For the most part the Mexicans I’ve met have been friendly in the small towns. Mexico city is like any other big city and the people are not too firdly as they hurry themselves along. The tourist towns it is hard to trust the younger men. The women are trustworthy but you should speak Spanish. I would be VERY careful in Mexico City. Safety is not something to take lightly there. You will be OK in the city square, the federal district, and a couple blocks away. Once you’re more than a few hundred yards out you’ll see a dramatic drop in people, more graffiti, and walled houses everywhere.
I no longer go to Mexico. I use to go there monthly when I lived in Texas but am protesting because of their immigration violations and the robbed a friend of mine last time he was there. Unless she has a trusted local guide and real business I would not go there.
BUT, if she must go. Don’t give anything to the children selling items on the street or give them money. They are run by thug street gangs when they should be in school. If she is going to buy things on the street the asking price is never the paying price. It’s very fun haggling with the street vendors. I never had a problem with the water in the cities but maybe I just have an iron gut. But bottled water is cheap and worth the price. One of my favorite things at the restaurant or bars is a big beer in a styrafoam cup with a plate of limes and chili-salt powder.
Good luck.
Dont let her go...geeeeeeeeeeeeez
We have friends who are Mexican descent and will not allow their children to go and visit grandparents in Mexico. That should tell you everything you need to know.
Stay in a Zona Rosa (pink zone) hotel. This is the tourist area and well patrolled by Mexican police. Don't be surprised if cops are carrying shotguns at nearly every corner.
Last time we were there, a young Mexican Army private (I think he was a private) was standing guard in front of one of the local banks. He was carrying a Thompson machine gun...
We used to go to Mexico a few times a year but we had a couple of scary encounters and we decided that it wasn’t worth it. We have Mexican friends who don’t go back there. Their family comes here to visit.
I have a very good friend and while her husband was in a business meeting in a top rated hotel dining room in Mexico City, his driver was kidnapped and the car was stolen. The driver escaped but the car was gone for good. This just happened about 2 months ago.
To die of natural causes in Mexico is a nightmare for the family. My husbands uncle had a heart attack in Cozumel and the family had to pay off every person in Cozumel city government to get his body home for burial. They tossed his body in to the fish cooler for weeks until we paid.
Sorry to give you all this bad news. It is a real shame because Mexico could be a fantastic vacation destination again, like it used to be.
Update.
To all of you who had helpful and/or caring thots and suggestions—both public and private, I cannot thank you enough. To those of you who didn’t...well no comment and you may be missing out on some interesting trips.
Plans were finalized and details nailed out, so trip went smoothly...no delays, no hassles, etc. Really, no problems at all
Daughter had a wonderful time at her dear friend’s wedding in Mexico City with a week of tours, fabulous food, hiking, sightseeing, etc. with no problems in Mexico...No close calls, no scary moments. To reiterate, She was able to attend a fabulous traditional Mexican wedding and see some wonderful sites near the Capitol.
Daughter only brought back a mug and a shot glass in terms of purchases —I was surprised that she did not buy more gifts/trinkets.
She did get “interrogated” briefly by a woman border or customs agent when returning to US, which I found extremely ironic given the border situations as relates to illegal Guatemalans, Nicaraguans,etc and Liberian Nationals. Not sure why, but she was asked by the woman customs or border patrol agent why she went, where she was, how big was the wedding, where was wedding, etc. A lot of probing questions. Perhaps she is planning a wedding herself as she os Hispanic? Daughter thot perhaps it was because she had tucked her passport in pocket of travel bag—she had gone thru the initial screening....Eh she was traveling alone, so maybe that was the trigger. If anyone has thots on why daughter, 23 - innocent looking blue eyed blonde, was singled out, I would be interested in hearing them :)
Anyway, she is back, safe, sound, and well :)