Leaving in 2 days - mom doesn't want me to go

So I'm finally off! 6 weeks in Guat, Mexico and maybe Belize.

However my mom doesn't want me to go because of the danger issues. She called and begged me "please don't go! you'll DIE! It's a lawless jungle!" (which it is partially).

After I had the idea to go to Guat, I looked at the US govt site that listed all the horrible assualts against tourists. I said no way am I going there.

Then I read all the posts from travelers on this site who were of course as concerned, but ultimately felt very comfortable while there.

So I decided it was not so alarming, be cautious and have a positive outlook, it'll be fine.

I am psyched to go in two days but now that mom is terrified calling me, I am back to being nervous myself!

Any parting words?

You'll be fine. That State Dept site is laughable--while I'm sure all those incidents actually occurred, the site makes it sound like Guatemala is nothing but constant gunfire and stonings. Email your mom every couple of days, and email pictures of yourself if you can. Guatemala isn't a "lawless jungle", in whole OR in part.

Take your Mum with you.

Hie thee to a nunnery.............

tell your mom that at least you won't be standing on Bourbon Street in da French Quarter eating a mercury-laden tuna fish sandwich while you play with a lead-paint toy from China after you leave an internet café to answer the latest 419 Nigerian scam that was sent to your inbox.

send your mom to thorntree..........or maybe thats not such a good idea after all.

The Pana, Antigua, Xela backpacker circuit is about as dangerous as Podunk, Iowa but not as dangerous as Kalamazoo, mi!

LA, Chi or NY=10 times more dangerous!

Drifter

Tell her church groups and high school field trips go there, why cant you?

In my 5 years on this forum, there have been a few reports of assualts per year in the entire region...million go every year....

I'm a 54 year old woman who just returned from a ten-day trip to Guatemala with my fifteen year old daughter. When I read the travel advisory before I left, I was nervous too- especially since I was travelling with my daughter. However, after a day or two in Guatemala, I began to relax and everything went really smoothly. I can understand your mother's concern, but honestly, I felt safer in Guatemala than I do in New York City. I was trying to imagine how frightening travel advisories for some American cities would be. Use common sense- as you would when traveling anywhere- and then enjoy!! Our trip was absolutely wonderful- people were kind and helpful- and the colorful scenery is incredible. Moms seem to have a built-in need to worry. I know my 80-year-old mom was relieved when we returned home. There are internet cafes everywhere and there are also places where you can easily make long-distance phone calls. Have an absolutely wonderful trip and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Guatemala!!

You are obviously an immature child. Listen to your mother.

My mum is worried. But mainly because she is ignorant of the countries i plan to visit. Fortunately in Australia the media don't say much about Central America.

when I went to Zimbabwe i just lied and said i wasn't going there. The fact that I flew in and out of Johannesburg is far more dangerous didn't register on her radar.

So find some websites or articles about travelling in Guatemala that are positive.

I went to Guatemala by myself 3 years ago and my mom was worried. I had a fabulous time and couldn't stop talking about it. This year I took her on vacation with me and she loved Guatemala too. I've never been to Northern Mexico but I really enjoyed the Yucatan and Chiapas. I know lots of peopple love Belize but I found it overpriced and disappointing. I would suggest spending more time in Mexico and Guatemala and skip Belize. The Bay Islands of Honduras are amazing too.

Quicksand, why do you call yourself "Indiana Jones" if you still depend on your mom to go places?

Is your mom going to pay for the trip?

Indiana Jones likes adventure, danger, etc. I don't think Indiana Jones is mama's boy.

Go to guatemala and if you get in any trouble just call your mom.

What exactly are the 'danger issues'? I just got back from Guatemala and never saw or experienced anything dangerous. I travelled alone all through Guatemala and had the best time and many others who were travelling alone as well.

My father, always businesslike, has now emailed me the following:

BE VERY CAREFUL.
followed by pages and pages copied/pasted from the US State site on all the atrocities against tourists!

Honestly it's certaily normally to be nervous when you've never been somewhere. Fortunately I believe more the people who said they were nervous, then got there and relaxed and did not experience problems.

A lawless jungle, you said?

# 3 Please..I am a Nigerian scammer!

Honestly, does anyone notice that Americans are the most paranoid group on this planet. What's wrong with us? The majority never even leave their own country. Find a Frenchman who doesn't spend every July abroad.

Read all the other times this has been answered on TT. It's funny, my college son didn't want me to go. We NEVER felt even remotely threatened there. You can read it a million times: JUST BE SMART. The State Dept. are f-ing idiots. People who live there laugh at the warnings. Be careful after dark just as you would be at home.
Have fun!

Nothing to worry about. Once you go and see for yourself you will laugh at such a silly question. Make friends. Lots of friends. Friends with the people running the hotel, cleaning lady, shop keepers, etc.......

I often wonder what the US State Department's Travel Warnings would look like for cities in the US?!? Everyone who lives in the US would probably be frightened!

Hey there, I just came back from Guatemala myself a little while ago (solo female traveler) and had a really great time. I have to say, like you, I was a bit nervous after hearing all the stories, but to tell you the truth, I think things were are hyped up. Aside frm Guatemala city, which I found to be a bit sketchy, the rest of guatemala was simply amazing- no problems, great people, great times!! Offcourse, as when traveling anywhere, you watch your valuables, don't go out walking alone at night down darkk alleys; the usual spiel for any country. And as for all those people that report being mugged etc, it happens most often when they wander off the paths while hiking and are completely alone (or at least was the case with people I spoke with). So just don't go off by yourself hiking on paths that people tell you are not safe, easy as that:) So I wish you a fantastic trip, try not to worry now, once you're there you'll what I mean. Happy travels!
hermes

THe warnings are a holdover from the Conflict. The Conflict is over, though there are certainly people who come on TT wanting to dredge it all up...over and over. One or two of them report having lost family members during the conflict and are bitter about that. WHile their bitterness is human, it is a shame they will never realize that Guatemala has gotten better. The quality of life for almost everyone has improved since the Peace Accords. Tourism has flourished. Services and roads have improved and income has risen for people who accept paid work. Even life among the indigena has improved in many areas due to family members sending remittances from the USA and tourism in their areas among their families taking in homestay tourists.

What is happening in GUatemala is what happened in Europe and America generations ago.....a shift from an agrarian economy to a commercial one. THose who have made the shift, increase their standard of living dramatically.

Those of us who love aspects of the indigena culture and romanticize it , mourn the losses this shift entails (the Mayan artistic sensibility as exhibited in their weaving is but one example). But for many of the indigena, the earning of an income is a step forward out of the milpa. This process of ladinization has only accelerated since the Accords. Money, tourism, and emigration is doing what generations of Spanish effort could not.

#19 good point. Look at the US travel advisory for Nicaragua......kidnapping gangs....robberies, etc Then look at that for Germany. Big difference...yet Germany has a higher crime rate.