Cancun -- in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, on the Caribbean Sea-- is a tourist powerhouse, generating 20% of the country's tourist revenues.
Cancun was chosen for development back in 1967 because of its beautiful white-sand beaches and double-sided waterfront, with beach and lagoon. That choice area is now a 25-kilometre Hotel Zone full of urban-style pleasures: shopping, dining, bars that college spring-breakers love...
Nonethless many families flock to holidays at Cancun resorts. Below are tips; but first, a word about Cancun's beaches.
Cancun Resorts - Beach Conditions
In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma badly damaged beaches; a huge reconstruction effort launched at once, but in August 2007 Hurricane Dean struck the beaches again.
Mexicos' government is well aware of the importance of Cancun's beaches, and improvements are continuing.
Best approach for visitors, at present, is to not assume that a Cancun resort's beach will look, in real life, as pictured on the web or in brochures. Check updated photos of beach conditions at many Cancun resorts; also, read recent visitor comments at a site like TripAdvisor.com. (Check both the hotel reviews there, and the Cancun Resort Forum.)
Hurricanes: and speaking of the devil... A number of vacation packagers and individual resort brands offer Hurricane Season Weather Policies with hurricane protection and sometimes additional weather guarantees -- read the fine print, though!
Cancun Resorts - Tips
Get off to a good start: Give a Toy, Get a Smile is a nice way for your child to help another child, by bringing along a toy to donate to a local youngster. Several Cancun resorts provide drop-off spots.
All-inclusives
-- are not the only way to go. Unlike the Mayan Riviera -- where resorts tend to be secluded, self-contained, and AI-- most Cancun resorts are near dozens of restaurants. Some resorts offer both AI plans, and non-AI for guests who want to eat out. (Be aware, though, that in the tourist zone restaurants are seriously expensive.) The top luxury resorts in Cancun are not all-inclusive, but most do welcome families: (See Top Non-Allinclusives for Families.).
Another point about all-inclusives: in Cancun AI's, tipping is a common practice. Bring along small bills: perhaps $100, cumulative, for a week.
Pools and Beaches:
- most pools aren't heated, except by the sun. If the weather gets cool, the pools will too.
- at some resorts, pool areas lose sun in early afternoon. (Visitor comments for a particular resort will remark on this.)
- At the beach, the temperature of the sea should be swimmable year-round.
- At some hotel locations, waves are frequently rough (especially on the east side of the Hotel Zone)
- see above, about beach damage due to hurricanes
Families with older teens: note that in Mexico, drinking age is 18; at an all-inclusive, your kids will get "adult" wristbands which means unlimited access to alcoholic drinks.
Time-share sellers: can be aggressive at some Cancun resorts.
Day-Trips: Cancun is well-positioned for interesting day-trips.
- most guests take day-trips to the Mayan Riviera, which has coral reef, "eco-archeological" theme park Xcaret, fascinating Mayan ruins, and more.
- Another popular destination is the Chichen Itza site of Mayan ruins. This is a full-day trip, with 2-1/2 hour drive each way; make sure your kids can handle the long travel time.
- a short ferry ride away is laid-back Isla Mujeres, where Garrafon Natural Reef Park has many tourist activities.
- even easier outings of just a couple of hours can be made to several Mayan Ruins right in the Cancun tourist area
Always check recent visitor comments at a site like TripAdvisor. (Check both the hotel reviews and the Cancun Resort Forum.)
--continue to Cancun Resorts for families
