Expatify

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Cheap flights to Mexico are still easy to find

PVRadissonPoolWith all the drug-related violence along Mexico’s border with the United States, there has been some legitimate fear that has kept most travelers from those areas. But there has also been a lot of fear about going to Mexico’s resort cities, which have remained mostly untouched by any kind of violence. This seems to be keeping prices for flights down, even as Spring Break is about to get underway.

Is it wise to avoid Mexico?

It’s extremely sad for the entire country when a few events generate hysteria that blows them all out of proportion. For example, recently there was an incident where a tourist was killed in Mazatlan, and several cruise ships then decided to discontinue port stops there. The cruise companies most likely did this because they feared passengers canceling their trips rather than that they feared that passengers were in great danger.

The bottom line is that it’s very easy to avoid the cities that have problems in Mexico, as well as neighborhoods everywhere that might be dangerous in general. The main Mexican resort towns remain perfectly safe, and some great deals on flights are still there for those who don’t overreact to the news.

Which destination in Mexico?

If you are anywhere in the western half of the United States then your main resort choice will be Cancun, and there’s not been even a single incident of drug-related violence there in the past years, so it’s a fine choice all around.

New York City to Cancun flights are going for as little as $308 round-trip on Spirit Airlines, with a change of planes in Ft. Lauderdale. You can get even better deals from airlines in the south as long as they can connect through Spirit’s main hub, so even as Easter and Spring Break are upon us here in April, there are great deals still out there.

If you are in the western half of the United States you have many more choices, and fortunately the best two are actually the cheapest two. It’s true that Acapulco has had a few problems, and Mazatlan may not be the safest place in Mexico either, so it’s interesting that those two destinations offer the more expensive flights.

Your best bet is going to be Puerto Vallarta, which has emerged as the finest of the Pacific resorts in Mexico in the past decade, combining resorts to fit any budget along with excellent beaches and a pleasant city with good nightlife. Flights from Los Angeles are currently available for $380 round-trip on US Airways connecting through Phoenix. Similar to the situation in the east, you can connect from any other city with direct flights to Phoenix and make it to Puerto Vallarta for a low fare.

The other good choice is Los Cabos, which is on the Baja Peninsula and a long way from any known problems. The resorts here tend to be larger and more spread out, but it’s also become a major playground for the Hollywood crowd, so you might see some celebrities if you are staying at one of the better resorts here. Flights from Los Angeles are as low as $358 round-trip, but only if you fly midweek. On the weekends you’ll be paying around $400 total, which is still a great bargain during the height of the Spring Break season.

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