A friend of mine sent me this article today as she knows I'm going to Tijuana for gastric sleeve surgery in November. http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

Is anyone else worried about traveling to Mexico or even on a plane considering Ebola is all over the news??! I'm kinda freaking out about both and my tickets are already booked!! Has anyone recently been there for this surgery & did u feel safe??

Ebola plays into people's fear and drums up ratings for networks. Take that with a grain of salt. Mexico has had a travel ban for years. 99% of tourists make it home safely. You are not going on adventure travel and you aren't going to be participating in risky activities. You will be just fine. Remember, Tijuana is visited by thousands of Americans everyday looking for fun and cheap jewlery.

Sorry, not travel ban. Travel warning. heh

Also keep in mind you will be escorted via the medical van. You will not be alone.

I did worse than TJ and went to Juarez- by myself. :-). I figured the bad guys were probably not sitting at the airport waiting for fat ladies to get off the plane so they could steal their protein shakes.:-). The car picks you up and takes you straight to the hospital. Personally, and I am very well traveled, I would skip recreational sightseeing outside of distinct tourist areas and just stick around your hospital. I never left the hospital until I returned to the airport. I also took absolutely no valuables whatsoever and dressed down. Not the trip for Louis Vuitton luggage and diamond rings. Leave that stuff at home.

TJ has Americans shopping more and they don't stand out as much. An American wandering around Juarez would most likely draw attention unless they looked Hispanic. With the level of random violence in that city being what it is, I personally wouldn't put my fair freckled skin in that situation. If one does have a problem, police in Juarez are not necessarily your friends and may contribute to the problem. My hospital there was fabulous but I felt it prudent to stay in it and not wander. Maybe I'm a chicken.:-) I was also glad that I took next to nothing with me. Literally - a few tee shirts in a cheap handbag. My peers had to dump every embarrassing item they'd packed out on a table in front of everyone we were traveling with and half of Mexico so that the Customs guys and their dogs could go through it. So- hint - everything is very public coming back into US.:-)

Just went to Tijuana for my surgery on Oct 1st. I never felt at risk, we even walked to the local grocery store for munchies.

Who is your surgeon?

I went to TJ for my surgery and had no problems. I also travel to TJ to shop and sightsee. I have never felt like I am in danger.

The media always plays into people's fears. I live very close to Mexicali Mexico and can tell you there is nothing going on. be cautious but do not worry about extreme danger.

I had mine on 10/14. I wasn't worried about safety. My husband on the other hand was even brought a big knife just in case. It was not very long into the trip he told he was worried for nothing. We went to some touristy places afterwards never felt in danger.

I just returned from Tijuana on Monday...... No issues what so ever! Felt perfectly safe....everyone is super nice and friendly....