My family and I would love to head to Mexico sometime in the spring. We have a 15 and 12 year old. We’ve stayed at the Grand Sirenis in Mayan Riviera a couple of times and love the resort. But I’m just trying to find maybe something different to try instead of always going to the same place. My must are: at least 4.5 star, up dated rooms, good food/drink, nice beach and safe for kids to do their own thing if they want to. Any suggestions would be great! Thank you!

Finest Playa Mujeres

Royalton Cancun

I went to Mazatlan Mexico
Right beside the Pacific ocean beautiful place look it up

GIPHY

Check out the AM resorts
You will Not be disappointed

Iberostar Lindo. The new nickelodeon resort looks amazing but on the pricy side.

Grand sunset princess is fantastic

Riu Yucatan at Playa De Carman...nice place, right be the beach, seen lots of families, rooms are ok. Nightly activities for the young ones! Just returned from that resort last night...

Grand Bahia Tulum. All updated. Just returned yesterday, incredible Covid safety protocols and testing on site. Also, you’ll have access to all 3 resorts (Tulum/Coba and Akumal)

Dreams !!!

We’ve been to Mexico a gazillion times. We LOVE this resort. Smaller, great food, great drinks, great service, safe. Kid friendly but not full of them. It’s the best.
https://www.amrcollection.com/.../riviera-cancun.../...
AMRCOLLECTION.COM
Mexico Family Resort | Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa

Christin our son got married here…..it was awesome!

Donna yes we went to a wedding there then an extended family trip years later!

We stayed at Ocean Riviera Paradise and loved it. Do the privilege upgrade, the privilege restaurant is well worth it.

Sarah Haugen We love ORP too.

Sarah Haugen how was the beach?

Amanda We were there before the hurricane so the beach was nice. We were in the privilege area and it was great. Not big on going into the ocean so can't comment in that. Would recommend water shoes in the ocean anywhere as it can be rocky.

Our kids, nearish those ages at the time, loved the great parnassus in cancun

Grand @ Moon Palace or Barcelo Palace Maya Riviera.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort - Amazing! A small water slide park is on the grounds (offers a great distraction as kids can come and go) plus jungle/nature reserve with suspension bridges and monkeys and parrots etc, old ruins to roam, games area and multiple pool areas. Lots to offer teens and safe for them to roam around. Plus they offer outdoor survival classes that the kid seemed to like. We loved it. Plus you can visit their sister resort for free, it’s a cab ride away. But acts as a cheap ‘excursion’ day to something new.

Kristina hi Kristina, can I ask roughly how long ago you were there? I am eyeing this one too, looks like so much fun but such mixed reviews with food and service from the last year. So torn, appreciate your input!

Shir hello! I'm here right now and it's a mixed review for sure. The place is awesome there's tons to do and the water park is great. The food is ok some of the ala cartes are better than others. We have a membership and have stayed at both playacar and Caracol. Playacar is a bit more upscale but the rooms are smaller the beach is better and the shows are great. We got married at sirenis 10 years ago and I loved it there. Not sure if it's better or worse now. If the waterparks are of high importance this place is great.
My kids are also a lot younger so I don't know if it'll help you out or not

Lindsey thanks so much for your input. Mine are 5&7yrs, the water parks look amazing! If any major hiccups (hopefully not) if you don’t mind sharing at the end of your trip that would be very much appreciated. Hope you guys have an amazing time!!

Shir I’ve been to
Sandos Caracol several times. Love it. Don’t buy into the Elite membership. They are oversold & hard to book elite rooms even when you’ve been a member for many years. Otherwise it’s a fabulous resort!

Caroline good to know- thanks Caroline

Kristina another vote for Sandos Caracol here - massive jungle resort with great shows, plenty of activities on site with bikes, ruins, cenotes, tons of walking paths in the mangroves etc. 4 star resort with 3-4 star restaurant experience, some restaurants are better than others but generally the price is very fair vs 5 stars so keep that in mind. Day trip over to sister resort Santos Playacar for a better beach, different layout, mini golf, etc. - a great way to change it up essentially for free. The eco Royal elite rooms at caracol are a big upgrade vs the basic rooms so highly recommend that. Perhaps you adults can opt for the preferred club upgrade to access the adult pool/restaurant/beach if you want the option sometimes.

Kristina

Panama Jack Cancun!! Such a beautiful resort the rooms are amazing and so beautiful. Beds are like heaven and the beach is absolutely incredible. Unlimited Al la carte, coffee shop with fresh pastries and sandwiches. It was my fav resort I’ve ever been to!

Ashley was the beach swimmable for kids or was it rough?

Amanda it was swimable! The waves were strong some days but as long as you stay closer to the shore it’s totally fine. There was lots of sandbars. Plus they have a water park for kids on the other side of the resort.

Ashley ok thank u… I’ve been looking at this resort but my kids love to swim/snorkel in the water

Amanda yeah there are lots of shallow spots and the beach is beautiful!

