Violence isn't a reason to avoid Mexico

Violence isn't a reason to avoid Mexico

How safe are resorts in Mexican tourist areas?

During the past three months, Acapulco and Cancún have had sporadic violence and drug-related homicides. However, as in many large U.S. cities, the violence is between gangs and law enforcement and is not in tourist areas. Tourists have not been targeted.

Thousands of spring-break visitors have poured into Cancún, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta as usual, with Mexican authorities stepping up patrols and vigilance to ensure safety in the tourist towns.

• 
  Tips
  

■ Now's a good time to check out end-of-season airfare-hotel packages. Ask your travel agent or see www.funjet.com, www.applevacations.com or www.nwaworldvacations.com.

■ Look into booking a condo for your visit. It's cheaper than a resort. Try www.homeaway.com.

■ A bonus of Mexico's Pacific-side resorts? Terrific sunsets over the ocean. Remember, you're looking west.

■ Dust off your high school Spanish and use it if you can. It will be appreciated.

■ Resist time-share pitches, which are everywhere and extremely aggressive, even inside upscale resorts. Whatever freebies they're offering aren't worth the hassle or loss of your vacation time at a long "presentation." Say no, do not sign anything and walk away.

Last year, more than 18 million Americans visited Mexico, which is the 10th most popular tourist destination in the world.

A State Department travel alert issued Feb. 20 does not urge travelers to avoid Mexico. It only urges caution and advises against travel to Mexican border towns such as Tijuana, Juárez and Laredo.

In a spring-break advisory, it also advised that travelers to Acapulco be vigilant about personal safety. In Acapulco, where an estimated 22,000 American students are expected this spring, officials are coordinating enhanced security in the tourist zones, according to the Mexico Tourist Board.

Still, the major dangers for tourists to Mexico remain auto accidents, falls, drownings, pickpockets or sexual assaults related to drinking and parties. There were two fatal shark attacks on surfers off the far southern Pacific coast of Mexico last year, according to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The State Department urged visitors to avoid swimming in rough surf near Revolcadero Beach in Acapulco or anywhere off the Pacific-side beaches in Cabo San Lucas, due to riptides and undertows.

In an emergency while on vacation, U.S. citizens should contact these American consulates:

Camden a magnet for volunteers Cherry Hill Courier Post - Cherry Hill,NJ,USA "These are students that, perhaps a lot of their classmates are off to Cancun or Florida to unwind from their studies, but they choose to be here," said Jim ... See all stories on this topic

Kids gone wild Elmira Star-Gazette - Elmira,NY,USA During such trips, young students who travel to tropical locations such as Cancun drink on average 18 drinks per day for males, while females consume about ... See all stories on this topic

Michaels' show ‘pretty much a go’ for Hagerstown Hagerstown Morning Herald - Hagerstown,MD,USA Hager Hall is within the Cancun Cantina West-Barefoot Bernie’s complex off Dual Highway. Washington DC-area rock band JunkFood will open the show. ... See all stories on this topic

Weekend Sweep Earns Crimson Tie for League Lead Harvard Crimson - Cambridge,MA,USA By KEVIN T. CHEN While many college students spent their Spring Break soaking up the sun in Cancun or Cabo, the Harvard men’s volleyball team hit the road ... See all stories on this topic

Addiction and our cylinder of need Boston Globe - United States ... whatsoever to the beheading of a police officer in Juárez or the shakedown of a grocery store owner in the part of Cancun that tourists never see. ... See all stories on this topic

Cuba aims to attract more tourists The West Australian - Perth,Western Australia,Australia While some go to visit relatives, others arrive on side trips from Cancun, Mexico or Jamaica. Cuban authorities do not stamp US visitors’ passports to help ... See all stories on this topic

CTMC sponsors Birdies for Charity San Marcos Daily Record - San Marcos,TX,USA The event will be held on Friday, April 17 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm Enjoy food from Cancun Robs and a Callaway demonstration as you try your skill at six ... See all stories on this topic

Economy is double-edged sword for private schools Contra Costa Times - Walnut Creek,CA,USA Instead of the annual family vacation to Cancun, Mexico, or Orlando, Fla., they've been taking road trips much closer to home. There are fewer shopping ... See all stories on this topic

Violence in Mexico may deter Spring Breakers Daily Sundial - Northridge,CA,USA Due to the larger number of students who gravitate toward popular destinations within Mexico, such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and Rosarito, the department is ... See all stories on this topic

Can't Find Work? Look Abroad Consumer Affairs - USA Or a guy I met in Mexico who bought silver rings and necklaces in Tasco and then sold them on the beaches of Cancun making $100 a day. ... See all stories on this topic Consumer Affairs

