Americans warned about spring break travel to Mexico amid murder spike

As the calendar changes to March, plenty of adults and college kids alike will be heading out for some spring vacations, or in college kids' case, spring break. Usually, those trips involved heading down to the sandy beaches of Mexico, whether it be at a resort or just to hang out in Cancun. But thanks to a lack of control and cartel influence, Mexico might not be a prime destination.

There have been multiple stories in the last few years of tourists being killed in Mexico for being somewhere they shouldn't have been. Now, Americans are being warned by the government about a murder spike in Mexico. In some states of the country, there are even Do Not Travel recommendations.

Travel expert Tanya Fitzpatrick says while some areas are safer than others, politics plays a role.

"Especially with all of the political fronts from this county, Americans could be at risk," she says.

That would be the border policies President Trump has instilled, along with the tariffs. That has created ambivalent feelings from many Mexicans toward America in general.

But that is not the root of the problem. This has been an issue in Mexico for multiple years now. Another contributing factor, and maybe one of the bigger ones, is the downtrodden Mexican economy.

"It is just a crime of convenience. There are conveniences found when people are not acting diligently, and exercising caution as they are traveling," says Fitzpatrick.

As mentioned, some areas are safer than others. If you are going to a resort, like in Puerto Vallarta or Cozumel, then usually that is okay. If you stay within the confines of the resort, security is good enough where there are no issues. It is leaving the resort when you find trouble.

Even then, bad actors can be anywhere at any time, including inside the resorts. But following the basic rules of thumb for travelling will help keep you out of trouble.

"Do not flash jewelry, do not flash money...do not do those types of things that would gain the attention of criminals," says Fitzpatrick.

So, enjoy spring break vacations, wherever you might roam. But if you are going to Mexico, keep the head on a swivel so you do not fall victim to violent crime in a country overrun with issues.