Originally Posted by hummingbear

Everyone has a different comfort level w/ int’l travel. It’s not my place to tell people what they should & shouldn’t be comfortable with, but “never leave the hotel south of the border” is definitely on the conservative side of air crews, in my experience; which kind of underscores Dark Side’s point that the criteria for a “good overnight” vary greatly from one pilot to the next.

There are some great LatAm destinations w/ lots to do & see- BOG, UIO, GUA, MEX, GDL to name a few. Different people will & won’t go out at some of these places, but I think SAP is one that is pretty commonly seen as a rough area w/ a sort of mid-quality hotel. (Think short SAL layover.) So if you’re someone who likes to get out on the overnights, you’re more likely to be on your own, & sitting around the hotel is generally less pleasant than it might be in LIR or PUJ, for example. But I think checking a place out for yourself before you make a decision is good advice.