The U.S. government has warned citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico, including spring break trips. (Getty Images) |
Thousands of students from across Colorado descend on Mexico every year for Spring Break. But warnings of violence against Americans has many re-thinking their travel plans right now.
Travel industry experts say Mexico is one of their hottest destinations from Colorado.
It's affordable and a short flight for students to be on a sunny beach.
Travel agents say reports of violence should not cause you to cancel your plans if you're going to a resort area.
Students at the University of Denver we talked to had mixed opinions on whether it would affect travel plans.
"It depends on the severity of the warning," said George Plotoff, "But if I want to go somewhere I'm going to go no matter what. "
"Even though the government's issuing warnings," said DU student Adam Sivertson, "Usually the tourist areas aren't that bad. "
"Sometimes is gets a little overblown," said Chris Russo of Travel Partners in Broomfield who is also president of the American Society of Travel Agents.
Russo said you're still safe in most tourist areas.
" Anybody who is considering going to some of those places, namely like Acapulco," said Russo, "We're asking them to just use extra caution while they're there like they would in any other city. "
The violence has mainly been in northern border areas and not where spring breakers, like those at DU would normally go.
" It's was a tough quarter and I do enjoy Mexico for spring break," said DU student JC Miller, "It would definitely give me pause and I would think long and hard about it."
"It may cause me think harder maybe about where I was staying or the people I was hanging out with," said DU student Lauren Howe.
Thousands in Colorado cancelled their Mexico travel plans during last year's H1N1 flu outbreak.
Experts say using common sense precautions like visiting legitimate businesses and avoiding areas where drug dealing might occur still makes Mexico a safe destination.
"If you really think about how many people go there..what's happened is a unique and rare thing," said Russo.
MTV is still going ahead with its planned annual beach show in Acapulco next week, with tens of thousands of students, and the Mexican government says no Americans have been targeted during violence in that area.
Travel industry experts say Mexico is one of their hottest destinations from Colorado.
It's affordable and a short flight for students to be on a sunny beach.
Travel agents say reports of violence should not cause you to cancel your plans if you're going to a resort area.
Students at the University of Denver we talked to had mixed opinions on whether it would affect travel plans.
"It depends on the severity of the warning," said George Plotoff, "But if I want to go somewhere I'm going to go no matter what. "
"Even though the government's issuing warnings," said DU student Adam Sivertson, "Usually the tourist areas aren't that bad. "
"Sometimes is gets a little overblown," said Chris Russo of Travel Partners in Broomfield who is also president of the American Society of Travel Agents.
Russo said you're still safe in most tourist areas.
" Anybody who is considering going to some of those places, namely like Acapulco," said Russo, "We're asking them to just use extra caution while they're there like they would in any other city. "
The violence has mainly been in northern border areas and not where spring breakers, like those at DU would normally go.
" It's was a tough quarter and I do enjoy Mexico for spring break," said DU student JC Miller, "It would definitely give me pause and I would think long and hard about it."
"It may cause me think harder maybe about where I was staying or the people I was hanging out with," said DU student Lauren Howe.
Thousands in Colorado cancelled their Mexico travel plans during last year's H1N1 flu outbreak.
Experts say using common sense precautions like visiting legitimate businesses and avoiding areas where drug dealing might occur still makes Mexico a safe destination.
"If you really think about how many people go there..what's happened is a unique and rare thing," said Russo.
MTV is still going ahead with its planned annual beach show in Acapulco next week, with tens of thousands of students, and the Mexican government says no Americans have been targeted during violence in that area.