Spring Break: Party Time Campus - USA ... college students can encounter countless web sites inviting students to popular destinations, including San Diego, Las Vegas, Daytona Beach, Cancun, ... See all stories on this topic

JetBlue Airways Celebrates Spring with a Seasonal Sale: Fares ... FOXBusiness - USA For travel to/from Cancun, Nassau, St. Maarten, and/or Montego Bay: travel must take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and/or Sunday. ... See all stories on this topic

Army offers Mexico’s last hope against cartels RU Daily Targum - New Brunswick,NJ,USA Thoughts of Cancun and Cabo San Lucas may pass through your head, with their all-inclusive resorts, clubs and spas. These may be popular hot spots for ... See all stories on this topic

MTV renews 'Real World' for four seasons Hollywood Reporter - United States The current season of "The Real World: Brooklyn" will air its finale Wednesday, and producers are shooting the next round, "The Real World: Cancun. ... See all stories on this topic Hollywood Reporter

Breaking from tradition this spring Baruch College The Ticker - NY,USA Many experts warn that Cancun, a popular destination, may not be the best option for students because of the current violence that Mexico is now facing. ... See all stories on this topic

MEXICO: Hints of Sustainability at Cancún Resorts Australia.TO - Sydney,NSW,Australia CANCÚN, Mexico, Mar 30 (IPS) - Antonio Moreno is the banquet manager of a four star hotel in the south-eastern Mexican resort city of Cancún, ... See all stories on this topic

Top travel spots span the nation, globe Pasadena Star-News - Pasadena,CA,USA Jamaica, Costa Rica, Canada and Cancun are other top spots among La Habra/Whittier travelers. The authoritative 2009 Travel Leaders Travel Trends Survey, ... See all stories on this topic

Air fares are a bargain hunter's dream Omaha World-Herald - Omaha,NE,USA Roundtrip fares between Omaha and Cancun, Mexico, can be found for under $300 this spring, about $100 less than a year ago. Roundtrips to Hawaii are ... See all stories on this topic

Mexico: The elusive truth about safety Budget Travel - New York,NY,USA I just came back from eastern Mexico (Cancun, Tulum, and Chichen Itza), and there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. It felt safe, and I was there ... See all stories on this topic

Te Slaa brings home trophy fish SmallTownPapers News Service - Seattle,WA,USA In January he and his wife, Diane, vacationed in Cancun, Mexico. During the trip he decided to try deep-sea fishing. “In addition to the crew of three, ... See all stories on this topic

Mexico Beachfront Real Estate Investment PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung) - Wien,Austria The perennial hotspots are Mayan Riviera which covers Cancun, Tulum, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, and Playa del Carmen, which is the fastest growing city in ... See all stories on this topic

Union World Conference On Lung Health, Cancun, 3-7 December, 2009 Medical News Today (press release) - UK ... the launch of the official website of the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health, which will be held in Cancún, Mexico on 3-7 December 2009. ... See all stories on this topic

Begin healthier habits for a better tomorrow The Orion - Chico,CA,USA I'm not saying it has to be something along the lines of jumping out of a plane - although that would be cool - or booking a flight to Cancun by yourself, ... See all stories on this topic

eClubUSA announced a new online booking system fully intregated ... PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung) - Wien,Austria ... direct and earn a 5 percent rebate, or finance their vacation to destinations like Cancun, Paris, the Bahamas, Las Vegas, London and hundreds more. ... See all stories on this topic

The Real World Keeps On Going…and Going! PerezHilton.com - CA,USA The season after Cancun, a location that hasn't been announced yet, I think might be like that too." Will Real World still be around 20 more years from now? ... See all stories on this topic PerezHilton.com

Now Playing at a Seatback TV Near You: Free 'JetBlue Features ... FOXBusiness - USA Destinations now offering complimentary in-flight JetBlue Features movies include: Aruba; Nassau, Bahamas; Bermuda; Cancun; Bogota, Colombia; San Jose, ... See all stories on this topic

Manitoba students spend spring break toiling with sandbags Metro Canada - Calgary - Calgary,Canada WINNIPEG - It's about as far removed from Cancun or other exotic spring break destinations as you can get. Many Manitoba students are spending their week ... See all stories on this topic

MTV's The Real World Keeps on Turning E! Online - USA The finale of the series' 21st go-round, based in Brooklyn, airs Wednesday, and the following cycle is currently filming in Cancun. ... See all stories on this topic E! Online

Katherine Miller's blog UN Dispatch - USA Spring break travel to