I visited Merida, Mexico for the first time last month, June 2014. Business colleagues and friends advised me not to go due to the unsafe conditions of traveling south of the US border. “Have you seen the news? Please consider not going.” I simply smiled and thought to myself, the media only covers the negative, why would I take their word on where I should travel, so off I went.
The direct flight from Houston, TX is a breeze. Arriving and getting through customs at night without power can be a little intimidating. As I waited to be cleared to pick up my luggage, I observed the many visitors returning for a visit to this history rich city. As I stood in line, tourists spoke of how friendly the people were and how safe it really was. I was comforted instantly in my decision to visit.
Arriving late in the evening, it was hard to get my bearings and see anything as I took the taxi to the hotel. The experience inside the airport and hotel were complete with smiles and respect. There was no uneasy feeling of getting stared at, feeling like I needed to white knuckle my purse, or feeling afraid to ask for help or directions.
The morning after my arrival, I was truly able to see the beauty of the city. What I realized within 24 hours of my visit, the beauty begins with the people of Merida and the Yucatan.
Traveling alone, I felt safe enough to walk to alone from the hotel to cafes, even asking directions from local construction workers in a back alley. There was never a time that I had any fear of something going wrong. The people take pride in their city and themselves. I never encountered any type of danger.
My entire view of traveling or vacationing in Mexico changed with my visit to Merida. I have been to Cabo, Cancun, and San Carlos. Always traveling with friends, I never enjoyed my experience in Mexico prior to Merida. In the previous destinations, I would never walk somewhere by myself outside of the resort. I could live alone in Merida. Honestly, I felt more safe walking alone here than I did walking the Avenue of Americas in New York City with cops nearby.
Do you want to know what the US Government advises on Travel to Merida? ‘Yucatan: Merida and Chichen Itza are major cities/travel destinations in Yucatan – No advisory is in effect.’ Well there you have it, this part of Mexico is not even under any type of travel alert or warning. I am glad that I did not listen to media about Mexico in general, or friends and family that implied they knew it all.
My advice: see for yourself. The only Merida Mexico safety concerns should be of you wanting to return home to your hometown city in the United States.
-Author Mandy B.-
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