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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Mexico? With a 4 year old?

28 replies

geordieminx · 17/01/2011 08:24

Looking at holidays for May/June time, and thought as ds is a bit older we could try a long haul, as we usually stick to canaries.

I know absolutely nothing about Mexico.... Although I guess what we need from a holiday is 4/5* preferably all inclusive, plenty of activities suitable for a 4 year old, but also some things we can go and do to get out of the hotel for a few hours a day, even if it's just a wander around town/ wee trip.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 17/01/2011 08:41
spacecadet1 · 17/01/2011 12:31

Moon Palace in Cancun is supposed to be nice (haven't been but know two couples who have although neither with kids). Think there's loads to do there & fairly close to Cancun for trips out. Just be careful booking in June cos that's the start of the hurricane season & although it's early in the season & you'll probably be fine, Mexico can get badly affected by hurricanes. Have a look at trip advisor for peoples reviews & good luck finding somewhere. always wanted to go to Mexico (sadly a hurricane damaged our hotel 2 weeks before we were due to go so missed out Sad)

Original poster
geordieminx · 17/01/2011 15:04

Would may be better? What is the weather like in cancun at that time of year?

OP posts:
spacecadet1 · 17/01/2011 17:32

Well the hurricane season doesn't officially start til June - no idea if there've ever been any in May but I'm sure you could find out. Like I said the chances of there being a hurricane in June are probably slimmer than if you went further into the season but there's always the chance & places like mexico, southern usa & northern caribbean are more likely to get hit. Having said that we were due to go in August when the hurricane hit & were willing to risk it but having been in just the tropical storm winds of hurricane Ivan, I wouldn't like to go there with a 4 year old if there's a chance. No idea what the weather in generals like sorry.

HTH!

yousankmybattleship · 17/01/2011 17:39

Why take your child all that way? He would be just as happy closer to home and woujldn't have to endure that long flight. Cancun is fun and has lovely beaches but it is more of a couples/groups of friends type place. It is also VERY hot.

LtEveDallas · 17/01/2011 17:45

If you really want Mexico I would avoid Cancun with a child and go for the Riviera Maya instead. Much nicer, less drunken students, more family friendly.

There is a lovely Riu close to Playa del Carmen that is well set up for children, and an Eco Park hotel (with an impossible name Xhu something or other) that is wonderful and has a nature park on site, swimming holes (not pools) and wooden lodge type rooms rather than a tower block.

Personally I think a 10/12 hr flight would be a nightmare with a young child, but maybe yours is better behaved than mine!

stealthsquiggle · 17/01/2011 18:14

Any recommendations in Riviera Maya - preferably all-inclusive (I know it ends up costing the same, really, but DH and I find it a lot less stressful than endlessly shelling out for meals, etc and it means we the DC can drink eat whatever we they want)?

NappyShedSal · 17/01/2011 19:17

We went to Mexico for 6 weeks last year with our 7yr old and 3 year old. Travelled around on buses, hire cars etc. Our girls loved the country. But TBH if you are going to an all inclusive resort on teh Caribbean you could really be on any hot beach in the world. Also teh Caribbean in Mexico does have alot of visitors from the US.

sarah293 · 17/01/2011 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

weegiemum · 17/01/2011 19:23

We did Guatemala (next down) with a 16 mo, 3.5 and 5.5 yo. But not starred accomodation, living with friends and backpacking, and it was ace.

Depends where you want to go - am supposing you mean Cancun, which is fine is you want to contribute to some of the most abused and overused environments on the planet.

If what you want is 4/5* accomodation, why go longhaul? You are not going to gain anything from the local culture if that is where you choose to stay!

spacecadet1 · 17/01/2011 20:36

I wouldn't be put off by the flights. I've done a 9 hour flight to caribbean twice with a then 23 month & 3.5 year old & as long as you're prepared it's ok. Don't think the flight is 16 hours but not sure who flies direct to Mexico. I know you could fly with Virgin via Miami (& you could even combine it with a stopover in Miami) but there might be other companies that fly direct.

Depends what you're looking for I suppose. Are you set on Mexico? What about somewhere like Barbados or Antigua or the Bahamas? Probably less 'rowdy' than Mexico & still possible to get out & see the place. And also, while AI can be handy with a little one, it does mean you tend to see less of the where you're staying.

Original poster
geordieminx · 17/01/2011 20:44

We fancied mexico as we like to go away in May as we aren't tied to the school holidays yet. We went to Tenerife last year at the beginning of May, and the weather was pretty poor.. Mostly overcast, cold the day we went to the waterpark. It actually felt like a big fat waste of £3k. Ideally I'd like to go away late May, and be guaranteed 27 degrees. You don't get that with short haul, Ibiza, mallorca etc.

We have done lanzarote, Tenerife (twice), Barcelona, south of France and Italy, so thought it would be a nice change. I certainly wouldn't worry about a 10 hour flight with him, he's great.

