Spring Break: Manzanillo vs. the most dangerous
(and popular) U.S. cities
by Susan Dearing
Spring Break, called Semana Santa in Manzanillo
(Mexico),
is a 2-week holiday, where traditionally, high school and college kids go by the
droves to warm weather destinations to party and catch some rays. After spending
a half day watching Spring Break videos on You Tube, I found they do a lot more:
drinking, drinking and driving, doing drugs, fighting, dancing, having sex, and
generally acting like idiots. Wet T-shirt contests (ladies), no T-shirt contests
(ladies), sexy dancing contests (ladies), drinking contests--it's girls and boys
gone wild.
Where is the safest place to let your children go
on Spring Break? I'm no expert on child rearing, since I have none (thank you,
God), but once I was one (a teenager, I mean). Everyone who reads this article
was also a teen (or is one), so you know what I'm talking about when I say there are temptations
are out there, and on Spring Break, they are out there big time.
You can't keep your child under lock and key, but
there are many things you can do, and decisions you can make to help keep them
safe. So much has been written about the safety in Manzanillo, Mexico; in fact, I've written
3 articles about it myself, but what I didn't know until this week was that the
top 25 most dangerous destinations for Spring Break are in the U.S.! Here's the
list (in order of danger), according to Avvo,
a consumer advocate website.
Shocked? Don't be. Watch the videos below,
selected off the internet. I actually stopped searching for Spring Break videos
after I found the ones from Panama City. Enough is enough, and you can certainly
see why your kids can get into trouble, and the cities they go to are dangerous
as well.
- Orlando, FL Orlando
Spring Break Weekend
- Daytona Beach, FL Daytona
Beach's Spring Break at the Desert Inn
- Las Vegas, NV Las
Vegas Street Fight: Spring Break 2010
- Myrtle Beach, SC Spring
Break - Myrtle Beach 2010
- West Palm Beach, FL Spring
Break
- South Padre Island, TX Fight,
Spring Break
- New Orleans, LA Fight
on my spring break
- Panama City, FL Spring
Break Panama City Club
LaVela- Panama City
- Jacksonville, FL
- Miami, FL
- Fort Myers, FL
- Galveston, TX
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Lake Havasu City, AZ
- Key West, FL
- Kihei/Maui, HI
- Lafayette, LA
- Naples, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Park City, UT
- Steamboat Springs, CO
- San Diego, CA
- Reno, NV
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Honolulu, HI
Avvo compiled the list by evaluating the following factors in
25 U.S. spring break destinations: violent crime risk/rank, murder risk/rank,
rape risk/rank, fatal car crashes and Avvo's data, including doctors and lawyers
per capita, doctor rank and criminal defense questions.
Now comes Manzanillo, Colima as a Spring Break destination.
Why would our city be better and safer?
So much has been said about our low
crime rate, and the reasons
behind it, so we'll move on to your children's safety here. Take some time now
to watch the videos below, and you'll make some very different observations, as
I did.
Though there is some drinking and "dirty dancing" going on,
the kids in the videos seem to be more in control, happier--whether drinking or
not--smiling and having fun. They are interacting, making jokes, playing in the
sand, sunning and swimming in the ocean. Sure, they are on holiday, but when you
watch their faces, there seems to be an inner peace of who they are--a
tranquility, a zest for life--that the kids in the U.S. Spring Break videos seem
to be missing.
Though most are Mexican and are speaking Spanish in the
videos, there is no missing that having fun is the number one activity, whether
it be from dancing, having a picnic on the beach, or rolling around in the sand.
Drinking may be a part of it--but not all of it. The bands are dressed up, doing
their version of the "Temptations," though to Mexican Banda music. The young
ladies in the videos are natural--no breast implants here--some even a little
chunky. Doesn't matter. Perfect bodies aren't a must to have fun in Manzanillo.
Chunky girls and boys can have fun, too!
Please click on photos to enlarge
|
Empty Las Brisas beach
|
The other difference I see is that kids as well as adults are
on the beach and are enjoying the day. Entire families come to picnic, to swim, to
dance. White, black or brown, there are no separate groups; everyone is out for
a good time at the beach. I can't imagine a fight like in New Orleans,
especially one where a girl is pummeled by a gang of drunken guys, just for
trying to protect her knocked-out boyfriend, after a free-for-all brawl. |
LaBoquita Beach
|
There seems to be a naiveté here that is missing in our young
people. In the U.S. videos, most of the kids act like they've seen it all, are
bored, need alcohol and drugs just to have fun. And in Orlando or Daytona Beach,
having fun means something different than in Manzanillo.
|
Concert on the beach
|
Another safety issue important to parents of
Spring Breakers is drinking and driving. In Manzanillo, you can take a cab,
and last year, cabs lowered their fares, encouraging visitors to take a taxi
instead of drive. In any U.S. resort town, taxi prices are exorbitantly
high, encouraging kids to drive. |
Surfing and body boarding
|
Many students choose to drive to their Break city, but, Moms and Dads, it
is safer to get them on a plane, send them to a safe tourist destination, and
from there, let them take taxis or busses. The majority of all fatalities in the U.S. and
Mexico during Spring Break are due to auto accidents. There has
not been a single fatality of any foreigner during Manzanillo's Spring Break for
any reason.
|
Lifeguard stands all along
the beach will be occupied
at Easter |
The second most common accident is by drowning. In some areas
of Mexico, there are no plans or measures to prevent downing, but in Manzanillo,
there are several.
More lifeguards.
