U.S. Issues New Security Alert For Major City In Mexico

Uh-oh. Another travel alert for another popular destination in Mexico. We at Travel Off Path have been hawk-eying travel advisories and alerts to keep you guys safe this summer season.

First, we reported the U.S. Embassy putting a damper on some travelers' beach plans for Puerto Vallarta, and now they're doing the same for culture seekers in Mexico's third-largest city.

No, it's not Mexico City or Guadalajara. It's arguably Mexico's cheapest city to fly into, as it houses one of the country's select few budget airlines, Viva Aerobus.

But, we're saving the flying chatter for later. The U.S. Embassy is more concerned with road travel in Monterrey.

Two days ago, they issued a new security alert to inform travelers to avoid certain areas and beware of traveling by car, which can potentially include Ubers too.

So, if you're venturing off to one of the closest major Mexican cities to the U.S. this summer, be wary of how you get there.

New Security Alert Issued For Monterrey

Yes, Mexico City and Cancun are undoubtedly the country's most popular tourist destinations, but you'd be surprised by how many people actually visit Monterrey by car.

Monterrey is only a two-hour, 45-minute drive to the border towns of Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, the latter being the primary concern according to the new alert.

In fact, the latest announcement from the Embassy is by proxy as it's actually the Secretary of Security of Reynosa who issued a warning garnering attention from American consular services.

While it's much easier to make cross-border pharmacy runs in the towns mentioned above, many people come from Texas with family to Monterrey or simply to check out a new culture for a weekend escape.

The U.S. Embassy is asking Americans to be aware of road travel between Reynosa and Monterrey. Crime has been rampant along the Monterrey-Reynosa highway, especially at night.

So much so the U.S. is banning government employees from traveling certain routes in the region.

Are Americans Victims Of Crime?

The U.S. Embassy did not explicitly state if Americans are being affected, but with the type of crimes taking place, it doesn't sound like they're discriminating.

The alert reports of multiple disappearances on the Monterrey-Reynosa highway.

To make matters worse, they stopped with details there, meaning it sounds like there's been no resolution.

While there's a large swath of remote territory along the highway, Ubers do venture outside the city too. I know, because I've been.

Some of Monterrey's top attractions are scenic hikes. While it sounds like the disappearances have been confined to the Monterrey-Reynosa highway, that's not to say criminals don't switch up strategies by targeting different roadways.

In other words, think twice before venturing outside the city limits.

To stay safe, the Embassy has released the following tips:

• Do not make unnecessary stops
• Travel during daylight hours
• Keep up with local media for important updates
• Remain aware of your surroundings
• Notify loved ones of your travel plans

You should also know that dialing 911 is the emergency line in Mexico.

What About The New U.S. Border-Mexico Train?

In case you missed it, there's an exciting new train launching from Nuevo Laredo to Mexico City.

Shovels are expected to hit the dirt next month, so don't expect to hop aboard any time soon. But, crime doesn't just go away and Nuevo Laredo isn't exactly known for being a safe haven.

Fortunately, the new train will not pass through the same route mentioned in the alert and with the relatively new Maya Train and O.G.'s like the Chepe Express, it seems to be a tried and true safe method of travel in various parts of Mexico as the country continues investing in rail infrastructure to explore in a whole new way.

Bad Timing! Monterrey Is Surging In Popularity

Monterrey may not seem as notable as Mexico City or Guadalajara, but I was pleasantly surprised when I visited years ago during the dark days of the pandemic.

Apparently, others have caught on too, as a new report revealed Monterrey is one of Mexico's trendiest cities right now, seeing a 27% increase in international flight traffic.

My favorite aspect of Monterrey was the numerous luxe rooftops, many of which were extremely affordable hotels.

I highly recommend staying at the 4-star Radisson Hotel Monterrey San Jeronimo with rates consistently under $100 throughout summer.