How to Know Your Family's Needs
Before you book a hotel in Mexico, it's important to know your family's needs. While there are many chain hotels that offer standardized accommodations and services you've come to know and trust, you also have a myriad of resorts, inns, and spas from which to choose. The Mexican government has divided hotels into the following seven categories according to the level of service:
•
•
• Five-to one-star, based on the number of amenities offered — number of restaurants, pools, spa, exercise rooms, air conditioning, and so on.
In Mexico, you should book your family into nothing less than a three-star hotel. Most packages feature three-star hotels and above.
Today, just about all Mexican resort hotels feature a high level of service, as well as beautifully landscaped grounds with gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, several restaurants, discos, and game rooms for the kids. Some also come with full eighteen-hole golf courses. While it used to be that most travelers could afford to stay in a luxurious resort, sipping margaritas by a bright blue pool, today these same resorts can be pricey for families, even with packaged travel. Even though most Mexican hotels allow children under twelve years of age to stay free in their parents' room, you need to decide what sort of amenities your family will be comfortable with. If you're not sure, then perhaps booking a week at an all-inclusive resort might be the answer. Ultimately, the age and interests of your children will determine what sort of hotel you choose.
Are There Programs for Children?
Since the Mexicans travel with their own families, you'll find programs for children at many hotels and resorts throughout Mexico. These can range from simple baby-sitting services to full-blown daycare programs with classes, various types of lessons, and field trips. The latter is fine if you and your spouse want to take your children along but want some time for yourselves.
While many three-star hotels have playgrounds and children's pools and perhaps a game room, you'll usually find supervised programs for children at four-stars and above.
Mexico's leading hotel chain, Posadas de Mexico, offers a weekend “Fiesta Kids” program for kids aged four to twelve at its Fiesta Americana Hotels. Both Fiesta Americana resorts in Cancún offer the same program daily. Another Mexican chain, Camino Real Hotels, offers its “Club Travesuras” program, including crafts, movies, games, and food for kids during holiday seasons (Christmas and Spring Break/Easter) to children whose parents purchase a vacation package. Marriott Casa Magna Hotels features its “Club Amigos” program, with field trips and activities for younger children.
You'll find the best programs for kids at Mexico's all-inclusive hotels. The premiere program belongs to Club Med. Its “Kids Club” for kids aged four through twelve features all sorts of activities geared to kids. Allegro Resorts offers a unique program, “Rookies,” which helps to make traveling with kids affordable. Club Maeva, a Mexican all-inclusive that caters to American and Canadian families in winter and Mexican families in summer, offers a daily comprehensive kids program, including horseback riding, clay sculpture, video games, and pretend camping, for children aged two through twelve.
Activities for Older Kids?
Unfortunately, you'll find few organized programs for teens. Club Med has a “Junior's Club,” available during school holidays, for those thirteen to nineteen. But if you're traveling with teens, you should plan a trip that actively includes them. Mexico has plenty to offer the inquisitive teenager. Adventure travel has become big business, so you'll find many activities suited to your active teens, like hiking, river rafting, and climbing — even climbing around ancient ruins. Find out what they're interested in, and let them be a part of the planning process.
