I've been to many so called hostile places in Mex and never had any major problem. I've always travelled in numbers though.fwiw don't just stay in the tourist places or else you will never have actually gone to Mexico if you know what I mean. Knowing a little spanish cant hurt. I usually go down for Xmas and New years. They know how to party on new years like it's 1999 all over again it's a blast! Mexico (the city) is insane. I wouldnt survive a bike ride around the block there.