Visiting Mayan ruins in Mexico had been on my bucket list ever since I watched a TV special as a teenager about this fascinating culture and their monuments to Mayan gods. (Yes, I was obsessed with travel, even back then.) This desire increased when, during the eighth month of my first pregnancy, my husband was sent on a sales reward trip to Cancun. I forbade him from visiting the nearby ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum without me. Not wanting to travel to a foreign country so far into my pregnancy, I gave him a hug and a huge guilt trip before he departed for this Mexican paradise with his coworkers and their spouses.
Mayan Ruins at Tulum near Cancun
Earlier this year, when I was invited on a press trip by Diamond PR to another lovely (but not bucket listed) location, I noticed this PR firm represents two sweet-looking properties in Cancun. So, I asked if I could attend a Cancun press trip instead. They said, “Si!” and within a couple of weeks I was the one bearing the guilt trip as I boarded a plane to Mexico. As I stood swaying in the unfathomably turquoise-colored ocean waves, staring up at the Tulum ruins perched on seaside cliffs, I thought, “I have the best job ever.”
Mayan ruins Built in the 13th Century AD, Tulumis the site of Mexico’s only oceanfront ruins. Here you can wander past ancient stone temples and once-residences and peer at iguanas sunning themselves amongst the ruins. Then march down a set of wooden stairs to take a dip in the enticing waves to cool off.
Although my group didn’t, I highly recommend paying the extra fee for a guided tour of the ruins. Learning specific details about the structures and culture from an expert while wandering through the ruins of Pompeii in Italy made that experience much more meaningful for me.
Steps to the ocean from the Tulum ruins
Chichen Itza is a larger archealogical site but further away from Cancun (126 miles versus 81). It is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and was once the ceremonial center of the Yucatan. These Mayan ruins may have been built as early as 600 AD. The most famous and impressive pyramid, Kukulkan Pyramid, is over 75-feet-tall.
Family-friendly dining After our visit to Tulum, our little pack of travel writers was driven to the nearby cafe, Oscar & Lalo’s for fresh seafood served in a garden setting. If visiting with children, after your meal let the kiddos romp around on the on-site playground while you relax in a tableside hammock. This is something I adore about the family-friendly atmosphere of Mexico; playground areas at restaurants are not reserved just for fast-food joints as in America. In Mexico, you can often find kid-friendly climbing structures and diversions at many casual and fancier restaurants, making dinner for the whole family fun and stress-free.
Play structure for kids at Oscar & Lalo’s
Xcaret ecopark Next, we headed to Xcaret, an ecopark located on over 200 acres, with way more activities than could be completed in a half-day or even full-day visit. Instead of trying to squeeze it all in, pick a few must-dos and concentrate on those or plan to spend two days here. If traveling with young children, I suggest breaking up your visit to Chichen Itza and Xcaret into two days, even though it will mean more driving. This was a fun, but very long and tiring day, even for adults.
Meander through the park’s impressive animal exhibits featuring jaguars, lions, takins (goofy looking animals related to sheep), monkeys, and more. There’s also a Butterfly Pavilion, Bat Cave, and Coral Reef Aquarium. You can book a stingray encounter, dolphin swim, or underground river snorkeling adventure at the Water Activities Center. Xcaret is also home to actual Mayan ruins, which may not rival Tulum or Chichen Itza, but while most Mexican ruins are now inaccessible due to erosion, you can actually climb on these (for now, at least).
A jaguar at Xcaret
Mexican culture The Xcaret Night Show gives insight to the history, culture, and proud people of Mexico. A three-course meal is available during the show. While the food is not spectacular, it adds to the fun of the evening.
The show comes to light with the scent of candles and burning sage. Then, a lively reenactment of the ancient ball game of Pok ta’pok commences, a mythical sport that dates back to 1000 BC. Later, a war scene depicts the battles between Spanish settlers and Mexico’s native people.
Xcaret Night Show
I was seated with Sergio Esquinca, an executive at Xcaret, who leaned over during the conversion of the Aztecs and Mayans to Catholicism. He said, “This is my favorite part because it means peace.” Sergio pointed out how audience members from various areas of Mexico cheered when their regions’ traditions were acted out using dance, music, and costumes.
I was struck by depth of connection Mexico’s citizens have to their heritage, with obvious ties to Spanish culture blended with traditions of the country’s native peoples. Although I love my country, watching this show made me long for a deeper sense of American culture beyond red stripes and blue stars, baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie.
