Beachfamily

Our family with grade school kids (well behaved) have flights to Cancun in April. Looking for a resort/hotel with great beach (clean, sandy, shallow, hopefully long) and pool (any water slides out there?), also good food & drink. Overall cleanliness, helpfulness of staff, room quality important. We do not need the cheapest place but value for money is important. Nightlife not important. Last year went to Westin, St. John (USVI) on a package and had a great time.
Any ideas for Cancun or Mayan Riviera resort/hotel?

butsey

If you want to go to Cancun try the Camino Real or the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach. I have been to both,the Fiesta is a little more expensive but a truly wonderful 1st class hotel all the way. The Camino Real is older but if you stay in the towers (which I didn't) but heard the rooms are newer. The hotels are right next to each other it's a great location, there is a mall across the street in case it rains it's always nice to have something to do besides the beach, also there is another Mall in Cancun which is absolutely fabulous they have a dolphin show also a water taxi. I am sure there are other things for your kids to do since I didn't go with any kids I don't know. One more thing there also is a new hotel called the Riu Palace which is right in the same area as the 2 hotels I just mentioned. I heard it was a great hotel and all inclusive too!!! Check these hotels out on trip advisor.com. Anything else I can help please ask.

1Mandy1

Crown Paradise Club in Cancun sounds like it would best fit your criteria. It is located on the southern end of the hotel zone. The resort itself is very nice and they have a nice beach. They have a kids activity pool with waterslides. There is an adult only pool if you're looking for a little time away. They have a good kids club with super activities directors.

dougout

I second the Crown Paradise Club as it is very family oriented and is located at the southern end of the zone away from the bars. Other advantages include an expansive beach unavailable at Camino and FA, and good proximity to
Kukucan Mall and Aqua World. Get a map from Laura the map chick before you go to check on proximities. It's the best 7.95 you can spend for Cancun info!

Beachfamily

Thanks for the info! I've gotten a couple of photo tours of FA and Crown P but they show no trees or umbrellas on the beach. I guess this helps me sort what I'm looking for - and my family will need some shade at the beach. Any further ideas for something more low-rise and a bit more palm tree-laden? Perhaps we should be looking at PLaya Del Carmen or is there an area of "old" Cancun that is good? (I was there 25 years ago and remember lots of palm trees!) I really appreciate the comments.

butsey

I was there last year at this time and the whole beach was lined with Palapas
they were very nice if you wanted shade they provide it if not there were plenty of chairs. As far as Plam trees there were plenty. Any more info please ask.

MFNYC

There are many very nice family resorts on th playa del carmen area. We've stayed at the Barcelo and Gala. The Iberostar also gets rave reviews. They all are AI. The food tends to be decent but not great (seems to be the case with most AIs). The beaches are nice at all of them, they are are very family friendly and they all have had kids programs. None of them have water slides.

MFNYC

One more thing, the Barcelo is beautifully landscaped with lots of plam trees on the beach (no problem getting a shaded spot at the pool or the beach). It's been a while since I've been at the Gala so I don't remember (we ar at Barcelo in Feb). I believe they all have buildings no taller than 3 floors, and rooms have terraces.

niskyboss

you might also consider Isla Mujeres -- an island off the coast about 5 miles from Cancun. Nice beaches and A LOT slower pace than Cancun.

We recommend the Na Balom Hotel. Right on the beach.

Ally

I agree with Isla Mujeres for more laid back vacation. Love that island. No huge resorts, except the Avalon which is not huge by Cancun or Playa Del Carmen Resort standards but very large for Isla. But, there are too many excellent places for food and drink on Isla, all close to Na Balam, which is a great choice for families, so an AI is not a good choice.
I've only been to Cancun twice, but my impression is that those resorts do NOT have as many palapas or palms for shading as in Playa or Isla Mujeres. If the resort does not show palms or palapas in their pictures, I'd be worried about getting enough shade.

Now to change subjects, I hope you don't take your kids to see the dolphins. This industry kills dolphins. Over half die within 90 days of capture. The dolphins are miserable and only perform for food, not because they are loving captive life or 'performing'.
Oceanariums argue they are a unique opportunity for children to be in contact with dolphins. But the FACT is the only thing those companies "teach" our children is the ability of human beings to abuse dolphins just to obtain a profit. The future conservation of the marine environment depends on the way we educate our children. We must teach them to respect nature of which we are a part and this concept cannot be learned from the contact with captive animals. Visiting a place where mamals are enslaved and murdered just for amusement is not a positive learning experience for our children.

A non-scientific survey of children leaving an aquarium after and Orca and Dolphin show were asked "What did you learn from seeing the whales?" The number one answer was, "when the whale jumps out of the water, it makes a big slpash."
Although the pro-captivity industry will go on about the educational benefit of their facility, the simple FACT remains that what we are really teaching children is that it is acceptable to keep animals confined as long as there is profit to be made.

Enjoy Cancun, Isla or Playa Del Carmen. Don't enjoy a dolphin 'show'. Thanks

Beachfamily

Thank you for all this helpful information. I will be looking at Isla and the PDC suggestions over the next day or so!

sha

We're returning for the 3rd time to the FAGCB this winter. I must have shade and there's no problem on that account at this hotel. After 3:30 it's difficult to be in the sun as it drops behind the building. Great location for activities and wonderful restaurants. Have fun.