Your unofficial guide to staying safe en route to ICANN’s meeting.
I’ve written before about the dangerous situation in Mexico. But I realize a lot of people in the industry are still heading down to Mexico City next week for the ICANN meeting. So I reached out to former co-workers who travel to Mexico City to get their tips on staying safe.
The attitude ranged from “stay the heck out” to “just be smart and you’ll stay safe”. I’ve compiled some of their responses in an effort to provide practical advice.
I’m not over reacting; many of my friends from Mexico are keeping their distance right now. If you only want the bad news, see: this, this, this, this, this, and this.
After reading my former coworkers’ responses, I realized that the most danger you’ll experience is getting to and from the hotel and airport, because you’ll likely take a cab. Here’s some cab advice:
“I always sit in the front seat with taxi drivers. Use hotel and airport cabs. For $20/hr a cabbie will wait, so often I’ve paid them to just sit there and read the paper so that I’m sure to have a safe way home.”
“Never hail your own cab. Always ask your hotel, club, restaurant or company you’re visiting to call someone they trust. When the driver arrives, make sure whoever called for you authenticates the driver.”
“NEVER pick up a cab on the street, many of them are fake and will hold you up. If you need a cab, go into a hotel lobby and ask them to call one, which they will readily do even if you’re not staying there.”
“Never drive in a car with your windows down. Always lock your door, wear a seat belt, when possible, and keep your body parts inside the vehicle.”
“a sales engineer from one of my previous companies was held up at gun point while in a cab in Mexico City so it’s important to keep your eyes open and not have a bunch of flashy stuff on you when you are away from the hotels. ”
OK, so you get the point. Be careful with the cabs, and try to travel with someone else.
Here are some other points of advice:
“Travel with locals…Dress casual, no flashy watches, jewelry. I wear jeans as much as possible…just try to be as cool and confident as possible, no cameras or unneeded conversation… look like you belong, not a tourist.”
“Was down in Mexico city in connection with the deteriorating security situation which is grim. There are travel advisories within the government organizations I work with to avoid the border towns and Mexico city…Move around the city with someone local to Mexico city and who is fluent in the local dialect, if that is an option. It is very easy to spot an out of towner or a foreigner based on the accent even though they may be speaking Spanish.
“Carry a map and familiarize with route and landmarks to and from location before heading out. Make mental note of distance and time it would take to get to destination. Watch for observers idling about hotels and places with lots of tourists.
“I know this may seem paranoid, but these are some basic precautions. If they are going to target you assume they will. And part with the belongings quickly rather than antagonize the attacker leading to further harm. Just not worth it fighting back. Walk away from the assailant and do not try to follow – there are always accomplices. Get back to a secure location before calling for help.”
Of course not everyone is as concerned. One colleague, who is fluent in Spanish, says to be smart but not sweat the small stuff. Although knowing the language helps, he said his white friends can do just fine:
“Walking around during the daytime is fine. Everyone does it. However, be cautious at night and never walk alone, if you have to. Downtown and Santa Fe are generally safe, but always be vigilant of your surroundings.
“Chapultepec has outstanding, safe running trails. It’s the only large green space you’ll find in Mexico City. Every driver knows where it is. The parks are great and the Zoo is world-class.
“Do not give money to the homeless and do not buy from them. Sadly, charity makes you stand out as an “estranjero” (foreigner) and could make you a target.
“Tone down your dress. Don’t wear bright sneakers and bright socks. Don’t wear around a tux. Suits are very common, especially in the business areas, so they’re a great way of blending in with the crowd.”
One other person is putting together a list of tips for me. He travels to Mexico City extensively with a security detail, and will likely have some good suggestions. I’ll update this post when I hear from him.
Odds are everyone will travel safely next week. But please be careful.
Photo credit: Traffic, USA Films
Infamous Domains says
If you can afford to hire an American security company, do it! My family and I have been to Mexico D.F. many times in a caravan of three cars. People know you are a foreigner or “gringo” as soon as they see you, it’s a matter of how many people you have with guns and how many guns they have.
