Travelers going to Bacalar, Chetumal, and Mahahual, Mexico might want to rethink staying in a budget-priced Airbnb.
There are 7,000 rental units in the popular resort areas. But Nicanor Pina Ulgade, president of the Bacalar Magical Towns Committee, says 80 percent of them are not safe for tourists.
And it’s not just Airbnbs that are on his list. Many guest houses that are offered on social networks are, too.
Safety hazards include incorrect electrical wiring and a lack of fire extinguishers.
But a more serious problem may be that many of the super-cheap rentals are not insured. So a guest who is injured in one of them could face high foreign medical bills.
When this happens, it’s almost as harmful to the tourism industry as it is to the guest, Ulgade says, because people won’t want to return to the area for another vacation.
Related: Is it safe to travel to Mexico? (2022 General Safety Update)
The number of tourists has skyrocketed since the beginning of the Covid pandemic when people could no longer go to the office. Many of them decided to make resort areas like Bacalar, Chetumal, and Mahahual on the Mexican-Caribbean their home away from home.
But the region’s hoteliers are done with their competing scofflaws. They’re pleading with the Ministries of Finance and Tourism to do complete inspections and root out people ignoring the law.
Overall, Mexico doesn’t get the best reviews for safety. The safest places to go: Cancun or any place along the Mexican Riviera.
Yucatan is also safe.
But you can still have a wonderful vacation in many parts of Mexico. Just do some research and ask questions before you make a reservation, follow travel advisories, and use common sense to stay safe.