We stayed at the Now jade.. loved it.. they recently became a Dreams chain. They even have a small reef od the beach. I'd go there again

Following

We just came back from Barcello in Maya Rivera. The best resort we have been into so far

Olya Agree with this - it is 4 or 5 different resorts set along a long stretch of beach. MUCH to do. If you stay at the highest end resort (The Palace) you can use the facilities/restaurants at all of the other resorts. There is some reefy area in front of the Palace where you can snorkel right off the beach. Last I was there a number of years ago there was a dolphin tank/show on site. Teen club etc.

Olya agree completely. Barcelo resort is awesome. Have stayed there several times and returning again in March 2022! Great beach, great food. Something for everyone regardless of age!

This is amazing! Thanks so much for all your input!

Jessica I love using tripcentral.ca for all my research!

Jessica I'm dreaming of a beach too!

Make sure you get covid insurance

We just got back from Dreams Natura. They have water slides and a lazy River, kids club, water park, roller glider, so good for kiddos. It just opened in March 2020. Isolated though, surrounded by mangroves, and while we were there, there was a seaweed issue, but was better at the end of the week. Not sure if it is a seasonal thing or not.

Occidental Excaret, then you can also enjoy the Excaret Nature Park right next door. So much to do for all ages.

Kathy yes!! Jessica, this one. Must do that Park too.

Kathy agree if the kids like venture around there are lots of trials they can follow all within the resort. Tons of wild life. Tram that takes you to a very safe beach for swimming. It's a white sand cove so very little waves and mostly shallow with no huge drop offs. Very safe for swimming. 5 pools and lots of restaurants. Don't stay in the main building ask for a room on the grounds. Jungle views but if you are facing the jungle you can leave fruit for the monkeys and watch come to your balcony.

Baecelo!!

You can't get much better than the Grand Sirenis though...good luck

(Hope you know that all family members will have to be fully-vaccinated to board the plane in Canada)

Carolyn not true. Negative covid test still works

Kristie For now, but next Spring?

Kristie apparently not

Kristie nope. You need to be fully vaccinated to fly on any plane both domestically and internationally.

https://travel.gc.ca/.../travel-restrictions/domestic-travel
TRAVEL.GC.CA
COVID-19 Boarding flights and trains in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

Tammy Effective October 30, 2021, all guests who are 12 years and four months of age or older travelling on any airline on a flight in Canada domestically, transborder, or internationally will require one of the following:
• Proof of full vaccination
• Proof of a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel
• Proof of a valid positive COVID-19 PCR test taken between 14 and 180 days prior to travel

Kristie where are you getting this information. The government of Canada website begs to differ. And sorry, but when travelling, that’s the only Website you should be referring too

Courtney Anica Bond Effective October 30, 2021, all guests who are 12 years and four months of age or older travelling on any airline on a flight in Canada domestically, transborder, or internationally will require one of the following:
• Proof of full vaccination
• Proof of a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel
• Proof of a valid positive COVID-19 PCR test taken between 14 and 180 days prior to travel

Kristie, this is not consistent with all the govt info - what is your source, please?

https://travel.gc.ca/.../travel-restrictions/domestic-travel
TRAVEL.GC.CA
COVID-19 Boarding flights and trains in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

Carolyn westjet website

Unfortunately, that means the westjet website is wrong - or at least not fully correct about travel dates - as per the govt link posted above. There are some exceptions for unvaxxed Canadians to board a plane until Nov 29; and some exceptions for unvaxxed foreign nationals to board a plane until Feb 28. But unless the govt changes the rules again, the original comment here is correct that a trip in the Spring will require all family members over age 12 to be vaccinated.

Tammy westjet website

Kristie right. Cause until Nov 29 you can still provide a negative covid test. Come Nov 30, negative covid test will no longer be accepted. Must be vaccinated

Kristie Unfortunately, that means the westjet website is wrong - or at least not fully correct about travel dates - as per the govt link posted above. There are some exceptions for unvaxxed Canadians to board a plane until Nov 29; and some exceptions for unvaxxed foreign nationals to board a plane until Feb 28. But unless the govt changes the rules again, the original comment here is correct that a trip in the Spring will require all family members over age 12 to be vaccinated.

https://www.hotelxcaret.com/es/hotel-xcaret-mexico/
HOTELXCARET.COM
Hotel Xcaret México | Hoteles Xcaret

Jana

Jana

Paradisus Playa del Carmen. Lots of restaurants to choose from with the food amazing at all of them. If you’re able to, upgrade to the Reserve class. You get access to additional pool, restaurant and a personal concierge to take care of things for you. They also have a water park for the kids I believe

We just came back from Grand BAHIA PRINCIPE TULUM on Sunday! It fits all of your requirements and is absolutely amazing!

Akeyla Coba is our home resort for our timeshare. Can’t wait to get back there. It’s been way to long.

Riu Playacar was awesome, you are close to the town which is very convenient and save you money, time and grief. Plus the Riu Playacar is located in the gated community! I was there last week and it is the best beach I have seen so far! And I’m a local! The water was calm, warm and no seaweed and no rocky at all! As a gated community, you feel safer. Food was great, pools are beautiful and the beach is there as well.

Riu halisco in Nuevo Vallarta. 5 star, great for families