Mexico is Safe and Thriving: Well, the Yucatan at Least.

I've been in Cancun for about a week now. And seriously, what's all the fuss about? This place is thriving with billions in investment. The biggest danger posed to tourists are the drunk foreign teens falling off of their hotel balconies during Spring Break.

Suprise #1:Cancun is a world-class family destination.

Forget Disney. I've visited and spoken with reps from some incredible ecological parks fit for families of any age. For starters, take a look at Xcaret, Xplor, Rio Secreto, Xel-Ha.  These parks integrate the unique culture and environment of the Yucatan into world-class, dare I say, theme parks.

As much as I love Disney, I sometimes sense an underlying snark or some loss of dignity vibe from employees because they work at a theme park.  I'm generalizing here, but all the employees I encountered love their jobs, and love showing off their hospitality role (stellar English included).

Suprise #2: Cancun's night clubs are worth a trip. 

Do you ever feel a sense of nostalgia for night club acts of those 40s dance movies, I love lucy, and White Christmas? The genre is alive and well in Cancun. Sure, its sexed up, but it's incredible how much investment and innovation goes into Coco Bongo's shows.  My hosts from International Incentive Travel, a destination management company in Cancun, insisted on taking me, and I acquiesced mostly to be a good guest.  The show opened with a rocked-out version of Phantom, including areal dancing, trapeze acts and chorus lines. And that was just the beginning.

Suprise #3: The economy is hopping down here.

2009 is considered the bad employment year down here, but things have totally turned around. I came with the false assumption that Cancun was hurting with the bad press about Mexico in the USA. I've toured new properties, golf courses, and hotels in construction,  representing billions of USD in investment.  My host, Erika, shook her head at the one kid we saw trying to bum change off drivers by washing windshields. "I don't know why he's doing that. Everybody can get a job here," She explained.

British Airways, Air Europa, and Condor Air are introducing new nonstop flights from European capitols whilst US carriers continue to cut back. What's going on? Why does mob-mentality fear keep the US masses from visiting?

Cancun is safe, there billions of investment dollars at work here, and you aren't going to find the parks and Mayan ruins anywhere else on the planet.

I'm coming back soon, and bringing my whole family with me.