Comments

1. Carl on July 31, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.
   

   I'd be interested in hearing some advice on this subject also. We are avid travelers and have a 2 1/2 month old and i'm itching to do some traveling. We want to go to our favorite all-inclusive in Mexico this fall or next spring so any input would be greatly appreciated.

2. Jamie on August 1, 2008 at 6:20 a.m.
   

   We have a 2 year old and a newborn and are thinking of going to either Turks and Caicos or Atlantis in Bahamas for our next vacation. Anyone been to either of those places with children?

3. Carl on August 1, 2008 at 7:28 a.m.
   

   Anyone? I'm hearing crickets over here... nobody has experience traveling to all-inclusive style resorts with infants and toddlers?

4. Debbie on August 1, 2008 at 7:47 a.m.
   

   You're right Carl, there way more questions than responses here. This looks like a great topic for me to do some research on!

   Debbie

5. CodeCrafter on August 1, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
   

   I have traveled to an all inclusive in Jamaica with my Son when he was 9 months old. We also did a cruise to the Bahamas when he was about 1 year.

   Our experience was that an all-inclusive worked out really well with a baby. Food is available all day long and most of the night and you don't have to worry about paying for things that don't get eaten. You also don't have to worry about missing out on food or struggle with finding a place to eat that is kid friendly. Buffets like those on the cruise gave us a wide range of food to offer our picky eating 1 year old.

   The only tough part was we did have to search a bit for an all-inclusive that allowed children. There are a number of all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica that cater only to adults trying to get the romantic getaway market. I would say if you are unsure about the resorts child policy call and ask before booking. There are some chains of all inclusive resorts that cater exclusively to families like Beaches.

   We haven't used any children's programs or nanny services at an all inclusive or on the cruise. My son was way to young for any of their activity programs and leaving my baby with a complete stranger kind of makes me shudder. We often travel with my and DH's family so at the all inclusive we had 5 adults and on the cruise we had 7 adults so if DH and I wanted some time to go do an activity there were other adults my son loves that he could stay with.

   Jamie - I haven't stayed at Atlantis but we did visit the Aquarium and take a tour of the resort. The Aquarium was fantastic for little kids and totally perfect for strollers because all the windows go right to the ground and they take pretty small tour groups through. The resort is huge and looked to have lots of amenities for families.

   I would be happy to try to answer other questions too if people have them.

6. Debbie on August 1, 2008 at 10:52 p.m.
   

   @CodeCrafter thanks for the detailed response! I'd love to hear which resort (and cruise company) you visited and whether you thought it was great.

7. Alexander on August 1, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.
   

   Well, there's ton of advice one could give, I presume. Last May, we
   flew over to California (we live in Belgium) with our then
   six-months-old. Both flights were no problem at all, BA had nice
   "boxes" he could just sleep in, which he did most of the time. They
   say that some kids have a hard time taking off and landing because
   they feel it in their ears. Breast-feeding or giving a bottle should
   help them cope.

   When it comes to sleeping, we always use a travel bed:
   http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/A...
   Similar models are also available from Samsonite and others.
   By now, our little one is really used to it.
   Also, for boarding and other busy situations, our baby sling comes in
   very handy. Make sure to check out http://www.manduca.de/
   http://www.ergobaby.eu/en/ergo_baby_p...
   Good instructions for traditional baby slings can be found on YouTube
   ("babywearing")."
   

8. Debbie on August 1, 2008 at 11:03 p.m.
   

   Alexander,

   Thanks for sharing your tips. We've had good luck with the BA cots too. I was always skeptical that the kids would sleep in them, and between being worn out from the trip to the airport and the soothing engine noise they always did!

9. Scotti on August 2, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.
   

   We've taken our now 2.5 yr old son to Mexico twice - with great success. Mexico is a very kid-friendly place and everywhere you go people are happy to see kids, smile at them, give them a little tickle or squeeze and coo over them. We've had strangers even offer to hold our son while we ate in restaurants. Plus, it's a relaxed pace - perfect for kids.

