Calling all MOMS and Travelers
I need your advice!!! My 20 year old daughter just called me, her girlfriend (she’s in college) asked her to go to Cancun, Mexico with her in May- all inclusive resort, all paid by the parents. I totally trust my daughter, she’s very responsible and wise for her age but the Mexico thing has me freaked out. I’ve never been to Cancun but hearing about all the kidnappings and killings of Americans I don’t know if it would be safe– or even if the airport is safe.
The parents aren’t going and I can’t remember the details of the resort. Once I heard Mexico, I went into a fog thinking of the worst case scenarios. Here my kids are grown, I’m into the next stage of my life, and the whole mommy decision comes back. I don’t want it to be another “my mother never wants me to have fun” but again as a mom, I need to make an informed decision and I need to do what I think is the safest for my child. Truthfully sometimes being a parent sucks!
Has anybody been to Cancun recently?
Is Cancun safe for Americans? I’d really appreciate your input.
I lived in Mexico as a junior in highschool that was 10 years ago. It wasn’t cancun and it wasn’t fun….it wasn’t dangerous tho either. I was doing community work in a very poor area. Cancun is very americanized in fact many mexicans don’t consider a travel to cancun visiting Mexico. It is a tough call.
I’m thinking more of what’s going on today. It seems the whole world is going crazy and Americans are usually the first targets. That’s so cool that you lived there- I can’t wait to ask you questions and hear stories!
Tough call! If they stay at the resort they should be fine. Or stay with an organized tour from the resort. It is when you leave the resort that you can run into trouble. Make sure they have an international plan on their cell phone and have the phone # to the US embassy with them at all times! Then hold your breath and be prepared to not sleep for a week!
I’m trying to see if anyone has gone there- maybe it’s some where totally away but I’m not feeling it.
Oh, gosh. I went to Cancun as an 18 year old college student, with a group of college students who were studying in mexico for the summer. We went all over the place and felt very comfortable. I loved it. I never thought about being safe or not. However, I was there in 1993 (a few years ago….). I have no idea if the atmosphere has changed drastically. Like Lili, I would assume that anything at a reputable resort would be just fine.
I’m going to find out what resort it is and look into it a little more unless I find someone who was there recently. Thank you for giving me your input, sometimes talking out loud clears up your head.
I haven’t been to CanCun but when I went to resort type toursist destinations in other tropical settings: Jamacia, Bahamas, Thailand…it was definitely not a “get to know the culture and people” type of situation. If the girls are going to a resort they could probably go to the beach and have fun every day and not actually see or talk to a single Mexican national who is not employed at the resort.
I generally feel unsafe in “drunken party” situations, even Spring Break in the Florida panhandle. But I have traveled to tons of impoverished and even communist countries and felt very safe.
I just got back from Cabo and NEVER was insecure. My friend was in Cancun for a week over xmas break and had no issues. IF your daughter is met at the airport by the resort (a must, no cabs) and IF she doesn’t leave the resort, it is probably ok. If they are going to the strip to party (which is what college kids do), I would say NO!
Andrea
Marc’s cousin lives on Cancun and he had told me that the resorts are safe but it probably wouldn’t be wise for them to travel alone out of the resort. At least they aren’t going to Cairo!
I don’t think she would leave the resort (i’d make sure of it) Could we have Marc’s cousin as a liaison. 🙂
I am no longer of college age but travel to Mexico and Cancun/Riviera Maya probably 6 times a year mostly for work and honestly, have never felt threatened, nervous or even concerned about safety issues. So very little violence happens in Cancun and Riviera Maya anyway – kidnappings are mostly centered on nationals from Mexico City. None of this is targeting Americans.
I’m sure she is a smart, responsible, intelligent young adult and you should relax and know if she has a head on her shoulders, she will be just fine.
Another solution would be to take a vacation yourself just to be nearby – Momma needs to relax too! 🙂
thanks Jan- I would love to take a vacation myself and I’m sure she would love for me to be near…haha