Beaches and water
Cancun is home to some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches, with powdery shores the color of vanilla cake batter and warm water in that impossible hue of turquoise. For an adventure, book a snorkeling excursion, deep sea fishing trip, or Sub-See Explorers Yellow Submarine cruise with Aquaworld. Waterpark lovers should check out Wet n’ Wildfor waterslides, a lazy river, bumper boats and more.
View from my room at CasaMagna Marriott Cancun
Cancun resorts
I stayed at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort with its traditional Spanish design and a grandiose view of the ocean. Its sister property next door, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spahas a more sleek, upscale vibe (and pricing). I highly recommend either for their oceanfront locations, fabulous pools, and delicious restaurants.
Between the two resorts, you’ll find several international restaurants representing the cuisine of Thailand, Argentina, Japan, Italy, America’s Southwest, and, of course, Mexico. I was especially impressed with their tantalizing breakfast buffets of fresh fruits and colorful juices, egg dishes, pastries, fried plantains and more.
Both CasaMagna and JW Marriott Cancun offer a year-round Marriott Kids club for children ages 4-12 with a club room and playground. Daily activities might include pinata making, water balloon contests, Spanish lessons, and a sea turtle conservation program. Hours are 10 am – 4 pm daily. In-room babysitting is also available 24 hours per day at an additional charge.
While the kids are busy having their own fun, book a spa appointment at either resort or whoop it up at CasaMagna’s Champions Sports Bar, which offers a dance floor, sports of all sorts on huge flat screen TVs, and even Karaoke. Surely a margarita (or two) will get you in the mood for belting out your favorite songs!
Be sure to get a cup of Mexican hot chocolate and traditional pastries served with cajeta (caramel sauce) from the breakfast buffet (Delicioso!)
Escape! Connecting rooms package If you are regular Travel Mamas reader, you probably know that I’m big proponent of getting a suite or connecting rooms when traveling with kids. This is mostly because I am a terrible sleeper and bunking down with my family of four in one room leads to sleepless nights and a cranky mama. I also like having extra space to spread out. Plus, a little privacy post bedtime is good for a little vacation romance!
I love that CasaMagna is offering a special Escape! Connecting rooms package through December 22, 2011. (This package is all booked up at JW Marriott Cancun). Rates start at $236 for connecting resort or ocean view rooms with daily breakfast for two adults and two children (under age 12). Use Promo code XE2 when booking. Check out this and other specials.
Bucket List
I am tickled to scratch an item off my bucket list. However, I may have to add another wish now: Visit Cancun with my family! While this long weekend in Cancun was a wonderful retreat, I would love to return with my husband and children for a longer stay. If you haven’t visited Cancun yet…add it to your bucket list! You’ll be glad you did.
Do you think Cancun is bucket-list-worthy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Think the days of luxury traveling are over once you have kids? Not even. Here are a five of my favorite luxury resorts for family escapes ideal for even the most discerning little travelers. Mom and Dad might even have fun too!
Curtain Bluff Antigua, West Indies A classic Caribbean resort, Curtain Bluff boasts that it “works” for the entire family, and third generations of families (a.k.a. repeaters) who return year after year would agree. As an all-inclusive resort, you and your kids will enjoy a myriad of activities including sailing Hobie Cats and windsurfers, diving, water-skiing, snorkeling and fishing trips, and tennis. The convenience factor: meals, drinks and activities are all-included. While Mom and Dad enjoy the signature Caribbean Green Coffee body wraps at the Seaside Spa, your kids can also have treatments tailored to young adults.
The Resort at Paws UpMontana,USA How cool would it be to have your own personal Santa? You can at this luxury resort and ranch when you book the “Last Best Christmas Vacation” package which also includes a ginger bread house building contest and more. The resort is a winter wonderland offering cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice skating, tubing and snow shoeing. This all-season resort also offers a Kids Corps of Discovery Program plus Spa Town for the big kids, where you can relax in the great outdoors. The activities are endless year-round.
Hotel Guanahani & Spa St. Barthélemy, French West Indies The glamour of St. Barts in the French West Indies is not just for stylish adults. Hotel Guanahani is the largest resort on St. Barts located on two beaches ideal for families. Book the Family Suite with private pools or the Butler Suites for the ultimate in pampering. There’s an array of activities for everyone including sailing, scuba diving, horseback riding and tennis. While the kids participate in the Junior’s programs and the daily Kindergarten, parents can relax on the beach, enjoy duty-free shopping in Gustavia or spend the day at the award-winning Spa by Clarins.
