<p>Any comments on this? My 20-yr-old son wants to go with seven other friends from college. They would be travelling at an uncommon time due to their school schedule and plan to room together in a family-type hotel. </p>
<p>I’m not thrilled but on the plus side, they are very good friends and there are some couples in the group. Most have vacationed together before and live together at school so the social dynamic is familiar. They plan to share a 2-BR suite with kitchenette.</p>
<p>Any and all practical suggestions/tips/welcome. I’ve researched the State Department site for advice/warnings and have heard both good and bad things from other parents. Thanks.</p>
<p>Be reminded that it is a foreign country–no US police! As a family who has witnessed the Natalie Holloway case first hand, make sure son and friends are aware at all times. Travelling outside the US now means we all have to be on our Ps and Qs. I don’t want to put a damper on the trip–I am a Mom too.</p>
<p>I would look into medical insurance. DS just spent two weeks in China, and had a wonderful, educational experience. I was QUITE reluctant to let him go, but there were some circumstances which made me a little more comfortable. One thing that reduced my anxiety is that we purchased medical insurance, which included evacuation for health reasons, for the trip. We purchased travel medical insurance at <a href=“http://www.medexassist.com%5B/url%5D”>www.medexassist.com</a>. I would also suggest that you check the State Department website for further info about Cancun – I’m sure it’s fine, but there may be some useful tips at the site.</p>
<p>I have travelled to Cancun as a family when my kids were teenagers. Let me reiterate the earlier post. This is not the US. The police in Mexico are not like US police. There are lots of clubs, etc. which hugely overserve anyone with money to pay for the booze. Places where you hold your head back and they pour the tequila straight down your throat while shaking your head and blowing a whistle in your ear. You do not want to be that out of control in a foreign country where the only thing being a US citizen means is that they think you have more money for bail. </p>
<p>When I was a young newlywed I lived near the Tijuana/US border. My brother went down to TJ. I told him before he left, “be cool” do not get into anything with anyone. He came home laughing with a story about a drunk guy pushing and shoving him in the line to cross the border. Told me he remembered my words and left it alone (not his normal MO). The cops came and hauled the guy off. </p>
<p>Not at all like going to China or somewhere educational. That said, he is 20 years old. If he is paying for the trip himself you may only be able to offer some words of wisdom. I told my DS that spring break could be coming home or going on a community service type trip but I wasn’t financing a party trip.</p>
<p>I appreciate the advice, please keep it coming! I doubt that any parent of a young person can hear of plans for an island vacation without immediately thinking of Natalie Hollaway. He would be paying for this himself. He has a track record of responsible behavior and this group of kids care about each other and are likely to keep close tabs on each other. However, the nightlife risks and the associated concerns about being in a foreign country are very real.</p>
<p>There is an old thread on CC about this subject from Feb 05 or so. My 17 year old son wanted to go on a similar trip and I said no. There was a wide range of opinions from CC posters. One of them told me I had to give my kid some rope so he didn’t end up the nice kid who dies at a frat freshman year from alcohol poisoning (the post still astonishes me) and that I had no clue what college was going to be like and why not let the kid go now since he was going to be at college in just a few months (I liked this too since I now believe that the poster was one of my college classmates). </p>
<p>Anyways. I went to spring break as a college freshman and am well aware of what it’s like. I still wouldn’t let a 17 year old go … but I wouldn’t have the same issue with a 20 year old (or any college kid) going. I would tell him to have a reasonably good time and remind him that I did not expect to become familiar with the Mexican justice system.</p>
<p>Yep. My comment is that I thanked the lucky stars the Cancun/Ft. Lauderdale “kids gone wild” spring break trip didn’t come up in my house. I was going to be very conflicted. </p>
