I am going to Cancun for the first time in October. I just discovered that Riviera Maya is different from Cancun so now I am even more confused, ha! Anyway....what would be a good all inclusive resort for someone traveling with a very active 2 year old? Thank you for your help!!
Have you checked into Azul Beach or Azul Sensatori? They are about 15-20 minutes south of the airport and cater to families. They offer many things that can make traveling with a young child easier, bottle warmers, cribs, baby monitors, strollers, Fisher Price Toy Program, Kids Club, Gourmet Berber Baby food and so much more. I hope this helps. Susylo "Give Happiness and Love" Smile!!
Great Parnassus is a great resort for kids and is where we take ours every so often. Crown Paradise is a cheaper option, which we personally don't like as much but is very child friendly. Both hotels are on a good stretch of beach with no rocks, however, going in the ocean for more than a paddle is too dangerous for little ones. If a calm ocean is important then you'll need to look to the bay side of Cancun, Riu Cancun is another one of our favorites which is good for kids and has safe waters.
Hi Steve, I'm going to be staying at Great Parnassus with my mom (64), sister (24), & my 2 year old daughter. Any tips for me/us? Anything I shouldn't pack (because they'll have it there)? Could you tell me what the weather will be like (around 85 during the day and 60s at night?) Also, any suggestions on fun things we can do with a 2 year old? I just discovered that Chichen Itza is pretty much out of the question which is a bummer. Thanks! I really appreciate it!
You'll love Great Parnassus I'm sure. The family rooms have 4 beds - a king size and then a bunk bed which is kind of separated off from the main room. We have taken Gran along with us in the past and the rooms work out well for 4. Daughter and Gran in the bunk and us in the king. You'll probably want to do a Walmart run in the first few days and stock up on nappies (diapers), formula if your little girl still drinks it and other baby essentials. The hotel shop will have them but probably at a huge mark up - it's not like they are cheap even at Walmart. Only thing I can think of telling you not to bring that you might have thought about is towels. You didn't mention when you were coming so can't tell you too much about the likely weather until you do but if it's in the short term please see my pages on December weather linked below: Cancun Weather in December We currently have a cold front at the moment and temps are down to a chilly for us 55-60F but that should only last a day or two more and then back to the usual 80F. Yeah I wouldnt recommend Chichen Itza with a 2 yr old. Xcaret or Xel Ha would be fun (you can hire pushchairs/strollers there), a trip to Crococun Zoo too if she likes animals - what 2 yr old doesnt! Have a great trip.
Thanks so much! Great info! My daughter actually mostly drinks Almond Milk and regular milk. Is there an issue, at all, with her drinking regular milk in the resort? I mean, like, might she get sick? (she hasn't been vaccinated for Hep A). I might bring along a couple of boxes of almond milk... depends on how much room I'll have in our suitcase! We're staying in a family room so YAY! Do you know if there's room for a crib in the bunk bed section? I actually figured my mom & sister would take the two regular beds and me in the bunkbed w/ the crib next to me. Even if the crib fits there, I'm not sure I'll be able to get around it into the bed. Any thoughts on what floor we should ask for? I want something high enough so that we don't hear the noise and low enough that we don't spend all vacation in the elevator. That's good to know that there's a Walmart! AND a hotel shop! I can't believe I asked about the weather without saying when we'll be there, heh. We're going on Jan 11. I've actually been to Xel Ha, but I couldn't remember if it was appropriate for a 2 year old. And I think it's about 1 1/2 hour drive from Great Parnassus? I'll definitely check out Crococun Zoo. Thanks!
Regular milk at the hotel is likely to be ultra- pastuerised. I cant stand the stuff myself but our 15 month old has it with cereal and he is ok with it, but he is used to it. I guess if your little girl is not used to it it could cause a tummy upset. You can buy what I call 'proper milk' i.e semi skim at Walmart or Costco, it's not cheap and it's not always in stock though. Almond milk we have never used, I asked my wife and she hasn't seen it, but we have not really looked for it. There's probably room for a crib, but the bunk has a rail as far as I remember, so she's not going to roll out of bed in the night. There's also a pull out mattress below the bottom bunk so even if she does somehow roll out it's about a 6 inch drop and a soft landing. Floors - I forget how many they have, around 12 I think. Elevators are fast and there is little to no noise anyway so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Weather - Jan is not unlike December, more info at: Cancun Weather in January Xel Ha is about an hour and a half, Xcaret is a little closer and probably has more for a two year old to be interested in so maybe choose Xcaret over Xel Ha. Click the links for more info and tour prices cheaper than in resort. Crococun will be ideal but you'll have to make your own way there and back. I dont know of any tours that run there, it's about 20 minutes the other side of the airport - so about 40 mins from the hotel. I'd guess a taxi at about $40 each way. Hope that helps
THANK you, this is great information! Sorry for all my questions, but I have more! (sorry for hijacking this thread, too) In regards to tipping: We are going for 7 nights. How much cash should I bring for tipping? Do I tip the babysitter who I'm planning on watching my daughter for 1 or two nights? (have you used a babysitter at Great Parnassus? How was it?) Do I tip the people in the kid's club? Do I tip housekeeping? How much? If I go up to the bar and get drinks for my mom, sister, & myself, is $1 enough of a tip? And, if the answer is "Whatever you feel like," I really really have no idea. I don't want to be insulting, but I don't have a lot of $$ either. Will people be happy that I'm tipping them $1? Or will they be insulted and pissed that it's not more? I feel the need to point out that my mom is a TERRIBLE tipper and my sister is totally broke. And since my mom is paying for the trip, I feel like it's my duty to cover all of us regarding tips. I feel weird about tipping. I don't know why but it always makes me feel shy and uncomfortable. Usually my husband does it. I don't even know how to do it! (I mean at times other than getting a drink or at a restaurant. Am I supposed to fold it up in my palm & shake their hand? It know this is ridiculous, but I'm really not sure what to do. Also, is it OK to tip with US money? Basically, I want to tip enough that the people working at the resort are happy that we're there and they maybe go slightly out of their way to ensure that we have a good time. Without going overboard with the $$. Thanks!! P.S. I just read about Crocodun and Oh My God it looks like fun! I love animals, and to get the chance to hold a spider monkey is really exciting for me. (and I'm sure my daughter will have fun too, hee hee) THANK YOU for suggesting it!
We haven't used the babysitting service, that's why we bring Gran along sometimes! Either that or we end up going to bed at 7pm But yeah a tip would always be appreciated and probably expected, maybe $5 or $10 would be right. Kids club, again we haven't tipped because when we go to the kids club we stay with them and the staff don't really do anything except let us in and out of the kids club area. Maids, a few dollars a day is about right. Bartenders: No need to be secretive, they will normally have a tip jar on the bar in full view, just drop it in there and make sure you catch their eye so they know. A Dollar per round would be fine. Personally I prefer to tip say 5 or 10 at the beginning (depending how long we will be there) and then more when we leave if the service has been good rather than each drink. USD for tipping is fine, but Pesos are probably better if you have them.
