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Spring break cautions

April 3, 2008

By: Sarah Sheafer <ssheafer@hilite.org>

As sophomore Alexandrea “Alex” Layton packed her luggage for a trip to Mexico during spring break, she considered her safety. This will be her first time in Mexico and she is excited about the experience. However, she said that she is a little worried about the flight and the possible dangers in another country.

“I’m not really too worried (about my safety) because I’ll be with my family,” she said. “But I’ve heard it gets pretty wild in Mexico and there have been kidnappings there.”

According to the U.S. Department of State Web site, travel safety is a major concern especially during Spring Break. Although most students will have a safe and enjoyable experience, others may encounter serious problems.

The Web site said, “Over 100,000 American teenagers and young adults travel to resort areas throughout Mexico over spring break each year. While the vast majority enjoys their vacation without incident, several may die, hundreds will be arrested, and still more will make mistakes that could affect them for the rest of their lives. Using some common sense will help travelers avoid these unpleasant and dangerous situations.”

Sophomore Shataakshi Dube, who has traveled to 30 states and at least nine other countries including Mexico, India, Australia and Germany, said that her family takes precautions while traveling. For instance, she packs or buys bottled water instead of drinking from public fountains and tap water. She also puts identification on her luggage so that it won’t get mistaken with another person’s bags. “Sometimes luggage looks the same,” she said.

Dube also said not to go out at night alone. Layton agreed with this and said, “I’ll just stay close to my family and think twice before doing something.”

Layton also is taking travel precautions by trying not to stand out in a crowd as an American. Even though she thinks that it would be unlikely that terrorists would target her, she said she wouldn’t wear anything with “American” printed on it.

Layton’s family will also lock their hotel door. According to the U.S. Department of State Web site, this safety measure is recommended, along with keeping valuables in a hotel’s safe. However, Layton said, “We’re not going to put our stuff in a safe because that’s a little overboard.”

During Layton’s trip in Mexico, her family will mainly walk as a form of transportation but may have to ride a cab if they have to go somewhere farther away from their hotel.
Many travelers during Spring Break will also ride a taxi and the U.S. Department of State Web site said to only take taxis that are clearly identified with official markings and to beware of unmarked cabs.

Along with this, the Web site said to be careful when riding a bus or train. “Well-organized, systematic robbery of passengers on trains along popular tourists routes is a problem,” the Web site said. “In some countries, whole bus loads of passengers have been held up and robbed by gangs of bandits.”

Layton said, “These things probably won’t happen to me but it is possible. And if they did, that would really suck.”

Updated by ychoi · Filed Under Feature 

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