Spring Break in Mexico

gomexico.about.com

 

Have a Safe and Fun Spring Break in Mexico: Spring Break is a time to let loose and have fun, but safety concerns are a reality for spring breakers, no matter where you decide to go. Mexico has many popular and fun destinations, and you can make sure your getaway is both safe and fun by following these basic spring break safety tips. 

 

Buddy Up!:

Arrange in advance to stay close to a friend, always stick together and if you're traveling with a larger group, inform others of your whereabouts. This way, if you have any trouble you'll always have someone nearby that you can trust to help you out.

 

Party Smart:

• Know your limits: a few drinks may be part of what you consider a fun time, but remember that drinking too much alcohol will lower your inhibitions and can impair your judgment. Over-imbibing can make you an easy target for thieves, con artists and rapists, and can even lead to alcohol poisoning.
• Obey the law: Mexico's drinking age is 18. Public drunkenness, disturbing the peace and indecent or lewd behavior are against the law
• Keep an eye on your drink, and don't accept drinks from strangers. Be informed about the date rape drug, and what you can do about it.

Stay Away from Drugs:

Mexico has strict laws about possession of drugs, and you can be arrested on a narcotics charge and can face severe penalties if you are carrying even a very small quantity of drugs. You don't want to spend your spring break (or longer) in a Mexican jail. "Just say no": don't import, purchase, use, or have drugs in your possession.

 

 

Be Careful on the Beach:

Take the warning flags on beaches seriously. If red or black flags are up, do not enter the water. Strong undertows and rough surf are common along beaches throughout Mexico. Most beaches do not have lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy. If you get caught in a current, don't try to swim against it, swim parallel to the shore until you're clear of the current.
 

Parasailing, and other beach recreation activities probably don't meet the safety standards that you're used to. Rent equipment only from reputable operators and avoid these types of activities completely if you've been drinking.

 

 

Beware of the Sun:

Avoid too much sun exposure. Sunburn may seem like a fairly trivial concern, but the discomfort and pain of a sunburn can put a big dent in your fun. Wear sunscreen with an appropriate SPF for your skin type, and remember that drinking while exposed to the sun can increase the effects of alcohol and can cause dehydration. Drink plenty of water (bottled of course, you don't want to have to deal with Montezuma's Revenge).

 

 

Practice Safe Sex:

STDs and unplanned pregnancies don't make good spring break souvenirs. If you're going to have sex, use a condom - these can be purchased at any drug store in Mexico - they're called condones ("cone-DOE-nays").

 

 

Take Common Sense Safety Precautions:

Besides these spring break safety tips, you should also take general safety precautions for Mexico travel. Women may face a few particular safety issues while traveling in Mexico. Check out our tips for women travelers.

 

 

In case of emergency:

The emergency telephone number in Mexico is 066 (not 911). You do not need a phone card to call this number from a public telephone. There is also a hotline for tourist assistance and protection:  01 800 903 9200. U.S. citizens may consider contacting the nearest U.S. consulate for assistance in an emergency situation. 

Is Mexico Safe for Spring Break?

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(Photo: Thinkstock/iStock)


As spring break, that glorious time of freedom, approaches, you may be wondering: Is it safe to go to Mexico? Should you let your kids go to Mexico for spring break?

It depends on whom you ask. The U.S. State Department currently has a travel warning for Mexico, but the dangers are mostly in less-touristy areas. The best way to heed this travel warning is by reading the state-by-state breakdown of advisories, as some parts of Mexico are definitely safer than others. For example, for Quintana Roo, where most of the popular tourist destinations (Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum) are located, no advisory is in effect.

If you do visit, be smart about what you do in Mexico. The State Department says, "U.S. citizens are encouraged to lower their personal profiles and to avoid displaying indicators of wealth such as expensive or expensive-looking jewelry, watches, or cameras. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid situations in which they may be isolated or stand out as potential victims". They also advise, "To reduce risk when traveling by road, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to use toll roads ('cuotas') whenever possible", due to the concern over carjackings and highway robbery. The State Department further warns against visiting "casinos, sports books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments," due to safety concerns.

