Why Mexico with kids is a great idea!

We love Mexico! Where the entire Caribbean region can easily show off with white bounty beaches, a clear blue sea and colourful villages/cities, Mexico still has some extra assets. Historical wealth to name but one, a wonder of the world and even a Disney movie that highlights a world famous facet of their culture (Hello, Coco?!) So we were all headed to Mexico with our children, to the exotic sounding provinces of Yucatàn and Quintana Roo.

CULTURE

Time for what makes the difference between vacation and travel. You didn't just cross the ocean for the swimming pool and the beach, right? To travel is to learn, that's right, kids! Go out, ask for help if you don't know and for heaven’s sake do something. You know; like visiting Chichen Itza that has been waiting for us for centuries!

Chichen Itza

From Playa del Carmen it is about a 2 hour drive to Chichen Itza, once one of the most important cities of the Maya with the pyramid of Kukulcàn as a highlight. Our mouths fell open when Bas started to tell in detail about the history of this site. Apparently Dora The Explorer – if you have kids, you ‘ll know her for sure!- had already been there before us and brought a lot of cultural baggage to our inquisitive son. That way he could tell us what sport and games the old Maya's practiced.

There is a large parking lot not too far from the entrance. Tip of the day: come as early as possible. Not only to avoid the crowds, but also (and especially) the heat. Temperatures can get really high and there is not too much shade. Take some extra water with you anyway (you can also buy that at the entrance) and possibly a cap or a hat. Not as a fashion statement, but as much needed protection under the Mexican equator.

The site opens at 8 o'clock and we would recommend to arrive not much later than opening time. We know, that means getting up early. From here you can also easily go to the ruins of Coba, the only pyramid in the region you're still allowed to climb! Although the site is a lot smaller than Chichen Itza's, it might appeal more to kids. Give them some action and adventure and they're unstoppable!

Tulum

If you drive south from Playa del Carmen, you'll arrive in Tulum in an hour. The ruins of Tulum are, if possible, even more beautiful than Chichen Itza. This is largely due to its location, right next to the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. How we experienced the ruins. There is more to do than just look at the ruins. Tip: bring a bucket and scoops for the kids and get ready for bohemian vibes. Tulum is hip and trendy!

BEACH

So you're in a Caribbean country with tropical temperatures and palm trees that provide welcome shade all day long. Can you feel the gentle breeze on your cheeks? That's it! The first day(s) in Mexico you can relax that it is a sweet lust. Lay out on that lounger, feel the white sand crackling under your feet, take a refreshing dip in the sea or pool and think about how great your life can be. Because the consequences of jet lag can be reasonably calculated, you can assume that for once your kids will also be in favour of an afternoon nap. By the way, we found the most beautiful beaches in Holbox and Tulum, but also the private beach at your hotel in Playa del Carmen or Cancun will not disappoint you.

CITYTRIP

Most of the hotels in this region are located in Cancun or Playa del Carmen and although the atmosphere there is very good, we recommend visiting one of the cities more inland. There the atmosphere is warmer and more authentic than on the boulevards filled with souvenir shops in the tourist centre.
We chose Valladolid, an old town that has its roots in colonial times. You can tell by the many Spanish influences, starting with the large central square opposite the cathedral. By the way, that cathedral is worth a short visit. Not that it is so spectacular on the inside, but Catholicism is important to the Mexican people. Of course we had watched the Disney movie of 'Coco' with the kids beforehand. We told them all about it when we drove in the direction of Valladolid and so Bas and Elodie went looking for similarities between Valladolid and Santa Cecilia. Children are sometimes easy to enthuse :-)
Near the central square you can find the restaurant 'El Meson del Marques'. Seriously: plan your day so that you can have lunch here. Think Guacamole à la minute in the courtyard of a 17th century colonial house.
Stroll along the square Parque Francisco Cantón, sit in one of the stone chairs and enjoy the street performers that undoubtedly pass by.
In the side streets you can walk past colored houses and get lost between the piñatas of the shops. Valladolid is one of those towns where you must have been. It can be combined with a trip to Chichen Itza. It is right on the way back!

PRACTICAL information

LONG FLIGHT WITH THE KIDS

Yeah, it's true. There's also a downside to that fantastic trip to Mexico. It's a long flight. And by long we mean LONG! And with kids. What do we do then? Provide entertainment in the hand luggage of the children! How we survive the rest of the flight, we have cast in a video.

And oh yes! The most important tip is anyway: keep calm! Children stay calm longer if parents are too. Yeah, even if you have the stress of a lifetime. Try to suppress any fear of flying. Anyway, feel free to watch the video of our 11 hour flight!

RENT A CAR IN MEXICO

When we travel, our legs crave movement and our hearts crave adventure. That’s when we prefer to go out! In Mexico you have the Colectivo, which is sort of public transport similar to a regular bus, but much smaller (a kind of minivan). More info about the Colectivo can be found on this website.

The easiest way is to just rent a car, especially if you travel with kids. On the Expedia website we find the best options. This way we rented our VW Golf through a local Hertz agency. At times when we need to organize, we usually split up. Ludovic takes a taxi from the hotel to the rental office (find the exact address in advance!) and I stay with the children in the hotel. We always find it so crazy that people are waiting with the whole family for the rental car. Especially because it often takes a while before you are helped. Nagging children don't contribute to the holiday feeling you've been looking forward to for so long!

Driving in Mexico is very easy, everything is clearly marked. We preloaded the route on Google Maps and reached our destinations without any problems. Another tip of the day: refuel on time. The petrol stations can be far apart. We drove 45 kilometres that way with a fuel tank that was empty according to the light.

Why Mexico is a top destination for a family? Because you can experience any holiday you want there! Do you like all in-resorts with large swimming pools? That is possible in Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Do you like a small boutique hotel on a white beach? That's possible at Holbox and Tulum. Do you like conviviality and authenticity? That's possible in Valladolid! You can find the ideal holiday for every family!

There is so much to do and so much to experience. Our time was unfortunately too short to visit everything in the region, but hey, that's another reason to go back, right? How did you experience e.g. Akumal, Sian Ka'an, the cenotes or Cozumel? Share your experiences in the comments!