| | |  Travel & Outdoors | June 2009 
Mexico's Torrent of Bad News Means Some Great Deals
 Shawn Donley - oregonlive.com
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| | Whether it's a margarita-soaked spring break, a port of call for a cruise ship or a family trip at an all-inclusive beach resort, Mexico is our easy and economical foreign vacation spot. | |
If bad news comes in waves, then this year has seen a series of tsunamis for Mexico.
First, the peso lost nearly 30 percent of its value against the dollar, causing the price of imported goods to skyrocket. Then the effects of the global economic downturn significantly reduced the number of foreign tourists.
Next, there was a sharp increase in drug-related violence, leading the U.S. State Department to issue a travel warning for Mexico's northern border states. And just when it looked like things couldn't get any worse, the swine flu outbreak brought the country to a standstill.
Images of surgical mask-clad tourists have been a public relations disaster for Mexico's multibillion-dollar travel industry. It's been weeks since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted warnings on nonessential travel to Mexico, yet hotels, resorts and beaches remain virtually empty.
For many Americans, a trip to Cancun, Puerto Vallerta or Cabo San Lucas is the first exposure we have to a foreign country. Whether it's a margarita-soaked spring break, a port of call for a Caribbean cruise ship or a family trip at an all-inclusive beach resort, Mexico is our easy and economical foreign vacation spot.
Far-flung destinations like Tibet, Morocco and Patagonia may sound more exotic and appealing, but Mexico has just as much to offer: archaeological treasures, colonial cities, natural wonders, excellent cuisine, world-class beaches, reasonable prices and direct flights from most American cities. You could spend the rest of your life in Mexico and still not sample all of its charms.
When a disaster strikes somewhere in the world, whether it's a hurricane, a terrorist attack or an outbreak of an infectious disease, my initial feelings are shock and sympathy. My next reaction is to start planning a trip there.
While others stay away, your travel dollars can help in an immediate way by providing some much-needed and much-appreciated tourist revenue. In the aftermath, there's usually a heightened level of safety since security and hygiene are more of a focus. Most likely you'll have the place to yourself and be rewarded with some incredible deals on airfare and accommodation.
The stronger dollar combined with the many travel discounts now available make a trip to Mexico practically a steal. If you've only been to Mexico's beach resorts, I'd also recommend visiting the amazing Mayan ruins at Palenque, sampling the culinary delights of Oaxaca, studying Spanish in an immersion program in Guanajuato or indulging in some of Mexico City's vibrant night life.
This year our economic woes have left many of us in serious need of a vacation. Mexico's ailing travel industry just happens to be in need of some vacationers. Sounds to me like a match made in heaven.
Shawn Donley has lived, worked and traveled in more than 50 countries. He now lives in Portland and works at Powell's Books. Send your travel-related questions and comments to: shawn.donley(at)gmail.com |
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