When traveling internationally, safety should always be your main concern. This is particularly true in Mexico, where you can quickly find yourself in trouble should you end up in the wrong part of town. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of crime while traveling in Mexico:

• Stay away from people and places you don’t know: Don’t venture out to unfamiliar places, particularly if you are not in a group or with a tour guide. Also, don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t know as kidnappings do occur in certain parts of Mexico.
• Stick with the tourist areas: Stay within the tourist areas to ensure maximum safety. There are some areas of Mexico that have been scarred by drug wars and other forms of crime surrounding the profitable drug trade. Avoid going into these areas, even if you are looking for an authentic slice of Mexican culture. Instead, inquire about guided tours into some of the smaller cities with an experienced guide who is familiar with the areas of Mexico that are safe for visitors.
• Don’t venture out alone, particularly at night: This is a good rule of thumb for anyone, but more so when traveling internationally. Never, ever go out alone at night to minimize your risk of becoming a victim of crime.
• Lock the windows and doors of your vehicle at all times: Even if you have auto insurance in Mexico, it would still be a stressful and harrowing experience to lose your automobile or the possessions within it. To avoid this happening, because auto insurance cannot cover all personal effects, lock the windows and doors of your car at all times to avoid the possibility of a burglary.

Should you find yourself in trouble, be sure to alert the proper authorities so they can assist you in filing a police report and contacting the company who sold you your auto insurance in Mexico. Take all precautions to protect yourself.