A head's up about Costa Maya

[jiminyC_fan]

If any of you donate blood.....you can't for a year after visiting Costa Maya. My DH has donated 11 gallons so far and they called last night and told him he can't for a year. On top of that we are doing the Panama Canal cruise and I bet a port on it might put it off for another year. Just didn't want anyone to donate and shouldn't.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Another warning: Bring Bug Spray.....my legs were eaten alive by bugs and wasn't so pleasant looking.

 

[jrp]

Just a word of caution you will need to have bug spray with DEET in to do any good...
James

 

[nuts4sn00py]

Did the blood bank give a reason as to why your DH can't donate blood for a year? What is the problem with Costa Maya? I'm curious as I too usually donate blood. Thanks, Kathy

 

[markºoº]

I was also rejected for blood donation due to Costa Maya. The reason I was given was that there is a malaria risk all along the "Mayan Riveria" which includes Cancun on down to Belize and includes the entire state of Quintara Roo.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I donated blood today. I had to say where I had been outside of the U.S. and Canada for the past 12 months. When I said Cozumel, the pre-donation interviewer looked it up in her reference notebook. She wrote on my form that I had been to "Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico - not malarial." She asked if I had traveled anywhere away from the port and resort area. There was a Post-It note in her notebook which said "Costa Maya - malarial."

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Exactly what we were told. Costa Maya...NO and Cozumel would have been ok.

 

[markºoº]

Cozumel was ok but anywhere on the mainland was a no-no.

 

[tecdavidt]

That explains why back when we did a 4 day to Cozumel that our boys could not give blood--they did the Tulum Ruins tour on the mainland. Kathy

 

[Mary Anne]

Costa Maya was also the lovely port that one of the natives tried to sell my 16 year old a switch blade. Personally, we won't be going back there anytime soon.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Originally posted by Mary Anne
Costa Maya was also the lovely port that one of the natives tried to sell my 16 year old a switch blade. Personally, we won't be going back there anytime soon.

 

[Mary Anne]

I kid you not. This guy comes up to my son who was only a few feet in front of us, not on his own and goes "Knife, Switchblade? "You Want, Cheep" My son, couldn't get us back on board the ship fast enough. He said, "Mom, Dad, I think we need to go back onboard NOW. This happened right by the main area when you get off.