We are looing to book a family vacation in Mexico. Kids will be 4 and 5 years old. Never been there, but are looking for something easy on budget and kid-friendly. We aren't fancy sorts but find all inclusives intriguing. My husband doesn't want to lay on the beach all week so alternative things to do would be nice. (biking?) Considering the timing, (first week of April), we'd like to find a place where the spring break partiers are not! Can anyone offer advice on which Mexico location to go to, along with hotels? Muchas Gracias!

What is it that you find intriguing about all-inclusives?
They may be the perfect option for you, but I find they are most often over-priced for what you receive.

Sounds like your husband (like mine) gets antsy. Often people who are at AIs tend to stay on property because that is what they have paid for...and that may be too confining for your husband.

There are a couple of areas that are more like a small village along the Carribean coast of Mexico - Akumal and Tulum - where you'll find nice, budget hotels.

Or you can try Yelapa, out of Puerto Vallarta - look for faithie's report from earlier this year.

Just a note about the spring breaker stuff. I usually fly into Cozumel during this time as it does not draw the numbers of young adults on the plane that the flights to Cancun do. Then I take the ferry over to Playa Del Carmen or you could just choose to stay on Cozumel. The planes are much quieter as is the airport.

Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa gets virtually no spring breakers. Do find you comment about AI as intriguing as normally it's plain food of mediocre quality. Have not done that since the 1960's. Zihua has many wonderful medium * low price restaurants that will delight the palate. Go to www.zihuatanejo.net for lots of Info,

Guess I thought of AI's as intriguing because that's what I've seen offered in all the vacation ads. Thought perhaps that was the was to go--but knowing our way of travel, will probably find that to be not imaginative enough. Thanks for the advice on the mediocrity of them as that makes sense now. So far, the replies have listed different destinations that I will look into further. Are these family friendly places?

Don't know about Zihua but the others are. I can't imagine Zihua isn't also.

If you chose one of the nice hotels on Playa La Madera such as Las Brisas del Mar (Not to be confused with Las Brisas Ixtapa)you will be on the best Kids beach possible in all of Mexico. It has a long slow slope into the bay with normally small waves so easy for tots to enjoy. Also kids a bit older play soccer on it & are more than willing to let gringo tourists join in. So to answer you, yes very family oriented. In fact MJ & Richie's the Best Beach Café in Mexico is on that Beach & is named after the owners two grandkids MJ & Richie. Now it's not the fanciest just the best with a marvelous staff, great food. real Palapa shade & low prices with no minimum required! Check it out!

We went to Isla Mujeres in '05 with a 4&6 year old, then last year to Tulum with kids ages 5-7. I don't think you'd be able to do much true "biking" in either place. We were in both places mid-March and both were very family friendly (Isla moreso) with no spring breakers (but it wasn't first week of April!). Really, Isla doesn't atract college kids looking to party. Isla is easy on the budget. Akumal would be an option if you like snorkeling. Otherwise....not sure there's enough to do for your hubby!