This story is the second of two articles on the recent unrest in Mexico and focuses on advice from travel advisors on how to counsel their clients with questions and concerns about the destination. The first story put the spotlight on what it was like for travel advisors who were traveling in Mexico on Feb. 22, 2026, when most of the violence occurred.
Despite the U.S. government lifting shelter-in-place advisories in Mexico following the unrest on Feb. 22, 2026, following the death of a major drug lord, many travelers are — unsurprisingly — skittish about the prospect of visiting the destination.
So, what’s a travel advisor to do?
Most importantly, it’s imperative to avoid sugarcoating the situation, according to the agents we spoke with. Instead, focus on relaying accurate information from reliable sources, enabling clients to make their own decisions. Furthermore, advisors strongly urge their clients to purchase travel insurance.
Kristy Johnson, owner of WonderCrafted Travel, is addressing the recent events head-on to help ease concerns rather than fuel panic.
Empowering Clients With Facts
“My goal is to empower travelers with facts, not fear, and to ensure they have the support and resources to make confident decisions about their travel,” said Johnson, who was visiting Playa del Carmen on a fam trip during the period of unrest and afterward.
Johnson makes it clear to clients that she cannot — and will not — guarantee safety anywhere in the world. She counsels clients using a three-pronged approach.
“First, I partner with vetted suppliers who have established safety protocols, local knowledge and 24/7 support networks, giving me access to real-time information and alternative options when circumstances change,” she said.
Urging Clients to Purchase Travel Insurance
“Second, I encourage every client to secure travel insurance at the time of booking, which protects their investment and provides peace of mind as situations evolve. Third, in advance of travel, I encourage travelers to monitor official sources like the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories, register with Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and rely on credible news outlets rather than social media speculation.”
Jessica Church, owner of Sands & Skylines Travel Co., says it’s all about context.
Educating Travelers on Geography
“The situations being reported were geographically far removed from Cancun and the Riviera Maya,” she said. “Once my clients understand the actual distance and what is happening specifically in the areas where they are staying, most feel reassured.”
When her clients are traveling in Mexico,Laura Critchfield, founder of Beyond the Dreams Vacations, urges them to use reputable tour/excursion operators when staying at resorts and to avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
As for clients scheduled to travel to Mexico in the aftermath of the late February events, Critchfield says some“were wanting to jump on getting things changed immediately because they feared everything would be booked out for their spring break vacations,” she said, adding that although she didn’t encourage them to, she did provide ideas on pricing in other destinations.
“If they had travel insurance — which some did and some did not — it was going to be an easy exchange, but finding something that is comparable to Mexico for the same price is always a challenge, no matter what,” she added.
Advising Customers Traveling to Puerto Vallarta
Critchfield, who has clients set to visit Puerto Vallarta in April — as well as plans to travel to the destination herself in May — says that she advised them to hold off on making any decisions regarding the trip to see how the next several weeks unfold.
Meanwhile, Mark Hennigan, co-owner of Dreamers Travel, notes that his agency has two destination wedding groups scheduled to travel to Cancun in less than two weeks.
“I have emailed both groups with government links and assured them that we are monitoring their destination and will update them as things change — and, so far, no hesitations or cancellations,” he said. “Every client under my agency gets my cell number if they need me — 24/7/365. I assure them we are just a phone call away; it often eases their concerns.”
Fielding Questions
For its part, VIP Vacations has hundreds of clients slated to travel to Mexico in the next few weeks.
“We have been fielding questions from clients who have plans to travel to Cancun/Riviera Maya,” said Jennifer Doncsecz, the agency’s owner. “First, we empathize with their concerns, because social media, the news and even Reddit have scary headlines about travel to Mexico. Next, we advise our clients to get factual updates on global travel and refer them to U.S. government sites such as Travel.state.gov.”
Additionally, educating clients on geography can go a long way, according to Doncsecz.
“We share with them the distance between Cancun/Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta, and correlate the distance between Orlando and Phoenix to demonstrate the size of Mexico and the distance between specific cities,” she said. “We do not try to convince, persuade or give our own opinion. We then inform them of cancellation policies and penalties, and what travel insurance does and doesn’t cover.”
Recommending U.S. Government Resources
Just as many other advisors have noted, agents at Magic Family Getaways also guide clients to U.S. government resources, including Travel.state.gov — particularly for those who are scheduled to depart for Mexico soon, according to Kimberly Anwar, the agency’s owner and president.
“We carefully review their itineraries, discuss available options if they prefer to adjust plans, review applicable supplier cancellation policies, and remind clients to review their travel insurance coverage directly with their provider, as coverage determinations are made by the insurer,” she said
Grappling With Multiple Mexico Bookings
Time For Travel is another agency that produces a high volume of Mexico vacations.
“We have hundreds of clients booked for Mexico in the coming months, including milestone groups, large destination weddings and honeymoons,” said Sarah Kline, president of Time for Travel, noting that the agency is also in the process of securing several events that are now on pause.
“Our Puerto Vallarta clients were the first to reach out and were ready to pivot immediately. Some of our Cancun clients have also reached out for reassurance and guidance — jittery is an understatement. Most have said that it was more pressure from friends, family and jobs than their personal concerns about Mexico.”
‘Kline has asked clients who are not traveling immediately to give the agency at least a week to gather correct and current information regarding their particular Mexican destination
“We’ve also sent out a statement to guests who are not traveling in the next few weeks to practice patience and understanding, as we have to service current travelers and groups first,” she said. “I think as we get more information and as the media moves on, so will most travelers.”
Seeing for Yourself
Kline is traveling to Cancun on March 6 and plans to spend six nights visiting a variety of resorts to demonstrate to her clients that “it’s business as usual and safe for tourist to continue their vacation plans,” she said.
Matching Travelers the Right Destinations
Meanwhile, Claire Schoeder, a luxury independent advisor with Elevations Travel, typically suggests Los Cabos and the surrounding area as a Mexico vacation choice, “rather than places such as Acapulco, which has had safety issues for a while,” she said.
Nonetheless, Schoeder does have clients scheduled to visit Cancun following the spring break period.
“Since they booked hotel and air, and not a package, it gives them a bit of flexibility with changing flights and destination if needed,” she said.
In the end, it’s essential that advisors ensure their customers are comfortable with their travel decisions.
“If their primary thoughts are worry that they will not be safe on their trip, then I suggest they think about changes or postponement – but I let them make the choice,” Schoeder said.
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