Mexico family vacation

[Rh6363]

I am planning a trip with my 1 year and we are looking for to go Mexico.
Can anyone recommend a good family resort and location for a family trip.

Thanks in advance.

[BIGW0RM]

I recommend you do not go to Mexico.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-advisory.html

[Rh6363]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

I recommend you do not go to Mexico.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-advisory.html

Isn’t that from last year?

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Rh6363

Isn’t that from last year?

Something from this year:

https://mx.usembassy.gov/message-for...-break-travel/

[Oldgixxer]

Nope. Just nope

[dreamingat30fps]

Putting aside whatever is going on with crime.

We use to go all the time when I had a regular job. IMO it's the best and easiest way to relax for a week. That being said I don't have kids so never had to go with a baby. Doesn't sound like much fun for anyone involved IMO.

Anyways if you want a similar experience with less crime look at Dominican Republic. While I do think service is better in Mexico... DR is not bad.

Can't recommend any resorts as we always stayed at adult only places.

[Pheonix]

I love Mexico but there is no way I would take a one year old and family to Mexico!

[StealthF32]

Aruba...stay @ either Riu or Riu Palace....you'll get the best of both worlds - - resort all inclusive life & the downtown strip is within walking distance with restaurants & gift shops

Jamaica - - you can never go wrong (Montego Bay, Negril, Ochio Rios)...always a good time!!

But in all honesty.....too early to travel with a 1yr old & the vacation experience will be spent catering to the needs of your child vs the actual experience, so you should wait a bit vs forcing it, but do as you see fit!!

[Rh6363]

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far.

Aruba is def one of our top options.

As far as traveling with a 1 yr old. We have already done multiple trips with him since he’s been born. Most recently was bahamas, so we aren’t strangers to traveling with him. He’s already got his frequent flyer membership and racking up points lol.

So looks like we will wait on Mexico , so Aruba it is.

[Nuckle]

Some friends just went and stayed at the moon palace. Said it was awesome.

[TrueNorthM5]

I took my 9 month old to Malaysia and Indonesia. We travel several times a year and are headed to Cancun next week.

Most tourist places in Mexico are probably as safe as many neighborhoods of USA (or Canada in my case) - the one exception I would say is traffic/transportation - bring the car seat for the little one.

Because travel/budgets are all so variable, I'll just say a few tips:

-Bring your own baby food/snacks (more than you'd expect)
-All inclusive is the only way to go with young ones. Buffet for most meals
-Get a room with a nice balcony with ocean views. Baby goes to sleep at 7pm? Have drinks/room service on the balcony with your wife.
-Pick a resort that has a kids club/splash pad etc. Even if your 1yr old isn't old enough, it's helpful to know there's going to be other families

Aside from that, read reviews and book something that looks nice/in your budget. I don't particularly love Puerto Vallarta or Cancun, but many of the hotels are nice and you'll probably be spending most of your time there. Los Cabos is very nice but you can't swim in the ocean. Cozumel is lovely but the resorts aren't as nice as PV or Cancun area.

[infinitekidM2C]

You should be fine in Cancun at one of the resorts. The Fiesta Americana or stuff like that. Just don't go to Juarez looking for a good time

[xander_g]

An all inclusive somewhere in Cancun, Tulum or Cabo will be fine, any of the RIU resorts will be great. Personally, I like RIU Palace in Cabo.
If you decide that you don't want to go to Mexico, I would suggest Aruba or Turks and Caicos.

[Pheonix]

TrueNorthM5,great inputs!
It is actually nice to travel with very young kids if they are not fussy! The best part is that you don't have to pay for airfare until after 2 years old

[GOLFFRR]

Ive gone to Nobu in Cabo the past few years. It was really nice and has sorta of a private beach. Not sure if it's the best for families though. But if you want a nice safe place, this has been great for me the past few years.

https://loscabos.nobuhotels.com/?utm...medium=organic

[dfox]

Of course, there are places in Mexico that you don't want to go. Plenty of places in the US you don't want to go with a family either.