<p>Fortunately, by age 20 most kids have started to turn the corner a little bit. I’d probably be a little less concerned now than freshman year. Sometimes you just have to “suck it up”, I guess. My daughter a group vacationed together in Argentina foothills of the Andes this fall. She e-mailed that she was going paragliding (jumping off the side of a mountain hanging from a parafoil kite). What, me worry?</p>
<p>My son is in Costa Rica visiting a friend’s family as we speak. It scares me a little, even though Costa Rica is TONS safer than Mexico. </p>
<p>Our family has been to the Cancun area a number of times. I would be worried about my 20 year old going with a group of friends, but I would probably allow it. It can be a frightening place- as adults we ran into some uncomfortable situations. The beach is fine- the hotel is fine- the nighttime activities can be out of control. </p>
<p>If your son is responsible, I would ask for assurances that the group will stay together- no one going off with someone they “met at a club”. Also, a daily email home would be nice.</p>
<p>MomofWC, good post. Of course, no one should be alone at any time or left behind at a club. I am always astonished when these cases come up and the comment from the friends is “she wanted to stay, we wanted to go.” There should always be a group or at least two and in ideal circumstances, one person should be the Designated driver even if there is no car involved. In other words, one sober person.</p>
<p>We have been to Cancun twice as a family and my oldest went as a 21 year old with friends.</p>
<p>Words of caution–stay in the tourist areas, do not rent a car, be aware that there is no concern for liability in Mexico, and do not attract attention of police.
Muggings are fairly common if one strays from the touristy club areas–do not walk alone at night.
An acquaintance was involved in a car accident (not her fault, but it didn’t seem to matter) and it was a nightmare to get resolved.
I was shocked when we went horseback riding–horses were “wild”, tack in poor repair, no helmets, guides were useless–on our one excursion there was one head injury (not serious), one broken leg, and several minor injuries–plus people having to walk back because they were thrown and horse took off. When I questioned the owners of the “ranch”, I was told that you couldn’t sue for negligence in Mexico. I would also be wary of scuba, parasailing, etc as I was told by hotel that there are no overseeing “bodies” to ensure safety or quality–a good hotel will rec. better places.</p>
<p>Another friend had a son get arrested when he got into a fight with a local over something said/done to a girl in their group. The son ended up in jail for over a week and parents went through much legal finagling to get him released.</p>
<p>All said, though I worried–my son did make it back unscathed (which is more than I can say than when he went to Italy with school). Keep your fingers crossed, say your prayers, bad things could/can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>Another thought–the phone card we bought here my son had trouble finding phones that would accept it down there (even though card said it was good in that area). Might be better to purchase the card there or maybe someone else has experience with a card that was more readily accepted.</p>
<p>When I saw the title I was sure it was about some 16 year olds. 20 and he needs approval to go to a major vacation spot with friends? It’s not like he is going to Iraq or something. Sure no place is absolutely safe but Cancun is pretty safe as it goes.</p>
<p>The way to call and email home from Mexico is to go to the internet cafes. Most have phone services, too, and it is really cheap. Phone cards are hard to use in Mexico.</p>
<p>This would have been a great thread to refer to last year when I was confronted by the mother of one of DD’s friends about a potential senior week trip to Cancun…there was no way I was going to let my underage daughter out of the country without me. I also questioned the sanity of this girl’s mother (although not to her face). Luckily, the rest of the parents also followed suit, and the trip was canned.</p>
<p>The alternate plan was a week at the Jersey Shore, which I said yes to (I did a week at the shore with my friends for 5 years–senior in H.S. and all 4 years in college). DD’s friends decided to go against the majority and they’re renting in one of the few dry towns on the shore. She was also invited to share a house with another (bigger partying) group in a town with many bars and nightclubs, but declined in favor of a group of girls she’s better friends with.</p>
<p>For a 20 year old, I think it would depend on the maturity of the kid and how well he/she would be able to handle adult situations. I would hope that after 2 or 3 years of college he would be mature enough.</p>
