Honeymoon plans to Oaxaca?

September 10, 2006 11:54 PM

Should we continue with our honeymoon plans to Oaxaca this November?

Earlier today, very obviously having not kept up with the news , I purchased my early November non-refundable airline tickets to Oaxaca City , for our honeymoon and to visit their local Dia de los Muertos Festival. This has been our plan for a year, and yes it is absurd to have neglected the news all summer.
So this afternoon I sat at my computer reading many conflicting reports on the seriousness of danger to tourists and whether it is smart to visit or not.
I have mixed feelings after reading various websites from people who were there this summer amidst the strikes and had a lovely time to this recent posting on travel forums that are mixed. We have never been to Mexico before and is a trip we have both been wanting to take for a long time.

My gut feeling is to go forward with the trip....yet I am much more adventurous (or foolish indeed) than my husband and in the end I want him to be comfortable, and not freaked out by any bad planning on my part (let a lone a bad vacation).

Part two of the question, if it is unadvisable to travel to Oaxaca, what to do with the tickets.?
Curious, anyone been to Oaxaca City lately?

posted by dchunks to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

From my previous visits to Oaxaca I would say just go. However, you would probably be better to take a side trip up to San Cristobel in the mountains (cold but nice) or down to Puerto Angel on the coast. They have fairly substantial American presences and are pretty much left alone for political reasons. What you are seeing in Oaxaca proper is the attempted suppression of a political movement by an unlawful government. Stay out of the cities and the problem pretty much goes away.
posted by ptm at 12:04 AM on September 11, 2006

State department says "U.S. citizens should carefully consider the risks of traveling to Oaxaca City at this time" British Foreign Office says "You are encouraged to exercise caution, especially in the city centre. Protests are confined to the city of Oaxaca: the rest of the state of Oaxaca (including the cities of Puerto Escondido and Huatulco) are not affected."

I live in Mexico City, and having seen the news I would think more than twice before visiting the city. It'll be miserable with the city centre closed. And you might get hassle for being a tourist. Rest of the state's fine.

Non refundable doesn't generally mean non-changeable. Phone the airline / agent and ask if you can change destination and / or date. Plenty of other places in Mexico to see the Day of the Dead celebrations.
posted by TrashyRambo at 4:58 AM on September 11, 2006

I've been keeping up with the news, and given the reports from both the media and friends in Oaxaca, I would make other plans. Oaxaca is my favorite place in the whole world, and it would be awful for you to have to experience the troubles instead of the wonderfulness. By all means, go there when the political situation is resolved.
posted by Wet Spot at 6:05 AM on September 11, 2006

Well, I'm somewhere in between ptmptm and Wet Spot. Honestly, I'm quite certain there is no risk for you and your husband, but you might not be able to enjoy the trip at its fullest.

Also, I'm guessing you chose Oaxaca over other Day of the Dead festivities for especific reasons, but there are a lot of places all over Mexico where they celebrate the date. Some are quite impressive (and perhaps not necessarily what you are after) like the ones in the Mayan area, where people dig up their loved ones, clean their bones, make a party with them and rebury them the day after. But this is a honeymoon, I know.

In any case, my point is, don't cancel the trip, if anything, fly there and go somewhere else once you are in Mexico.

One last thing: avoid Mixquic. It's a place in South Mexico City, famous for its day of the dead celebrations, but over the years it has evolved and now the general consensus says it's way too staged.
posted by micayetoca at 7:40 AM on September 11, 2006

I have been in Oaxaca numerous times, as my brother and his family live there. Since July, I have been repeatedly postponing a trip to visit him and his new baby due to the rioting. He told me last week that the city is covered with graffitti, there's rubble and burned vehicles in the streets, and it's overall not an attractive tourist destination at this time--unless you like to mix political activism with your vacations like I do. I don't know that I'd consider Oaxaca particularly dangerous, but I think it'll be heartbreaking to see the city as it is now.

