Would you feel safe to let 2 seventeen year old boys explore Mazatan,PV or Cabo alone

[imdreaming]

My son is bringing his friend with us on our 7 day cruise to Mexico. At this time, I've already told them they can have pretty much freedom on the ship as long as they check in with my husband and myself. Have dinner with us each night and spend sometime with the family. I do feel both these young men are responsible. I don't feel that I will have any problems with them with drinking or getting into trouble.

My son feels his friend and him should be able to do excursions without his parents. What excursions we haven't talked about. I feel he has time with his friend on the ship and the ports he should stay with my husband and I in what ever we decided to do. So far it's - horsebacking riding in Mazatlan- hanging out a pool in P.V. and hopefully ATV in Cabo.

Let's say we are at Krystal Hotel and he wants to go into town and walk around the shops with his friend. Would you let two 17 year old (almost 18 by 3 months) take off for a couple of hours by themselves. I want him to be safe but I don't want to spoil his trip by being to overprotective. Thanks jill

[wwakla]

NO!!!

We had lots of people approach trying to sell us thier wares. Including those who came out from no where selling who knows what.

I don't think you are being overprotective you are being a RESPONSIBLE parent.

 

 

Kris

[bearette]

I think that if they are on a tour with the cruise line than they should be ok, but I don't think they will let minors go unaccompinied. Honestly I don't think any reputable tour company will let minors go unaccompinied. So that would make the answer no! I wouldn't take a chance in a foreign country where you are limited on time anyway.

You should use your judgement as you know your kid and his friend. Things like shopping at the nearby stalls while you are on the beach might be ok as long as there is a time frame limit or you could see them from the beach. You know your son go with your instincts!

[D4]

I absolutely would not let them wander around off the ship for a couple hours. I would however let them go on an excursion booked through the ship as long as they agreed to get right back on the ship and stay there when it is over.

 

Even if they're good kids, Mexico can be tempting. Also what would you do if for some reason they weren't on board when it was time to sail? Especially in Cabo where it's a tender port and you can't just walk on and off the ship to check for them.

 

I think you're being very kind in accepting the responsibility of having a friend along. I'd point out that you're also giving them lots of freedom on the ship and tell them this is one thing you can't budge on.

[sunsetme]

NO--I agree, I've been there twice and don't recommend it.

[ccletzgo]

NO! Have done the mex riv plenty of times. Twice while chaparoning 18 year olds. and NO, they went no where in Mex. without me! that was the reason there parents let them go. I would be in Mex with them.

[Palomino]

I am 38 years old now, but a few weeks after I graduated from high school (two months after my 18th birthday) I went with 3 friends on a week long trip to Mazatlan unescorted by adults! (Come to think of it, that was the first vacation I ever planned on my own....the beginning of a long-lasting addiction.)

That being said, my policy with my own kids is "do as I say, not as I did". I think the answer to this question depends on the kids. I think sending them on an organized excursion would be fine, but I think that just giving them free time on their own might not be the best option.

[shawilson]

NO WAY, NO HOW!!!

 

This is not the good 'ol USA! Two 17 year old boys alone are the perfect setup for an "arrest" for something that "officials" would provide the "evidence" for a crime that was "committed". At best, it would cost you big bucks to get the kids back, you would miss the ship, etc., not a vacation memory I would want.

 

Also, I hope you have a notarized letter from both parents that you have temporary rights to this minor and also states that you have the right to make medical decisions for your guest. Maybe things have changed where the cruise lines have a form for this, I don't know.

 

I would also show the responses to this thread to your son so he can realize the gravity of this situation. It is not just a Mom/Dad being weird thing, its about using caution traveling in a foreign country.

 

I wish you all a wonderful and safe trip!

[high seas gal]

My Cruise Critic E-Newsletter arrived today, and had links to travel warnings for U.S. citizens, including for Mexico. By the time we adults are old enough to have teenage children, we have usually developed the common sense to have an appreciation for the possibilities of trouble around us. But teenagers "know it all" and have the sense that they can handle anything. Mexico is not the U.S. Getting into trouble in Mexico can happen very easily, and you don't have the same legal rights we have here at home. Please do not let these young men go out on their own. Should anything happen, it could change their lives forever, and you would never forgive yourself!

[ivalee]

Definitely NO. I am relieved to read all the posts to this thread. I am a high school math teacher and each year am appalled by the parents who allow their high school children to go to Mexico unchaperoned. Things do happen and the best of kids are put at risk, unnecessarily. You are the adult, the parent, and the person with the experience and responsibility to guide your child. Good for you for posting this inquiry!

[imdreaming]

Definitely NO. I am relieved to read all the posts to this thread. I am a high school math teacher and each year am appalled by the parents who allow their high school children to go to Mexico unchaperoned. Things do happen and the best of kids are put at risk, unnecessarily. You are the adult, the parent, and the person with the experience and responsibility to guide your child. Good for you for posting this inquiry!

My 17 year old son went to a 5 day trip with his spanish class last year. They went to a Spanish School in Ensenada. He went with his Spanish teacher who I trust completely.

 

So after my son read all the answers everyone has posted reqarding my question about letting him go into ports with his friend. ( He stopped reading after he saw it wasn't in his favor) He said" But we got to roam around Ensenada by ourselves" So needless to say, I now have sent a email to his Spanish Teacher to see if my son is stretching the truth a little bit. And also if Ensenada is a different atmosphere than cabo, PV or Matalazn.

