Also this experience:

Even the luxury resorts are worrisome.

Seven years ago, my son earned a hard-won bonus at his firm and his boss offered him a cash bonus or an an all-expense paid trip to Cancun for him and his fiancée at a very exclusive resort where the boss & his wife had recently traveled to and had raved about. My son chose the trip as it appeared to be the most valuable of the two options.

Upon arrival in MX, they were met at the airport by the hotel pickup van which was an armed security team and a special bullet-proof vehicle!

As their transport vehicle neared the resort they could see that it was surrounded by a high perimeter wall and armed sentries at strategic posts.

He said it looked and felt like they were entering Jurassic World.

Once at the resort, they noticed how very few people were there. The place was isolated and exclusive but had an other worldly feel to it, that left them unsettled.

They were considering taking a day tour to visit Chichén Itzá pyramid nearby, but the hotel staff cautioned against leaving the resort.

Although they enjoyed the trip, it felt like a very dangerous place that left them grateful to be back in the states and home safely.