Lifeguards have access to 2-way radios to coordinate between lifeguard towers,
ATV beach patrols, ands jet ski patrols. This allows communication in all areas,
and rapid response in emergencies.
|
Rescue class sponsored by
Department of Tourism
|
|
ATV beach patrol |
The flags on the main beaches indicate the severity and danger
of the wave action. Blue, of course, is totally safe to swim.
In 21 years I have never seen a blue flag. This is probably a
liability issue. If someone gets injured or drowns and a blue flag is up, is the
city liable?
A white flag means caution--swim, or enter the ocean with
care. This week, we have white flags all along Santiago Bay.
|
Jet ski patrol all along
Miramar Beach
in Santiago Bay
|
|
Mexican Navy Interceptor
is one of several different types of patrol boats used in rescue operations.
This is a former U.S. Coast Guard vessel. |
A red flag means danger; use extreme caution. Only experienced
swimmers or surfers should be in the water. How do you know where to swim? At
Miramar Beach (Playa Miramar), the most popular beach in Manzanillo,
other than La Boquita, go in the water where you see others, and don't go in any
farther than they do unless you are a very experienced swimmer or surfer.
La Boquita is the safest swimming beach. In general, each bay
has a north and south end. Stay at the ends where the water is calmer. If your
knowledge of the ocean and swimming ability is in question, wear a life jacket
or bring with you some type of flotation device. There
has never been a foreign tourist that has drowned in Manzanillo.
|
Red flag with explanation
of color code on Olas
Altas (High Waves) Beach
|
|
Campers at Miramar Beach during Spring Break
|
Manzanillo has increased public
security, with police officers showing patience and tolerance. Imagine your
teenager being drunk, and a police officer, instead of arresting him or her,
driving your child to a hospital, where, incidentally, there is no charge for
treatment. Isn't that better than being arrested and going to jail? In the U.S.,
it goes on his permanent record; here, no such thing. There has never been a foreign tourist that has died for any
reason during Spring Break. |
Police heighten patrols during Easter weeks |
|
Popular swimming beach
with small waves, La Boquita |
In Manzanillo, however, istead of drinking themselves into oblivion, they are swimming,
snorkeling, surfing,
scuba diving,
ATVing,
ziplining,
horseback riding, shopping, taking a banana boat ride, kayaking, body
boarding, among many other things.
There is so much to do that drinking is secondary to
having fun. All of these activities are healthy and safe, and available from
trusted tour companies. Why not book some tours for your kids over the internet
that will give them a week of fun?
|
View from Marildo's Restaurant, La Boquita |
|
Get yourself some Bo Derek braids at La Boquita or
Playa Audiencia
|
Statistics show that you have a better chance of getting
struck by lightning than getting killed in the country of Mexico, but speaking
of lightning, Florida at spring break time has numerous storms, accompanied by
lightning. Florida is considered the lightning capital of the U.S. Lightning
strikes in Central Florida this time of year more often than anywhere else and
is the most deadly. Although it kills only about ten percent of its victims,
those that survive are often left with lifelong severe medical problems. There
will be no problem with severe weather in Manzanillo. Every day during Spring
Break will be sunny and clear. |
Beach vendor stands at
Playa La Audiencia |
The U.S. state department has warned that Spring Break in
Mexico could be dangerous, citing drug violence and kidnappings as examples.
Drugs are illegal here. The tolerance that police will show a drunken teenager
on Spring Break will not exist if he is caught with an illegal drug. Many people
argue that drugs should be legalized, but until that time comes, if ever,
getting caught with even the smallest amount of pot will be a costly,
devastating mistake with Mexico's legal system and the Napoleonic code.
|
ATVers at La Boquita
A fun way to spend a half day |
This suggestion is for everyone coming to
Mexico: If you can't do without your illegal drugs when in Manzanillo--don't come. If caught, you will go to jail, and
there is no bail. You will sit there until your trial (in a year or two).
Remember drinking--tolerance; drugs--zero tolerance. I cannot say that there
has never been a foreigner arrested for drug possession, because there has,
and the stories aren't pretty. But drug-related violence--Stay away from
drugs and you will not be exposed to drug-related violence. |
Umbrellas, a table & 4 chairs
available to rent for $8/day |
|
Beachside Tablao Restaurant
|
Kidnapping of foreigners in Manzanillo?
Never. There have been a couple of attempted kidnappings of Mexican adults
here. The perpetrators were caught and jailed. It would be extremely unusual
and difficult to kidnap a foreigner.
First, criminals of this type are generally not
bi-lingual. Most ransom demands are made on a pay phone, or a "throwaway"
phone. |
Ziplining adventure |
|
La Boquita swimmers |
Imagine having to go through an international
operator and placing a long distance call, the language barrier, and the
logistics of transferring the money, leaving a paper trail.
Just not worth the effort, when there are plenty of rich
Mexicans that are far easier targets. The odds of a foreigner being
kidnapped in Manzanillo are slim to none. |
Red Bull tent on
Miramar Beach
|
The bottom line of all this is that Manzanillo is a better,
safer, and more fun option for Spring Breakers. Take a look at the videos below
to see a lot of young people having a great time on Spring Break, Manzanillo
style!
E-mail Susan Dearing
Find out more about Susan's
guidebook,
"Manzanillo & the State of Colima--Facts, Tips, & Day Trips"
To learn more about tours offered in Manzanillo, go to:
www.manzanilloadventures.com
Articles about Spring Break Safety. VERY IMPORTANT READS!
Spring Break Safety:
Spring break can be
great fun if you follow these safety tips...
SafeSpringBreak.org