Mexico is fine for a family with kids, but you need to be intentional in where you go and what you do. I've done multiple trips north of Puerto Vallarta to vacation towns, as a couple and with kids. All very culturally enriching trips, never felt unsafe, but it does require being aware of your surroundings. Many friends have brought their families down to the same area.

That said, it definitely isn't for everyone. Some people are happier sitting in an all-inclusive resort sipping drinks on a beach with a bunch of other Americans. Personally, that's not why I travel abroad, I can do that stuff in the US. You need to decide what experience you really want.

[JMcLellan]

Barcelo in Riviera Maya (about 30 minutes south of Cancun) is a great property. I went there with my immediately family plus my wife's family. It was awesome with so many things to do.

[bagekko]

Uh yeah its maybe more dangerous to step out of many of the resorts in the DR than the big resort areas in Mexico. I enjoyed our resort in the DR but everything in between the airport & resort was sketchy as hell, plus the whole mess next door in Haiti makes me less likely to visit the DR anytime soon.

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

Anyways if you want a similar experience with less crime look at Dominican Republic. While I do think service is better in Mexico... DR is not bad.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Uh yeah its maybe more dangerous to step out of many of the resorts in the DR than the big resort areas in Mexico. I enjoyed our resort in the DR but everything in between the airport & resort was sketchy as hell, plus the whole mess next door in Haiti makes me less likely to visit the DR anytime soon.

I guess I forgot about Haiti... dunno haven't been to either DR or MX in years but when we were going more frequently I found them about the same. We would always go to Punta Cana though which is on the complete other side.

We are also not the kind of people who would go on excursions and what not. We get to the resort and we don't leave for the entire stay.

[bagekko]

Yeah I mostly prefer to not venture out much either, Punta Cana Excellence is where we went in the DR, it was great, but really didn't feel safe venturing out, wife made us go about 10 min down the road to a big shopping/souvenir place and it was quite sketchy.

In terms of safety of resort places in recent years Costa Rica & Panama felt pretty safe, Cancun didn't venture out but it was family vac so not really need to, DR felt unsafest. Going to Cabo in the summer, expecting to be nicer than Cancun.

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I guess I forgot about Haiti... dunno haven't been to either DR or MX in years but when we were going more frequently I found them about the same. We would always go to Punta Cana though which is on the complete other side.

We are also not the kind of people who would go on excursions and what not. We get to the resort and we don't leave for the entire stay.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Yeah I mostly prefer to not venture out much either, Punta Cana Excellence is where we went in the DR, it was great, but really didn't feel safe venturing out, wife made us go about 10 min down the road to a big shopping/souvenir place and it was quite sketchy.

In terms of safety of resort places in recent years Costa Rica & Panama felt pretty safe, Cancun didn't venture out but it was family vac so not really need to, DR felt unsafest. Going to Cabo in the summer, expecting to be nicer than Cancun.

Big fan of Excellence resorts. We have been to the one in Riviera Maya, Playa Mujeres and El Carmen. Playa Mujeres is by far my favorite but it has gotten crazy expensive and busy. I remember I could book a week for around $2-$3k with upgraded room etc. Now if it's even available its $4-$6K even for a standard room.

[dfox]

I find it crazy how many people spend the time and money to travel internationally and proceed to pack into resorts stuffed with other tourists. Try stepping out of your comfort zone a bit. The cultural enrichment is life changing. Plenty of safe places in Mexico that are still considered tourist towns that will let you experience a new culture. There are definitely places, like the DR, where I wouldn't do that, but there are plenty of nice places in Mexico to get out and experience what Mexico has to offer, beyond the anecdotes that modern politics has tried to engrain in our heads.

I hate to give away the places I like to travel, because like everything else they're all getting overrun, but for one place in Mexico check out Bucerías. It's not far from Puerto Vallarta, considered safe for travelers, and will get you to step out of your comfort zone and experience something new. Even if it's just a day trip from your cozy resort, give it a shot.

I just got back from a similar town in Mexico. We'll be back with the family in November.