If you’ve ever considered having a destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort, you’ve definitely wondered about resort safety in Mexico and the Caribbean. 

While I can’t predict the future, I can tell you about my experiences at dozens of all-inclusive resorts in the area, what the security was like, and how safe or un-safe my experiences were. (spoiler alert, they were safe! ;))

My big disclaimer here is that absolutely nothing, no one, and no destination can be guaranteed, 100% safe. It is always the responsibility of the traveler to remain aware, alert, and to make smart and safe choices. Things can happen to anyone, anywhere (including in your house or neighborhood!) at any time. Please do not get drunk, wander off the beaten path, take any illicit drugs, do anything illegal, or otherwise endanger yourself. The following information is simply an explanation of my experiences, NOT a guarantee that nothing bad will happen on a trip.

Security at all-inclusive resorts

Absolutely everyone who comes on-property at an all-inclusive resort must be on the approved list ahead of time. No one can just show up and get in. That’s not how it works.

Before we get too deep into this topic, I want to say: This is why it’s important that we know 100% of the guests who will attend the wedding. You cannot book a room for one person, then have that person “bring a plus one” and just show up with an extra person. That person will not be allowed to come on property. When you register for a room as a destination wedding guest, EVERYONE TRAVELING MUST BE LISTED IN THE ROOM.

*steps off travel agent soapbox*

What happens when you arrive?

There’s a gate at the entrance of all resorts in Mexico, and most at other resorts throughout the Caribbean. At the gate is an armed security guard (or three), as well as guys with the list of everyone who should be arriving today.

Hilariously, I only have a picture of the gate at the Nickelodeon Resort in Riviera Maya to show you (up at the top of the page), so to make up for it, please enjoy a picture of me and SpongeBob 😂

You will typically arrive at the resort via ground transportation that your fabulous travel agent pre-arranged for you (or via cab, if you didn’t turn your flight info in on time). 

Your driver will pull up to the gate; the security team will ask for the names of the passengers, and the driver will tell them who all is in the vehicle and arriving to check-in. 

The guard will double-check that your names are on his list, and then they will lift the gate and let your vehicle through. 

Then you head inside the resort!

When you pull up to the door, the arrival staff will greet you, confirm your name, and help you and your luggage out of the vehicle. Plus a fun bonus – most resorts will give you a cool washcloth to help you get refreshed, as well as a delicious welcome drink! It is SUCH a fabulous luxury to arrive in style!

Then you’ll be escorted to the check-in counter, where the staff will double-check your passport and ensure you have a reservation, and then get you checked in. 

There are never random people who don’t belong there walking around. 

In fact, I recently had to sit in a resort’s lobby for about 30 minutes while I waited for a ride, and it clearly made the staff very uncomfortable. I was just taking a guided tour of the resort with the wedding staff, and we finished earlier than expected. Even little, short Allison, sitting down with her laptop out, made the resort staff uncomfortable, because I was a non-guest floating in their space. (yes, I felt bad!)

The staff is very aware of who is there, trust me. 

Resort Beach Access and Security in Mexico

So the arrival process from the road is super secure, but you may be wondering about the other side of the property. All beaches in Mexico are public, after all. What’s to stop someone coming in from that side?

Good question! 

Most all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, and some in other Caribbean destinations, have security guards on the beach side of the property as well. This is most common in highly trafficked areas, such as the Cancun Hotel Zone, where many resorts are right next to each other, and families come from all around to the public beaches that are shared by the resorts. 

In these cases, there are security guards in different areas. Most resorts will have their own security guard stationed at the resort entry/exit (usually stairs). They’ll ask you for your room number as you head out to the beach and when you come back in. 

This is so they can keep track of who has come and gone, and ensure that you get back safely. Plus, this will help keep random people from wandering onto the property. 

You also might see armed guards or police wandering around on busy, public beaches. This looks alarming at first, but is just the way it works there. I think we tend to assume that something bad has happened if we see guards carrying around large guns. But that’s just the way that they patrol on a regular day, and it does NOT indicate that something shady is happening.

Honestly, having that armed military / police presence on the beach is a GOOD thing. Anyone who might consider causing a problem will think twice when they see those heavily armed guards. I’m always happy to see them out and about when I’m there!

But “Isn’t Mexico Dangerous?”

I’m sure you’ve heard a news story or two about something bad happening in Mexico or another Caribbean destination that you’re considering for your destination wedding. It may even been freaking out your parents so much that they’re nervous about your decision. 

But I’ve got to tell you that most of those stories are sensationalized (as is most news), and typically don’t tell the full story. Tourists are not typically the victims of the bad situations you hear about. And almost nothing is happening to people who stay on the beaten path and mind their business. It’s almost always a local, or someone who made an incredibly dumb and dangerous decision and put themselves in a bad situation. 

I bet, if you watch your own local news, or any big city’s news stories, you will hear far more scary stories in a month than what you’ll hear from a destination in a year. Try to remember that every news story has a writer, and that writer has an angle. Plus, there are good and bad people everywhere.

Don’t just assume an entire country is bad and scary just because you hear one news story. 🙂 

I have been to Mexico and the Caribbean many, many times, often by myself. I have never had any issues, felt unsafe, or even been in an uncomfortable situation.

My safe experiences have been because:

1. I stay on the beaten path. I go from the airport out to my pre-arranged ground transportation, who drive me to my resort. If I go on excursions, I usually have a trusted guide taking me from place to place. I don’t break the law, and when it’s time to go home, my driver takes me straight back to the airport doors.  I stay out of trouble!
   
2. Mexico and the Caribbean are not inherently dangerous places. I haven’t witnessed an issue yet!
   
3. I am prepared when I travel. I arrange ground transportation with a trusted company in advance, so I know that I’ll always be taken care of by people I trust. I have somewhere to stay.. I’m not just couch surfing my way across the destination. 

And as long as you hire a trusted travel agent, most of that will be handled for you, so you don’t have to lift a finger! (All you have to do is stay out of trouble ;))

I hope you’re feeling much more confident now about resort safety in Mexico and the Caribbean. If you’re ready to get started, click the link below to schedule your free consultation

Share this with your nervous friends and family. I’ve told all of this information to many, many nervous family members over the years, and it’s always calmed their nerves and quelled their fears. I hope it will do the same for yours!