Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - It's Summer vacation time. And you know what that means... it's time for the U.S. State Department to issue another Mexico Travel Warning. And so they have. On July 12, 2013 the U.S. State Department updated its November 2012 travel warning to Mexico.

The good news is that, as in past warnings, most popular tourist destinations - including Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Merida, and Chichen Itza - are exempted.

In fact, there are no essential changes from the State Department's previous Mexico Travel warning. As before, the update cautions against nonessential travel to specific areas within 19 of Mexico's 32 states due to continued narcotics-related violence, particularly in areas near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The state-by-state summary opens with the same calming statement: "millions of US citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect US citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations have targeted US visitors based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes."

However, it says the criminal groups are battling with each other and the government and that "crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere..." It recommends driving only if necessary, during daylight hours and to use toll roads when possible.

The advisory also warns visitors to remain within the tourist areas of Acapulco, Ixtapa, Taxco and Zihuatanejo in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, and to stay within the Zona Dorada and historic town center of Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa.

Cities and areas that U.S. citizens should avoid or be particularly vigilant in include Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Ensenada, Chihuahua City, Torreon, Saltillo, Piedras Negras, towns in the eastern portions of the state of Mexico, the eastern edge of Sonora, Veracruz and Zacatecas.

To read the U.S. Department of State's full Mexico Travel Warning Report, issued on July 21, 2013, click HERE.

Though most all of Mexico's beach resort areas are excluded from the updated travel warnings, as in any city, to ensure a safe visit, tourists need to take reasonable precautions. Puerto Vallarta resident and Casa Cupula Hotel owner Don Pickens makes the following recommendations:

1. Do not go out with unnecessary jewelry, cash, credit cards or valuables. Take only what you need and keep the rest locked in a secure hotel safe.

2. Do not invite strangers to your room, especially when you do not know the person, are alone, and if your valuables are not secured. If you must, register guests at your hotel or condo, and/or ask for and take photo copies of IDs. Escort the individual off the premises, don't let them wander among other rooms or condos and put others at risk.

3. When you go out at night, bring only your ID and the necessary cash, not a wallet full of cash and credit cards ripe for pickpocketing in your back pocket. Don't flash your money around. Don't leave cameras, smart phones or wallets unattended.

4. When you go out, or return home, late at night, take a taxi regardless of the distance to your lodgings. Do not walk home late at night, inebriated, in dark areas with uneven sidewalks and expect good things to happen. You wouldn't do this at home, where you know your surroundings, so don't do it when you travel and are unfamiliar with the language, customs and laws. Don't use or carry drugs on the street, be drunk in public, urinate on the streets or otherwise break the law as in any other city.

If everyone uses these reasonable safety precautions they will find Puerto Vallarta a safe and welcoming destination.