Have you been to Monterrey?

How dangerous is Monterrey, Mexico?

• I’m going to school in Monterrey (Tecnológico de Monterrey, ITESM) beginning in August 2011 for 9 months on an exchange from Ryerson University in Toronto. I travel to Mexico usually 2 or 3 times per year to visit family (I’m half Mexican). I’ve never gone to Monterrey, I usually travel to Mexico City or Acapulco. What are your opinions on Monterrey’s safety and security? I’ll be living on campus in residence.

• Answer:

  I'm fairly sure the tech has a campus in saltillo (coahuila) which is about 45 mins from mty via the highway and thats probably a safer option if its available to you. I live in garcia, just outside the city, and i can say there are problems but its not as bad as you might think. Sometimes the roads are blocked by buses (drug dealers trying to stop police being able to drive to certain places) and occasional violence as seen on the news...but i've never run into problems. I go into town shopping etc and I have never personally witnessed anything major. i reckon if you're on campus you should be ok. Just bear in mind that there are a few clubs etc where you might run into problems and take a normal sensible attitude to being out (ie dont go bopping down dark alleys clutching wads of pesos) one piece of advice i read randomly the other day, is don't start criticising the situation here...you don;t know who you're talking to and it could get you into trouble. But youll be mixing with students mainly so i'm sure you'll be fine! Mty compared to other cities like laredo is way better, and the average person just isnt that affected by the troubles