Hello -
My head is spinning from so much reading - the more information I gather, the less I feel I know, but I think I have stumbled upon something I quite like and would love some feedback from those familiar with the area.
I've been considering a beach vacation this spring (last week of March - not flexible, I'm a teacher) and thought it would be nice to go to the Caribbean - we've never been. Turquoise water, soft sand, hammocks, low key, huts with straw roofs, get away from it all. I hunted, and hunted, and hunted, I asked on the Caribbean forum and got some nice responses, so I searched some more. T&C? Barbados? St. Martin? But nothing hit the vibe I am seeking. Or the budget! Then I began to read threads that suggested I was in the wrong region - perhaps instead a better fit for vibe and budget would be Playa del Carmen, and specifically Mahekal as a resort, and when I visited the website, it became apparent that I might have found "the one."
We're traveling with our 2 year old. It'll be her first flight and her first time spending more than a few hours on a beach. We don't need Sesame Street characters roaming around, we don't need kids clubs, but we also don't want to be so remote that our child will go crazy with boredom. We just want to spend our days relaxing and playing with her in a place that's comfortable but not too glitzy. Rustic, laid back, but with substantial comfort...someplace that I can splurge and get an oceanfront hut (but by "splurge" I don't mean $1,000/night. For oceanfront in a bungalow I would do $400/night and that would be a big deal for us). Someplace we won't have to worry that our toddler is going to lose it after 4 days and nights of formal restaurants, but also where I don't have to grocery shop and wash dishes (this needs to be a vacation for mom, too!) Someplace where we can change scenery if we get bored of the beach, but (unfortunately) no zip lining or climbing through ruins - not this trip!
So my questions are: Would you bring your 2-year-old to Playa del Carmen? Is safety a concern? How about ease of travel (we are coming from JFK). Would you recommend Mahekal as a place to stay - is it child-friendly? Are its restaurants formal or can we be laid back at breakfast? Does its pool have a shallow area? Are the beach waters calm? Is the beach safe? If not at this place, does any resort in this area have a shallow wading-type pool? Is there reliable healthcare nearby, just in case? Proximity of other stuff to do (even if it's just walking through town?) Any reason you'd hesitate to bring your 2 year old here?
I appreciate any feedback.
Family vacation to Playa del Carmen - Mahekal?
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I have a condo a block behind Mahekal, at Coco Beach in north Playa del Carmen and I am there now. I spent yesterday on the beach and in the water literally next to the Mahekal. From what I can see, it is a nice resort, w/huts w/walkways in btwn and lots of palm trees. It looks lovely and relatively low key, people just hanging out on the beach chairs on the beach in front of the resort, not a lot of drinking going on, no loud music.
Yes, I believe Playa is a great place to bring yourselves and your two yr old. That resort is on the northern end of the Playa beaches, where it is quieter. And just bring your umbrella stroller and you are a block away from 5th Ave, the pedestrian st. that runs parallel w/the beach for over a mile, with shopping, restaurants, etc. The pedestrian part of 5th Ave starts at 32nd St., and you will be at 40th St., so you will have a few blocks that are quieter, but still have nice shops and restaurants, until you get to the barricades where the strictly pedestrian st. starts.
Lots to do very close by off the beach, and the beach is easy access to the water, no real waves to speak of, flat and calm, and beautiful turquoise shades. There are fishing boats anchored just to the left of Mahekal, and yesterday I saw a boat of divers leave from there, and I also saw some paddle boarders. You can see the bldgs, on Cozumel island in the distance from that beach also.
Lots of people walk their dogs on leashes in the north end and on 5th Ave, which will keep your toddler amused. Also there is a lot of great birdlife in north Playa as many of the jungle trees have been left around and btwn the low-lying buildings, so your toddler will hear lots of exotic bird calls and see some cool birds. Yesterday I awoke to two brightly colored yellow, orange and black birds in the plan tree next to my patio. She may even get to see an iguana.
I'm not an expert of that side of the country (Puerto Vallarta is my go-to place). But generally speaking safety is not a concern for tourists visiting beach resort towns in Mexico. Beyond using normal common sense of course.
Thank you so much for your responses. The more I think about this location, the more I really love it. You were very helpful!
The beach up on that north end can be perfect for kids. However it is not always calm. Certain times of the year,early spring it can be quite rough. Windsurfers spend weeks up there because the conditions are perfect for that. I do know at the moment there has been considerable erosion around that area and the beach is quite narrow BUT the beach is always shifting so today, maybe little beach and tomorrow it will be wider by many yards. Water and beach conditions do change on a daily basis.
All in all the Caribbean and beaches around Playa are wonderful and you should feel safe and certain of a wonderful vacation.
Looks like emd3 has the scoop. Several years ago our family gathered for a vacation at Playa, renting a house which had a pathway to a beech. Also had a nice pool. My only question is traveling anywhere with a 2 year old but I can't remember
...it's been so long ago. Sounds like fun.
Agreed - just got back from our week at the Royal Hacienda, which is north of the area you are describing. The north end of 5th Avenue looked pretty kid friendly. Most resorts down there will have concierge who will give you restuaurant and activity suggestions that are toddler friendly. If you can't be safe in Playa de C., you can't be safe anywhere.
One restaurant recommendation - is Restaurante Aldea Corazon between Calle 14 and 16 on 5th Ave. They have superb regional Mexican fare. By regional I mean some dishes are Mayan, some are in the style of Veracruz, some in the style of Oaxaca, etc. . They staff is good at explaining this and the food was, in my opnion quite wonderful.
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