The Ritz-Carlton, NaplesFlorida, USA This luxury resort is a fantastic choice for families seeking a sophisticated yet fun beach resort. In addition to the fabulous views of the Gulf of Mexico and miles of immaculate beaches and excellent dining, this resort also has a fabulous learning program for your little marine biologists. Nature’s Wonders offers daily interactive discovery programs for children ages five and older. Watch Discovery and National Geographic programs with the whole family in the Nature Vision Theater. Book the Resort Reconnect package to decompress in luxury with family and friends.
Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya Mexico This five diamond resortoffers endless stretches of beaches, calm sea, three pools, exotic flora and fauna and their own Little Fans Club, with a host of activities for children aged four to 12 years. Parents, while the kids are busy, hit the Spa where you will enjoy the VIP couples suite for an Itzam (Earth) Experience. Then visit the Mayan Temazcal for a Shaman Blessing. Book the Family Travel package in the Two-Bedroom Grand Selva Family Suite offering personal butler services to ensure Mom and Dad don’t lift a finger.
Which of these resorts appeals to you most? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
Tiffany Dowd is a regional hotel inspector for a leading luxury travel publication based in Boston, MA. For more luxury travel tips, read Tiffany Travels or follow @LuxeTiffany on Twitter.
From where to enjoy a night out on the town to why you should step outside your comfort zone but avoid tequila shots…here are my seven tips for ensuring you have a fabulous girlfriend getaway in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico!
As “The Travel Mama” it seems like I am always on the go with my children. Grown-up getaways, on the other hand, are a bit of a rarity. So, it was quite the treat when I was invited by The Villa Group and Discount Mexico Vacation Hotels for a long weekend away in Cabo San Lucas with four other mom bloggers: Andrea Fellman of Savvy Sassy Moms, Laurie Cooper a.k.a. Clueless Mama of Guessing All the Way, Heather Spohr of The Spohrs Are Multiplying, and Mindy Roberts of The Mommy Blog.
Mindy (The Mommy Blog), Laurie (Clueless Mama), Andrea Fellman (Savvy Sassy Moms), Heather (The Spohrs Are Multiplying), and Me (The Travel Mama)
1. Take to the Water
Cabo San Lucas is a water-lover’s paradise. Beach activities abound, like swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boat tours, and of course, Cabo’s world famous deep sea fishing. The last time I went to Cabo, I stayed with my family on the Pacific Ocean side, which meant the waves and undertow were too dangerous for these activities. Who wants to pile into a rental car or cab every time you want to have some beach fun? This time I stayed at Villa del Palmar, one of The Villa Group’s three Los Cabos locations, situated along a gorgeous stretch of sand before the more tranquil Sea of Cortez.
Even someone like me who tends to get seasick can enjoy a tour of Cabo’s famous Los Arcos sea rock formations aboard a catamaran. Our two-and-a-half-hour sunset cruise took us from the Sea of Cortez into the rolling Pacific Ocean and back again. A dinner of grilled chicken and steak with rice, beans, chips, guacamole, and salsa was served. And, of course, there were free-flowing margaritas, cervesas, and other bebidas. When the boat’s crew gathered the passengers for a dance party, I was wary. I was ready for solid land and, well, it seemed a bit cheesy. First a handful of men were selected to participate in a dance contest of sorts. These five good sports bopped, gyrated, and generally embarrassed their wives and children. It got everyone laughing and ready to join in some line dancing. It wound up being a whole lot of fun!
The famous Los Arcos in Cabo San Lucas
2. Get Pampered
No girlfriend getaway is complete without a trip to the spa. The Desert Spa at Villa del Arco (a Villa Group property next door to our resort) was divine. I was treated to an 80-minute massage. Often when I get a spa treatment I feel like I have to hurry up and relax…like at any minute the service will be over and I’ll be scooted out of there. But this massage went on and on. Just when I’d think my time was up, my therapist would start massaging another limb. My attendant did not waste time sticking my hands in warm mitts (not needed!), spraying aromatherapy mist into the air (I can do without) or leaving me lying there “to relax” while disappearing to some unknown place. No, this treatment was pure, all-out kneading, rubbing, and pampering. Mmm…heaven!