For those of you who don't think its the right place for a 4 year old, where would you suggest late May, nice and warm?

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 17/01/2011 20:47

"TBH if you are going to an all inclusive resort on teh Caribbean you could really be on any hot beach in the world"

I don't know about the OP, but for us that is sort of the point - the DC want a beach, DH wants to dive, I want to not have to make any decisions or cook any meals. We have been elsewhere in the Caribbean with DC - flight was OK and they were OK with the heat - Mexico is presumably not significantly hotter? We were definitely thinking about Riviera Maya rather than Cancun - but similarly there are caribbean islands/resorts we wouldn't choose.

stealthsquiggle · 17/01/2011 20:47

"TBH if you are going to an all inclusive resort on teh Caribbean you could really be on any hot beach in the world"

I don't know about the OP, but for us that is sort of the point - the DC want a beach, DH wants to dive, I want to not have to make any decisions or cook any meals. We have been elsewhere in the Caribbean with DC - flight was OK and they were OK with the heat - Mexico is presumably not significantly hotter? We were definitely thinking about Riviera Maya rather than Cancun - but similarly there are caribbean islands/resorts we wouldn't choose.

Original poster
geordieminx · 17/01/2011 20:47

Oh and being in Scotland we are limited by flights - would prefer direct flights, as we can only take a week.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 17/01/2011 20:47

oops Blush

jkklpu · 17/01/2011 21:00

Wherever you go, just make sure you have tiptop insurance for all of you, including for any unusual activities you'd intend to do

LtEveDallas · 17/01/2011 21:23

We stayed in the Aventura Spa Palace hotel in the Riviera Maya, it was bloody wonderful and the best holiday ever. However, it was adults only.

BUT. It is the only Palace hotel that is, all the rest are family friendly. One of the benefits is that you can use the facilites of any of them during your stay, incl an overnight etc. The Xpu Ha (I think) was next door to ours and about 20 mins in a taxi from Playa del Carmen. Taxis were hotel run and very cheap. PdelC is a lovely little town, very safe and even has a Senor Frog's!

The Xpu Ha is an Eco Resort and very family friendly. Has a great natural lagoon for safe snokeling, a real beach, a manmade beach, a river and pools. Accn is in wooden huts. AI, all mod cons. We would choose there for a family hol

The Riu Palace Riviera Maya is very good, met a family staying there and they were v impressed. All the usual Riu standards (for the Carribbean, Europe not so good) plus kids club, playgrounds etc. Again not far from PdelC.

Riviera Maya is lovely, very Eco friendly, they take it seriously over there. There is a fab Eco water park place called something like Xel Ha that we could have spent ALL our time at, was wonderful. Swimming with dolphins etc, but in the sea - free dolphins, not kept in a pool/aquapark. Cenotes, Chichen Itz, Tulum, it's amazing.

Cancun on the other hand...may as well be in America, too commercial, too busy, just doesn't seem like Mexico at all.

We went in Aug and it was bloody hot, but dry heat. Was in cancun before in June and it was sticky but
bearable.

Long, but HTH

I would go back tomorrow. I loved it there, hell I'd live there!

Original poster
geordieminx · 17/01/2011 21:41

Thamk you - that was really helpful!

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 17/01/2011 21:52

That's great - Thanks from me too.

WotzNotNot · 18/01/2011 11:06

May - June would be a good time for Mexico, some resort tarnsfers can be long, an hour etc so check that additional travel time with a 4 year old going.

TBH I'd give Hayes and Jarvis or another large long haul operator a call. The Barcelo and Rui resorts are good in Mexico. Mexico is huge, pick your location / resort well.

I stayed in Cancun about 12 years ago for business in the Presidente InterContinental Resort Cancun, nice location, beach is on the calm side, not facing the Atlantic and was easy to walk out and about to local restaurants and bars.
tripadvisor review not sure if tour operators will have this one as it's not an all inclusive complex. FIW we got upgraded to an executive suite - it had amazing views over the lagoon and ocean beyond.

WotzNotNot · 18/01/2011 11:08

Sorry - saying I went there for business now sounds quite knobbish as I now work from home!

stealthsquiggle · 18/01/2011 12:41

not at all Wotz. I used to go to all sorts of places on business [sigh].

WotzNotNot · 18/01/2011 13:15
Smile
Alibobster · 23/01/2011 16:30

Geordieminx Mexico is fab. I am going for the third time this year with my 4 year old and he loves it.The plane journey is part of the excitement as long as you've got a bag of stuff to keep your ds occupied. The weather and beaches are fab and the people are the friendliest I have ever met.

We stayed at the Iberostar Tucan which is very family friendly, check it out on Trip Advisor. The Thomsons flight from Glasgow has great flight times. Go for it, you would have such a fantastic time