<p>I’m surprised no one else has mentioned this - remind him to NOT, under any circumstances, drink water that isn’t bottled. I know it sounds like a nuisance, but Mexico’s water purification is not like ours, and he could get any number of diseases from mild dysentery to cholera. Make sure he’s up to date on all vaccinations and ask what vaccinations the doctor recommends (has he already been vaccinated against meningococcal disease? it’s recommended for all entering college students, but a lot of students never get it…bad, bad idea).</p>
<p>He’s 20 and an adult. Can you even say “no” to this? My sister is 20 and has been on three continents in the past year for studying or working. I’ve been throughout Mexico a number of times, and Cancun is vastly different than the rest of Mexico. It is 100% tourists, almost everybody speaks English, and the water is purified. It is obviously not the US, and the police force is different, but it’s not like your son is going off anywhere questionable or dangerous. Cancun gets wild at Spring Break time with college students. At times that aren’t traditional Spring Breaks for college students there tend to be a number of middle aged folks trying to relive their youth. Personally, I hate Cancun due to how American and touristy it is, but I guess both those aspects are pros given your parental concerns. As always, common sense goes a long way.</p>
<p>Not really. It’s not a battle that I would elevate to a “showdown” level. With a 20-year old, that takes “no” off the table as an approach, leaving only persuasion. I figure there are only so many times even that one might be available.</p>
<p>That’s why I was glad that it did not come up in our household.</p>
<p>I would be much less reticent if the timing were a non-spring break date. It’s the traditional “spring break weeks” that creates problems in these locations.</p>
<p>Sorry, I may have inadvertently sent this thread off into a debate as to whether a parent should say yes or no … I think the OP was asking for practical advice, assuming the 20 year old was going. </p>
<p>(I think there was some practical advice on the Feb. 05 thread on this subject … like phone cards or cell phones that worked in Mexico, etc.)</p>
<p>We visited the Yucatan twice with the boys in tow. I love the place. It is spectacular. I’d let either my 18 or 20 year old go in a heartbeat. I’m not sure I’d agree that it is more dangerous than China. China is more of a challenge for teenagers in my opinion. I’ve never heard of teenagers getting attacked by a riotous mob in Mexico and I have heard of that in China.</p>
<p>We rented and drove cars no problem. The highways are very easy to negotiate. </p>
<p>Cancun is not an island. It is surrounded by some astonishing Mayan ruins–all of which are a few hours drive. What a shame to travel all that way and NOT see some of that history. The Yucatan in not Fort Lauderdale–which was infinitely wilder when I went as a 17 year old in 1975. There is nothing to do BUT party in Florida.</p>
<p>Do not drink tap water under any circumstances.</p>
<p>Do not eat salad of any kind. Eat veggies and fruits which you have peeled and washed–or boiled.</p>
<p>Carry the majority of your money in a money belt but leave $25 in your pocket.</p>
<p>Keep your valuables in your safe in your hotel room.</p>
<p>LOCK you hotel room at night–including the bar chain. I just heard the most incredible story of theft in Vegas–from a foreign tourist–and the hotel manager told them it was very very common nowadays.</p>
<p>Buy snorkelling equipment before you go if you can afford it. You’ll keep it for life. Set aside enough money to take a snorkelling trip one day. I did some of the most amazing snorkelling of my life in a lagun south of Cancun. Wow.</p>
<p>There are great BBQ Chicken restaurants along the highway between Tulum and Cancun. </p>
<p>Take care of each other and don’t go out partying alone. Look after the girls.</p>
<p>I agree that we enjoyed the Mayan ruins tremendously. We took buses though to visit these. I wouldn’t worry so much about driving outside of Cancun–but in Cancun the buses and cabs drive a little crazy for me–much like on the islands.</p>
<p>We vacationed there 3 times. I hope that this issue does not come up in our family. So far, I am hearing that my son plans to vacation in Virginia Beach. I did hear about a vacation inCanada,but this plan has been dropped for now. Frankly, since my son knows that I am not paying, he figured out a less expensive vacation. He will have some friends spend a few days in our home, while seeing Manhattan, and he will then go to Virginia Beach and stay with their families.</p>