SAN ANTONIO -- John Martin, a college student in San Antonio, got out of class Friday and headed straight for San Antonio International Airport.

Martin was going out of town for spring break.

"I'm going to Vegas," said Martin, who was excited about his trip.

Martin said most of his friends are going out of town for spring break but none of them are going to Mexico.

"A lot of people are going to Panama City, Vegas and Miami," Martin said.

Avoiding Mexico was a trend that U.S. State Department officials were hoping for, since it issued a travel alert for that country. The alert urges Americans to avoid border towns, especially Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, where violence has escalated recently.

But travel agent Peter Herff with Herff Travel in San Antonio said don't write off some parts of Mexico just yet as a destination.

"I'm confident in saying, comfortable in saying, Mexico is a wonderful destination," Herff said.

Herff said the key is where you go in Mexico.

"If you're smart and you travel to the right places and you're not getting mixed up in drug violence, I think you're fine," Herff said.

Herff said a few good alternatives, if you just refuse to brave Mexico, are Florida, Puerto Rico and Jamaica because those destinations have nice beaches and cost about the same to visit.