snaimpally Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 After doing a lot of research on places to retire to, my wife and I (both Canadians but have lived in the USA for the past 20 years) booked a trip to visit Lake Chapala in early Oct. The wife is now concerned because the state dept. issued a travel advisory (http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/08/mexico_travel_warning_state_de.html). "Jalisco (includes Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala): U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to areas that border the states of Michoacan and Zacatecas because of continued instability. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from personal travel to areas of Jalisco that border Zacatecas, intercity travel after hours, and from using Highway 80 between Cocula and La Huerta. U.S. government personnel are authorized to use Federal toll road 15D for travel to Mexico City; however, they may not stop in the town of La Barca or Ocotlan for any reason." We are getting picked up at GDL by a shuttle from the place where we are staying and don't plan to travel after hours or on Hwy 80. I find it odd that I haven't seen any events occurring in the past 6 months that would warrant such as travel advisory. Should we have any reason for concern? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkEliot Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Most crime is not reported. Be concerned. Very dangerous. Cancel trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 It is safer here than in most cities in the USA Just use common sense as you should anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exyyz Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Ignore the first response and go with Sue's. There is no reason for concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
757 Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Safer at Lake Chapala than in Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaimpally Posted August 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks! That is why I expected (e.g., no cause for concern). Seems a coincidence that the advisory happened just as NAFTA is being renegotiated, doesn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Oh, the State Dept. will and does issue a travel advisory at the drop of a machete.... even when that machete was aimed at an agave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rckrckr Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 1 hour ago, snaimpally said: Thanks! That is why I expected (e.g., no cause for concern). Seems a coincidence that the advisory happened just as NAFTA is being renegotiated, doesn't it? Good observation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgates Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 Nothing to be concerned here. We have been here for 12 years. (Edited by Mod to remove personal slur.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dichosalocura Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 I believe that if you ask most expats that live in Lake Chapala and most expats that live throughout much of Mexico, they will tell you that they feel as safe here or safer than they did in most US cities. Mexico has and has had violent problems related to drug cartels fighting other drug cartels. Usually much of the violence has ocurred in rural areas and sporadically in certain specific cities. And in those specific cities much (of course not all) of the violence has ocurred on the rough sides of town and at hours you most likely will be home asleep (kind of like back home!) I personally feel that you are more likely to be affected or harmed in the many daily shootouts that occur in the US than being murdered here in Mexico. In Mexico, you are more likely going to be robbed, scammed, or taken advantage of, money wise, your first year until you learn the ropes of what to do and what never to do while in a foreign country. After the first year, it should be pretty easy sailing. Just don't walk down dark alleys in the middle of the night, drunk, and try to score some drugs, that is a recipe for an eventual disaster. By not doing asinine stuff like that you dramatically reduce the chances of becoming a casualty in Mexico. Life here is sweet if you use common sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seren Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 2 hours ago, MarkEliot said: Most crime is not reported. Be concerned. Very dangerous. Cancel trip I think what MarkEliot was trying to say is that we don't need any more expats or others of any sorts coming here - the place is full up ... find somewhere else .... we want to enjoy the paradise we found without any more infiltration. So - it's very dangerous and don't even think about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 These warning are really just telling there have been problems in those areas.. We go through Ocotlan to go to the Mexico freeway and never had a problem in the last 17 years however the road to Ocotlan before it was fixed had the most number of assaults on trucks so obviously there are bad guys around but I do not remember any incidents with foreigners going through there.. La Barca.. they find lots of bodies around there, if narcs so unless you are a narc you should be ok.. However I can tell you that some of the road in Chiapas have a lot of assaults of regular people and until now it has never been published. THe warnings are blanket warnings and do not reflect the dangers to the tourists or foreigners who mind their own business. The Chapala area and Guadalajara are very safe for foreigners as a rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bontepar Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 Glad I am a Canadian, I don't have to worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo1 Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 14 hours ago, tomgates said: Nothing to be concerned here. We have been here for 12 years. He's probably trying to scare people into not coming here. The traffic is already awful and it's not even Oct. and currently the rentals are very few. (quote edited by mod to remove personal slur) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeser Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 4 hours ago, snaimpally said: Thanks! That is why I expected (e.g., no cause for concern). Seems a coincidence that the advisory happened just as NAFTA is being renegotiated, doesn't it? NAFTA won't affect the cartel's trade it isn't covered by NAFTA. There has never been a state department warning for Lakeside Jalisco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeser Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 4 hours ago, MarkEliot said: Most crime is not reported. Be concerned. Very dangerous. Cancel trip Mark are you even at Lakeside or have you ever been? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 I think he was joking.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 Too bad that there is not a 'tongue-in-cheek' emoji. Seems some folks can't see it unless it is spelled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvanparys Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 RickS hit the nail on the head... The State Dept is always the first to bail out of conflict areas... There are a lot of Chicken Littles in the SD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm1mex Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 Lake Chapala is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfa Posted August 26, 2017 Report Share Posted August 26, 2017 On 8/24/2017 at 8:41 PM, bontepar said: Glad I am a Canadian, I don't have to worry What the he.. does being Canadian have to do with anything related to this subject? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierMex Posted August 26, 2017 Report Share Posted August 26, 2017 On 8/24/2017 at 2:52 PM, 757 said: Safer at Lake Chapala than in Chicago. Chicago's South side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Berca Posted August 26, 2017 Report Share Posted August 26, 2017 Read this week's GDL Reporter including headlines and lead article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpsca Posted August 26, 2017 Report Share Posted August 26, 2017 Much safer here than in Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pappysmarket Posted August 26, 2017 Report Share Posted August 26, 2017 1 hour ago, simpsca said: Much safer here than in Houston. Yeah, no hurricanes today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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