Deadly swine flu virus in Mexico

[rainorswine]

Hi Everyone-

 

We decided today to cancel our 5/9 Cabo wedding. It was devastating. however, I am super proud of myself - we have booked the Westin in Honolulu for the same date next weekend and I have 60 confirmed guests all in 10 hours today! I am the greatest planner ever!

 

Good luck to all!

[Dmitri_Markine]

What media forgets to mention is where those people get it. I am reading local news and it say 50 cases from a Mexico trip...but where in Mexico? It's a big country and it seems like not all areas are under concern

[JaimeLynne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieSam Interesting article by the AP today ~ looks like going to the touristy spots in Mexico comes with lots of discounts and perks now because they are hurting for tourism. Very sad the locals are being affected, but bonus for those going Swine flu reshapes Mexican tourism

We are currently having our TA (Tammy! ) look into see if the Marriott will budge on price rates, or at least some sort of perks if we go forth (hell even a spa credit would be a welcomed relief at this point!!!).

My thesis/"Capstone" paper is on the effect of U.S. tourism on Mexican cultural identity, so I am watching closely how this affects the economy there (have already taken one course independently studying this topic extensively, still have another course to finish my thesis). I personally feel very sorry for Mexico, however as a U.S. bride I share mixed emotions, to be quite frank! I would certainly welcome any sort of extra hospitality offered to me at this point, and be extremely appreciative of it!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainorswine Hi Everyone- We decided today to cancel our 5/9 Cabo wedding. It was devastating. however, I am super proud of myself - we have booked the Westin in Honolulu for the same date next weekend and I have 60 confirmed guests all in 10 hours today! I am the greatest planner ever! Good luck to all!

GO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, that is freakin' awesome! You're gonna have a stellar wedding, I can feel it!

[Jacilynda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainorswine Hi Everyone- We decided today to cancel our 5/9 Cabo wedding. It was devastating. however, I am super proud of myself - we have booked the Westin in Honolulu for the same date next weekend and I have 60 confirmed guests all in 10 hours today! I am the greatest planner ever! Good luck to all!

Oh my gosh this is great news! What a busy productive day you've had! I'm sure your wedding will be absolutely amazing!!!!We can't wait to hear how it turns out!

[jls62081]

We are supposed to be getting married in Cancun and we are supposed to be leaving May 12th!! I still do not know what we are going to do. We looked into a plan B but the airline tickets were way more expensive and guests could not do it. I would feel comfortable going to mexico myself but my best friend and mother in law if they go their work has told them that they cannot come back to work for like 2 weeks! Plus we have some guests that are older and not well and i would be afraid they would get really sick. So we are lost. We will prob end up just postponing our trip until this flu business is gone. I guess I keep hoping maybe it will go away in a week! lol! ya right huh? I am just so upset I have worked so much to get this wedding ready and then this! aaahh! We have been together for 9 years and the one date we finally decide to get married we have drug wars and swine flu!! wow that sucks! Well I guess we will just see what happens and go from there. Best of luck to all of you!!

[JoLo908]

My parents just called and heard that the swine flu is "dying down"... The media needs to cut it the F out and report the facts... seriously!!! So many people die of the regular flu, and I just completed a final project about how Tamiflu stopped working on many forms of the regular flu this year... but it still works on the swine flu!!! I hope everyone is hanging in there and not letting everything get to them... F.U. swine flu!!!

[LSUangel25]

I got this email from the Blue Parrot in PDC. I heard the Peter Greenberg interview again this morning. Looks like we're still set to leave on Wednesday...woohoo!

 

Greetings to All Friends of The Blue Parrot!

 

First off, thanks for all of your thoughts and wishes directed to us during this crisis. We truly appreciate it.

 

"Its Not An Epidemic...Its An Infodemic."

After saying that today on CNN, travel authority Peter Greenberg announced that he was heading to Cancun this week, citing some of the lowest airfares in history, including $150 USD (pre-tax) Round Trip airfares to New York-Cancun!

 

This has been one of those "good news--bad news" scenarios. The good news is that--hour by hour--the recent Influenza outbreak is appearing to be much less threatening than has been endlessly speculated in the press over the past week.

 

The bad news is that the travel and hospitality industry has been devastated by the doomsday scenarios discussed ad nauseum in the tabloid news media. It was particularly bad coming on the heels of the last media drama--the threat to tourists posed by the Mexican Crime Wave. Needless to say, no tourists were harmed during that round of media hyperbole either.

 

The reality is that Playa del Carmen--and for that matter the entire Mexican Caribbean--is healthier, safer and more affordable than ever. There are no "epidemic" face masks, there is virtually no crime and people are still kissing on the street and partying the night away on the beach at the Blue Parrot.

 

So, if you've been hesitating about following through on a trip, or considering booking one, we'll give you an additional 15% off of our already low Low Season rates--just to give you a little more incentive.

 

Write to or call Angela at [email protected], or call Toll Free from US or Canada: 1-888-484-0161 to check availability and qualify for this Blue Parrot Insider discount.

Hope to see you!

 

Tom

[JaimeLynne]

Michelle - that's great!! Hoping our hotel will extend something like this. Seems like for some reason people on the RM (East) side are being way nicer and more understanding about traveler's/Brides hesitations - extending them extra services, lower rates, etc. Not that people on the PV (West) side are being the opposite ("mean or rude"), I just haven't heard much (at least on here) about their reaction to all of this...

[Jena0609]

We have offically cancelled our Mexico Wedding! My FMIL's Dr. told her that he would no longer sign off on her to travel to Mexico. As I had mentioned in a previous post she has cancer and a very weak immune system. We were already taking a risk taking her there, but with this stupid swine crap we really can not take that risk. Our plan B is in the works. Most of us are getting our money back with the exception of the insurance (can't stress enough how important that insurance is). The others are getting their money back from the hotel and will get a travel voucher from the airline. I am so bummed that we can't do the TTD! Good luck to the rest of you who are still going. I hope no one cancels on you all, and if they do oh well, it will still be awesome. For those of you who have cancelled, best of luck with Plan B. I am sure that our weddings will be beautiful no matter where we decide to have them.

[tylersgirl]

Jena and the ones who had to cancel-I am so very sorry! Maybe you can switch locations. My plan B is in Jamaica. I am so glad to know you have a plan B in place. I know your wedding will be beautiful wherever you have it!

 

Rainorswine-That is amazing!!! WOW! Kuddos to you! Congrats and go have a wonderful wedding.

 

MarieSam- That was an interesting article. Thanks for sharing!