We're looking for a place to go in Mexico with teenagers as a family where we won't be met with drunk half naked high school or college spring breakers. Does such a place exist?

Anywhere but Cancun during spring break!!! I'm not sure where your impression is coming from but there are only a few places in Mexico cursed with the phenomena you mention.

Seriously it's a huge country... Oaxaca, Zihuatenejo, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, Playa del Carmen, come to mind.

Do you want a beach vacation or to visit colonial cities inland?

suze,
Thanks for the reply. We're looking for a beach vacation. We've been to Puerto Vallarta years ago and are thinking maybe something on the gulf side would be better. I've heard the waters clearer, etc. Any suggestions for there would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry, I have only spent time on the Baja and the west coast.

I think Cancun is OK just pick your resort and the time of year you go carefully.

Avoid any Cancun all-inclusive during spring break.
Go to the better (& unfortunately probably more expensive hotels!), and you should be fine -- Ritz, Jw Marriott, Fiesta Grand Aqua, maybe the Hilton.
I'm not sure Playa del Carmen, or Akumal just 1/2 hour south of the Cancun airport get hit with any spring break problems at all, and they're also great spots to stay.

Try going further south of Cancun as Cancun is party central now, but south of Cancun (Mayan Riviera) is not so Americanized or party central and is more like old Mexico with more of a family atmosphere. There are some wonderful new all-inclusives in this area of Mexico and there is lots to see and do such as Mayan ruins to explore, cenotes to swim/snorkel and eco/water parks to check out.

Isla Mujeres would be perfect.

I definitely agree w/all the above Do Not go to Cancun during Spring Break it is CRAZY!!! Try Playa del Carmen has to be quieter or any of the other places close to Cancun.

In any location I believe you can mitigate this by choice of where you stay. Either cheap basic hotels or high-end expensive resorts. In my experience, the drunk student types pick inexpensive but all-inclusive low- to mid-range places with music blasting around the volleyball game in the pool.

Just kidding, sort of, since I've never actually witnessed it, but also have never run in to it in years of spring break stays in my favorite locally owned budget hotel in PV.

Google Isla Mujeres which would be perfect.It is a small island 10 miles north of Cancun
You can also e-mail us at
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Dan and Ginny

Go to Playa Del Carmen. Nio spring breakers to be had, in fact most hotels discourage it.

Once we took our family to Cancun during spring break. We did stay at an all-inclusive, but it was one of the better hotels so there were absolutely no breakers there. The spriong break crowd tends to stay at the more 'bedget' hotels. Some all incusives do have them but not the higher end ones. Cancun Palace definitely did, but the other palace resorts did not.

We took 1 tour to isla mujeres with spring breakers in the group. They did get a bit rowdy during the boat ride back to Cancun (where food and alcoholic drinks were served). My kids were young, we didn't make a big deal out of it, my kids don't even remember.

Since we've gone south of Cancun to the Maya Riviera. We like it much better. We've stayed in AI's in the past. This year we're renting a condo very near town (Playa Del Carmen) with it's own beach and pool. My kids are teens, so I think they are old enough to run into town to grab a bite for lunch on their own.

Funny, after I posted a reply, I see this is an old post! I guess macminn is set and ready to go.