Desert Spa at Villa del Arco
3. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Vacations are a great time to set your adventurous alter ego free and try something you might never do at home. For me on this trip, that meant parasailing with Andrea (Savvy Sassy Moms) and Laurie (Clueless Mama). While we waited for our boat for ten Mexican minutes (a half hour), I started to get un poquito nervous about our impending flight, so I ran off to the bar to grab liquid courage (white wine for Andrea and me and a Miami Vice for Laurie).
You know you’re in Mexico when you must fling yourself onto the boat when it swooshes closer to you with one big crashing wave. No docks for us…just grab hold and throw yourself in (whilst a boatman holds your beverage). In mere moments we pulled up beside another boat into which we climbed, all the while trying not fall into the rollicking sea. I didn’t have time to take a sip of wine before the co-captain pulled me over and tried to get me to slip into the parasail’s safety harness. I said, “I’m not ready! I’m not ready!” and insisted Andrea go first (who has experience bungee jumping and skydiving and therefore had no trepidation about a measly parasail flight).
Laurie was another story. She and I decided we would fly together in a tandem carrier but she chickened out and removed the harness when it was our turn to go. Laurie doesn’t normally even ride roller coasters, so this was very far out of her comfort zone. The day before, Laurie had told me how she almost got off the airplane in her hometown of Denver, so nervous was she about leaving her kids and the familiarity of home behind. I reminded her of this and said, “What if you had gotten off that plane? Aren’t you glad you’re here? If you don’t go, you’ll regret it.” We guzzled down our drinks and before we knew it, we were soaring through the air.
While Laurie speculated at the likelihood of our survival if the ropes tethering us 600 feet in the sky suddenly broke, we giggled nervously and tried to soak up the beauty of Cabo below us. Doing something scary together creates a unique bond between people, especially new friends. It was by far my favorite, scariest, silliest, most intense memory of the trip.
Parasailing with Laurie (Clueless Mama)
4. Take the Vacation Ownership Tour
All five of us mom bloggers went on the vacation ownership tour as part of our experience at the resort. Afterwards, as special guests of Villa Group, we were videotaped giving feedback about the tour, our experience at the resort, and Cabo overall. Our tour was similar to what regular vacationers would experience. It started with a delicious, complimentary breakfast buffet with bacon aplenty, chilaquiles (a Mexican breakfast dish), fresh omelet bar, pastries and more. Then we walked through a couple of sample condominium options. Finally, we sat down with a sales person (well, ours was the Vice President of Villa Group) and discussed options and pricing over champagne cocktails. It was all rather low-key and painless…fun even.
Discount Mexico Vacation Hotels offers a family of four a four-day vacation for $399 in exchange for going on an hour and a half tour. An affordable, upscale vacation like this is certainly a fair trade-off for such a brief interruption in a long weekend getaway. I say, go for it!
My one-bedroom suite at Villa del Palmar
5. Don’t Do Tequila Shots
I certainly like to drink my share of wine, margaritas, and pina coladas. But I draw the line at tequila shots, or shots of any kind really. I stopped doing shots in college and for good reason.
At a recent neighborhood get together someone (my husband, surely) joked about breaking out the tequila to which one of my friends said, “No good ever comes from tequila shots. No one ever says, The night started out with tequila shots and ended wonderfully.” It’s true. Most stories that start with tequila shots end with somebody throwing up, fighting, falling down, passing out, or some combination thereof.
This is why when my fellow mom bloggers started drinking tequila shots, I declined. I gave away my shots to one of my bloggy friends (who shall remain nameless) who wound up taking an early cab home (accompanied by a non-drinking friend) when she started to feel woozy. My advice? If you decide to drink, alternate alcoholic beverages with glasses of water and steer clear of the shots. You’ll thank me the next day!
Sunset cruise dance party
6. Enjoy a Night Out On the Town
Even if there are a lot of entertainment and dining options at your resort you should venture downtown for at least one night of frivolity. The Villa Group resorts offered several restaurants to choose from at its Cabo locations, including a sushi restaurant, fine-dining establishment, and standard Mexican fare as well as themed party nights plus bars where you can enjoy cocktails while taking in a stunning view of the ocean.
Downtown Cabo San Lucas offers numerous modern restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. After a dinner and live music at Desperados Restaurant & Cantina, we ventured out for a few rounds of Karaoke.
