Above just CANNOT be right. Think of all the MILLIONS of federal government employees - you think they are now all banned from traveling to Playa del Carmen??? Without any warning from their bosses whatsoever - they just need to have been paying attention to DCUM??? (and I say DCUm b/c ferry bombing has received hardly ANY press - most folks have not heard a peep) Seriously??

My husband and I are both Feds - and we travel to Mexico with some frequency. I have zero concern that this "ban" applies to us.

The email you got is WRONG. I promise, state department folks screw up too. The secretary or whoever emailed you got it WRONG.

This is what I received today by email:

All U.S. government employees are included on this restriction, whether they’re in Mexico, the U.S. or other countries. And it doesn’t matter if they’re on personal travel.

Best regards,
ACS

American Citizens’ Services Office

-----------------------------------------------

That is why I'm confused. Can those who said it only applies to people in Mexico as official representatives/official duty tell me how they know this? It's what the person on the phone told me yesterday... but then I got the email above. So, any source you can point me to?

Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

yesterday I called the State Dept.'s Mexico number and after talking to someone who just wanted to re-read the advisory to me, finally she answered my question and told me that the prohibition for "US employees" applies only to those employed by the Mexican Embassy and those working in Mexico... so it would NOT apply to US-based feds going to Mexico on personal travel.

This is the correct information. It's only for people in Mexico as official representatives of the U.S., people who live and work there on diplomatic/whatever visas. Not tourists, regardless of where you work at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mexico has been unsafe for years. I don’t get why people still go there. So many other options.

Many areas in Mexico are far safer than Baltimore, New Orleans, DC.

It's a huge country. There are areas where there is no way I would visit, but many others are safe and wonderful.

I wouldn’t vacation any of those places either.

Whatever. Just hang out and clutch your pearls. I’m happy to take my kid to the Baltimore Aquarium and have a crab cake at a good restaurant afterwards. And I’ve also had great trips to the Cancun area. Your chance of dying in a random car accident is much higher than being killed in a random act of terrorist violence.

You're free to travel where you choose, but you're absolutely wrong to equate TARGETED CRIME AGAINST TOURISTS with "random terrorist violence."

Seriously, this.

Go, just don't take the ferry. It will be fine

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you. We aren't making any decisions yet. I have been looking forward to showing the kids another country and getting the older one some inspiration for taking Spanish I next fall. DH and I are "rule followers." I'm hoping they drop the advisory before we leave. What are the chances that of all the places in the world...and all the times in the year... my vacay gets caught up in this?

If you were planning to go to Mexico... high.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... mad at myself....


(not "made")

it will be fine. Just go. Seriously. Don’t even worry about it. Please. I’m begging you and saying this with genuine love-GO! You’ll be fine.

We have similar issues and are going for it.

Thank you. We aren't making any decisions yet. I have been looking forward to showing the kids another country and getting the older one some inspiration for taking Spanish I next fall. DH and I are "rule followers." I'm hoping they drop the advisory before we leave. What are the chances that of all the places in the world...and all the times in the year... my vacay gets caught up in this?

There’s a lot of very conservative people on this board. I think the calculus is different if you’re going on a nonrefundable trip you’ve already bought and paid for vs. a theoretical trip. Most people weighing in are talking theoretical trips. I think most people in your shoes would go and be careful. You’ll have a wonderful time!

+1. We’re not canceling our trip. And that person you spoke to on the phone was correct - the prohibition applies to consular employees in Mexico. Besides, think about it for a minute - the State Dept doesn’t have authority to impose such a widespread travel ban on ALL federal employees. Lunacy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... mad at myself....


(not "made")

it will be fine. Just go. Seriously. Don’t even worry about it. Please. I’m begging you and saying this with genuine love-GO! You’ll be fine.

We have similar issues and are going for it.

Thank you. We aren't making any decisions yet. I have been looking forward to showing the kids another country and getting the older one some inspiration for taking Spanish I next fall. DH and I are "rule followers." I'm hoping they drop the advisory before we leave. What are the chances that of all the places in the world...and all the times in the year... my vacay gets caught up in this?