   Both times (and on the recommendation of a friend who used to work there) we've been to Costa Azul Adventure Resort www.costaazul.com in San Francisco (aka San Pancho) - about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. It's very small and kind of rustic for a resort - and it's in a small town. It's been a perfect choice for us - very low-key, relaxing, quiet and super kid friendly. Though it's really small, so there are no kid-type activities or amenities other than the great pool - and it wouldn't be a great choice if you're looking for cushy American resort type experience. For instance - no phones, no TVs, hard beds, etc. But it's right on the beach and not at all touristy.

   If you go - get a ground floor room with a sliding door. Right next to the pool and makes for easy access for kids. Plus, you can put them to sleep and sit outside on the little patio :) We opted for room-only and ate some meals there but also walked into town (about 15 min. walk via beach or road) to some great little cafes and restaurants.

10. Marcie on August 2, 2008 at 3:49 p.m.
    

    Ok, I'll contribute. I took my then 2yo DD to Puerto Vallerta. We didn't stay in an all-inclusive but I spent some time in the all-inclusive down the street while renting a car. I stayed at the CasaMagna Marriott and I rented the car from the Melia Resort down the street. The car rental was a long process so I spent over an hour and probably closer to two hours there in the lobby. While both hotels were nice, the alcohol consumption was noticable at the all-inclusive (I assume that alcohol must have been free too) and their pool was very busy with older active children. I wouldn't have felt comfortable at that pool with my DD. So, my recommendation on all-inclusives is to make sure that you/your travel agent work hard to find a resort that fits your needs.

    As far as Puerto Vallerta, we had a great time. We took buses and taxis into town and visited all the major sites. We took the boat to Jalapa and hiked through the small town. We rented the car and drove North up to the small beach town of Sayulita and then another day drove up into the mountains to San Sebastian, a charming former mining town with farms and beautiful agave fields on the drive up. The beaches in PV are not gorgeous white sand and the ocean is rather murky. I wouldn't recommend PV for beach lovers or snorkeling but PV is situated in a lovely tropical tree covered area and has a lot to do. We enjoyed our trip.

11. Codecrafter on August 3, 2008 at 4:53 a.m.
    

    @Debbie

    In Jamaica we stayed with my son at Coyaba in Montego bay. It is a pretty small resort. It didn't really have anything specifically for kids. We didn't even inquire if they had cribs or anything. It is a very nice resort and unlike most inclusive resorts there were no buffets and the food was really a big focus and delicious. For being a resort not really meant for kids they were very nice even when my Son, 9 months at the time, got cranky during dinner.

    For the cruise when my son was 1 year we went with Carnival to the Bahamas stopping in Nassau and Freeport. It was one of Carnivals budget cruises and the ship kind of gave me 80s flashbacks. We rented both a crib and stroller on board which was helpful. This ship did not have a children's play area but it did have a children's pool. I think most of the newer ships have playground type thing. My son really enjoyed the cruise. He loved to run up and down the long hallways by our room and up on deck he would run around saying "hi" to everyone. It took him no time at all to get his sea legs even though he was still kind of a wobbly walker at the time.

12. Debbie on August 3, 2008 at 11:02 p.m.
    

    I was just talking with someone today who did a great cruise in Hawaii with a three month old. His was the only baby on board, and everyone fawned over her. He also said that the convenience of bringing their hotel room with them as they traveled was a big plus with such a young child.

13. Marie on August 6, 2008 at 9:25 p.m.
    

    I consider the following when looking for an all-inclusive resort for a family vacation:

    1.Onsite activities for the kids and parents - seek resorts offering a mix of kids activities as well as activities that parents and kids can do together as a family.
    2. Kids Club - check the ages of kids permitted, the hours of the kids club, staff-to-kids ratio, etc. I also call the kids club in advance to ask them to send me a schedule of a typical day's activities to assess kids club staff friendliness.
    3. Onsite restaurants - ensure that they have kids menus, with healthy food options. Look for a resort with multiple a la carte restaurants that are family-friendly and don't necessarily require reservations.
    4. Pools - ask questions about the pools. Look for a resort with multiple pool areas/separate pools for children (preferably zero entry pools and/or wading pools for your toddler).

