Every spring, like clockwork, schools close and students seek an academic breather from the books. Friends, couples and families, desperate for a dose of vitamin D, seek a respite from the cold winter months. And the faithful spend time reflecting as they observe springtime religious holidays like Easter, Passover and Ramadan.  

Each circumstance prompts travel. But, with news reports revealing old and new dangers related to the seasonal change, travelers face challenging decisions about what spring break destinations are safer and how to stay safe when they arrive.  

We can help with those decisions. Here are five steps to maximize your safety during spring break travels.  

  1. Do Your Pre-trip Research

Harding Bush, senior manager of security operations for Global Rescue, recommends doing your homework before you go, and after you arrive. “Talk to people who have been there before. Stay at known hotels and resorts that have well-established security,” he says. Global Rescue members are experienced travelers, and careful pre-travel planning is not a new concept for them. “Our members should make themselves aware of all the significant threats and hazards so they can avoid an escalating incident.” 

  1. Check the Safety Record 

“Don’t just look at State Department warnings and advisories. Look at the news, the U.S. news and the local news in your destination. Another good resource is The U.K Government Foreign Travel Advice site , which gives details about what is driving its traveler recommendations.” 

Palm trees blown by offshore winds on a beach with a foot path

  1. Assess the Weather 

Some predictable potential disasters are seasonal. Hurricane season in the Caribbean starts in June and ends in November. The rainy season in Africa lasts from June to October. Typhoons in Thailand are more likely to occur between June and December. Be sure to look at weather reports and patterns.  

  1. Stay Together

If anyone in your group or family is leaving an area or an event, they should do so in pairs. Tell others in the group that you’re leaving and be specific about where you’re going, why you’re going there, and when you’ll be back. Be certain to keep your phones at hand. Got kids? If there are two parents or adults in the group, task one with always keeping their eyes glued to the kids, while the other goes off to tackle the necessities, like standing in the ticket line, grabbing food at the concession stand or a souvenir at the gift shop. 

  1. Stay Alert

Minimize your cell phone screen usage in crowds. Maintain situational awareness at all times and be prepared to take action if needed. Global Rescue provides medical and security evacuation and advisory services, like these crowd safety tips for the holidays, to travelers every day. Click here for more information on membership options. 

Is It Safe To Go to Mexico During Spring Break? 

“Asking a security professional where to go for spring break is like asking a doctor what cigarette is safe to smoke,” Bush said. “Spring break is the perfect storm of a high-risk age group, international travel, crime, alcohol and predators.” 

Mexico, a frequent destination for spring breakers, leads the international headlines for traveler dangers. Tourists in Cancun occasionally are caught up in violent car service policy protests between taxi and Uber drivers. In Matamoros, four Americans were kidnapped – and two killed – after crossing the border for a medical procedure. “While crime and drug-related violence in Mexico have been making headlines for years, the latest spate has prompted a series of security alerts,” according to a news report in AFAR. The U.S. State Department issued a warning in early March to avoid traveling to most of Mexico due to the risk of violent crime.  

So, is it safe to travel to Mexico for spring break? It depends on where you go. “Mexico is a big country so it’s important to understand the situation in the specific locality you are heading to,” Bush said. “There’s a lot of crime in Mexico but it doesn’t necessarily target tourists. The crime is there and unless you’re careful you could find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.” 

Where Is Spring Break Safer?  

Barbados beach with a people under a shade treeNot every spring break destination is a good idea. Global Rescue has advised members of spring break COVID risks in 2021, security risks in Mexico in 2018, tainted alcohol in 2017 and the Zika virus in 2016. This year, Global Rescue experts have identified seven safer spring break destinations and offered our take on what each destination has to offer.  

  • Barbados – Plenty of beaches. Limited crowds. Surfing at Bathsheba Beach includes scenic rock formations. Gentle surf and calmer water make Carlisle Bay an option for waders and swimmers. 
  • Bermuda – Not so crowded in the spring. Known for Horseshoe Bay Beach and a combination of British and American cultures. 
  • Dublin – If beachcombing isn’t your thing, then consider the lively metropolitan capital city of Ireland for its castles, cathedrals and cliffs.  
  • Grand Cayman – Easily accessible from the U.S. via nonstop flights, Grand Cayman is a model tropical escape featuring soft, sandy beaches, and colorful marine life for snorkeling and scuba diving.  
  • Mallorca – So close to wild Ibizia, yet so far away from those crowds. Known for great Mediterranean beaches, Mallorca is also close to Old Town Palma de Mallorca where dining and shopping abound, and the La Seu sandstone cathedral resides. 
  • Molokai – Off the beaten paths of Hawaii, this small island is where visitors enjoy outdoor adventure in spectacular, tropical surroundings with sea cliffs, beaches and rainforests. 
  • Phoenix – A desert paradise in Arizona, the state capital is known for its year-round sun, warm temperatures, golf courses, nightlife and the Desert Botanical Garden.

Get Travel Safety Information at Your Fingertips 

The Global Rescue Intelligence team tracks worldwide travel risks, and health and safety information, all day, every day. Our destination reports cover everything from currency and common scams to travel health and personal security advice for 215 countries and territories worldwide. Access them here, on the My Global Rescue App† or in your Member Portal. Global Rescue has been a leader and pioneer in the travel protection services industry since 2004. We provide the finest integrated medical, security, travel risk and crisis management services available anywhere, delivered by our teams of critical care paramedics, physicians, nurses and military special operations veterans. Click here to learn more.