Is South Beach, Florida safe for my college-age daughter?
 

My 20 year old daughter wants to go there for spring break. I have heard that it is unsafe and full of drugs and crime. Does anyone know if this is true? Thanks. kathy

Kathy, she's 20. Enough said. <BR><BR>South Beach is no more full of drugs and crime than any other place your average 20 year old would want to go. My kids have spent spring breaks in Key West, New Orleans, Cancun and Miami. They survived all of them.

I was going to ask what college your daughter goes to that doesn't have drugs and crime. But then I noticed you only call her a college age daughter. So now my question is where do you live that doesn't have drugs and crime. It would be nice to post that here, since I thought such places didn't exist any more. At 20 if she is going to do drugs, she has already started. Do you chain her in her room? Sorry, this sounds so rude, but give me a break. Any 20 year old has long ago decided how she will react to new situations.<BR>If your post said that she wanted to go to Topeka (sorry, Kansas folks) the answers would still have to be the same.

Even though we all are exposed to crime and drugs, the Travel Channel did a story last week on South Beach and I can tell you it is not a place I would want my daughter to go (and she is married and 24)!!! But as one above poster has stated, she is 20, what are you gonna do? Tell her she can't go?? Seriously, according to the program, it is a really wild place. Some of it looked like fun tho. Too bad I'm too old for spring break!

South Beach is as safe as the neighborhood you live in, Kathy. Let your daughter be an adult and make her own decisions. For gods sake, one can cross the street and be hit by a car. <BR>Hasn't 9/11 taught everyone that bad things can happen to anyone, anywhere?<BR><BR>Miami Beach is one of the countries most popular tourist destination. <BR>We see mothers killing their own children and 9 yr olds killing other children, and these horrible events all happend in places most people would concern 'safe'.

Anthony, It may be one of the most popular destinations but it also has some of the highest crime rates - many of which have to do with drugs. I agree to let her make up her own mind but only with the correct facts.

Nobody under age , has any business going to South Beach for Spring Break. It just spells trouble.

I guess that depends on your daughter and her traveling companions. How mature are they? How sophisticated are they?<BR><BR>South Beach has a beautiful beach and lots of shops and restaurants. At night, the streets are packed with cars "cruising" and people walking past the restaurants and bars in next-to-nothing looking at other people. Most of the nightlife appears to focus on restaurants, bars and nightclubs. There are quite a few dance clubs there and I would suspect that it would be difficult for her group to get in to any of them without fake ID's. It is mostly a pickup scene for both gay and straight 20-somethings.<BR><BR>I went there with a friend and didn't feel unsafe. On the other hand, we are both in our 30's and have lived in large cities before -- we know the drill -- and weren't interested in any drug subculture.<BR><BR>I can't imagine what it holds for an under 21 year old, other than trouble. That being said, I don't think of it as "dangerous" unless your daughter is likely to be caught up with those who are selling/using drugs.

I guess it depends on her maturity level. I've been on a few spring breaks in my time (Ft. Lauderdale - when it was THE place for spring break) and they are wild, wild, wild. If your daughter is mature enough to drink without getting plastered,and usually makes good, informed decisions for herself, she should be fine. However, if she's never been on spring break, it may come as a shock to her. Like some other posters said, she is 20 and you can't stop her. Just suggest to her that she "read up" on South Beach before she goes.

Ummmm last time I checked, 20 yo couldn't drink legally or get into bars anyway. Why are we talking about drinking responsibly and "not getting plastered" From my understanding the idea of South Beach is hot night club spots and your daughter can't get into these places anyway. As far as beaches go there are surely prettier ones than Miami, I say she should go somewhere else. And yes mom can tell her she can't go. I am 30 now but when I was 20 and in college my parents flipped the bill for most things. because they were paying, they did have final say on where I went. even is I paid for spring break myself, they would tell me something like if you go there for Spring Break, we will no longer pay your sorority dues or car insurance, believe me, I would change my mind REAL quick!

Kathy - Many moons ago - the thing for my daughter to do was to go to Myrtle Beach. This was their senior trip.(High School) - They drove 14 hours to get their and supposidly the car full of girls my daughter was traveling in was following Mr. & Mrs. White's car. We did talk to these parents, however they did not seem like responsible people. Anyway, we let our daughter go. Why? We trusted her.<BR>She was going away to college and going to be exposed to all of the sex and drugs and rock and roll that she probably experienced in the sixth grade.<BR><BR>She went to South Beach as a senior in college and I am sure she had fake proof, but she what were we going to say "NO"&gt; She is now married with three beautiful boys and turned out to be a wonderful professional women.<BR><BR>Trust your daughter Kathy. Cut those strings.<BR><BR>PS Our daughter still Mr. & Mrs. White were on her senior trip. Ha Ha

Mom time to cut the umbilical cord. Your daughter is old enough to vote and join the military and die for her country. She is certainly capable of deciding where she wants to spend her springbreak. As for drugs, that is a her choice not yours and crime..well we all know that it happens....You can't control everything....

Carol, many moons ago South Beach was MUCH safer than today.