    Visit http://kidtripclips.blogspot.com for my full post about planning an all-inclusive family vacation and links to four articles on the subject.

14. Carl on August 7, 2008 at 8:20 a.m.
    

    Thanks for the great input, some good information here.

    One question I had is regarding car seats when traveling to places like Mexico, etc. where you will primarily be traveling around by taxi and bus while there.

    I've heard 2 schools of thought, those that ALWAYS bring a car seat and those that don't when taking taxi's and buses.

    We have yet to travel with our 3 month old, and this is our first so we are clueless when it comes to traveling with a carseat.

    Obviously if we were traveling within the United States/Canada we wouldn't think twice about it, the car seat would go along as we would probably have a rental car.

    But what do you do when traveling internationally when you will be relying on taxi, subway and buses?

    I've been to places like Peru... good luck finding a taxi with a seat belt usable to strap in a car seat.

    Thoughts?

15. Debbie on August 7, 2008 at 10:03 a.m.
    

    Good question Carl,

    I personally don't worry about the car seat in busses and subways (though I do try to keep the kids in the stroller or sling so that at least (I think) they are less likely to go flying if something happens.

    In most US and European cities, I recommend the Sit'n'Stroll because it lets you get in and out of taxis without lugging a separate stroller and car seat. With a three month old, though, you're still in the infant seat, and could use something like the snap and go instead. In Paris and New York we rarely use Taxis & instead opt for the subway or walking.

    Of course Mexico & other developing countries are a special case. If you are taking a van to a resort, you could call ahead and ask them whether it has seatbelts (but don't expect latch), but taxis would be much more difficult. Each parent's comfort level is different, so I wouldn't want to give specific advice about what to do when there is no seatbelt (other than to say it's not any safer in another country than it would be at home)

16. Susan on August 7, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.
    

    We went to Puerto Vallarta this past July and stayed at the Paradise Village (in Nuevo Vallarta to be precise). We did not do the all-inclusive option since we aren't drinkers, but this is a great place to come with kids.

    I need to write up a blog post on our travel experiences. Feel free to ping me on my blog: http://bloomsday-ramblings.blogspot.c...

17. Nancy on August 11, 2008 at 9:33 a.m.
    

    We stayed at an all-inclusive in Curacao when my oldest was 17 months old. The resort we stayed in (Breezes, if memory serves) had a Kids Club but my son was too young to take part in the activities. He was happy on the beach or in the pools anyway. Resorts with several restaurant options are always a good idea, and one that includes a buffet is also great both for flexibility in choices and ability to eat at almost any time of the day.

    We were in the Bahamas this past New Year's and while it wasn't all-inclusive, there was a Kids Club and my now 5 year old son loved it the first 2 days, but didn't want to go back as he was the only kid and would rather be with us.

18. Kristen on August 20, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.
    

    We took an 18 month old to the Paradisus near Cancun. They have a wonderful kids club, the rooms are clean, the girls are very sweet, and I felt safe leaving my son there. I have a detailed review on trip advisor. I'll try to find a link and add it. Right now, I am planning a trip for my now 2 1/2 year old and an 8 month old. We are going to Puerto Vallarta and staying in a 2 bedroom condo for $800/week at Portofino. Obviously I haven't been yet, but I have learned a lot.

    There are 2 all-inclusives in PV that have childcare for children 3 and under. One is the Melia and the other is the Crown Paradise. The review for the CP are not very good at all. So, that, in my mind, leaves the Melia.

    We decided that for the price, we will rent a condo (larger, less crowded...). At Portofino they have a playground and kiddie pool area. Plus, 2+ bedroom condos have a jacuzzi on the balcony. Not to mention a full kitchen and walking distance to the Marina (lots of great restaurants!). We will do some grocery shopping and prepare some of our own meals.

    As for childcare, we have found that one can hire a "nanny" for 8 hours per day for $45-$50. They can help with cooking, cleaning, and of course, the kids. How nice to have an extra pair of hands.

    Anyway, I'll answer any more specific questions later.

