Have you been to Merida, Mexico 🇲🇽? Did you feel safe?

[Skyros]

[Anonymous]

I have childhood friends who are both Spanish and Mexican. They have several homes down in Mexico. They have taken me down with them for vacations countless times since a child. 19 hour drives straight through and again back.
I have never felt unsafe. I've been in dark alleys in America where I have. Mexico is a different culture all together.
In American poor neighborhoods you see them locked up tight. In Mexico you see large gatherings of neighbors with music and all welcoming to strangers passing through. Sure they are suspicious but as soon as they see you are friendly you are family.
It's something you have to experience. You'll never see it on Fox news.

[Skyros]

I plan on going next year. I heard online that Merida is the safest city in Yucatán. Will I face a lot of difficulty if I can’t speak fluent Spanish?

[Skyros]

Thanks for answering.

[Opinion Owner]

No. Mexico gets a lot of traffic from America and other English speaking countries. You'll always find someone to translate.

[KostasKouvalis]

I did last January actually. I didn't really venture in the back streets, but in the entire Old Town area I felt very safe, even after dark. I felt very safe in the entire state of Yucatan to be honest, even when we were traveling at night. We even traveled by public bus from Progresso to Merida and felt very safe

[Skyros]

That’s great to hear. It looks like I’ll be going solo since everyone I know is scared of Mexico. My parents don’t want to leave the country for any reason because they think they may not return. I can’t reason with them and make them see the truth. Thank you very much for your kind response. Last question, if I go solo, what are my chances of coming back to the states?

[KostasKouvalis]

You'll be fine. If you stay in Yucatan state and Campeche, you'll be fine. Though I didn't go to Campeche so I can't vouch for it, though you really have no reason to go there.

I wouldn't risk Quintana Roo. If you want to see Tulum, take a tour, but Tulum was disappointing to be honest. If you want the ocean, you can go to Progresso. It's only 20 minutes from Merida. It's worth taking a day trip to Uxmal, Chichen Itza and Izamal. If you don't wanna do all of them, at least visit Uxmal. Uxmal was the best

[Skyros]

Thanks for the tips. Until now my sights were just on Chichen Itza. I actually have a hand made replica out of fish bone from Tulum years ago. I don’t know much about Uxmal, will definitely look into it. Will I be able to use U. S. currency down there or does it have to be pesos?

[KostasKouvalis]

Chichen Itza is so-so. I preferred the other section where the Observatory is. The main section felt a bit like an amusement park.
Uxmal on the other hand still felt raw and authentic, and the architecture is also different. And that one doesn't get as many tourists as the other ones.

PESOS.

When you visit the archeological sites you have to pay TWICE at two separate windows. First you pay the local rate, then you pay an extra gringo price.

[KostasKouvalis]

I was thinking about writing a MyTake comparing the 3 archaeological sites and I might do that

[Skyros]

I guess they have machines at the airport that converts money. What observatory? I’ve never heard of that except in video games.

[KostasKouvalis]

"Machines". I don't know. They have ATMs where you can withdrawal local currency from your own ban account and they also have people that will convert it for you, but they'll rip you off. We ordered them from our bank, and some of the larger American airports also have currency exchanges, but their rates aren't that great. It's best to order some from your bank

[Skyros]

Sounds great! I wish I had a contact in or around Merida to keep me up to date. May peace be with you.

[NathanDavis]

Merida as a city, and Yucatán as an state are generally speaking, among the safest tourists spots... and yes... since they are used to the tourism, a lof of the people if not all of them working in welcoming and service, will know the basics of English too

[katiesmuff]

No I haven't

[JoMoe]

No..

[DrPepper12]

No. Cancun