Worth the Read

The Truth About Safety in Mexico Bargain Prices for Informed Visitors - By Dr. Jacqueline Zaleski Mackenzie

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This article is about safety in Mexico. A professional businesswoman who lives in Mexico wrote this report.

The United States has been facing an economic downturn since 2006. Those people responsible to remedy the situation must have realized that it makes sense to keep as much money in the country as possible. When a crisis such as this is making political reelection hopefuls nervous, this is one thing both parties can agree on. Obviously, if the public statement and subsequent marketing campaign are to “See the USA,” many travel dollars stay within the U.S. Borders. At the same time, discouraging travel to close neighbors who are having some obvious civil strife are additional incentives for uninformed travelers or investors. They are likely to keep their greenbacks at home.
The wise traveler or investor is doing his or her selves a disservice to take headlines at face value. Every statistic should be carefully evaluated. In many cases, there is unknown bias’. I live in Mexico, Central Mexico, and I know the truth. Consider very carefully about whom you trust before passing up a great vacation or property investment bargain.
A Factual Comparison
What is the draw to Mexico? Probably, the fact that Mexico has great weather, beautiful vistas, friendly people, and almost everything is cheap.
“Wait a minute! Didn’t you leave out dangerous?”
I guess that is a matter of what the word “dangerous” means to you. Mexico is not as dangerous as the USA. Unbiased resources have concluded that Mexico is a safer place to live or travel than the USA. According to one report, Mexico is about as dangerous as Albuquerque, New Mexico, other reports agree.
National Master.com states that a visitor has about a 1.3% chance of being a victim of crime in Mexico.
The United Nations Office on Crimes and Drugs 2011 [below] report confirms that on drug-related crime Mexico is equal to Poland and Denmark. Mexico is significantly lower in drug-related crime than Monaco, England and Wales, and Germany.
Let us compare crime rates per 1,000 residents between the two countries:

The Banderas Bay News, June 29, 2011, reported on a 2010 survey by “the LA Times that Mexico was 12 times safer than Tampa or Honolulu, 17 times safer than Dallas or West Palm Beach, 26 times safer than Orlando or Houston and a whopping 39 times safer than the U.S. Capital, Washington D.C.”
My research revealed that the LA Times have a series from June 3, 2008 until December 23, 2011 explaining numerous conflicts. If I am reading them correctly, the majorities are rival warring drug lords. The 200+ incidences of violence, occurring in the United States and Mexico, are few for eighteen months of conflicts. Compare those figures to any large U.S. city. Mexico is an entire country.
Conclusion: Be Informed as Visitors or Investors
I live about one hour from 75,000 expatriates. They live in or near San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. That is about the center of all of Mexico. Not once have I heard any resident of near San Miguel de Allende tell me they are sorry they moved from their home country to Mexico. Many people ask me to “keep our little secret” about the joys of living in Mexico. There are gorgeous homes in near San Miguel de Allende for a fraction of the cost in developed countries. Someone with a modest home and retirement check in the U.S. can “trade-up” in or near San Miguel de Allende, Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, and other places to living like a CEO or better. Come and see for yourself.

So, don't stay in cold Canada out of fear..................Come on down - the weather is glorious!!