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Comment by adventured | Hacker News Reader

Avoid Mexico at all cost, it's one of the most dangerous places on earth, is unlikely to improve in the next decade or two, and there are far better options in Latin America.

Panama for example -

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/28/panamas-success-is-defy...

https://archive.ph/eVAlZ

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Mexico is a lot of fun. You’re unlikely to run into trouble if you keep your nose clean (of white powder)

Although I disagree completely with "avoid Mexico at all costs", kidnapping is a real threat. They won't kill you but it's a pretty unpleasant experience, and avoiding cocaine won't protect you.

Which states are you seeing foreigners kidnapped regularly?

This is anecdotal, I have family in Mexico City and many of their friends have been kidnapped. I'm not sure about foreigners specifically.

Anecdotal - I lived in Mexico City for 2 years running around doing very stupid things. Only kidnapped once, by the police, for less than a few hours, because I was doing illegal things in public.

Mexico has serious crime issues and murder issues. But this is mostly confined to specific areas and specific cities along drug running corridors.

It is a bit like someone looking at Chicago and saying it's a war zone. They would be correct, in the worst parts of town. The average HN poster is unlikely to ever set foot in those areas, so their experience will be vastly different.

What about Belize, its mostly English speaking also.

This is a very misinformed comment. Mexico indeed has enormous issues with violent crime but those incidents are very unlikely to affect expats who choose to retire there.

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