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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
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