Traveling Teens
 

My senior daughter and about a dozen other girls/boys are planning a trip to Cancun Mexico after they graduate from high school this June. I refuse to let my daughter go to a resort like this w/o adults. My worry is a repeat Natalee Holloway/Aruba horror story. Although she is trustworthy, get a group of 18 year olds together where it is legal to drink/party and it could be tragic.
I have called other parents...no worries at all. Is Cancun a "safe" resort? I don't trust the bartenders/locals and frankly strangers in bars. Any advice to help in our situation?

Not a popular choice for your daughter but it would have been a big NO at my house (even though we would have heard, "but I'm going to be on my own at college next fall anyway"). If it's a group you enjoy as much as I enjoyed my kids' high school friends, volunteer to accompany them. If they aren't planning any risky/illegal behaviors, they shouldn't mind and if they are, they shouldn't go in the first place. That's my 2 cents worth...

You are correct.If you want to send your child to a drunken, drug infested orgy then say yes. Every year a number of these "party people" end up in a Mexican Prison. In fact at any one time 1,500 Gringos are in prison on various drug charges in Mexico under unbelievable conditions. They are not feed, clothed or protected without large payments of money. The laws are severe in Mexico.

Plus the fact that Cancun was serverely damaged by Hurricane Wilma and will not even be anywhere back to normal by June.

Maybe you should rent the movie "The Real Cancun".

After this documentary came out in 2003, there were several "Dateline"-type TV pieces about teenagers partying in Cancun. Although it may have been sensationalized, it was very, very ugly.

While I love Mexico, I would not let my teenagers go to Cancun. The booze is flowing freely and it would be too easy for them to get overwhelmed and do things they would regret later and I understand guys can buy drugs, ruffies (?spelling) over the counter and slip them in their drinks. Sorry, I would have to give this suggestion ((N)) ((N)).

Your daughter may hate you now for a NO decision, but in a few years she will have appreciated what you did for her and her safety. 8-)

I would vote "No" for Mexico and maybe other Caribbean places. A friend and I were in Cozumel with our daughters last year (they were 14 at the time). We were shopping and walking around and there were ads for "Free Samples" at many local bars. Our girls decided to see what they could get (we were just a few feet away) and they were actually given large size samples of alcholic drinks.

Our oldest is graduating this year and she will be going to Europe with a few friends for a couple of weeks. It is a loosely designed "summer college seminar." We're not so concerned about college credit as her having a relatively safe, fun and somewhat educational time, on her own.

Reading my other posts about Cancun, you should know that I love the place. We own a timeshare there and have been many times. However, I would NEVER NEVER allow my teenage daughter go to Cancun alone after high school graduation. The other parents you mentioned are clueless. A trip such as that could be regretted many years thereafter. I thought canterbury's suggestion was a good one, look into SUPERVISED Europe tours. Many colleges offer such experiences.

Anyone considering sending young women out of the country to party is crazy! The places that cater to teens foment nothing but drunken orgies where the challenges are drinking as much as possible and table dancing topless. Would you like your daughter to participate in such sports? Great for guys!
And, single women in foreign countries are considered "FAIR GAME"!
One other consideration; Cancun was wiped out in last year's hurricanes; there is no beach as the sand was washed away in most places.
Send her to Hawaii instead. Or take a family vacation to Europe.