Why do american tourist come go all inclusive and stay there and not venture out to see more.?

Question

I am an American living full time in Mexico next to the beach. What I always see is that tourists will come from America or Canada to an all exclusive hotels and stay within its compound, eat drink etc and not venture out. They then go back after their few short days thinking that all of Mexico is just like the hotel area ( a over priced white neighbourhood) or go back thinking that outside of the hotel Mexico is just to dangerous to go to or venture out to. They dont see anything except the hotel and go back bad mouthing Mexico even though they havent see anything. They wont even take a taxi, bus or walk to the towns right next to the hotels. Why come if you want to hang out with other American / canadians and not see mexico but yet go back saying you had been to Mexico for a vacation when you have seen nothing.
I am hopeing that someone out there has done it just the way I explained it and maybe can be honest and tell me why do Tourists do this.

Answer 1

Hey chui, I think this is actually a very good question. I'm an American and over the last decade or so, I have done quite a bit of traveling to places in the Caribbean,Mexico and Latin America and have also stayed at the more luxurious all-inclusive type places. Although I think you are over-exaggerating the issue, I have met quite a few Americans that never seem to leave the resort. The most obvious observation I have made, people, of all nationalities, who stay at all-inclusives are in general less adventurous and/or less experienced travelers, than those who stay at hostels, cabins, houses, etc. and, also demand things be as familar to them as possible with American tv and other luxuries. While there are many well traveled Americans and Canadians, many Americans do, in fact, travel to places like Mexico without knowing anything about the people, culture, etc simply because it is actually cheaper than going somewhere in the States and, when they do go abroad gravitate towards areas that are more "Americanized"-that's why so many more people go to Cancun than, say,even Cozumel. Sad, but sometimes I am glad some of these people do not leave the resorts because their ignorance of the area and sometimes over-demanding character lead to cases of "the Ugly American" arguing with the locals as I have, sadly, seen this happen before. I usually travel with my brother and we always go on as many side-trips as we can reasonably afford and often just do our own thing in town etc because, as you say, we feel what's the point of going somewhere abroad if you don't actually get to experience the culture of the place you are visiting( I can tell you I feel safer anywhere in Cozumel at any time than many American cities). Wherever we have gone, we have met other (almost fearful)Americans/Canadians staying at the same resort and sometimes have to assure them from our experience it is safe to go into town, do one of the local trips/activities, etc (sometimes we have to promise to go with them) before they are willing to get brave and leave the comfort of the resort; most of the time they come back excited from their "adventure" and are very happy they have done so. However, if you think this "sheltered American tourist"-syndrome is bad at the resorts, it is ,in my opinion, worse with cruisers. I did one cruise and will never do another because you were never in any place for more than a few hours and never got to explore or really learn anything about the places you were in and many people on the cruise didn't feel like getting off at every spot/destination; furthermore, the trips offered by the cruises were activities set up mostly for American tourists. In addition, I have met people that were on cruises while I've been somewhere and most cruisers are more sheltered/ignorant tourists than anybody else- simply doing the off-shore excursions suggested/hosted by the cruiseline and its' on-shore partners, shopping or dining in certain (tourist-friendly) places "suggested" by the cruise line, etc. During my last trip to Mexico, for example, we "briefly" met a couple from Houston (who you would think may have some knowledge of Mexico) who were doing there annual cruise to Cozumel (sounded promising) and stopped us for directions (presumably because we were Americans) to the most Americanized place on the island (I think it was the Hard Rock Cafe and/or Senior Frogs); we chatted briefly and after learning they "come to Cozumel almost every year we asked them where else they have been/what they have done before because we were looking for ideas. They told us they have never actually really gone "to far off the beaten path" and have never even done any of the side trips- right before telling us they wanted to rush to finish their souvenir shopping so they could get back to their ship as soon as possible- just made my brother and I shake our heads and wonder why they came/come at all.

Answer 2

This is just silly Americans. They live in such a dangerous country where everyone has a gun they think the rest of the world is like the USA. Only 6% of American have passports so that shows they are not interested in the rest of the world and are inward looking. Australians like to experiance true travel and stay in the smaller hotels or hire cars and drive around and meet the real people. Please don't judge the rest of the world by the American and Canadian tourists

Answer 3

I agree with you! The most fun on vacations I've had is when we hire a local driver for the day and let him show us his country. They never steer you wrong, you get to see things you wouldn't see on tours, and they never take you anywhere dangerous cuz they know their tip depends on how they've treated you. Since they depend on tips to survive I have always been treated well!
Sometimes though, Americans like to just crash for a week where they are and not have to put any effort into leaving the resort. Drinking oneself silly can only go on for so long before it gets boring (I guess I must be getting old) and I like to explore safely and see how the natives live-that's part of the charm of seeing somewhere new! Please don't judge all Americans and Canadians the same-some of us do like to try something new!

Answer 4

Many people go to Mexico just the way they would go to Hawaii or Disneyland. I figure it's a good thing if they even try. It's got to open their eyes up a little.

On the other hand there are many ex-pats here and those who spend the winter.

I live on the beach as well ... south end of Jalisco

Answer 5

Why shouldn't people do what THEY want rather than what YOU want when they go on a vacation?

The type of travel you describe, all inclusive hotels and suchlike, isn't my personal choice but then my choice is not something I think I have a right to impose on others.

In other words, who died and made you king?

Answer 6

i have a horse riding hotel in mexico city. we take our guest out all day, the ranch has fishing and tennis ect but they all want to be out and only come back to eat in the evening....

Answer 7

Oh please nofret. What an incredibly inane comment. America is not a dangerous country. Everybody does not have a gun. I won't judge Australians based on your bigoted comments but I will judge you.

Answer 8

They're just tourists. It's what they do.