Food, fun, and sunshine…Mexico is one of my favorite places to visit. The people are incredibly friendly, it doesn’t take long to fly there, and there are so many different options for experiencing Mexico. I’ve been there with a group of adults as well as with our kids. Everyone always has a good time. So let’s talk options for experiencing our neighbors to the south.
For an individual that haven’t travel outside of the country, Mexico is an easy transition to exploring the world. So what is the best way to visit Mexico? There are a number of options: all inclusive resort, house rental, and condos….let’s talk about each one of these.
- All-inclusive: This option is the easiest for people that have not really traveled outside of the country. You get to enjoy the beautiful scenery and meet great people, while not having to worry too much about figuring out restaurants. Typically all-inclusive resorts have multiple restaurants on site, activities for guests, and the concierge can book excursions for you. If you are traveling with littles, many have kid clubs that will arrange activities or even babysitting for the adults. The first time my husband and I went to Mexico together was on our honeymoon. We stayed at a beautiful all-inclusive at the south end of Puerta Vallarta. We were able to relax and rest while enjoying amazing food and drinks.
2. Condos: Condos tend to be part of a larger hotel and also make a great option for families. Having a small kitchen in order to store snacks or maybe even cook a light breakfast will save you time and money! On our trip to Mazatlan, we rented a condo with friends and it was a terrific balance of enjoying our hotel, but giving us the flexibility to explore the area a bit more.
3. House Rental: This is by far my favorite way to stay when we take adults only trips. We rented a 4 bedroom house over looking Cabo. It had a full kitchen, private pool, and hot tub all on a patio overlooking the ocean. We cooked many of our meals at the house and then walked into town when we felt like exploring.
The next question is…Which part of Mexico should I visit? That really depends on what you would like to do when you get there. If all you need is a pool next to the beach, the pacific and gulf of Mexico have many areas. Maybe you’re looking for lots of outdoor activities? Here are my favorites: Akumal, Cozumel, and Cabo San Lucas.
Akumal is on the gulf of Mexico and is about an hour south of Cancun. While Cancun tends to be busy and touristy, Akumal is extremely quiet. Our stay was at the Akumal Beach and Wellness resort. It was an all-inclusive and the town only has a handful of hotel choices. This trip brought our kids with us and it’s been their top destination….we are actually planning our daughter’s high school graduation trip back there. Even though Akumal is quiet and remote, there are many things to do in the area: cenotes, Chichen Itza, and numberous adventure parks. The snorkeling in front of the hotel was lovely with very quiet beaches.
Another favorite of ours is Cozumel, a small island off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Most of the time we stay in Cozumel, it’s all about the scuba diving. The beaches there are rocky, but the reefs and restaurants are fantastic.
Lastly is Cabo San Lucas! In the past 8 years, we’ve visited three times and done all types of lodging: all-inclusive, condo, and house rental. There are so many amazing restaurants in Cabo!!! Plus you can charter boats to take you diving, snorkeling, or fishing. There’s something for everyone there!
Mexico will continue to be a location my family visits. The flight is short and it is so much less expensive than Hawaii. If you haven’t been….book a trip to Mexico for your next vacation!