If you ask the State of Texas if you should go to Mexico, their answer is a resounding "no." the state's Department of Public Safety included the warning: "avoid travel to Mexico" in their list of safety tips for spring break travelers. This advice seems a little suspect, since Texas is probably trying to convince travelers to visit the state's own spring break hot spots instead.

So should you or your kids do Mexico for spring break this year? Ultimately, that's up to you. If you do go, make sure to register your travel plans with the State Department, and to follow their common sense safety tips. Keep in mind one key piece of knowledge from the State Department: "Millions of U.S. 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 dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that organized criminal groups have targeted U.S. visitors or residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes."

--By Caroline Morse

How to Pack for a Girls Spring Break Trip to Mexico

blog.eaglecreek.com

 

by Kelly OReilly on February 17, 2014 ·

Counting down the days until you can hightail it out of the cold winter and onto sunny beaches south of the border? Pass the time with proper planning! Use these insider tips to put together the ultimate spring break packing list for Mexico.

If you’re fortunate enough to be fending off the winter blues with a spring break adventure south of the border, the countdown is on. As you suffer through darker days and colder weather, distract yourself by anticipating the bliss of Mexico’s white sand beaches and brilliant sunsets—and by planning what you’ll take with you on the journey! Use these guidelines to help you put together the ultimate Mexico vacation packing list!

1. Lighten Your Load

One of the advantages of packing for a Mexico vacation is the weather: higher temps and days spent on the beach call for lighter clothing and fewer hair and skincare products than your average getaway. This makes it easier to get by with a just carry-on, so consider starting out with a lightweight travel bag. If you’re planning to bring home a boatload of souvenirs, try an expandable option but chances are you’ll still have room to spare amidst shorts, flip-flops and swimsuit suits.

Also, consider your destination’s accommodations when picking your suitcase. Hunkering down in a large all-inclusive resort with airport transfers and bellhops around every corner? If so, a 4-wheeled rolling case will do just fine. If, however, you’re trekking somewhere more remote, think about a backpack you can easily carry through winding jungle paths or on a motor scooter. Going for a blend of both? A rolling backpack might just be your best bet.

2. Build a 3 + 2 Daytime Wardrobe 

Whether you’re aiming for an unplugged retreat far from civilization or a beach-by-day and club-by-night kind of scene, you’ll find that beach living—and, therefore, dressing—remains pretty simple. Most of your time during the day will be spent on the sand with a good book (or a cocktail) so you’ll want to be cool and comfortable in the hot sun. Up to three different bathing suits should cover you for a week’s stay (assume one will be drying on the balcony at all times); two cover-ups with a supply of 2-3 cotton tank tops, t-shirts or short-sleeve shirts should cover you—both literally and figuratively—for the entire week.

3: Go Casual and Stick to One Color Scheme

Planning on hitting the town once the sun goes down? Luckily, the dress code beachside bar-hopping tends to be throw it on and go. Ladies look perfect in easy, breezy sundresses. While summery materials like silk and gauzy crepes run the risk of wrinkling, you can preempt major creases in how you pack. Lay pieces flat in drycleaner’s plastic bags and place them in a Garment Folder, and when you arrive and pull them out, the damage will be minimal. Take advantage of coastal humidity to hang dresses and separates for a natural steam, or turn on the shower to help them out a little more.

As for shoes, a beach break is perhaps the one trip for which you don’t have to sacrifice most of your suitcase space for 100 different pairs. Stick to a pair of comfortable flip flops for the beach, a pair of sneakers for more intrepid adventures, and a versatile pair of nude wedges to take you through dressier nighttime forays. Nude pairs perfectly with bright colors, as well as white and black, working overtime to complete any outfit.

If you can swing it, take the advice of fashion editors everywhere, who maximize their travel wardrobe by sticking with one color scheme—whether you go neon brights or black and white, everything will coordinate in the end.

4: Take it down a notch with toiletries and make a sunscreen strategy 

Think about paring down your makeup bag before you go, and switch to your lighter, summertime skin regimen. Between the sand and steamier temperatures, your body will undergo a natural rejuvenation without your having to lug around a huge toiletry kit.

