If you’re rethinking spring break plans to Mexico, you are not alone. DFW travel agents tell us they are fielding calls and concerns from people with upcoming trips after cartel violence in Puerto Vallarta over the weekend. “They’re not cancelling too much to Cancun, Cozumel – which is the primary place out of [DFW]. They’re not canceling Cabo. Puerto Vallarta – they’ve having serious doubts,” said Dynamic Travel CEO Steve Cosgrove. Sunday’s unexpected chaos erupted after the Mexican military killed a drug kingpin. Cartels then set fires to vehicles and some buildings inside the popular tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. The State Department lifted its “shelter-in-place” warning for Americans in the region on Tuesday, and U.S. carriers resumed flights. “Right now I wouldn’t be comfortable at all going to Puerto Vallarta,” Cosgrove said. “And I love the town, the restaurants, and all the shopping and the beaches and the fishing. Great destination, but right now, there’s too many other destinations I’d feel much safer at than going to Puerto Vallarta, so why risk it?” Two other DFW travel agents told NBC5 and Telemundo 39 they are telling clients it’s all about their personal comfort level. No matter where you spring break, agents say you should always follow guidance from the State Department, know how to reach the U.S. Embassy where you are, and sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Known as STEP, the free service will email you updates with alerts from embassies and consulates where you’re visiting. The State Department lists guidance for travel all over the world. Their maps and lists break down ‘Travel Advisory Levels’ from Level 1 – exercise normal precautions to Level 4 – do not travel. In Mexico, there is a range of advisory levels depending on the location, which was true before Sunday’s violence. On the issue of travel insurance all three agents agreed you should buy it. “I always take out insurance. It’s wasted money until you need it, then it’s the best investment you ever made,” said Cosgrove. The website InsureMyTrip lets customers compare plans. CEO Suzanne Morrow told NBC5 they recommend people purchase insurance as soon as they book their trip, but you can wait until the last minute. “I still recommend if you haven’t bought travel insurance at a minimum to have a post-departure plan. So, if you need to get out of somewhere and need that sort of assistance, that’s really key,” Morrow said. As always, she said, its important people read the fine print. “For the situation in Mexico, you want to look at what this policy speaks to in terms of government warnings. Civil unrest, war – those things are typically excluded because it’s hard to cover for the unknown,” said Morrow. “But if you have ‘State Department Warning’ coverage – so let’s say you were planning to go to Mexico and it now becomes a Level 4 or higher you could be covered to cancel your trip based up on that.” ...read more read less