Mexico in April with 3 under 5?

[TheIndecisiveElf]

Thinking of doing Mexico in April with DTs 4.5 and youngest 18 months.

I'm thinking it will be lovely, proper sunshine, beautiful beach with powdery sand that you don't mind if it gets anywhere, kids clubs options, buffet food for easy meals, kids pools etc.

It should be about 25 average but youngest can nap through the worst of it and just have a few hours in the shade/inside.

Any considerations I've missed? Any one done similar at similar ages and loved or regretted it?

It's our last chance to go outside of school hols and with cheaper space for youngest.

Or we could possibly do late June instead but I think it's too hot and possibly getting into hurricane season?

And mosquitos.

Unless you’ve got thousands to spend on a resort you might want to manage your expectations about sand quality. I’ve been to Mexico a few times and it’s not the thing of dreams!

Flying that far with 3 kids under 5 would be insane. Why would you do that? Just go to Spain like everyone else.

Mexico can get very humid, so the heat can feel quite oppressive at times.

I'm not sure where your 25 average came from, I have been 7 times in late April/early May and in my experience it's usually closer to 28/29 (occasionally early 30s)

One other thing to consider is how you will manage the 10 hour flight with 3 so young particularly on the way back which is usually a night flight, and the inevitable jet lag

My God, the flights 😱 Having done a 13 hour flight with DD when she was 3 then the transfer on arrival, I was half contemplating whether we could just not return home and relocate.

Don't sound much like a holiday

I would book Sani or Ikos in Greece, Martinhal in Portugal instead.

It’s an 11-hour flight, you will all be jet lagged. Unless you’re staying 24/7 in the hotel then you will need to keep your wits about you. You will see armed security patrols on the beaches. I recommend staying in one of the hotels run by a European company if possible.
Healthcare is quite iffy, be prepared to pay for unnecessary antibiotics if any of your kids gets sick with a cold etc.
Several children (including our own) had gastroenteritis in our resort, we think from something in the seawater.
Some of the beaches have very smelly seaweed. There is quite a lot of rubbish that gets washed up on the beaches, but it all gets cleared away in the mornings by special beach cleaning vehicles (and then you encounter huge piles of rubbish at the end of the beach if you try and walk beyond the perimeter of your resort).

Mexico is a fantastic country and the Caribbean is amazing of course, but I’m not sure it’s where I’d choose to travel with toddlers.

You’ll get one of the really amazing Cyprus or Elounda hotels for the same price with no long haul flight / jet lag, fewer mosquitoes and no sand flies. Less likely to have armed guards on the beach but it’s a huge country and you don’t say which part you’re aiming for. Even Florida would make more sense.

If you just want beach, pool, food, kids clubs then I’d go to the canaries in April, not long haul with those ages.

(Also you won’t get out to see stuff! Is there any point going if you’re going to kiss eg chichen itza / coba / sinkholes / snorkel trips? The best part of the Caribbean coast is under water - you won’t get your mob on a boat for a day or into a cenote! If you’re not doing that stuff, really - stay in Europe.

I can’t think of anything worse than being on a long flight with such young children, they will be so bored. I don’t think it would be the idyllic holiday you are imagining OP. They only exist in the brochures. Holidays with young kids are often stressful. Why travel so far?

I took an 18 month and a 5 year old last April.

We had a lovely time.

it was super hot, 38 some days. And we didn’t really leave the resort as most excursions needed the kids to be swimmers.

we did have a couple of wanders into playa del carmen which the kids loved.

the hotel had 10 restaurants and 5 pools so we didn’t feel like we were just in one place. There was an ice cream parlour open 18 hours a day. You could borrow baby items. Staff were lovely.

it was a very different trip to going child free but it was lovely and the Mexican people are so child friendly

Thanks all! At least I've got one vote of confidence!

I've been pre-children and it was amazing, sand, sea etc totally different (and yes it was the fine white sand?). No armed guards when I went but DCs would just be oblivious anyway. Was thinking we'd stay on resort (Playa del Carmen/Rivera Maya) but maybe do a trip out off possible, happy not to though. Did boats/cenotes so not bothered and DCs won't be either.

I just want them to be somewhere warm, with a warm sea, running around on a beach and in a waterpark etc, eating food I've not cooked and don't want to clear up.

Average temp was from Tui.

Europe just doesn't cut it for me, the sea will be cold at that time of year surely rather than like a nice hot bath? Plus anywhere I've done AI in Europe the food, eg steak availability and quality doesn't compare at all.

Will look into canaries, where is good? Keep hearing Lanzarote has freezing winds etc. Will the sea and land be actually nice and hot in April?

We go a Lanzarote every year, weather is great in winter, always been in December or February half term, sea will be very cold though, as it’s the Atlantic Ocean.

Recently back from Corfu, Oct and the sea was warmer than the pools. IKOS resorts are excellent for all inc and cater well for children, quite expensive though, would recommend IKOS Dassia.

Oof I wouldn't. Second Canaries, Gran Canaria is lovely, we went in September and so hot. Going again July.

lanzarote has three main tourist resorts, Costa Teguise (probably the breeziest) Puerto del Carmen (our favourite) or Playa Blanca. We have done allinc there when our children were little, we tend to hire a Villa now with a heated private pool and eat out. Check that the hotel has a heated pool, as many don’t. So too cold for children, seen people in wet suits in unheated pools. Only 4hrs or so flight. All resorts are close to the airport, PDC the closest 15mins, CT 25mins, PB 35mins away. Lanzarote is low rise, only one tall hotel in Arrecife, Arrecife Grand. Lots to see on Lanzarote, very interesting island.

Tenerife around Los Christianos area is fairly sheltered and often the warmest part of the island. We’ve been in Feb before and it was nice. Beaches not great and the sea will be cold but some of the hotels are lovely and have big pools.

We went to Mexico in August a few years ago with a 2 year old (and 8 year old). Had a great time. Wandered round the local area quite a bit and hired taxis for a few day trips.

If you're staying in one of the touristy areas and keep your wits about you I don't think it's really any more hassle or dangerous than a European holiday.

Go to Muscat instead. Beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, beautiful food, less jet lag, shorter flight.

I agree about the flight. The thought of 3 under 5 on a long haul makes my blood pressure rocket!

I would stick with UK or Europe for that reason but you know what you're doing!

Omg just lost a massive post because I tried to view new posts which had appeared, no warning it would do that, GRRRR!

Right. Will be briefer.

Muscat - interesting, don't think I've ever heard of it. Warm sea in April? Much AI about with big resorts with splash parks, kids clubs etc?

Tenerife- not great beaches not really selling it!

Canaries-thanks for lots of extra useful info. is the sea warm at all any time of year?

Heated pool is a good shout. Swimming in wetsuits on a foreign holiday does not sound good!

I take the point about the horrific flight, but it's such a small part of the holiday that I was thinking powering through might be worth it for the sake of not making any other compromises? Am I kidding myself on?

I can't go September/October for the warm med sea then. It's April, maybe June or nothing.

Oh Muscat is saying _34 degree average temp in April so that's a no.