEXICO NOT SO BAD AT ALL

States with high narcotrafic index of crimes: Sinaloa, Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, Chihuahua,
Tamaulipas, Veracruz.

CAMPING
Ana Lorena Gudiño, jefa Scout Nacional, comentó que en la lista de lugares riesgosos, se encuentran zonas del Ajusco, como El Pico del Águila, las espaldas del Iztaccíhuatl, San Rafael, Nexcoalango, La Joya, El Cerro del Telapón, Las Lagunas de Salazar, Llano Grande, Río Frío y Las Lagunas de Zempoala.

Take your warnings camping at Tulum beach.

*****************
.....well if you are in troubles EL SANTO can not save you anymore.

the movie Santo and Blue Demon vs the mommies of Guanajuato is rules!!!!!!!

THE CRIME IN MEXICO became a problem after the crisis of the economy in 1994 ( and still in some places) when Mexico suffered the highest devaluation and inflation of 1 000%( belive it), narcotrafic exist in Mexico maybe 30 years of narcopolitics, something like organised crime in Italy or Rusia,and high demand of drugs in USA.
The dangerous cities in Mexico are Ciudad Juarez and Tamaulipas in north Mexico border with USA.
Some warnings in Durango state, Sinaloa, Nuevo Leon, Tijuana, Veracruz.

MEXICO CITY IS SAFE has been declared safe for tourism, journalists think that the local goverment pact with drug cartels and mantain a peaceful area and just a transit place.
Murders now all around Mexico is involved with narcotrafic and people involved. Kidnapping is only happening with mexicans and cases with people lot of money in the border States with USA. We are suffering the same situation that Colombia had in the 80s.
www.proceso.com.mx ( the mexican politics magazine )

The most type of robberies for tourist in Mexico city... its just pickpockets at subway, pickpocket in bars, gun or knife showing in dodgy areas.
Its very low the cases of robbery with violence against tourists. Most of bad cases are foreigners involved in drugs and black market.
____________________________________________

AT AIRPORT, if you need to call by public phone, in the magazines shops sell TELMEX phone cards cost 30 pesos or 50 pesos, that ones are plastic cards with a chip.. and works in all Mexico..sometimes they sell you OTHER CARDS for some international phone cards that do not work correctly and cost 100 pesos .. I dont recommend them.
When you arrive to costumed are at rush hours like 5.30pm to 8pm expects a big line to the inmigration check up. USA order to Mexico to be more strict in the customs control since some criminals and terrorist try to get in USA via Mexico.

You can take a safe YELLOW TAXI inside the airport, that ones are safe ..( buy a ticket of safe taxis inside the airport first)
if you are new in the city better take an authorized taxi and begin a great trip in Mexico. In case you are brave.. just take the subway METRO thats is besides national arrivals.. under your risk... Yellow line, Terminal aerea subway station.
Some robberies have happened in non authorized taxis that people take from airport.
Security at airport have been better with more security, cameras, and police .

Female first timers in Mexico city better suggest DO NOT TAKE THE METRO IN THE MORNINGS , its crowded from 6 am to 9am and from 5 pm to 7pm, in case you take it in morning and you are a woman ..go in the first 3 wagons of ` just children and women' in the mornings.. in case male tourist with companion female go together first wagons.

pickpockets robbers work more in the next subway stations inside / outside: HIDALGO, PINO SUAREZ, BALDERAS, PANTITLAN

dont wear or show expensive things in conflictive areas..like:

around ZONA ROSA its supposed nice but its just a place with stores, close the subway Insurgentes at night tourists can be target for robbers ... gay scene area.
watch out what you drink in bars....

TAXIS in mexico city have bad reputation ,so better take cheap public transportation or subway. otherwise take a TAXI of SITIO or the new ones., this new ones means safe taxis parking in special places or hotels OR... NEW TAXIS of 4 doors with a certified stamp at window with pic of the driver...
if you really have to take a TAXI , DO NOT TAKE the VW beetles in the city, that are the risky ones..... in case no option be sure to take one with the driver is an old guy.

TAXIS are the ones with 4 doors color white with red stripe or gold and red, that ones are good and new. look they have a a pic and ID of the driver..do not take beetle ones.