David J Castello says
Yikes, I had no idea Mexico City was this bad. We own Acapulco.com and have been there at lease six times in the past nine years (Acapulco is only a 45 minute flight from Mexico City to the coast). Never a problem and we went everywhere.
James says
I’m moving to Mexico in 3 months. Had enough of London – sure it can be dangerous, you’ve just got to be sensible. Never been involved in any trouble there and don’t intend to go looking for any.
Good advice above, you’ve just got to be sensible.
Andrew Allemann says
@ David – it seemed like the resort locations were safe until Cancun’s police chief got hauled in on suspicion of ordering a hit.
When I went to a resort outside of Cancun about a year ago the thing that made me most uncomfortable (other than not knowing Spanish) was how both the police and military are around. Not used to seeing that in the U.S.
Gazzip says
Great post, its not being paranoid its called being sensible, informed and aware of your surroundings.
Too many people live in a package style dreamworld and think the world is just one big cuddly place!
I wish it was, but its NOT
Be safe 🙂
Jessica says
What an alarmist article. I’ve been living here for about a year with no problems. Use the same safety precautions as you would in any city and you’ll be fine. Problems with taxis are nowhere near as frequent as they were 10 years ago…hailing them on the street is no big deal. Take a chill pill and enjoy the vibrant, exciting city that makes DF an amazing place to be.
Gazzip says
@ Jessica, same precautions as any city – yeah right ! dream on 🙂
Incase you have’nt heard armed Kiddnappings for ransom money is not so common in MOST cities.
Jessica says
Only people who are rich or important need to worry about that. An average person wearing jeans, not flashing jewelry, or driving expensive cars does not need to be concerned.
As in any big city, stay in safe neighborhoods.
David J Castello says
Andrew:
We stay at a private villa in the Las Brisas section of Acapulco (we’ve even held an AC Board of Directors meeting there). When you enter Las Brisas, you pass a checkpoint with soldiers carrying machine guns. After a while we bcame familiar with them and they would simply wave us in. It’s all pretty common down there. There has been problems in Acapulco with the police and the cartels, but they all steer clear of the tourists.
Andrew Allemann says
@ David – after 9/11 it took me a while to get used to having a national guardsman in the airport with a gun. It was weird going through both police and military checkpoints.
I’ve heard of a few problems creeping up in tourist areas…and the Cancun police chief being nabbed for a hit isn’t good either. Hopefully they can get it under control.
Andrew Allemann says
@ Jessica – doubtful. A lot of recent kidnappings have been for $500 or so.
Andrew Allemann says
…and a lot of people this conference could be considered rich.
Domainer says
Besides many of the points made above,
The U.S. State Dept. also warns about skimming of credit cards. However, that problem can happen anywhere.
“There have been reports of instances in which U.S. citizens in Mexico have had their card numbers “skimmed” and the money in their debit accounts stolen or their credit cards fraudulently charged.”
Add’l comments on the U.S. State Dept website.
” Passengers arriving at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport should take only airport taxis (which are white with a yellow stripe and a black airplane symbol) after pre-paying the fare at one of the special booths inside the airport.”
“In Mexico City, the most frequently reported crimes involving tourists are taxi robbery (see below), armed robbery, pick pocketing, and purse-snatching.”
“In several cases, tourists have reported that men in uniforms perpetrated the crime, stopping vehicles and seeking money, or assaulting and robbing tourists walking late at night.”
Johnny says
When I go out on the street in a dangerous city, what I like to do is leave my wallet in the hotel room, but very well hidden (bring duct tape and get creative in your hiding), and bring no ID. I have always figured I have more chance of losing it or getting robbed on the street than in a hotel room.
I just bring enough for my spending needs and I keep in mind how much it would take to make a thief happy if I got robbed. If you were to give a thief 10 Pesos you might get hurt even more since he will be pissed off. But give him $200 and you might get by.