Sun coverage, of course, is key. Inquire ahead about what might be available in your destination, and consider purchasing once you’re there. If you have to fend for yourself and you’re sticking with a carry-on, devote most of your quart-sized liquids bag to sunscreen, and transfer a large tube into a handful of 3-ounce plastic travel bottles. Pack even more in the form of a stick, which won’t have to be stashed separately. If you’re checking a bag and plan on arming yourself with full-size bottles, opt for creams over sprays.

5: Make beach bags do double-duty 

Eagle Creek’s 2-in-1 Ultra-Lights are great dual purpose vacation bags! Rolled up to easily fit into a suitcase, these bright and cheery bags serve as the ideal beach bag to carry magazines and sunscreen down to the water, and then when you’re packing up to leave, they’ll happily hold damp bikinis or dirty laundry for the trip home.

6. Make Sun Protection a Priority 

Protect your face from harmful UV rays using a baseball hat or a visor or compressible travel hat. If neither jives with your style, you can still get a large-brimmed hat or fedora into your bag with minimal crushing.

Simply stuff the crown of the hat with non-wrinkle items like bathing suits, underwear and socks, and place the hat upside down in your bag, carving out a little hole between your packing organizers. A hat should be the top layer in your suitcase, or placed right underneath a flat item you don’t want to wrinkle.

7: Think layers when planning what to wear coming and going 

They’re an instantly recognizable breed on both ends—the pale, still city-hassled new arrivals sweating in their winter wear gulping down arrival punch at the resort, and then on the flip side, the sad, sunburnt and shivering returnees nearly crying their way through the cab line at the airport. It’s possible to pull off something effortless and comfortable for an easy transition into the tropics and back out to reality, as long as you remember one word: Layers.

Be sensible about the weather—if it’s freezing where you live, then it’s OK to be a little warm on arrival, but you don’t want to get frostbite before you hop on a plane (or when you get back). Wear something as light as possible that doesn’t require suffering—white pants; ballet flats; a tank top; a thin, light-colored sweater and a light coat (or cotton blazer if possible), with a bright scarf thrown over your shoulders should do the trick. Pack a pair of flip flops in your carry-on, and once you land, you can swap out your shoes and peel off top layers accordingly. The same outfit in reverse will take you seamlessly through your trip back.

In a nutshell:
—Reduce your load mentally and physically and think fewer cares, clothes and cosmetics
—3 bathing suits + 2 cover-ups + cotton tees and tanks for the beach
—Roll silky sundresses in drycleaner’s plastic and stick to a color palette + nude shoes
—Pack a foldable / collapsible nylon bag for the beach and damp clothing
—Strategize sunscreen and purchase on-site or distribute into (clearly marked) travel bottles
—Stuff your sun hat or pack a cap
—Think layers for a transitional travel outfit

Businesses Want “Spring Breakers” to Return to Mazatlán

6 Sep 13  

mazmessenger.com

Restaurant and bar owners want to recover the city’s dynamic nightlife of the 1980s which attracted Spring Breakers.

The recovery of a dynamic nightlife in Mazatlán, the return of Spring Break college tours and cruise ships were topics of discussion between restaurateurs and Mayor Elect Carlos Felton at a closed door meeting held yesterday.

Restaurant and nightclub owners explained nightlife in the city was part of the city´s attraction during the 1980s bringing Spring Breakers from Canada and the United States, but that segment of tourism has been lost.

Restaurants and nightclubs must be treated differently with respect to hours during which alcohol can be sold, they stated, if Mazatlán is to be a competitive tourist destination.

In exchange for amplified hours, the businesses said they agreed to provide transportation for young people leaving bars and nightclubs to avoid accidents caused by inebriated drivers.

Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas, director of Canirac in Mazatlán, told reporters on the agenda at the meeting were discussions concerning organization and working together with government authorities, and doubling security in the city to make it the most secure tourist destination in the country.

The owners also complained about the “informal” sector, street and beach vendors, who give a bad image of the city. And, they pointed out, restaurants, bars and nightclubs provide employment but are in competition with small supermarkets selling alcohol and beer outlets which employ only two or three people and are permitted to stay open later.

Mazatlán is a popular tourist destination, said Velarde Cárdenas, that should be allowed to compete without closing hour limitations as is done in Vallarta, Cancún and Acapulco.

(from El Debate)