Do not take taxis outside of bars/clubs sometimes are the bad ones.. so better ask for " taxis de sitio " or " radio taxis " or just find a taxi at street but around there not exactly outside the bar..
www.taximex.com.mx
www.servitaxis.com.mx

.. Risky taxis - are the ones that stop to you and ask you for a ride... rather than you ask for one ! some robberies in taxis were happening in taxis taken in Condesa area out of bars.

Inside CHAPULTEPEC PARK there are some robbers just catching turists with nice cameras, or asking special permission or money to take pictures. give me a break! :0D tell them you have my permission !

always keep your backpack and keep there your camera , dont walk like an old turist showing you have a good camera and money.
you must know the mexican coins and bills, some cases of people give old bills to tourist as a change... better have small denomination of bills.

SAN ANGEL MARKET... recent pickpockets meanwhile you are in a cafe or restaurant, take care your belongings bags and jacket.

USE your 5 senses and enjoy MEXICO !!!

...HERE ARE THE AUTHORIZED BILLS AND COINS FROM MEXICO.. take in mind there is one new bill of 20 pesos that is made with plastic paper, its the only one bill ! ..

NEW plastic BILLS of 200, 100, 50, 20 pesos .
new bill of 1000 pesos, with the image of HIDALGO... ALSO ONLY bills of 20, 50, 200 pesos have NEW PLASTIC BILLS PRESENTATION

be sure to know the mexican money otherwise one smart guy will give you in change old bills of mexico.. and you will be cheated

EXCHANGE RATE
Average JULY 2013 ( buy, spot)
www.elfinanciero.com.mx

I DOLLAR - 12.5 PESOS
1 EURO - 16 PESOS
1 POUND - 20 PESOS

See in the link Banxico "Nuevo Billete de 1000 Pesos" New bill of 1000 pesos
new of 100, new of 200, new of 50, new 20

SOME STUFF ABOUT VISUM....

If you CROSS TO MEXICO BY BUS, you must ask first in your country if you need visum to go in MEXICO, you MUST ask in the mexican border for a stamp in your passport or pay for the format of inmigration, sometimes the tax is included in your flight ticket, but problems will come at inmigration when you leave the country, or if soldiers stop you in the highways in buses and show your ID you might spend some money in tips....
DONT FORGET TO KEEP THE INMIGRATION MEXICAN FORM until you leave the country, otherwise you will get problems in your flight.

** FREE INSURANCE **

Mexico city goverment have a free insurance for tourists that stay in a hotel in Mexico city.
The insurance cover medical assistance in case of accident or several illness, hospital, medicines, emergency dental care, hotel due convalescence, repatriation of remains.

mORE QUESTIONS TEL 54806898 spoken english, french, german, portuguese
www.mexicoasistencia.com
www.mapfreasistencia.com

** FREE MEXICO TOURISM INFO BY PHONE **
365 days a year 24 hrs..
in mexico city dial 078
around Mexico 01 800 006 8839
from USA 1 866 640 0597;
Canadá: 1 866 640 0597
Europe: 00 52 55 50 897500.

TOURISM COMPLAINS

quejas@sectur.gob.mx
quejasoic@sectur.gob.mx
denuncia@ssp.gob.mx
correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx, atencion@sectur.gob.mx

MEXICO CITY AIRPORT COMPLAINS
quejasydenuncias@aicm.com.mx, fquinonez@aicm.com.mx, comentarios@aicm.com.mx
quejas@funcionpublica.gob.mx

Goverment
quejasoic@sedesol.gob.mx
contactociudadano@funcionpublica.gob.mx
01800 386 2466

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EMBASSIES IN MEXICO CITY

Embajada de Alemania
/ Lord Byron 737, Col. Polanco,
---------- tel 52 83 22 00

Embajada de Canada
/ Schiller 529, Col. Polanco,
---- 5724-7900

Embajada Britanica
/ RIo Lerma 71 Col. Cuauhtemoc
55) 5207 2089 / 5207 2233
------- (55) 5242 8517 (55) 5242 8500/ (

Embajada de Espana SPAIN
/Galileo 114 Col. Polanco 11560 Mexico, D.F
------ 52822974

Embajada de Suiza
http://www.eda.admin.ch/mexico_emb/s/home.html
Torre Optima, piso 11,Paseo de las Palmas No. 405, Lomas de Chapultepec
Tel. (01 55) 55.20.30.03,52822974,52822271
e-mail: vertretung@mex.rep.admin.ch

