The U.S. Department of State implemented a Mexican travel advisory on Jan. 11, due to increased levels of crime throughout the country. This advisory includes Quintana Roo, the state in which multiple students, including a group of more than 60 BVNW seniors are traveling to over spring break.

Although Quintana Roo is under a level 2 advisory- the highest being level 4 -the Department of State urges citizens traveling to be aware of heightened risks to safety and security and exercise increased caution. The Department of State suggests Americans traveling to Mexico should avoid driving at night, not display signs of wealth and have a contingency plan in place for emergency situations.

Multiple students who had originally planned to travel with the group of seniors have changed or canceled their plans. However, senior Avarie Howard’s reasons for electing not to travel with the large group are not due to safety issues, but due to the overwhelmingness of staying on a resort with so many other students.

“At first, we were kind of concerned, but the resort that all my friends are going to has had a pretty clean history,” Howard said. “My younger brothers were going to go, but with all the schools being there and all the students being there it would be kind of overwhelming for them, so we are staying at my family’s timeshare instead.”

Similarly, senior Elizabeth Trupp said she elected to travel seperate from the senior group for reasons other than the travel advisory.

“I actually was worried and nobody in my family has ever been to Mexico,” Trupp said. “But, my uncle actually works for the DEA, and he said Cancún was one of the safer places to go, and I’m going with another family who go like every year, so I know they know what they’re doing and I’m not too worried.”

On the other hand, senior Jack MacGee is staying at Barcelo Maya with the group of seniors travelling to Mexico, and said he feels safe as long as he stays on the resort.

“If I left the resort, I wouldn’t feel in danger, but I would be more on edge than if I were in the United States,” MacGee said. “I think it just depends on where you’re going in Mexico, but it is good to have the advisory to let people know that there are dangers in the country.”

For more information about the travel advisory visit here.