Mexico Hotel with kids NOT ALL INCLUSIVE resort

[Fupoffyagrasshole]

Hi!
Looking for hotel recomendations for Mexico - likely Playa del carmen but open to other suggestions (been to playa before kids a few years back but stayed in a nice adult only hotel)

Planning for Easter break 2027 - we are not resort people and not all inclusive people at all! we like to do our own thing and travel around - so its more just a base to stay in!

Kids will be 3 & 6 - they are well travelled and used to long haul.

a place with a pool be nice and not a must have!

All I can find is threads with all inclusive resorts when i search

We like to explore too and always hire a car and get off the beaten track, but in Mexico we just stayed AI and still did the kids if things were usually do. The other options didn't have the facilities we wanted and it actually made for a great balance , breakfast in the hotel out most of the day, sometimes back for dinner sometimes not. We also had a couple of relaxing beach/pool days.

I stayed at Ana y Jose in Tulum recently it was gorgeous. Great restaurant, not all inclusive.

On the basis that your travel thinking is very aligned with my own, have a look at La Zebra Tulum. Not sure on your budget, this one has a pool and it's 4 star, so not the cheapest, probably similar price to Ana y Jose. Not actually a personal recommendation as we ended up in Jamaica instead, but this is was where I was going to book when I was seriously weighing up Mexico as an alternative. Lots of restaurant options around that beach zone of Tulum, so ideal for pottering around and getting out of your own hotel, but from what I read it's a bit of a hassle to get in and out on that beach road if you plan to go out sightseeing every day.

There’s lots of b&b options but some guests will have upgraded to ai. If you want to be somewhere that doesn’t offer ai you need to book independently and choose locally owned for instance

As others have said if you want Playa then you are probably stuck with AI, if you are prepared to consider Tulem agree with PP on Hotel Zebra or can highly recommend Lumina at LOSANTOS great appts with an outstanding pool (we also had plunge pool on balcony).

Thanks for this ! Im
not sure on Tulum - I’ve done 2 day trips there and didn’t really like it as much as plus del carmen - although the beaches were nicer - I liked to be able to get out of the area for the day or pop over to cozumel easily for example !

but going with the kids maybe we won’t be wanting to do as much and the beach life would be better this time so it consider it and do some more research

for playa one found the Hyatt centric and Maya Villa Condo Hotel and Beachclub

seem to be able to get 2 bedroom apartments which would idea!!

Easter return flights are not available just yet so I’m gonna keep checking next few days and see how prices are and to see if this is even possible 😬😬😬

that la zebra place looks amazing @TeamGeriatric deffo be checking this out!!

Good to know @hahabahbag i always do diy anyway with booking so hopefully we’ll find something!! :)