One suggestion of a semi-close destination would be the coastal town of Huatulco. My brother and his wife honeymooned there, and it's a popular resort destination for Europeans. In fact, when I go (in November, too), I may suggest that we spend our time there instead of Oaxaca if it means that they will be more comfortable with having a gringa visiting. Good luck with your trip!
posted by bloggerwench at 11:17 AM on September 11, 2006

I hate to be the anti-Mexico MeFi troll, but read the full State Department advice on traveling to Mexico in general.

It is beyond me why anyone considers Mexico to be a safe vacation destination, as if it were just like the U.S., only with more culture.

Some tidbits from the State Department report (this is general to the county, not specific to Oaxaca):

It is not uncommon for Americans to become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by Mexican law enforcement and other officials.

In Mexico City, crime has reached critical levels. Low apprehension and conviction rates of criminals contribute to the high rate of crime.

The Mexican judicial system is based on Roman and Napoleonic law and presumes a person accused of a crime to be guilty until proven innocent. There is no trial by jury or writ of habeas corpus in the Anglo-American sense.

It's your honeymoon. Go to Hawaii or something ... if you really want south-of-the-border, go to Costa Rica.
posted by frogan at 12:55 PM on September 11, 2006

My husband and I went to Oaxaca for our honeymoon a year and a half ago. We had both done our fair share of international travel before this trip. We were very excited to take the trip as so many people had recommended Oaxaca. I have to say we did not find it to be as described.

When we were there, many of the sites in the city center were closed down because of construction. This left us with fewer options on where to go, so maybe that is part of it. We just did not feel welcome there. My husband speaks basic Spanish and we have nothing but respect for other cultures when we travel. We are not the type of people to expect things to be just like home. I do not believe it was our attitude or something like that which caused the treatment we received. This was the first and only place we have ever traveled where we did not feel safe. It isn’t that everyone we encountered treated us badly or anything (although there was some of that). There was just this general feel to the place that they preferred that we not be ther
posted by kantgirl at 3:52 PM on September 11, 2006

Thank you to everyone for the good information! It is sounding less intelligent than I thought to go there. I appreciate the input.
posted by dchunks at 8:41 AM on September 12, 2006

Do you know anyone in Oaxaca? It's better if you have a contact there to show you around. Natives can be suspicious of foreigners because of their ignorance of the language, history, and social customs of the region the same way Americans are suspicious of outsiders because of their lack of familiarity with our language and social customs.

Don't let that dissuade you though! Oaxaca is a beautiful place. Plenty of turistas visit all year long. I know people from there and people who've visited. Many of the advisories are just that: advice.

That said, if you feel completely uncomfortable with the idea of going to Oaxaca, go to Mexico City. It is much more modern than the pueblos and you can get Excellent accomodations for a reasonable price. You can probably get a cheap train/ flight from Oax City and there are lots of sights--
El Angel de la Independencia (awe-inspiring)

Mariachi singers at Plaza Garibaldi (romantic)


Ballet Folklorico at the Palacio de Bellas Artes: Do not miss this while you are in Mexico.

And that's just to name a few.

Whether you choose Oaxaca or Mexico City or any pueblo, do not be afraid. If you are humble and Interested in their culture (not to mention at least Trying to speak the language) they will most likely be very warm and understanding.
posted by mynameismandab at 5:57 PM on September 18, 2006

Hey, since the trip is in November and the thread has not been closed, I think there is a chance you might check it again. I just wanted to say, things have deteriorated since you posted the question, and they are bound to keep getting worse.

Last time I told you there would be no risk for you two, now I think it is hard to tell, and I think it would be better for you to consider somewhere else.
posted by micayetoca at 7:05 AM on September 29, 2006

Hi Micayetoca,
A person I know who is from Oaxaca completely convinced me to not go there, so we are going to the Penisula, which I am very excited about. Thanks so much for the warning!
posted by dchunks at 1:12 PM on October 26, 2006