Embajada de Estados Unidos/
Reforma 305 Cuautémoc Mexico, D.F -------52099100

Embajada de Argentina/
Blvd.. Manuel Avila Camacho 1, 7º. Piso
Plaza Comermex
Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F
------ 55209430 al 32

Embajada de Australia/
Ruben Dario 55, Polanco, Mexico, D.F
------- 55315225

Embajada de Francia/
Campos Eliseos 339 ,Polanco Mexico, D.F.
------- 52829700

Embajada de Colombia/
Paseo de la Reforma 1620 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F
----- 55209669

Embajada de Cuba/
Presidente Masaryk 554, Polanco Mexico, D.F
------ 52808039, 52808202, 52808140

Embajada de Italia /
Palmas 1994 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F
---------- 55963375, 55963957

Embajada de Paises Bajos (Holanda)/ Vasco de Quiroga 3000, 7º. Piso Santa Fe
Mexico, D.F.
--------- 52589921

Embajada de Chile/
Andres Bello Nº 10, Edificio FORUM, Piso 18, Colonia Polanco Mexico, D.F
echilmex@dfl.telmex.net.mex
(52-55) 5 280. 9703, 5280 9681 - 82 - 89 - 98

Embajada de Finlandia /
Monte Pelvoux 111, Piso 4. Lomas de Chapultepec 11000, finmex@prodigy.net.mx ------ (+52-55) 55406036

Embajada de Nueva Zelandia /

Jaime Balmes No 8, 4th Floor,Colonia Los Morales,Polanco,MEXICO D.F. 11510
phone: (52 55) 5283 9460, fax: (52 55) 5283 9481

CONTINUE EMBASSIES IN SECOND PAGE....

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In MEXICO CITY around Reforma avenue and Zocalo (downtown) you can find new touristic police, they know english and they are trustful, help people for free.... take it in mind.. tourist info offices near tourist points. also tourist info centers outside anthropology msueum and outside bellas artes palace.

there are some guys wearing brown uniform like police, begging for coins, they are just musicians not police, so dont be cheated with money..

BEFORE TRAVEL TO MEXICO put safe locks in your bags or roll with plastic your bags, machines sometimes break the bags or some bad employes at airport take sometimes things from your baggage ( example: my battery charger, my brother mp3player, my sister Palm etc..)

When you arrive to the INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT , take authorized taxis , you buy the ticket for the taxi just in the office in the right side of the international arrivals gate, prices depend in the ZONE and baggage(example to downtown are like 90 pesos), just check to pay the right amount in the office (not 400 pesos), Also do not permit other people take your bags otherwise they are going to ask you for tip ....
if you order a taxi from the airport from your hotel specify you want an ordinary taxi a single car for 1 person , otherwise they will take ventage and send you a Van truck and you have to pay like 4 times the price.

Robbers inside the CHAPULTEPEC PARK in Mexico city act showing a special credential as police, but they dont have uniform, you always have the RIGHT TO CALL YOUR EMBASSY , you can not be in jail they can not stop you, in case you are in troubles shout and they will be in panic..real police will help you.

Inside/outside the park dont eat nothing there, you can get a very bad stomach infection..later incubation of amibas in your intestins.. nice trip with diarrea uh !!!
robbers around ZOCALO AREA are searching specialy guys that go out from subway meanwhile they sit and read a travelguide books take care your belongings.

In all Mexico.... when you go to a bar or club, take care your belongings if you leave them in the chair or table and you go to dance... robbers are taking ventage.

TEOTIHUACAN PYRAMIDS recently has been some robberies inside the bus from Teotihuacan - to Mexico city, take your warnings, there are available tours or go early and dont come back so late.

