Is Mexico safe for travel? Yes, depending on your destination.

[TCed]

I think there are better places then Cancun for a kid on a high school graduation trip to experience life.
I do think it is a great place for a kid on a high school graduation trip to party and drink and hopfully return home with nothing more then a huge hangover and elevated level.

[a1vacation]

Originally Posted by TCed

I think there are better places then Cancun for a kid on a high school graduation trip to experience life.
I do think it is a great place for a kid on a high school graduation trip to party and drink and hopfully return home with nothing more then a huge hangover and elevated level.

I appreciate these comments, but as I said in my long ranting email, my daughter, who really isn't much of a drinker, went back with her boyfriend a couple years after the high school grad trip and had a wonderful vacation together, which they paid for themselves.

My point being is yes, "some" parents don't know how to parent properly and didn't parent their kids from the get go and now that the kids are older the effects from lack of parenting shows. Then again, "some" kids are just mischievious no matter how much parenting took place.

[scubakevin]

Ok so this comment isn't as much related to "security" as it is to Spring Break since most are knocking the young folks so I want to give you a 50 year olds perspective from experience.

When I arrived to Cancun from Mexico City some 15 years ago coming off an 18 month vacation I started teaching scuba diving again full time in Cancun. My first encounter with spring breakers, ever was there taking these lads scuba diving. Our instructors in the hotels were pumping out 50 or 60 sometimes more discover scuba diving classes at the hotels per day and we were taking 26 divers at a time on our boats with 10 or 12 instructors and divemasters (yes our dive boats were 48 footers capacity of 30 divers) with 3 departures daily.

I found that the kids who we took diving although at times had horrible hangovers or got sea sick were probably the most respectful divers we took out. Listened to instructions carefully, followed the instructions and were attentive not only to the instructors and crew but also to each other while diving or gearing up.

Things Change? Not too much, later in life here in Mexico my wife who is a wedding and event coordinator got called upon to cater to 200 spring breakers who were renting homes in the north of playa del carmen Playa Secreto and Playa Paraiso. We handled all of their food and beverage for their stay and at the same time did 5 open bar parties at different places during their stay. Again my wife who was her first experience with spring breakers didn't know what to expect so we tried to prepare the staff. The result and comments from EVERYONE on the teams who catered to these kids and we are talking 200 to 230 kids spread across 2 miles of beach houses and condos said the kids were POLITE, RESPECTFUL, KIND and most of all THANKFUL to everyone even the clean up people and chefs. That was in mmmm 2009 so things haven't changed too much.

Some of the parents e-mailed us thanking us and asking about the behavior of their kids and of course we had only good things to say. No thats NOT to say that we didn't arrive to prepare breakfast and find the kids passed out on the beach, around the pool, on the floor etc. even kids from other houses wandering around looking for their pants or shoes or underwear but in general I have to say they were well behaved and to the parents of those 200 plus kids for brining up the kids in a respectful manner.

I know it is hard to be around thousands of screaming kids during spring break if you are an older couple or maybe a family with young kids, might be something that you don't want your 12 year old to see at that time to start planning his senior trip but you can plan your vacations around the 2 spring break weeks or select a hotel that doesn't allow spring breakers, there are a lot of them in Cancun especially.

For security in general, I feel safe in Mexico City, Cancun and even here in Playa, and the report that someone quoted 107 foreigners killed in Mexico in 2010? That is indeed a small number when you take into account the number of foreign travelers that arrive to Mexico each year and the report doesn't give demographics nor does it say WHAT that person was doing. Maybe he was buying drugs or doing some other illegal activity that would put ones life in danger no matter where he was from. Oh and yes I was the victim of violent crime in Mexico but not in a tourist area and not in Mexico City, in a small city in a nice mountainous state where we were assaulted at gun point by masked me in our office.