There’s a lot of very conservative people on this board. I think the calculus is different if you’re going on a nonrefundable trip you’ve already bought and paid for vs. a theoretical trip. Most people weighing in are talking theoretical trips. I think most people in your shoes would go and be careful. You’ll have a wonderful time!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... mad at myself....


(not "made")

it will be fine. Just go. Seriously. Don’t even worry about it. Please. I’m begging you and saying this with genuine love-GO! You’ll be fine.

We have similar issues and are going for it.

Thank you. We aren't making any decisions yet. I have been looking forward to showing the kids another country and getting the older one some inspiration for taking Spanish I next fall. DH and I are "rule followers." I'm hoping they drop the advisory before we leave. What are the chances that of all the places in the world...and all the times in the year... my vacay gets caught up in this?

Anonymous wrote:... mad at myself....


(not "made")

it will be fine. Just go. Seriously. Don’t even worry about it. Please. I’m begging you and saying this with genuine love-GO! You’ll be fine.

We have similar issues and are going for it.

... mad at myself....


(not "made")

Not only am I very frustrated by this turn of events that just HAD TO HAPPEN this month after I've been planning for nearly a year to take my tween/teen kids and DH and I on our first family international vacation ... to Playa del Carmen... after I have spent about $4000+ on flights, condo rental and activities + made the effort to get the kids their first passports + all the research that has gone into this....

not only THAT... but

yesterday I called the State Dept.'s Mexico number and after talking to someone who just wanted to re-read the advisory to me, finally she answered my question and told me that the prohibition for "US employees" applies only to those employed by the Mexican Embassy and those working in Mexico... so it would NOT apply to US-based feds going to Mexico on personal travel.

After getting that info, I also emailed the State Dept. Embassy/Mexican affairs asking who exactly counts as a "US gov. employee" (i.e. those employed in Mexico? Those on official business in Mex.? Or everyone, including those on personal travel in Mex.?) First email I got back just cut-and-pasted the advisory. I responded by asking them to address my question about what the advisory means. Just got an email back saying that it means ALL fed. employees regardless of where they are stationed or why they are travelling.

So... seriously?? Now we don't even have a choice? This fed job stuff bites!

I don't know what the real answer is... but the one I have in writing is the more expansive definition. I'm so made at myself for not going with Costa Rica. I thought Mexico would be a good introduction to a foreign country with a lot of the comforts of home b/c it is so touristy. 11 mos. of planning goes out the window just like that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend some nice family-friendly resorts in safe places? I am trying to book a new trip last minute. Looking for specific resorts. Thanks

Grand Cayman. The Ritz and Westin on Seven Mile are great. We've also stayed in a Marriott a mile away. Lovely, peaceful, not touristy, good restaurants and grocery stores nearby.
We've been to Puerto Rico many times but not since Irma. It's also wonderful.

where would you stay in puerto rico? and does anyone know if it's Ok to go now/what the status of the island is?

Lin-Manuel Miranda certainly seems to think so. And I have friends that have travelled to the tourist areas and said it was good -and they do need all the $$ they can get.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mexico has been unsafe for years. I don’t get why people still go there. So many other options.

Because it's not unsafe in that Riviera Maya area normally. Tourism is a big source of income for Mexico, they prioritize keeping tourist zones safe. I go every year with my kids and love it. I'm sorry this threat has happened.

There's been a lot of cartel-related violence in Playa del Carmen recently.

Anonymous wrote:We are going to Akumal in May. Staying in a house on the beach. A family member is taking us, and footing the bill. They've been to Akumal and Cancun several times. But my husband and I have never traveled to Mexico, or any other warm weather beachy country, for that matter.

Does anyone have concerns specifically about Akumal?

Would it be smart to stay put in Akumal, an not take excursions to Tulum? I don't know how they plan to travel (bus, rental car, not sure what's typical).

Seasoned travellers to Mexico, if you do plan to go to Akumal this year, do you have any safety tips?

I just got back and felt perfectly safe in Tulum (the town, the beach, and the ruins), ruins in Coba, several cenotes, and a river float in Muyil. I regret not getting to Akumal... it's supposed to be wonderful.

We used cabs, colectivo (just once), and private tour (one was a private car and one was a hired cab).