Mexican Children Begging???

[antici_PATION]

I am getting ready to leave for a Western and my mom is saying that people she knows who have been to Mexico before told her to take things to give to the Mexican children that stand around and beg.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is this just on the mainland or is it in Cozumel as well?

Any help would be great!

 

[Lisa_C]

I am getting ready to leave for a Western and my mom is saying that people she knows who have been to Mexico before told her to take things to give to the Mexican children that stand around and beg.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is this just on the mainland or is it in Cozumel as well?

Any help would be great!

I wouldn't personally wouldn't sanction this, it just encourages them. To be honest, we were told that their families make them do this, and it made me rather uncomfortable having hands shoved in front of me every five seconds. Our guide said to ignore them and move on. I had a bad case where a man pushed his child under my feet and told me it was my responsibility to feed her as I was coming to visit his country . I cried on the way home as the whole experience upset me this was just outside where the ship docked too (albeit not a Disney ship).

 

[sayhello]

I am getting ready to leave for a Western and my mom is saying that people she knows who have been to Mexico before told her to take things to give to the Mexican children that stand around and beg.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is this just on the mainland or is it in Cozumel as well?

Any help would be great!

I didn't experience any begging in Cozumel.

Sayhello

 

[justmestace]

We've never experienced it in Cozumel. We did encounter it a lot on other islands, especially St Lucia.
I've read in other travel magazines & sites to NOT give them anything. Like the previous poster stated, a lot of times their parents send them out there to do it, and also a lot of times they skip school when the cruise ships come in, and as stated, it just encourages them.

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

I didn't see begging either time. I guess I would react the same there as I do here and just keep walking. If you show interest it's going to lead to more interaction.

 

[Tneah]

I didn't seeing any begging in Cozumel. I was there just a few months ago.

I also would not encourage the behavior by giving out something.

 

[kcashner]

Early on, DCL insisted that the beggars be kept away from the port area as a condition for their ships docking there. They have never returned, and there is a significant police presence in the port area.

If you leave the tourist areas, you will see beggars. DO NOT give them anything, and protect your personal property as they are well trained pick pockets. If you give anything to one, you will be mobbed. Do not encourage them. Do not comment on their pretty baby or anything else--while one distracts you, another may be robbing you!

You are contributing to the local economy with your port taxes at the very least, as well as with any shopping and excursions you may do. YOU are not responsible for creating or correcting the poverty at any vacation spot.

 

[TheWog]

I agree with the others. Do not specifically bring anything to give them. If you do witness the begging, they are mostly just looking for money.

 

[Anj]

I never experienced this on previous trips to Cozumel/PlayaDelCarmen or any of the islands we visited on our Eastern itinerary DCL trip.

 

[kcashner]

I never experienced this on previous trips to Cozumel/PlayaDelCarmen or any of the islands we visited on our Eastern itinerary DCL trip.

Never saw it on an Eastern.....only in Mexico on Western and Panama crossing.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We didn't see any beggers in Cozumel but DH saw them when he was in Cancun. Some of the kids would even walk right up to you and tie a bracelet onto your wrist, then if you didn't pay them for the bracelet they would scream for the cops and tell them you were stealing from them

 

[kcashner]

We didn't see any beggers in Cozumel but DH saw them when he was in Cancun. Some of the kids would even walk right up to you and tie a bracelet onto your wrist, then if you didn't pay them for the bracelet they would scream for the cops and tell them you were stealing from them

Same in Jamaica---don't carry any sort of bag or they'll stuff junk in your bag and then scream for cops that you were stealing it. Not really a problem in tourist areas where DCL normally goes. Just use reasonable caution and don't do anything to engage them!

 

[brittanyherndon]

Theire behavior is crazy. Do the police actually belive the kids that say you are stealing from them.

 

[Ebunny]

There's begging all over, at home and abroad.. I always get stopped outside the gas station when I stop at home, or on the corners of roads people come up to the cars. There's really no difference, so treat them the way you'd treat any beggar/pan handler.

 

[antici_PATION]

Thanks guys!

 

[PizzieDuster]

Oh gosh, once you engage any contact with one - they all hover like seagulls at the beach. I've have the kids come up and put silver in my face or a sarong in my face blocking my view. Even if there are ropes blocking off a certain beach area they will stand right in front of the water trying to get your attention...very distracting and I hated it!

My daughter has long hair and that was a nightmare! I ignore, pull my visor down, with my sunglasses on and my IPOD in my ears. My kids do the same and my husband has a really hard *** "don't even think about it" look - normally That's the only time his hard *** look doesn't bother me at all

Matter of fact, that's the only time I'm glad he can be an A**ho....you know hee hee

 

[Kay1]

There's begging all over, at home and abroad.. I always get stopped outside the gas station when I stop at home, or on the corners of roads people come up to the cars. There's really no difference, so treat them the way you'd treat any beggar/pan handler.

We have a lot of panhandlers where we live, too. And we ran into a few when we visited a Wal-Mart near Disney. We actually have a family member who begs other family members for various things and I agree with the idea that you only encourage more begging when you give in.

 

[kadillon]

I am getting ready to leave for a Western and my mom is saying that people she knows who have been to Mexico before told her to take things to give to the Mexican children that stand around and beg.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is this just on the mainland or is it in Cozumel as well?

Any help would be great!

Anticipation, if you are going on the Feb 20 Western, you should come join our Dismeet group. It's fun to get to know some other cruisers before you get aboard.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I have been to Cozumel 3 times and Playa del Carmen once and have never experienced the kids begging there although I hear they can be very persistant and brutal. Where we did experience it was in Puerta Vallerta and Mazatlan but it wasn't too bad if just kept walking and ignore them.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I agree with the advice not to give money to beggars, whether they're children or adults, and whether you're at home or abroad.

There are many excellent aid organizations that help to provide food, education, clothing, medical care, and housing to impoverished children and their families in the United States and around the world. Such organizations know where the real needs are. They deliver their services with the help of volunteers and professionals (who typically work for a fraction of what they could earn with their education level and skills).

I'm especially impressed with organizations that help people become self-sufficient.

If you want to help people, you're much better donating to such organizations. When you donate, you can often identify how you and/or where you want your money used.