19. Kristen on August 21, 2008 at 7:06 a.m.
    

    Here is the link, where I wrote a lot more about traveling to Cancun.

    http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserRe...

20. Michelle D on August 23, 2008 at 6:15 p.m.
    

    Hi there,
    We spent Thanksgiving 2005 at an all-inclusive resort in PV. (We call that lazy vacationing!!).
    We stayed at the Casa Iguana resort in Mismaloya, which is just south of PV (http://www.casaiguanamx.com/). I chose this hotel:
    - for a little history, since it's on the site used for Night Of The Iguana which was the movie which 'introduced' PV.
    - it was a little out of town, allowing us to stay away from the promenade (and associated shopping) directed at cruise ships
    - decent pricing, all-suite hotel. (Our room was huge!)

    We did not originally chose the all-inclusive option, but our children were enjoying the pools so much, that we ended up truly relaxing and didn't leave the resort very often (very unusual for us). This being the fourth time I've stayed at an all-inclusive resort with kids (Hawaii, Fiji, Cyprus), it seems that you can expect:
    - American-style "kid food" (pizza, burgers, mac+cheese) at lunch and dinner.
    - Adult food which is OK but not great.

    My youngest was 5 at the time, so I didn't really need the kid's program (there was one which operated daily in the am at least). But, the smaller, supervised kid's pool was a nice benefit.

    I'll throw some photos up on my blogsite (http://www.wanderlustandlipstick.com/...) so you can have a look.

    re. carseats: If you don't plan to rent a car, it comes down to your comfort level with holding a child on your lap in the taxi to/from the airport. One option is to do single-day rentals i.e. rent a car for the day you arrive and for the day you leave for 1 day each. May be worth the peace of mind.

    And don't forget the public bus system. Especially in somewhere which can be overrun with tourists like PV, when you take the public bus, you feel much more like a local.

21. Sandra on August 24, 2008 at 9:41 a.m.
    

    We've been to Puerto Vallarta with an 18month old and stayed at the Riu Jalisco. And in January 2008 we went to Cancun and stayed at the Oasis Palm Springs Family resort with our 3 and 5 year old boys.
    We didn't do any city site seeing, but stayed the entire time at the resort.
    Our boys love playing in the sand and the 2nd time to Mexico we brought one entire bag of dump trucks, excavators, shovels, hotwheels and spent 10 hrs a day building roads and enjoying the beach and sand as much as possible. The first time we went to Mexico, we hadn't thought about beach toys and my son ended up playing with a spoon and a plastic cup on the beach for days....the second trip, we came prepared...and the boys loved it.
    The Oasis Palm Springs, although not the newest or fanciest hotel in Cancun definately has a great beach for small children. It is flat and calm and never did we worry about big waves washing our kids out to sea. There is a submerged sand bar right out front of the hotel, so you can walk out 100ft and still only be knee deep.
    There was a kids club but we didn't use it. Tripadvisor has lots of pictures of this hotel if interested. The hotel had been renovated while we were there and a new tower and section should be open in fall 2008.
    The Riu Jalisco in Puerto Vallarta was a really nice hotel. 4 years ago it was a 5 star but it is now a 3.5 star...not sure what is going on there. Since the big hurricane a few years back it was down graded ????? The hotel had a nice pool area but the pool was deep and didn't have a "child friendly" access to the pool. Now we always check the pool before travelling to see if a child can enter the pool easily. The beach here was clean and nice but on several of the days, the waves were big.
    We found that in both experiences dinner is served quite late. Our children are used to eating much earlier than what was available in the all inclusives. I think the restaurants opened for dinner at 630pm, (we found this really late for small children), so we brought snacks along in the suitcase from home.
    Neither time, did we bring car seats as we weren't planning on site seeing. The airport shuttle van did have good seatbelts but the taxi did not.
    I would also bring your own first aid supplies. On our last trip my husband cut his foot on a tile in the pool. The first aid kit by the pool was old and I doubt anything was sterile in there. Definately bring your own bandaids, wound cleaning supplies, polisporin....just in case.
    We also travel with pedialite or any other upset tummy medications for children....just in case.
    hope these tips help.
    sandra