Exchange to a Mexico Timeshare

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

We are starting to put together our winter 2011/2012 list of timeshares that we want to put on our list of possible exchanges.

What is your current thinking on Mexico and if you would or would not travel and stay there for a vacation?

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

We spent a total of 9 weeks in Mexico in 2010 with no problems whatsoever and I am going to Acapulco in January for 2 weeks without my husband, but with my best friend. We are going to celebrate my birthday and her new start in life. We plan to drive from Phoenix to Mazatlan for the month of June again this year to stay at a small resort there. We will most likely go back to Puerto Vallarta in October or November, and if we get a chance, will drive down to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) for at least a few days.

We love Mexico and feel quite safe there. We are cautious wherever we go and do not stay out late at night. (Same as home!)

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Couldn't possibly agree more. We still spend well over half the year in Mexico--and we're only 30 miles south of Tijuana. We feel safe; our friends feel safe. We'll probably go to Puerto Vallarta and/or Cabo this year also.

[Gil Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gil]

Cabo

I'd go to Cabo in a heart beat - of course with the right AI and right flight and right condo..... ????? Hopefully to catch another nice stripped marlin - release of course..... ????

[bellesgirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bellesgirl]

We are leaving in 2 weeks for a month in PV. Can't wait. I would not drive through Mexico to get to my destination, but with a flight from the US to PV, I have no qualms.

[tonik Member Find all posts View Profile Close tonik]

Would not hesitate to go to certain parts. Would stay away from Juarez and Tijuana (per a few Mexican guides) but stayed in Cabo last March, no problems. Felt safe to walk at night, etc. . Friends just go back from the Playa and no problem there either. You do not have to stay in an AI to feel safe as there are better food outside the AI resorts. Feel sad that their travel industry is so down due to what is going on in the news in only certain parts of Mexico.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

Agree totally with pittle.
I am here full time central mexico. We travel ( hubby and I), (mom & I), (parents, me and hubby), (girlfiriends & I) by car all over mexico. Last year we went to PV and NV for a total of about 4 weeks, 2 weeks in Ixtapa, 1 week in Mazatlan. I feel safe as anywhere here.

This year already been to PV for 7 days and NV for 5 days. Going to PV for 2 weeks in late Feb. Ixtapa for a week and Acapulco for a week in May, 2 weeks in PV and NV in July, 2 weeks in Mazatlan in Sept/Oct, PV in Nov. who knows what will happen in Dec...LOL...

All these trips are done by car so we certainly get around Mexico and feel quite safe. I would just avoid the border towns...if possible. If you must cross thru then just go thru and move on...

Like anywhere if you look for trouble you will find it, if you are into drugs or such you will find trouble, and you can be in wrong place at right time anywhere as well.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

If you do snorkeling check out Cozumel, If interested in Cancun look into Gran Meila. In Nuevo Gran Mayan is still one of my favorites.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

Ditto to Grand Mayan in Nuevo....even better Grand Bliss..

[bjones9942 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bjones9942]

2011/2012 ...

I own at the Costa de Oro in Mazatlan, and didn't have any trouble at all last July when I was there. Was also in Cabo, Maz and PV last Feb and nothing but fun then too!

If you want to look at resorts in Mazatlan, I'd check out the Pueblo Bonito group - either PB Maz (in the gold zone) or PB Emerald Bay. If you're on a budget, Costa de Oro might be worth checking into ... (RCI #1119). It's older and not as well maintained, but has a nice staff, good food and is right in the middle of the gold zone (and on the beach).

[pkfox Member Find all posts View Profile Close pkfox]

Mexico

Just got back from Cabo this early AM. It was great!! We have reservations already for February 2012. We are thinking about November in PV.

But one of the bellmen in Cabo is from Mazatlan and said situation in Mazatlan "Very, Very bad".

[bellesgirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bellesgirl]

We just returned from 5 weeks in PV - wonderful as usual. There were no problems but we did see a military presense that we have not noticed before. Nothing major, but occasional soldiers traveling through. Tourism is down - all the resorts and restaurants are noticeably quieter. We would not hesitate to go back (miss it already).

[LynnW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LynnW]

We returned from 17 days in Mazatlan on Feb 7 and did not see or hear of any problems. We spent a week at Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay and 10 days at El Cid at the Marina. During the day we took the bus to Mega and Walmart and also to the market downtown. We walked around the golden zone and the hotel zone and there were lots of tourists in these areas but probably not as many as before. This was our first time in Mazatlan but we have been to Puerto Vallarta many times as well as Acapulco and Cancun. We loved Mazatlan except for the much colder than normal weather and can't wait to return.

Lynn

[gthorson Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gthorson]

We love the Royals in Cancun!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

OY there is a "Safety in Mexico" sticky thread in the Mexico forum.

I think it's worth noting almost the entire crowd that is so fearful of Mexico that they would never travel there are people who don't go to Mexico and have no first hand information.

OTOH - the people who do go to Mexico unanimously report on how much they enjoy Mexico and how safe the primary tourist areas are.

There are certain places in Mexico that are less safe, and some that are downright dangerous. But, with only a few exceptions, the primary tourist locales in Mexico are quite safe - more safe than many tourist locales in the US. For example, I feel much more safe in the primary tourist locales in Puerto Vallarta (downtown, Malecon, Marina Vallarta, Hotel Zone) than I do in popular tourist locales in Seattle, such as Pioneer Square, Seattle Center, and Belltown.