Finally, it was time for what I’d been waiting for…dancing! The last time I went dancing (not including weddings) was the last time I visited Cabo…three and a half years ago. We went to the hip Nowhere Bar to boogie for a bit with beautiful people. I was pretty excited to be out of the house, with adults, soaking up some nightlife when all too abruptly my friends announced it was time to head back to our resort. I wasn’t ready to go and (unsuccessfully) attempted to convince the girls to stay out longer. Ahh…well…I guess I’ll have to go back to Los Cabos again so I can get my groove on!
Villa del Palmar’s gorgeous pool with waterfalls and whale-shaped waterslide
7. Soak it Up
One of the best things about a little reprieve from the kiddos is taking some time to yourself to simply relax. Just sitting by the ocean listening to the waves crash on the shore as I read magazines, uninterrupted, felt like a splendid luxury.
On the last day of the trip, I choked up a bit at the airport before flying home when I told Laurie (Clueless Mama) how much I missed my kids. It’s good to miss them. It reminds me to appreciate the little moments I often take for granted…the sounds of my children giggling in our backyard as I cook dinner…the way my little boy hides under the pillow in his crib playing peek-a-boo and refusing to get up from his nap…the way my daughter bursts into my room every morning, too early but full of smiles and bouncy energy, ready to start the day.
I think it’s important to take notice of those moments AND to appreciate a break from the ordinary because all too soon…I’m back to the daily grind and daydreaming of a moment of peace during which I could do something as languorous and unlikely as flipping through a magazine without children clamoring at my side with requests for more juice and pleas for one more episode of Dora the Explorer.
Want to learn more? Check out the Villa Group multimedia player below to explore locations, pricing, and more. Click on the ”video” button to see my fellow mom bloggers and me living it up in Cabo and to watch interviews about our experience.
What are your tips for a girlfriend getaway or a trip to Los Cabos? Please leave a comment below!
A note from the Travel Mama: My flight, accommodations, and many other expenses for this trip were paid by The Villa Group and Discount Mexico Vacation Hotels. All of the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I would never recommend anything I don’t truly like and believe in!
I was asked to share a few of my happiest travel memories to coincide with Lay’s potato chips’ Happiness Exhibit, a campaign that showcases the moments of simple happiness that people treasure most. Share one of your happiest travel memories in the comments below for a chance to win a $200 gift card to Southwest Airlines, provided by Lay’s potato chips!
Happiness is Family When we travel with family, the focus isn’t on work, school, and never-ending to-do lists. Family vacations allow us to spend quality time with people we love, live more fully in the present moment, take notice of our surroundings, and enjoy life. This must be why my daughter often cries at the end of a vacation, “But I don’t wanna go home!”
And, it must be why so many of my happiest childhood memories took place while on a family vacation…swimming in indoor hotel pools with the gleeful calls of “Marco! Polo!” echoing against the walls…playing 20 questions in the backseat of our spitfire orange station wagon…or knowing I was safe on Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride because my dad told me my green Mickey Mouse ears would protect me. I am pictured above at age four (sporting my magical green mouse ears) with my brother and Pluto at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Happiness is Getting Away from it All One of the happiest moments of any trip for me is after I arrive at my destination and I realize, “Hey, I’m on vacation!” Here I am pictured with my son, Leo, with my hometown San Diego in the background on a Carnival Cruise to Mexico. A sweet thing about a cruise is, the minute you step onboard, your vacation starts!
Happiness is Being Together Since my two siblings and I live in three different states and we each have families of our own, it is a very rare occasion when we, our children, and our parents are all able to meet in one place. We made a point to get together in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a few days of family fun in the sun before my brother, a naval officer, was deployed to Iraq for six months.
While it was thrilling to swim with dolphins in The Bahamas and to climb a waterfall in Jamaica, most of my happiest travel memories take place when doing simple things with people I love. By far my favorite memory of this trip was simply splashing around in one of the hotel’s pools with the whole family.
In total, there were fourteen family members who went on this multi-generation vacation. From left to right, pictured above are my niece Siobhan, husband Phil, nephew Trevor, and sister Karen hamming it up at the pool at Solmar Resort.
Happiness is Relaxation It is a happy moment indeed when children successfully take a nap while on vacation! This is especially true when such a nap takes place poolside at a beautiful resort, allowing for a mid-day snooze or dip in the pool for the Travel Mama and Travel Daddy! Here’s a photo of my daughter, Karissa, asleep in her stroller at the Kauai Marriott Resortin Kauai, Hawaii.
