JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If your spring break vacation plans involve a trip south of the border, you may want to pay close attention to a recent advisory by the U.S. State Department.
That advisory comes after a series of recent events in Mexico involving American tourists.
“There are quite a few states in Mexico that the US State Department has deemed do not travel or reconsider travel,” said Amanda Nimnicht, a travel advisor for Solace Travel, which is an affiliate of Odyssey Travel based in Jacksonville.
Nimnicht said if you already booked your flight to Mexico, make plans to avoid suspicious transportation from the airport to your hotel.
“Make sure to have your transfers from the airport to your accommodations arranged ahead of time. It’s important because when you leave the airport, there are lots of people with signs and you don’t know if they’re licensed. They’re strangers. Stranger danger,” Nimnicht said.
According to the U.S. State Department, violent crime can happen anywhere in Mexico, including popular spring break destinations like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark in the downtown areas.
This past December, an American couple was shot to death while on vacation in Mexico. In May of last year, two Australian brothers and an American man who were together in Mexico for a surfing vacation were robbed and shot to death.
In February of last year, an American woman was killed at a beach club when she was hit by a stray bullet during a gun battle between rival drug dealers.
The American Embassy in Mexico also warned American travelers about reports of U.S. citizens losing consciousness after drinking contaminated alcohol. Loss of consciousness can lead to a person being sexually assaulted.
Also, the embassy warned travelers that criminals may be targeting drunk women for sexual assault. Nimnicht said those pitfalls can be avoided and you can still have a fun time in Mexico if you are aware of your surroundings and remain diligent when it comes to your safety
“Make sure your drinks are not left out in the open. Make sure that you don’t go by yourself, especially off the property from your accommodation. Be in groups. Be aware,” Nimnicht said.
Travel experts advise having travel insurance in the event something may happen, because U.S. health insurance will not cover U.S. citizens in Mexico.
It’s also a good idea to check the State Department website to find the latest travel advisories and warnings. For example, a travel warning was just issued for Turks and Caicos due to higher levels of reported crime.