[Gastronimike]

I wouldn't just allow them to go off alone, I'd insist on it. Your son probably will be away from home in a year. You'll be glad you gave him the chance to experience life on his own -- one step at a time.

 

Mike

[bzy1]

Ok, I live here. Not so long ago I was a teenager. (Ok, it was a while ago) But I was always a pretty responsible teen, mainly because my parents allowed me the room to prove that I was responsible and gain their trust.

 

Do you have problems with your son and his friend at home?

If not, and they are responsible, letting them go shopping, on a tour or walking the Malecon for a couple of hours will not land them in jail, drunk or in trouble....unless they do something that gets them drunk, in jail and/or in trouble.

 

If you have had previous concerns, then maybe I would not let them go off on their own, but if not, they are going to be adults and on their own very soon. What are you going to do when they are 18 and want to spend a week in Cancun for Spring Break?

 

Puerto Vallarta is EXTREMELY safe, but if someone is looking for trouble they will find it, but trouble does not find you here.

 

I feel 100% safer living here than I did when I lived in Minneapolis. When my nieces and nephew were here (17, 16, and 14) we allowed them to go walk down the Malecon and shop for two hours while we had lunch. They loved it as we gave them some room to prove they are responsible and they could shop without us saying "Hurry Up!" :)

 

In essence, I suggest you allow the boys to go on the Canopy tour. They will love it, they will be in good hands and with other cruisers and it is a great tour. Otherwise, you could all take a taxi down to the Malecon, pick a meeting point and time, let them explore and then you head over to the hotel.

 

No one jumps out at you here selling drugs, the cops do not look for unsuspecting tourists or anything like that...the only people who jump out at you are the time share reps! :)

[bzy1]

You better check and see if you need to have a notarized letter of consent by both birth parents of your son's friend. It is a law that all minors traveling out of the US/Canada into Mexico without one or both birth parents, that they must have a notarized letter of consent. (This is for people traveling by car/bus or plane- not 100% sure about cruise ships)

 

If you do not have this, there is a chance your son's friend may be denied leaving the US/Canada or entry into Mexico.

[natesfirewife]

To put it mildly, Hell No!!

[bearette]

The first cruise I ever went on I was 15. I stayed with my parents and I still had fun. I don't think everyone is saying that your son isn't responsible, but that it is a risk that no one wants you to take. If they are not familiar with the area than they shouldn't be running around alone. You can just tell your son what my parents told me. "When you pay for it you can do whatever you want."

[carol459]

If something happens to them when you are at home, they are covered by US/State/local laws. If something happens to them in Mexico, they are covered by Mexican law and being US citizens doesn't mean a thing!

Have some backbone and tell the BOYS no!

[NorcalGuy]

Definately not. Maybe your own minor son, but not someone else's.

 

They have no US citizen rights while in Mexico, even though it may seem like you are in an "American" area. They might also get delayed somehow and miss the ship. That would be a very real mess that would affect your whole group!

[paradise4ever]

No Way, Not Even For An Hour. Alot Can Happen In A Minute. I've Been To Pv Many Many Times And Even At My Age I Don't Travel Around By Myself. Anything Can Happen. A Slip Or Trip On Something, Getting Hurt, Going The Wrong Way, Getting Sick And Not Getting Back To The Boat On Time. Lost, Hurt, Sick, Anything, Anytime, Anyplace. It Happens All The Time. At Least If It Should Happen, You'd Be There. No, I Would Not Have A Moments Peace. I Wouldn't Do It With My Own And Especially With Someone Elses. His Parents May Say Yes, But What If Something Happens, We All Know You'd Be The Blame. Please, Make Sure You Get Medical Info, A Signed Letter By Both Parents For, Its The Law, At Least 2 Picture Id's. Believe Me, They Will Have Fun No Matter Who Is With Them. Besides, Tell Them When Moms Around She May Buy Them Something. That Always Works With My Grandsons. Enjoy

[pvpam]

I think alot of it depends on what kind of kids they are. Are they party animals or not? They could go to plenty of the places in town with their parents and still be "cool". You know your kids, we don´t. Vallarta is a safe place but AS IN THE US there are plenty of places to get in trouble!

[smoosh21]

It depends on the kids. Do you trust them to stay out of trouble at home? If they have been mischief makers in the past and gotten in trouble at home, they are likely to get in trouble there. In that case the answer would be absolute no.

 

If they have been good students and stayed out of trouble, they will probably stay out of trouble there. I went to Europe with a school group for the first time at 16 and we went off on our own without adult supervision during the days. I also went to the Soviet Union for a month when I was only 19 (with a college group) and while we were already adults at that time (but still barely older than your son) we were on our own during many days. I knew what could get me into trouble and I was sure to not do anything that could. But I admit I was a bit of a goodie-two-shoes who didnt risk getting in trouble as many teens may.

 

You can always compromise and agree to only let them go around a certain area you will be relatively near. This way you can also limit the time they have on their own, to maybe 90 minutes or so. You can also make sure that they have their mobiles with them so you can keep in contact. You can also buy those walkie talkies that have the 5 mile radius and keep in contact that way.

 

Since you say your son is only a few months away from 18, what would you do if the cruise took place just three months later? I am guessing he will be going off to college soon, where he can get into a lot of trouble also. So if your son and his friend have proven themselves able to make the right decisions at home, you should probably trust them (with limits) to make the right decisions on vacation.