Also, don’t look confrontational and don’t look at their face much, if at all.
.
fred says
Evil doesn’t seem real until your face to face with it. Be careful folks!
fred says
I hear ICANN is going to hold its next meeting in the Gaza Strip 🙂
Gazzip says
“Appallingly, thirty percent of all �non-natural� deaths of U.S. citizens throughout the world occur in Mexico.”
http://www.mexicovacationawareness.com/index.html
American Tourist Druggings, Rapes, Robberies, extortion and beatings..and thats often at the hands of Hotel staff, security guards or the police !!
apparently ALOT of people have died after falling from their hotel balconies…hmmm
..sounds like a luvely place Jessica – NOT!
Don’t they print all that in the local newspapers..or is it just not worthy of news ?
Steve M says
…an’ I hear Bagdad’s simply beautiful this time of year…
Johnny says
Here is another gruesome one:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/26/this-is-not-the-mexico-i-remember/
Michael says
“There is no such thing as paranoia…they really are out to get you.” –Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Domainer says
“…an’ I hear Bagdad’s simply beautiful this time of year…”
Steve, you joke but I believe Icann has it scheduled for 2011, as well, as Nigeria.
I hear there are a lot of Nigerians into domains.
Domainer says
I just checked Icann’s site.
They haven’t posted yet – Bagdad – 2011.
I’m sure it’s a done deal.
What is posted –
“Future meetings
Africa (Feb 2010)
Latin America (Jun 2010)
Europe (Oct 2010)”
I speculate the Oct, 2010 will be in Switzerland. Since, they will be house shopping for their move to Switzerland.
As soon as the DOC stupidly cut them loose.
Are there any castles for sale?
I can’t wait to see how much domains cost in 2013 when they are non-accountable to anyone.
jp says
Sadly, you kinda made it seem better to me. The crime in Mex that scares me are the kidnappings. The precautions listed here tell me that the problem in Mex D.F. are more just casual muggings. This is pretty common worldwide I find.
You pretty much listed the same advice I got and anyone should follow when going to Rio in Brazil (awesome place!).
In this case I’ll add 2 more suggestions I’ve gotten (and followed) alot on my travels:
1. If you take the bus always sit next to someone, never sit where there is an empty seat next to you. It is an invitation for a mugger to sit next to you when they get on the bus.
2. Something I do alot when walking around mugging cities, especially at night is change my direction slightly alot. For example I change which side of the street I’m walking on from time to time (back and forth). This way if someone is following me it becomes sort of obvious, and often time a mugger will feel “noticed” and stop.
scared domainer says
It will be interesting to see how many “domainers” who participate acutally return from Mexico’s meeting with their lives and or money. The picture of the man with the gun to his head above should serve as fair warning to those “domainers” who consider participating in the ICANN process.
Drew says
The question is, at the Paris meeting, they had a choice between Mexico City and Cancun.
Cancun (hotel zone) is much safer.
Cancun has cheap flight/hotel packages from North America, Europe and South America, making it an option to bring the whole family for a fairly safe beach vacation while attending ICANN.
Why would ICANN choose Mexico City over Cancun? Maybe because flights are much more expensive from most locations, ensuring the pleb domain registrants fail to turn up in sufficient numbers to hold their feet to the fire?
Drew says
Also, do not accept any food offered to you by strangers on the street or in a bus/taxi.
And if you find a police officer trumping up charges and offering the cheaper option of paying the fine to him on the spot, be sure to take photos of him with your cellphone and call the free 0800 number for reporting police corruption.
If I’d known about that number a few years back I would have saved myself ~US$400 in “instant fines” from driving through Mexico City (never again).
Doemainer says
The thing is the at most of the ICANN meetings, I don’t recall moving far from the hotel (meetings in the halls, shower/sleep upstairs, and entertain at the bar with every laptop on 24/7). I think that the majority of the ICANN attendees will be safe considering that they use the same street smarts that you would in any major city anywhere around the world.