We were genuinely looking forward to staying at Distrito 88 and had carefully planned this trip. The service we received revealed a level of rigidity and indifference that was genuinely alarming.
One week before our scheduled arrival, cartel-related violence broke out in the broader region due to the assassination of the leader El Mencho. Public reporting and widely circulated videos showed masked gunmen firing weapons in public streets, vehicles and gas stations set on fire, and road blockades established in multiple areas. The U.S. government issued advisories urging travelers to shelter in place and avoid unnecessary movement.
This was not vague travel anxiety. It was documented unrest occurring days before we were set to arrive. I personally spoke with several people who had friends or family visiting the region who feared for their lives.
After reviewing the situation at length, we made a safety-based decision not to proceed. Our airline refunded us. Another accommodation on this same trip refunded us. Distrito 88 refused to offer any flexibility on a $1,600 reservation.
What was most troubling wasn't simply the refusal. We received repeated, almost scripted responses stating that everything was "happy and vibrant as always" and emphasizing that a "travel advisory is not a travel restriction."
Technically, that distinction may be correct. But dismissing legitimate safety concerns less than a week after visible, documented violence I saw with my own eyes felt profoundly unreasonable. There was a complete lack of empathy and no cooperation to even provide a partial refund.
We understand that conditions may have improved since those events, and we genuinely hope that is the case for the safety of the local community and visitors alike. However, our decision was made based on the realities at the time- widely reported unrest and official government advisories. It is not reasonable to expect travelers monitoring those developments to disregard them simply because a property assures them that everything is peaceful.
We understand cancellation policies during normal circumstances. This was not normal. Hospitality is not only about enforcing fine print, it requires exercising judgment when circumstances change quickly and safety concerns are credible.
Instead, the decision conveyed that protecting short-term revenue took precedence over acknowledging a good-faith concern for personal safety.
Keeping $1,600 under these conditions may be defensible under policy. It also demonstrates that revenue protection takes priority over legitimate safety concerns raised by guests.
This is not the standard of hospitality we expect, or support. Future travelers should consider carefully before booking. read more