This thread illustrates how truly insane things have become.<BR><BR>The Golden Rule: The one who has the gold makes the rules. <BR><BR>If you're paying the bill, then _you_ have the final decision. Period.<BR><BR>If Kathy would be _paying_ for the trip, then _she_ does have control!<BR><BR>One would think that this would be so blatantly obvious that it would just go<BR>without saying, yet ever since the '60's, we have degenerated and detiorated<BR>further so that in many areas right is now left, down is up , day is night and<BR>2+2= 5.7.<BR><BR>S. Beach is, to quote William Shakespeare, "A foul cistern where toads gender and knot in". A veritable cesspool of depravity, licentiousness, nihilism and decadence- which really describes the whole 'Spring Break' scene in general- wanton<BR>abandoment in the form of sleazy sex, substance abuse and rowdy, obnoxious<BR>partying that disturbs the local 'poor schlubs' trying to make a living.<BR><BR>

Pray tell Ms. Sarah-What quote yourself very well- Let her go Momma

I have to laugh here ... whenever my husband and I are watching late night tv and those commercials come on for the Spring Break videos (you know the ones where the girls are constantly lifting their shirts) we hope we won't ever see our daughter's face (and other parts) in one of those commercials!<BR><BR>As far as whether or not it's safe for your 20 year-old, I can't imagine you have much say in the matter. You are done raising her. Time to let go and hope for the best. Good luck and you might want to stay away from late night tv for a few years ;-)

&lt;Sigh&gt; Sarah, you're a lone a voice in the wilderness. As Bob Grant says, <BR>"It's sick out there...and it's getting sicker" !<BR><BR>You go girl! You've got truth and decency on your side!

Ha ha!!! I know that you like to wrap your kids up in cotton wool in the States but this is ridiculous!! Fair enough you might not like your daughter going there but I can't imagine that it's any less safe than anywhere else.<BR><BR>She's 20. In this country it's quite the norm for kids to go away (eg. to Ibiza which is FAR worse than South Beach) from the age of about 16. I think you should be more worried if she didn't want to go somewhere like this - at least she's normal.<BR><BR>

Mel,<BR>Normal does not mean right. I think that is the problem with a lot of things today. Parents have forgotten who is the parent and who is the child. If a parent truly feels their child would not be able to safely handle South Beach (and many 20 year olds cannot, especially girls), the parent can tell the child not to go. At least as long as the parents continue to pay the bills.

To Anon: You're right. I was the xxx who posted above you and, actually, as a parent I would pretty much approach things like you said (and I didn't pay attention that well to the 20 thing - yes, she is underage). However, I got the impression that Kathy's daughter might go there and, let's face it, there will be a lot of underage drinking going on. However, there are some very mature young ladies out there - and only mom and her daughter know what's best.

jadecrimson18:

As the mother of a 20-something who went to college in Miami, I can say that your message proves your point 100%. What matters is not the environment as much as the individual person.

I can agree with all your remarks. They show an unusual maturity,insight, and wisdom.

Obviously, your parents did something right. Congratulations...and be sure to congratulate them too!

South Beach has changed so much ... I was in college 1988-1991, and as my hubby lived in Boca we visited South Beach many times on spring break. Mostly we had to step over the retirees lounging in front of their dilapidated Deco dwellings. Hardly any drugs or &quot;scene&quot; there. It's a lot different now, that's for sure!

Like anywhere else in the world, South Beach can be a hotbed of drugs, sex and crime -- IF you go looking for it (and those &quot;Wild On Spring Break!&quot; shows <i>always</i> go looking for it). I spent a week in South Beach without going into any of the clubs, so my impression of SoBe is a ritzy beach town with great shopping and overpriced food. They're fairly strict about their drinking laws, unless you're a socialite or celebrity ;) If your daughter uses common sense, she should be able to stay out of trouble. I wouldn't consider SoBe any more dangerous than anywhere else I've visited.

Don't be too quick with your compliments. Click on jadecrimson's name and see what an upstanding young person he/she really is. He posted the same Insurance thread yesterday and I guess it got pulled.

Since kathy's daughter is 24 years old now, I think she's probably allowed to make up her own mind.

Why revive a thread which talked about what South Beach was like 4 years ago? It changes monthly, yet alone in four years!

Jeez, that's what I get for not reading the dates :)

Do you really have the money to pay if you get in an accident? What if you hit a $100,000 car and total it - and permanently injure one of the occupants? Do you have a million dollars to compensate them? You'll be paying for the rest of your life - or more likely declare bankruptcy and run away from your responsibilities.

Insurance is the only responsible way to go unless you are a multi-millionaire.

(No one is really concernd about the $800 fender bender - frequently don;t report them to avoid increasing premiums and more people are going for the $1000 deductible to save on premiums.)

As for where to move - NH is the only state anyone has come up with that doesn;t require it.

Just to let you know, Kathy, that many women go topless at South Beach. In fact, South Beach is most known for its topless-optional beach.

Good thing she didn't go to Aruba!

nytraveler...your blurb reminds me when I was driving in South Beach a few weeks ago seeing a Rolls Royce parked on the street in front of a Johnny Rockets..