Should We Travel To Mexico?
September 10, 2020
While we feel travel to Mexico is perfectly safe given the protective measures that airlines have implemented recently, other questions remain unanswered. Chances are we won't know the answers when we get on the plane to Nuevo Vallarta in November. So, we are placing our faith in the safety measures Vidanta management added while the resort was closed, the fact that the resort is very spacious, and the fact that we will assume the personal responsibility to follow good health practices, such as masking up in close quarters, maintaining social distances and washing our hands frequently.With that opening in mind, we thought the following SFGate article was interesting. Enjoy:
Our next scheduled trip is in November, 2020. Discussions continue to explore both sides of the question. We are leaning toward traveling, but no decision yet.
Should I book a trip to Mexico?
One of the few countries admitting Americans hopes for a comeback
With Americans shut out of traveling to most countries in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mexico is looking more attractive to travelers itching for an international trip. But is now the right time to go? Is Mexico safe? What about later this year or the holidays?
Before we get to COVID-19, let's consider the weather. As we enter the peak hurricane season, Mexico's beaches are vulnerable, especially those along the country's Caribbean coastline stretching from Cancun in the north to the Riviera Maya and Tulum in the south. Western beach towns such as Puerto Vallarta and Cabo can also be hit by tropical storms and stifling humidity through the end of September. Mexico City, located 7,000 feet above sea level in the country's mountainous interior, is in the midst of its rainy season (July-Sept.), when it usually rains a little bit every day, but is significantly cooler than beaches, with average temperatures in the 70s.
But as the weather in Mexico cools off and dries out starting in October, the biggest concern among travelers is going to be COVID-19.
Right now, advice from the CDC is blunt, warning Americans to avoid all non-essential travel to the country. "COVID-19 risk in Mexico is high. If you get sick in Mexico and need medical care, resources may be limited." It says that if you develop symptoms while abroad, "you may be isolated and not permitted to return to the U.S. until you have recovered fully from your illness." That's pretty scary, but not scary enough to keep some intrepid travelers away.
Currently, the land border between the U.S. and Mexico is closed, but airline travel is still permitted in both directions. Travelers ready to get out of the U.S. are perusing newly reinstated flights from Bay Area airports. Airlines are enticing these travelers with good deals (around $300 roundtrip from through this winter), and recently relaxed restrictions on changes and cancellations (more about that here).
Hotels and resorts are ramping up promotions to get travelers back, too. For example, this week Hilton opened the 324-room Conrad Punta de Mita resort, located about 40 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. The resort, perched along a two-mile long beach, is tempting travelers to come on down with rates in the $250 per night range, along with breakfast and a free fourth night. The hotel was originally supposed to open in May, but that was pushed back due to the pandemic. To give potential guests peace of mind in uncertain times, the resort is offering fully refundable, no-fee changes or cancellations up until 24 hours before arrival for reservations made by Sept. 30.
It's hard to miss the many social media posts of people frolicking on Mexico's beaches, putting pressure on the travel-starved to book a trip. Just search #cabo or #puertovallarta on #cancun on Instagram and you'll see what I mean.
Is now the time to consider a trip to Mexico? I reached out to long-time travel advisor Wendy Perrin, who now manages the WOW list, a network of destination-specific travel agents, and previously the consumer editor at Conde Nast Traveler magazine. She offered some good advice:
"I think it’s possible to travel responsibly and safely to Mexico, including with kids, as long as you make intelligent decisions and minimize your risk by avoiding areas with high infection rates, choosing accommodations carefully (many resorts are operating at 30 percent to 50 percent of capacity), avoiding public transportation, etc. Personally, if I were taking my kids to Mexico, I would opt for a private, socially distanced beach vacation: I'd choose a stand-alone villa or cottage on a beach, with a private entrance and windows that you can leave open or a balcony so you can let in fresh air for ventilation. I’d opt for a set-up such as what you find at Rosewood Mayakoba, where you’ve got your own overwater bungalow, you can easily get around by bike and golf cart, you can dine outdoors in multiple locations, and you can find plenty of space to yourself on the beach."
In Los Cabos, Solmar Resorts' new “Solmar Standards in Safety & Care” program is pushing new health protocols at its multiple area locations, with keyless guestroom entry, electronic menus at restaurants (plus enhanced room service and take out options), body scanning thermometers for guests and employees, doctors on site 24/7, sanitized AC units, plus luggage and shoe sanitation. It's also offering quite a good bargain: $419 for three nights (about $140 per night) in a 4-star "master suite" hotel room for stays between now and the end of the year.
RELATED: Puerto Vallarta reopens to sunshine and uncertainty.
The tourism industry in Mexico accounts for 8.7 percent of the country's gross domestic product and has been left gasping by the pandemic as both domestic and foreign tourists stay home. Mexico City, which has nearly 90,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and about 10,000 deaths, is still on the second-highest form of alert. But still, tourist attractions are creeping out after months of shutdowns.
For example, the canals of Xochimilco that run through man-made islands created by the Aztecs on what is now the south side of Mexico City provide a popular day trip for tourists, with flat-bottom boats plying the water and mariachis playing music. Seeking to reassure visitors, the borough government cleaned and disinfected the flower-decked boats and docks, and enforced special hygiene rules, but there were few tourists or revelers for the recent reopening. That contrasts with the crowds in a good year, like 2015, when about 2 million people visited the floating gardens.
Some good news for Mexico's Caribbean resorts: The sargassum seaweed, which has clogged beaches in recent years, is on the wane. Most beaches in the area are reported to be clear of the algae.
So if you are one of many Americans eager for an international trip, and are willing to live with the risks involved in international travel in the midst of a pandemic, Mexico might be a good option. However, for frequent traveling Americans, a trip abroad won't be a given, as it was before, until we get a COVID-19 vaccine. And if you've been to Mexico before, do not expect it to be like it was on previous trips — as in the US, many restaurants and attractions, and all bars and clubs are closed or open on a very limited basis. But if it is solitude and sunshine you seek, you'll be just fine.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
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Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE weekly email updates!
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