Happiness is Dreaming I spent a lot of time visualizing taking my baby to Disneyland to distract myself from contractions during a very, very, very long labor with my firstborn. I couldn’t think of a happier place to be. It is, after all, The Happiest Place on Earth!
So, for my daughter’s first birthday rather than throwing her a birthday party, we took a three-day trip to Disneyland. Did the trip live up to my expectations? I think this picture of Karissa clapping with joy on her inaugural Disney ride aboard Dumbo’s back says it all!
Happiness is Simple The message of the Lay’s potato chips’ Happiness Exhibit is that the happiest moments in our lives are truly the simple ones. From the online exhibit, select photos will be chosen to be featured on millions of Lay’s potato chip bags. You can submit photos that showcase simple, happy moments to Lays.com. Submitting photos on the Lay’s site does not affect your chance of winning the Happiest Travel Memories Contest on TravelMamas.com but it sure would be fun to see your photo on a bag of Lay’s potato chips!
Happiest Travel Memories Contest Sponsored by Lay’s Potato Chips I shared just a few of my happiest travel memories with you. Now it’s your turn! Leave a comment below describing one of your happiest travel memories for a chance to win a $200 Southwest Airlines gift card. Lay’s potato chips will provide the prize to the winner.
This contest ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on Saturday, May 1, 2010. The winner will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified by email. If no response is received within one week, the first winner will forfeit the prize and another entrant will be selected. THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. To find out who won and to read my favorite entries, read Thanks for Sharing the Memories.
You can enter a maximum of four times, using each method of entry once. The first option is required for entry. For each bonus entry, you must add an additional, separate comment to this blog post.
• REQUIRED ENTRY: Leave a comment belowabout your happiest travel memory. Please be specific! General comments like, “I love to travel” or “I have many happy travel memories” will be disqualified.
Share a happy travel memory on @TravelMamas to WIN $200 for AIRLINE TIX from Lay’s potato chips http://bit.ly/arRHw7 #giveaway
• BONUS ENTRY:Become a Fan of Travel Mamas on Facebook. Then submit a comment like the one below, filling in the blanks, on the Travel Mamas Fan Page wall. Be sure to come back here and repeat the phrase in a separate comment on this blog post!
If I win the Happiest Travel Memories Contest on TravelMamas.com I will go to ___________ because _______________.
Want to sneak away for a romantic trip for Valentine’s Day or your anniversary but can’t (or don’t want to) find a sitter to stay with your children? Bring the kids with! Here are a nine tips to help you and your other half keep your relationship merry by squeezing some romance into a family vacation!
Spring for a Suite or Connecting Rooms
Nothing zaps romance faster than lack of sleep. If your child is a light sleeper – a room with a separate door is a must unless you want to turn in at the same time as your kiddo (pre-sunset though it might be!). My friend, Stanna Stone de Rumpf, a Travel Mama from Colorado, did not learn this lesson until a sleep-deprived trip sharing a single hotel room with her husband and her toddler, Ava. Stanna told me, “I can’t believe we actually paid for the room as we slept in it for only one and a half hours!” A suite allows for privacy after bedtime. Make sure you know what you’re getting when you book the room as sometimes a “suite” is simply a larger room with a sitting area.
Book a Room with a Balcony or Patio
This can make for a great retreat for conversation and a relaxing drink with your honey after the kids are in bed for the night. A balcony or patio also enables parents to enjoy the outdoors while young children or babies nap during the day.
Choose a Hotel with a Kids’ Camp
Enjoy a respite for romance while children are busy with activities like crafts, scavenger hunts, and local fun like hula dancing in Hawaii. Examples of hotel chains that offer camps for kids include Beaches(23 months through teenagers), Club Med (four months to 17 years), Four Seasons (five years and older at most locations), and Hyatt (age three to 12).
Cruise into Romance
Family-friendly cruises offer fun activities for everyone and provide childcare to allow for couple-time. According to Cruisecritic.com, some of the best cruise lines for children are Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. For privacy after the kiddos go to bed, it’s best to book connecting rooms. Otherwise, the Disney Cruise Line offers a handy “privacy curtain” between the grown-up bed and the children’s sleeping area.
My husband, Phil, and I celebrating our wedding anniversary aboard a Disney Mediterranean Cruise that we took with our toddler daughter (2007)
Invite Family
Vacations are a great opportunity for your child to bond with grandparents and other family members. All the better if grandma and grandpa can pay their own way and they are willing to watch the kids so you can duck out for a night or two on the town! Just be sure to bring up babysitting before you leave home to make sure everyone has the same expectations.
