Family Trip ideas - Cancun?
 

So, the wife and I were trying to think of something fun this summer... our kids will be 6, 8 and 10. We've been to Florida beaches a few times and thought maybe we try a quick 3-4 night trip down to Cancun.

I've been a few times, but not with kids.

Do any of you have ideas/suggestions on where to look for good deals? Are there resorts that are more kid/family friendly than others? I don't want to spend a ton, but I also don't want to stay in a bad location either.

Thanks in advance...

They have great wet t shirt contests there around Spring Break.

Not sure what you're looking to spend but the Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and the Turks are very nice and are built with families in mind.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa

it's abour 40 minutes south of cancun. wife and i stayed a week there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Peninsula.html

they've got some stuff for kids(pool, etc). you'll still see some tah-tahs on the beach, though.

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I always hit the TA forums when planning a trip. Here's Cancun's.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...Peninsula.html

I can't imagine trying to manage kids outside the exit of the cancun airport where all of the cabbies basically attack you and try to trick you into taking their cab.

With that being said, El Cid resort was awesome, calm, clean, friendly, and decently priced. It's about 20 minutes south of Cancun. I recommend it.

http://www.elcid.com/marina_beach_resort/

just keep walking.
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There is no way I would hang around Cancun, esp with kids.

Good suggestions so far.

Another option is to head to the Island of Women.

Isla Mujeres.

This island is real close to cancun, but so much better. You can take the bus to the ferry and all in all 1 hour away.

Do NOT take a cab anywhere outa Cancun airport. Get a bus schedule, or arrange something prior to get out of the terminal area.

Jesus Christ, Cancun is by far the biggest piece of shit place to go in Mexico and you want to take your kids there? Go to one of the all inclusive resorts in Playa Del Carmen instead and thank me later, they are approximately 8 billion times nicer and safer for your family.

Took the Family to Atlantis is the Bahamas over X-Mas. Major hit with the wife and kids. It's expensive, but shit, everything is.

Mexico wouldn't be a place I would take a family IMO.

This

few years back we got a kid under 12 yrs free trip to this place. It was a good time

Iberostar Paraíso Beach
http://www.iberostar.com/EN/Riviera-...iso-Beach.html

McDonalds.

Yeah, we're looking there as well... that looks like a really fun experience.

And, we're not sold on Cancun guys (hence the ?) and the request for ideas. :p By the way, thanks for the suggestions so far.

Costa Rica is a blast. I really enjoy myself down there.

McDonalds is shitty.

How are the drug wars impacting the tourist experience in Mexico? Is it pretty insulated and unaffected, or have there been problems? Are you getting good deals now because people are less enthusiastic about going? I haven't really followed that story line.

Varadero Cuba is a nice spot. I'd like to take my kids there when they're a little older.

Wait...are you guys allowed in Cuba?

Ironic.

I just got back from Cancun last night.

The wife, myself, and a couple of friends of mine spent 5 days and 4 nights at Grand Cocoa Bay.

All inclusive. Fairly cheap for an all inclusive in Mexico. That said, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

http://www.grandcocobay.com/

I think we can go but we have to go way of Canada or another country to fly in.

The baseball scouts get there somehow. :)

Technically, no. However, the trick is to enter from another country. A Mexican friend of mine has been trying to talk me into going, and I must admit that it's tempting. I'd love to see that place.

I'd take your wife to Cabo San Lucas, & you can take your kids to disneyland, we would all have fun. :D

why not just keep taking them to Florida? Maybe just a different area. We take the kids so Santa Rosa Beach every year. Mine are about the same age as yours. Close enough to Destin for some fun and entertainment, fishing, shopping, etc., but far enough removed that it is very quiet and we can ride bikes, swim, hang at the beach, and chill out. We will probably keep doing it until the kids quit asking "how much longer till we go to Florida again?" I'd ask them. We rent a house through VRBO and spend about $800 to $900 for a week within a block of the beach in a killer house complete with back yard, grill, gated community, and even a garage for the car.

Or, since you are talking about summer, what about a cabin in Colorado or Wis or Minn? If you like outdoorsy stuff and the kids do too, there is fishing, hiking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, etc. The last place I'd take my kids at that age would be mexico.

Cancun not for kids and I wouldn't go to Mexico for free. Was there is 1985 and it's turned into the Hispanic Jersey Shore

Bahamas have great deals right now because they used to get a lot of traffic from Florida but it's hurting.

Jamaica, Bermuda and Virgin Islands too adult.

As bad and as much as I hate Florida, they are giving away the farm on airfares and trips because they are so depressed and you can rent a great condo for $600-700 for a week on the beach.

Many other places like Hawaii are too far and too expensive for a "quick trip"

I was there in 2005 in March for my honeymoon and we loved the place. I enjoyed it much more than Punta Cana and Cancun. Going to Havana for the Tropicana show and touring the rum and cigar factories were a blast. I'm also a big mojito fan after visiting that place.

I don't think it's as bad as you make it sound in all resort areas. There's nothing wrong with Florida, but snorkeling, excursions, etc... just something different.

We looked at Atlantis as well in the Bahamas - pretty pricey though.

MHM haven't you seen the barrage of BP tourism adds? The gulf coast is all cleaned up now. Why do you want to take your vacation dollars across the border? What do you America or something? :D

Mayan Riveria if Mexico.

I would look into Atlantis in the Bahamas. That is probably the funnest place on earth for a kid. Seriously.

Simple answer. Take em to Wally World.

The New Jersey Shore. Great beaches. Entertainment. And no, I'm not joking. Rent a home from Bradley Beach to Long Beach Island. Don't rent in Seaside. Philly and New York are both within 90 minutes. Kitty Hawk to Cape Hatteras is also real nice.

Get crazy get wild
Let's party get loud
If you wanna have fun and do something
If you wanna have fun and do something
Get crazy get wild
Let's party get loud
If you wanna have fun and do something
If you wanna have fun and do something

try the Barcelo resorts in Playa Del Carmen. Cancun is the Branson of Mexico.

I'd recommend Puerto Vallarta for adults, but the beaches are far below the carribean side.

I went there with my family a while back. It was very tame where we stayed. The resort was a mixture of people 25-65, a few 20-25 year olds but most were in the middle. We stayed at Omni. I'm sure it all depends where and when you go, but we went in the middle of February.

Now, that's not a bad idea actually... something on the East Coast could be an option. We haven't traveled to that part of the country with the kids and we might be due for a cross-country trek. Interesting... thanks for the suggestion.

Agreed - you go to a nice resort, stay on property for most of the time and there's nothing to be concerned about really.

Canada, get those kids out in the wilderness and enjoying life.

With kids go to Yucatan peninsula for resorts, more adult oriented and events for kids.. There are about 30+ you can choose from, just 30-45mins south of cancun..

Also xel-ha..

http://xel-ha.com/

I hear Nuevo Laredo is nice.

just was there in early dec, had a blast
could be kid friendly
no idea was 50 of us and the youngest (he) was 19

we drank the place outta beer one night
seemed family friendly
it's just we were not
see tulum
it's close
went to koba also
you can climb on the pyramid
the view
and climb( hey I am old) is breath taking

Isla Mujeres. Some of our friends do this with their family pretty much every year. We haven't broken down yet (so many places, so little money), but we plan on it soon.

Here is the information we were given (and I trust the source):