Ironman Cozumel... "Kidnapping" story

I'm trying to figure out why anyone would go to Mexico for any reason under the current political climate there. 

I think going to Cozumel is a different situation than going to the interior sections of Mexico. I've went there for IMCOZ back in 2010 and felt completely safe. 

Here's my deal... unless someone actually kidnaps me, I haven't been kidnapped and I'm doing cr@p for them. Not at all. Come get me or shut the h@ll up. 

Ugh. Sadly, I'm not surprised.

Growing up in Southern TX, I often heard stories like this. I never had any desire to go to Mexico for this exact reason. My father went often, my mom a couple times. They even took a cruise there, which I didn't go on because I didn't want to go there. (which, I guess I could have went and stayed on the boat, oh well)

Anyway, this EXACT thing happened to a very good friend of mine. A group went to Cozumel for spring break, which I also declined the option to go. They were threatened and 3 in the group got away to the airport and made their flights home. One did not. After several days he managed to get to the airport (after missing his flight and being 'held' for ransom at the hotel as well) and a kind stranger who was a travel agent paid for him a new ticket home. It was a horrible situation and we didn't know if he was going to make it back. I can't imagine what his parents went through.

I honestly don't think I'll ever go. I won't even touch on the stories (public news, not gossip) that I got from Juarez while living in El Paso.

That's horrible!  

So was this person physically kidnapped? The guy in the story was not physically kidnapped. He was just called and told what to do, and if he didn't do it they would hurt him. He never came in physical contact with his kidnappers. 

Ah, yes, horrible and scary! Poor guy. Worst nightmare! 

The article I linked to isn't a kidnapping like that. This guy was called by his "kidnappers" and told to do "XYZ"... "or else!" Which to me was a bit ridiculous. 

UGH So scary.  Why on earth did he leave his hotel room?  Having lived a stones throw from the mexican border I would not go across.  When I was looking at houses there my hispanic realtor who was born on the Texas side of the border who is fluent in spanish said "We used to go across for a cheep steak dinner and some beers but we don't any more because its too dangerous"  Good enough for me I am not going there if  he is not!!!

I've been to Coz 8-9 times, and will continue to go back.  it is very safe there, I have no problems (nor does my wife) walking around town at all hours of the day or night, even back into the "hood" to get ice cream.  I was suspicious of this story when I heard it but apparently there is a shred of truth.  Cozumel is much different than even Cancun which is only a couple miles away by ferry.  In general, the island is controlled by one family that tends to keep things like this from happeneing too often.

This has been my experience and my understanding of the situation in Cozumel as well.  It is a world apart from the border towns.  On my last trip I had a long discussion with the bartender at one place who said she left another Mexican city for the safety of Cozumel.  Maybe I am naive, but I really believe this.

Thanks Chris, my wife and I were planning to do HIM Coz next year and stories like this don't help with the old confidence meter.

Total sidetrack as it's a whole host of other issues but yeah, Baja has gotten real bad and I wouldn't go down there anymore.  That's not a drug issue AFAIK though.

There's a few reasons I wouldn't do Coz 70.3 - hot (as in, the locals complani how how Sept is) and rainy - but not this.  Coz is fantastic, let me know if you want any recommendations, including the best steak you will ever have in your life (coz is known for very good restaurants)

I (wrongly I know) think of that entire area as "Cancun."  I know it's not, but that's just the way it is.  Been to CUN and PDC lots of times, they are both areas I dont particularly like and they blend together.   Only good thing about PDC is you have to go there to go cave/cavern diving from coz

you do realize TJ and cozumel are on entirely different sides of the country?  it's like saying you wouldn't go to a concert in austin texas because compton, in LA, has high gang crimes.