Frolic with Friends
Co-vacations work best with friends who have the same number of children, with similar ages as yours. This way the kiddies will enjoy spending time together, allowing for some adult conversation at mealtime! Plus, you can take turns watching the kids so each couple can steal away for an evening alone.
Hire an In-Room Babysitter
A sitter allows you to indulge in a date night sans children. Most hotels and resorts will provide you with a list of recommended sitters or childcare agencies. Prepare before leaving home by checking references in advance. If you plan to go out more than once, April Fink, my friend and fellow Travel Mama from California, advises you book the same sitter for several visits during your stay. This makes leaving little ones less stressful for everyone. April’s sitter even took her daughter, Isabella, to the childcare program at the Four Seasons Lanai. Their Kids for All Seasons program allows babies and toddlers under age five if accompanied by an adult.
Bring Along a Trusted Nanny or Sitter
If you do not mind sharing your vacation with your sitter, bringing her along will provide the most flexibility for enjoying adult-only activities. Full-time childcare providers are typically paid their usual weekly rate plus any meals or entrance fees while away. The sitter often sleeps in a connecting room with the children. You may be able to convince a part-time provider to tag-along to a fun destination in trade for room and board if you provide the sitter with some free-time during the trip.
Make “We” Time Even if a suite or babysitter is not in your budget – do make “we” time while on vacation. Whether you take a moment to clink glasses in a toast over a family dinner, or you snuggle with your spouse after the kids are asleep, vacations are a time for relaxation and reconnection. Every vacation needs a little room for romance!
How do you make room for romance while traveling? Please leave a comment below!
My family’s favorite port during last year’s nine-day cruise through the Mexican Riviera was Zihuatanejo. Many visitors bypass Zihuatanejo, known as Zihua to locals, for its more upscale neighbor, Ixtapa. But a laid-back, authentically Mexican beach town was what we were looking for…and it’s just what we found.
If arriving by cruise ship, don’t waste your money or time signing up for a beach excursion via bus ride. Plenty of inexpensive water taxis are available to zip you across to one of Zihua’s beaches.
My family opted for a five-minute boat ride to lovely Las Gatas beach. Tourists and locals mingle here, lazing on its sandy shore and swimming along its curved shoreline.
Lounge chairs are yours for the day in exchange for a meal purchase from one of the beachfront restaurants. You won’t find what most Americans consider to be “typical” Mexican food here. There are no enchiladas, tostadas, or tacos – just fresh fish and seafood. However, most eateries will happily make a quesadilla de queso (cheese quesadilla) for the kids if requested. For grown-ups, I highly recommend the buttery, sublime camarones al ajillo (shrimp prepared with red ajillo chiles).
Giant rocks about thirty feet from the shore create a breaker, making for calm waters perfect for little ones. As a San Diegan used to hovering over shivering children in crashing waves, I took full advantage of the warm, shallow water at Las Gatas.
My husband and I rented snorkel gear from a beach vendor for a few bucks and took turns visiting the schools of tiny silvery fish that darted about below the water’s surface. We played in the ocean with our preschooler, sharing beach toys with generous locals. We held our nine-month-old son’s hands as he toddled along the shore. Mostly, we just hung out. We took in the view of our ship in the distance and the lush, tropical tree-filled green cliffs dotted with pale stucco homes with their red-tiled roofs. We drank limey beers while the baby dozed on our laps. We watched our daughter frolicking and splashing about for hours.
Zihuatanejo was everything a vacation should be…adventurous…fun…relaxing…beautiful.
What’s your favorite beach day destination? Leave a comment below!
Last year my family embarked on an eight-day cruise on Carnival Spirit to Mexico for Thanksgiving with our friends, Vessa and Randy and their son, Tanner. Our dos familias enjoyed the journey from our hometown of San Diego to Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Manzanillo and back again. Between the seven of us, we explored quite a bit of what the ship had to offer.
Here is a sampling of Carnival Spirit’s onboard family-friendly activities and amenities.
My husband, Phil, playing miniature golf with our son, Leo.
Miniature Golf Both preschoolers in our travel party, Tanner and my daughter, Karissa, adored playing miniature golf aboard Spirit. It was not the most elaborate course and it was a bit windy on the high deck, but it was a pleasant diversion nonetheless.