Embajada de Hungria
Paseo de las Palmas 2005 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F..
--------55961822

Embajada de India
Musset 325 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
---------- 55311002

Embajada de Nepal
Avellanos 24 Jardines de San Mateo Naucalpan, Estado de Mexico.
--------- - 55605568

Embajada de Iran
Reforma 2350 Lomas Altas Mexico, D.F.
----- 55965399, 55965771

Embajada de Iraq
Reforma 1875 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
------------ - 55960933

Embajada de Israel
Sierra Madre 215, Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
------ 55456013

Embajada de Jamaica
Monte L?bano 885 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
--------- 55209313, 55201814


Embajada de Libano
Julio Verne 8 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
----------- - 52806794, 52805614

Embajada de Malasia
Calderon de la Barca 215 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
-----------52541118

Embajada de Marruecos
Paseo de las Palmas 2020 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
---------- 52451786, 52451790

Embajada de Nicaragua
Payo de Rivera 120 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
----------- 55403847

Embajada de Nueva Zelanda
Lagrange 103 piso 10 Los Morales, Polanco Mexico, D.F.
-----------52815486


Embajada de Panama
Schiller 326 Piso 8 Chapultepec Morales Mexico, D.F.
--------- 52504229, 52504259

Embajada de Paraguay
Homero 415 Piso 1 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
---------- 55319905

Embajada de Peru
Paseo de la Reforma 2601 Lomas Reforma Mexico, D.F.
------------52590239, 55702443

Embajada de Indonesia
Julio Verne 27 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
--------- 52806863

Embajada de el Salvador
Calle Temistocles # 88 Colonia Polanco
----------- 5-281-57-23

Embajada de Angola
Schiller 503 Polanco 11560 Mexico, D.F. M?XICO
----- 5545 2733 5545 5883


Embajada de Tailandia Royal Thai Embassy
Sierra Vertientes 1030 Lomas de Chapultepec 11000 Mexico, D.F.
thaimex@infosel.net.mx (525) 596-8236 (525) 596-1290, 596-8446

Embajada de Belice
Bernardo de Galvez 215, Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
-------- -- 55201274 / 55201346


Embajada de Belgica
Musset 41, Polanco, Mexico, D.F
----------- -- 52800758 , 52805830

Embajada de Brasil
Lope de Armendariz 130, Lomas Virreyes Mexico, D.F.
----------- --------- 52027500 , 55203286

Embajada de Bulgaria
Paseo de la Reforma 1990, Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F
--------- --------- 55963282


Embajada de Suecia
paseo de las Palmas 1375 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec 11000 Mexico, D.F.
info@suecia.com.mx
(+52)55 40 32 63 ,( +52)55406393 -al 97

Embajada de Dinamarca
Tres Picos No. 43 Apartado Postal 105-105 Col. Chapultepec Morales 11580 Mexico, D.F.
ambassade@dk.org.mx http://www.dk.org.mx/
t 5255 3405 /52554145

Embajada de Noruega
Avenida Virreyes 1460, Lomas Chapultepec, C.P. 11000 Mexico D.F.
emb.mexico@mfa.no. (52 55) 55 40 52 20 , 55403487, 52 02 30 19

Embajada de Austria
Sierra Tarahumara Pte. 420 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec
obmexico@data.net.mx Fax 5245-0198 5251-9792, 5251-1606


Embajada de Ecuador
Tension 217, Polanco Mexico, D.F.
------ 55456013

Embajada de Egipto
Alejandro Dumas 131 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
--------- 52810823, 52810698

Embajada Etiopia
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 465-602 Irrigacion Mexico, D.F.
Fax-------- 55570772


Embajada de Grecia
Av. De las Palmas 2060 Lomas Reforma Mexico, D.F.
------ 55966333, 55966038

Embajada de Guatemala
Av. Explanada 1025 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
------ 55407520, 55206680

Embajada de Arabia Saudita
Paseo de las Palmas No. 2075 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F. .
Fax-------- 52510789, 55960173

Embajada de Argelia
Sierra Madre 540. Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
Fax-------- 55208656, 55206950

Embajada de Republica de Chipre
Sierra Gorda 370 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F.
---------- 52027600, 52023096

Embajada de Portugal
Alejandro Dumas 311 Polanco Mexico, D.F.
55456213

Embajada de Suiza
Av. De las Palmas 405 Torre Optima Piso 2 Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico, D.F
55203003



Embajada de Tuquia
Schiller 326 Piso 5 Chapultepec Morales Mexico, D.F
Fax-------- 52038984, 52540262

Embajada de Uruguay
Hegel 149 piso 1 Polanco Mexico, D.F
Fax-------- 55310880

Embajada de Venezuela
Schiller 326 Chapultepec Morales Mexico, D.F
------ 52034233, 52034435