Is it safe to travel to Mexico City? Rufus?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

So essentially it's Washington, D.C.

Essentially, though in DC it's easier to stay out of trouble by just staying out of certain neighborhoods. The analogy to 80s-early 90s NYC is probably better. I lived there in the mid-80s, and it was obvious the city had gone to hell, but it was also pretty easy to stay out of trouble if you just used your common sense.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Remember: Texans view Mexico as a kind of less safe version of Mad Max. But to be fair, that's how the rest of America views Texas.

[Fake Boris]

I was there for the new year.

If you stay in the center and don't go to the ghettos, you'll be fine.

Be wary of the mini-kidnapping taxi scams. Don't take a cab from the street, call one from a reputable company. I may even have a business card laying around with their phone number.

[Lorizael]

I think some parts of the USA are or used to be more dangerous than Mexico city , like Detroit or Baltimore.

I know many people who live there with no problems, but they are Argentines. For an American it would be different since criminals prey on first world tourists.
But I don't think he would have much of a problem. After all he will get a bodyguard and stuff.

Bah. Baltimore's not too bad.

[-Jrabbit]

Be wary of the mini-kidnapping taxi scams. Don't take a cab from the street, call one from a reputable company. I may even have a business card laying around with their phone number.

This seems to be the key advice I'm picking up from everyone knowledgeable, plus all the horror stories you can find online.

Overall, I don't see enough red flags to consider avoiding an otherwise excellent travel/business opportunity.

And if you run across that phone number, Oncle B, send it via PM. Thanks!

[Blaupanzer]

Mexico's Federal District has 40,000,000 residents in the inner and outer rings. Of these 19 million are in dire straits and 20 million are much worse off. Stay in the center city with the other 1 million; pay attention to armed policemen and rely on friends for interpretation and travel arrangements and you'll be fine. Same as almost any Middle Eastern city for most Europeans.

Stray from the protected high-traffic areas only if a) you want trouble, and b) you have lots of heavily armed companions.