If you find yourself seeing many advertisements for lower costs flights and hotels to Mexico, join the club. Everyone is wondering why the airline industries and major all inclusive hotels are dropping rates by almost 40-50% for travel to popular cities such as Cancun, Cozumel and Cabo.
As mid March approaches, for American’s, especially college students, it is the beginning of Spring Break: a week or two off where most 20- somethings travel to Caribbean cities to party, especially in Mexico. Last month, the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that there would be a travel warning against Mexico due to recent violence, drug wars and kidnapping of American citizens. The warning is put into effect from October 15, 2008 to August 20, 2009.
Part of the official warning states: “The greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these cases remain unresolved. U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crimes should notify Mexican officials and the nearest American consulate or the Embassy as soon as possible, and should consider returning to the United States. “
Besides exercising extreme caution in these cities, should American citizens travel to Mexico? The lower fares are enticing in a not so friendly economy. However, for an official travel warning to be issued in a country so close to America is frightening to some, especially parents with college students. Keeping up with the news is also imperative to understand the current situations and feedback from those who might have already traveled to Mexico.
Cities mentioned in the warning includes Ciudad Juarez, where 1,800 people have been killed since January 2008.
From the Los Angeles Times blog, a visitor made an interesting comment saying why Americans should travel to Mexico
“Recent conflicts have been in Mexican border towns hundreds of miles from Cancún and the Riviera Maya. Unfortunately, most Americans are ignorant of the geography of Mexico. They do not know that Mexico is three times the size of Texas. If we had unrest in Los Angeles (riots, gang wars, earthquakes) would you cancel your vacation or meeting/convention in Chicago? I do not think so. In the end, it comes down to common sense.
–Larry J. Pagac, Barcelo Hotels & Resorts, Redondo Beach”
Its hard to judge the situation when these occurrences are happening so far from the major tourist cities, but for now, it seems as Americans continue to travel to Mexico. Many of those who have completed travel in Mexico have warned that local excursion, such as visits to the Mayan ruins are usually canceled, since they travel on route of local highways. Call your hotel or cruise line for more information about such cancellations.
As for safety precautions, stay with groups or your tour guide. Make sure to stay in tourists areas and keep yourself aware of any strange situations.
For more information, feel free to read the Mexico Travel Alert. Travel safe.
Teresa is the Co-Founder of ArtofBackpacking; Ms. Art of Backpacking. She is currently studying to be a Journalist at St. John’s University. Upon completion of her University studies, she will travel and see more of this beautiful world. If she is not online reading all the latest travel blogs, you can find her writing and taking pictures around NYC, her hometown.
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