Just my 13 cents... (inflation you know )

OK so here is the number for 2010 --> 22,400,000 + FOREIGN visitors to Mexico and 107 deaths by violence so we are talking about what about a fraction of .000000001%? I am sure there is someone who wants to do the exact math but why not look at the statistics for the US? i am sure that there were more than 107 murders of visitors in the US any given year and much fewer foreign visitors.

[a1vacation]

Thank you Scubakevin for your 50's perspective I'm in the same age category.

It is unfortunate that most people only hear and remember the bad things.

[scubakevin]

I just read A1VACATIONS previous post about his kids going to Cancun and I can see where you would take offense. Parents who allow their kids to go to Cancun or any other trip away from home aren't weak at all, in fact it takes strength and faith in your children as well as yourself as a parent did a good job educating your children throughout their life and that they are prepared to experience new countries and new cultures without worrying that something might happen.

People sometimes confuse educating their children with sending them to a good school, doing their homework and finding a good college but thats only a part of it. Educating our children is about teaching them what they can't learn in school. Respect, street smarts and of course correct behavior. Schools can't and are not responsible to in still VALUES both family and community values into our children.

A1 also made a family trip first again educating them and preparing them to be alone in a foreign country and dealing with the little differences in culture they might encounter .

Are there "bad parents" or "weak parents" of course there are and of course there are parents who pay NO attention to educating their kids and really feel thats what schools are for. Thank GOD those are not the majority or at least don't appear to be.

Was I ranting???

[Rissask]

We've never been around spring breakers in Cancun or anywhere in Mexico, but we DID see a lot in Negril this year....and we were actually pleasantly surprised and impressed with them.

They seemed very well behaved, they were all staying at small hotels along the beach and having a grand old time at Margaritaville, etc. I am sure there was some rowdy and drunken obnoxious behaviour late at night we did not see, but what we witnessed during the days was fine...in fact, I have seen adults behaving a lot worse.

I DO remember thinking that Negril is not exactly the best place for a bunch of very young people without chaperones. But every parenting style is different, and certainly NOMB.

[LEAP]

Originally Posted by scubakevin

I just read A1VACATIONS previous post about his kids going to Cancun and I can see where you would take offense. Parents who allow their kids to go to Cancun or any other trip away from home aren't weak at all, in fact it takes strength and faith in your children as well as yourself as a parent did a good job educating your children throughout their life and that they are prepared to experience new countries and new cultures without worrying that something might happen.

People sometimes confuse educating their children with sending them to a good school, doing their homework and finding a good college but thats only a part of it. Educating our children is about teaching them what they can't learn in school. Respect, street smarts and of course correct behavior. Schools can't and are not responsible to in still VALUES both family and community values into our children.

A1 also made a family trip first again educating them and preparing them to be alone in a foreign country and dealing with the little differences in culture they might encounter .

Are there "bad parents" or "weak parents" of course there are and of course there are parents who pay NO attention to educating their kids and really feel thats what schools are for. Thank GOD those are not the majority or at least don't appear to be.

Was I ranting???

So very true

[Harold-R]

Kids on spring break? don't wana be around um because I'm jealous.

[Paw'boy]

The reputation and image of Mexico is under attack by a negative corporate media campaign focusing almost exclusively on drug violence and US immigration issues. Relentless coverage of these problems is only increasing xenophobia, stoking racism, polarizing politicians, ruining international commerce, and imperiling the relationship between the US and Mexico. The world needs to hear the positive news of Mexico--which vastly eclipses the negative in relevance but not in coverage--to inspire these countries to work together to solve their mutual problems. So I signed a petition to Roger Ailes, President of the Fox News Channel, Ken Jautz, President of CNN (Cable News Network), Phil Griffin, Presidents of MSNBC and Anne Sweeney, President of ABC News, which says: "Moderate the US media's sensationalistic and damaging reporting on Mexico to promote a healthier relationship between these important neighboring countries." Will you sign this petition? Click here: SignOn.org Beta Thanks!

