I know I’m getting off the topic of “South of the Border”. But I like SE Asia a lot better for a warm weather, low cost vacation or retirement area. Yes it is crazy far away and that is a deal breaker for many. But what I love about places like Thailand and Malaysia is there is pretty much NO violent crime! Many regions of SE Asia are still very poor 3rd world-ish developing areas (like Mexico and Latin America), but a huge difference is it’s SO much safer and less violent. When I was in Thailand recently I had absolutely zero fear of violent crime anywhere I went. Even a lot of western women travel alone in SE Asia and I never hear of any issues.

On the contrary, I hear so many horror stories of Mexico and Central/ South America. My sister had a friend who was raped on the beach in Mexico by locals. Another acquaintance had a friend who took a cab in Colombia to never return. And another guy told me about some tourist he knew being robbed at gun point in Brazil. All stuff you never hear happening in SE Asia.