Childcare and Youth Programs Camp Carnival accepts kids aged 2 to 11. In the evening, children can be dropped off to eat an early dinner with other campers but most nights our kids ate with us in the main dining room – until Karissa and Tanner started crawling under the table. That was our cue to cart the three-year-olds off to camp! Each night when I retrieved my little girl, her face was painted up – like a clown, a bunny, a butterfly – or whatever character coincided with the night’s theme. There were arts and crafts, toys, and activities galore. With the exception of one surly woman, the camp counselors were bubbly, sweet twenty-something gals whom the kids adored.
If your kid tends to get seasick (as does my daughter), keep in mind that Camp Carnival is located aft (at the back of the ship) and therefore tends to sway a great deal on rough seas. On most days this was not a problem, but on our last day at sea Karissa opted out of camp activities due to the boat’s rockiness.
Although none in our party qualified for participation, Carnival offers youth activities for older kids too. Circle C provides supervised activities for tweens aged 12 to 14, such as dance parties, board games, sports, and scavenger hunts. For teens aged 15 to 17, there is Club O2, with Karaoke, pool parties, video games and the like.
Beware there is very limited childcare for babies. The Carnival website is cryptic about the times that children under age two are permitted in the childcare program. Here’s the deal – besides the group babysitting late at night, under twos are only allowed in Camp Carnival when the other kids are not permitted (during lunch, mostly). I never did leave my son, Leo (then nine-months-old), because dropping him off for such a short period of time did not seem worth the separation anxiety it would induce, especially when I’d need to take care of Karissa during that time anyway.
Group babysitting for children (babies to age 11) is available from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am daily. My children did not participate since a good night’s sleep is of great import to our family, especially when traveling.
My daughter, Karissa, posing with a bunny-shaped towel sculpture
with her face painted like a clown.
Towel Sculptures It’s a little thing, but a delightful thing for kids (and grown-ups)! Our room steward shaped our towel into some sort of animal while we were away at dinner each evening. It was always a treat to discover what creature would be waiting upon our return. The stingray sporting sunglasses was my daughter’s favorite!
Teddy Bear Workshop We paid extra to participate in a Teddy Bear Workshop at Camp Carnival. This was basically an opportunity for Carnival to make some cash by selling a plush toy with a Velcro back into which my daughter stuffed a bunch of fluff. Outfits were for sale separately but all animals came with a Carnival t-shirt. It wasn’t much of a “workshop” but my daughter loved her stuffed dog nonetheless.
Arcade The ship’s arcade is located in a rocky locale just below Camp Carnival on Spirit. Tanner especially enjoyed playing car-driving video games and air hockey (while standing on a chair) with his dad here.
Chamber Music Listening to live chamber music one evening in a bar near the Empire Dining Room was one of my favorite family moments aboard Spirit. The entertainment made a nice distraction before dinner service during “the witching hour.” My daughter adores music, so it was a treat for her to watch a pianist, cellist and two violinists perform. Leo was calmed by the soothing songs while my daughter twirled in front of the quartet. The older passengers who gathered to listen probably were counting on less lively fellow audience members but we did a pretty good job of keeping our crowd under control.
My husband taking the waterslide for a test spin.
Water Activities Some of Carnival’s other ships have extensive splash areas and waterslides. Spirit has just one tall curlicue slide. It is located far from the regular pools so we only visited it once. Since our children were too young, my husband braved the waterslide alone while I waited with the kids at the bottom to cheer his finish.
Most cruise lines, Carnival included, do not allow non-potty trained children in their pools for sanitary reasons. The only ships I know of that have splash pools with special filtration systems for babies are Disney’s two ships, Wonder and Magic, and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2. Therefore, if you are traveling with a baby or toddler, I recommend bringing a small inflatable baby pool. This worked out well for our family but it would have been more fun if we all could have gone swimming together. My husband and I took turns swimming with Karissa in the big pool while the other parent minded Leo, who splashed about in his mini pool on the deck. The steel drum band and pina coladas deckside were an added bonus!
Summary Would I recommend a Carnival cruise to traveling families? Yes! There are oodles of enjoyable activities for a variety of ages and interests at an affordable price. However, if you are traveling with a baby, you might want to consider booking a Disney Cruise or waiting to cruise until your child is a tad older. Carnival caters to families, just not to families with babies.
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Do you have any travel tips or questions about cruising or Carnival? Leave a comment below!
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