Remember the days when a quick trip to Mexico was a romantic getaway for two, with walks along the beach at sunset, dancing till dawn, and sleeping in? Well kids do change everything. But there is no reason why you can't transform your favorite couples' destination into your new favorite family play spot.
Mexico is a haven for families with a multitude of hotels and resorts catering to your family's needs with kid-friendly rooms, meals, activities, and adventures. Add to that the fact that it is just over the border and the peso is still good value against the U.S. dollar and you have the perfect place to introduce your young ones to international culture, history, and exceptional food. Traditionally winter is the peak or high season for travel to Mexico but with school back in session and the holiday season over, prices are slightly lower than their December counterparts.
Your first decision is east coast or west (pacific or Caribbean). Although Cancún and the Yucatán Peninsula can be crowded, they have the greatest concentration of large international resorts and the area also provides easy access to historic archaeological sites and an opportunity for you and your family to experience some of the best examples of Maya ruins in the country. Beach Palace (tel. 800/635-1836; www.palaceresorts.com) is located less than half an hour's drive from Cancún airport. Its 287 rooms all offer balconies with views either over the Caribbean Sea or the lagoon. Apart from the joy of just hanging out on the white sand beach just outside your door, the whole family can have fun in the huge outdoor pool area, in the kiddie pool on the lower level, or at either of the two rooftop pools. There's a Kids' Club for children aged four to 12 years old, themed parties and nightly entertainment, a raft of supervised daily activities to participate in and table games like pool and ping pong along with tennis and volleyball. For the adults, there's a fitness center and spa.
Book a three-night stay this winter and receive $15 per adult/per night discount and two free Ultimate Dolphin Swim Experience tours per room, per stay (the required minimum age to participate is eight years old or four feet tall and children must be accompanied by an adult. Transportation is provided to the marina). You also receive a $200 golf/spa credit per room, per stay ($100 towards spa and $100 towards golf) with transportation provided to the golf course. The All-Inclusive Winter Promotion must be booked by January 30, 2009 for stays until April 18, 2009. A family of four can take a three night all-inclusive getaway with all meals, snacks, non-motorized sports, activities and the promotional add-ons mentioned above for under $2,200 including all taxes.
Cheap Caribbean (tel. 800/915-2322; www.cheapcarribbean.com) has a deal on a brand new all-inclusive resort in Cancún. Just opened in December 2008, the Grand Oasis Caribbean Resort sits on a wide, white sandy beach, has several restaurants, multiple pools, and rooms that can accommodate families traveling with up to three children. Book by January 11, 2009 and travel during the month of February (February 1 to 28, 2009) and kids eat and stay for free while adults pay as low as $509 plus taxes per person for a three-night stay in a lagoon view room including round-trip airfare out of Tampa (children's airfares start from $250 each) or $559 from New York. All up a family of four can fly to Cancun from New York on Continental Airlines during the month of February and spend three nights at this new resort from $1,809 plus $369 in taxes including meals, beverages, non-motorized sports, and all activities. The same deal during the same period flying Northwest Airlines out of Chicago for two adults and two children is priced from $1,802 plus $369 in taxes.
On Mexico's stunning Pacific coastline, the Avalon Excalibur (tel. 888/497-4325; www.avalonvacations.com) is located on Santa Lucia Bay, on Hornos Beach, 30 minutes from Acapulco International Airport. The hotel is one of Acapulco's largest all inclusives and offers its younger guests (aged four to ten) a chance to join its Wild Things Kids' Club each day from 9am to 4:30pm. The Club has activities for all ages with cultural and educational programs that are built around arts, crafts, science, sports and even cooking classes. Kids can learn how to make piñatas, mould Mayan style sculptures, prepare guacamole, compete in mini-Olympic sports, build mammoth sand castles and discover wildlife right on the resort grounds. There are also movies, talent shows and games -- all supervised by a team of Wild Things staff. Stay at Avalon Excalibur with your family between now and April 3, 2009 and adults pay $93 per day all-inclusive, kids under six are free and those aged six to $12 are $33 per day. This can make a five-night vacation for two adults and two small children in a room with two queen sized beds as low as $930 including all meals, beverages, activities, non-motorized sports, the Wild Things Club, taxes, and gratuities.
Still on the Pacific side, the recently renovated Club Med Ixtapa (tel. 888/932-2582; www.clubmed.com) is known as a quality family travel destination and Club Med currently has a promotion offering children aged 15 years and under a chance to stay free when traveling with a full paying adult (a maximum of two children free with two paying adults). This deal is valid for stays of seven nights or more from February 14 and October 30, 2009 when you book by February 28, 2009. Club Med membership is additional (adults are $60 and children are $30 each). Mini Club Med is a fully supervised program for children aged four to years old and Junior Club is dedicated to young people aged between 11 and 17 years to discover creative, sports, artistic activities, or simply for the pleasure of doing nothing. Both these services are included in the package price For younger children and babies, there are Baby Club Med and Petit Club Med which cost a little extra but include stimulating activities, meals, rest times and hugs, plus evening supervision giving parents some alone time when required. There is also a special Baby Restaurant that welcomes babies and their parents for a family dinner from 6:30pm nightly. A seven night vacation here in a deluxe family room which is actually two rooms with a kids' pay area is priced at $1,810 per adult, or $3620 for a family of four including all meals, beverages, non-motorized sports, kids clubs, activities and taxes.
Meliá Puerto Vallarta (tel. 888-95-MELIA; www.solmelia.com) is likewise a paradise for families and boasts features like the largest swimming pool (with children's pool section) in Puerto Vallarta. There are multiple theme areas and activities for children up to 13 years old, divided in three "Flintstones" clubs: Baby Rock Club with childhood specialists for the youngest guests (four months to four years old), the Bamm Bamm Club (five to eight years old) and Cool Club (kids up to 13 years old). Kids participate in arts, crafts, sports and can even camp out on the hotel grounds. There is a Roca Flash center where kids can get a picture taken with Fred and Dino (extra charge), the Yabba Dabba Doo Bazaar, a rock climbing wall, batting cage, shooting and archery gallery, nightly shows performed by professional dancers, a jogging tracks, tennis courts, a fitness center and golf course. For additional fees they can also arrange for your kids to go zip lining. A family of four (two adults and two children under 123) can spend four nights here in a deluxe garden view room this winter for $1,226 including all meals, beverages, non-motorized sports, and taxes.
