MADISON, Wis. -- Despite Saturday's snow, spring break is coming soon for University of Wisconsin-Madison students, with the annual week off commencing on March 27.

Regardless of travel warnings brought on by increased violence in the country, Mexico remains a favorite destination of students looking to get away for the week. But unlike last year, when many journeying to Mexico decided to reconsider their plans, this year many travelers don’t seem too worried.

Most college students are pretty clear about how they want to spend their spring break, and it doesn’t include worrying about anything.

"Laying on the beach all day. No classes," said UW student Hannah Bucholtz.

"Laying out, doing nothing," said student Addie Garland. "Getting away from school and this cold weather."

But away from some of the pristine Mexican beaches, violence continues to rage in the country.

Just the last couple of days have seen recent exchanges of gunfire between Mexican authorities in Monterrey.

The violence has led the U.S. State Department to issue a travel warning for Monterey, Juarez, Tijuana, and other cities near the U.S-Mexico border.

But Scott Mast of Burkhalter Travel said students are right not to worry, adding that violence is at its worst far away from popular tourist destinations.

"This would be like somebody going to Miami and there were some drug issues in Atlanta," said Mast of the government’s warnings.

Mast said that vacationing in Mexico is safe provided travelers follow some basic common sense rules.

"Whether they're going into large cities in Mexico, or large cities around the country, or large cities in Europe," said Mast. "you just have to be extremely prudent about it, and if they just stay where they should be staying, they'll be just fine."

UW student Blake Hewitt was just in Mexico this past December. He said he can't wait to go back, despite some difficulties.

"Actually my grandpa and I got lost in a rougher area, but everyone was real nice and helped us get out."

Others planning to visit south of the border in the coming weeks aren’t too concerned either.

"Like, in the resort areas, they do a pretty good job of keeping people safe. I think after the concerns last year, they did a good job to step things up a little bit," said Bucholtz.

Addie Garland concurs. "In countries that have conflict, it's kind of overblown, so I feel like it won't be that bad," said Garland.

Mast said his company would never recommend clients visit a place that is not safe

He said Burkhalter has advised against some travel in the past, citing a long stretch of advising against travel in Northern Ireland.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates plan to visit with Mexican President Felipe Calderon soon in regards to the violence.