[TCed]

Originally Posted by TCed

You are 100% correct. I dislike the whole spring break concept for high school kids. Parents that let their kids go on these trips are typically weak parents and allow themselves to be talked into allowing their kids to go because the kids whine and cry that they alone will miss out on the experience.
ed

Rethinking my original post I have to admit I was wrong in saying the parents are typically weak.

ed

[HFMexico.com]

Looks like the best hotels in the world think it's safe enough...


http://www.AllAboutPlaya.blogspot.com

[no se preocupe]

I am a fan of several areas in Q Roo, travel through the Mayan Riviera regularly but personally do not think the American media is generally unfair their reporting about violence in Mexico. In fact, my opinion is that they probably under report on the impact of the cartels in Mexico. You cannot read Por Esto two days in a row without reading about a mass murder somewhere in Mexico, usually including women and children and usually including torture and decapitation. Usually there are pictures including headless bodys and bodyless heads. I see relatively little reporting in American media about these regular savage attacks. Yes there are murders everywhere but not 20 and 30 people at time and not so many women and children. I get it ..... this is a forum to promote Playa but the posts on this thread make it sound like nothing bad ever happens in Mexico. Nothing wrong with a little reality and balance. It is like admitting that your family is not perfect. Does not mean you do not love them. It is what it is.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by no se preocupe

I am a fan of several areas in Q Roo, travel through the Mayan Riviera regularly but personally do not think the American media is generally unfair their reporting about violence in Mexico. In fact, my opinion is that they probably under report on the impact of the cartels in Mexico. You cannot read Por Esto two days in a row without reading about a mass murder somewhere in Mexico, usually including women and children and usually including torture and decapitation. Usually there are pictures including headless bodys and bodyless heads. I see relatively little reporting in American media about these regular savage attacks. Yes there are murders everywhere but not 20 and 30 people at time and not so many women and children. I get it ..... this is a forum to promote Playa but the posts on this thread make it sound like nothing bad ever happens in Mexico. Nothing wrong with a little reality and balance. It is like admitting that your family is not perfect. Does not mean you do not love them. It is what it is.

You aren't reading the news that I'm reading. MSNBC for one.
If there is a mass murder or attack on women and children in Mexico - it makes the news.
And "we" are not saying that nothing bad happens in Mexico. That is a ludicrous statement.
We are saying that the media paints the issues in Mexico with a broad stroke.

[no se preocupe]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

You aren't reading the news that I'm reading. MSNBC for one.
If there is a mass murder or attack on women and children in Mexico - it makes the news.
And "we" are not saying that nothing bad happens in Mexico. That is a ludicrous statement.
We are saying that the media paints the issues in Mexico with a broad stroke.

I do not understand why people would not be in favour of having mass murders reported. I watch,listen to and read the news daily. Only a fraction of what Por Esto reports in terms of mass murders are reported on CNN,Fox MSNBC,etc. Maybe the Mexican mass murders, torture, beheadings, slaughter of women and children is not even news anymore. After a while they lose impact. Anyways just my 2 cents and not to worry because numerous on-going wars,a sluggish economy, Casey Anthony and an upcoming Presidential election will keep the American news agencies busy for the forseeable future.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by no se preocupe

I do not understand why people would not be in favour of having mass murders reported. I watch,listen to and read the news daily. Only a fraction of what Por Esto reports in terms of mass murders are reported on CNN,Fox MSNBC,etc. Maybe the Mexican mass murders, torture, beheadings, slaughter of women and children is not even news anymore. After a while they lose impact. Anyways just my 2 cents and not to worry because numerous on-going wars,a sluggish economy, Casey Anthony and an upcoming Presidential election will keep the American news agencies busy for the forseeable future.

You aren't listening.
Read my lips
These things are reported. We aren't saying they shouldn't be reported.
What we are saying is....
...sheesh...if you don't understand what I said previously, you won't get it a second time.