OT: Non Disney family vacation

[WDWjen]

Just returned from a WDW/Universal trip and I'm already looking for ideas for our next family trip sometime in November...My husband and I will be taking our 3 kids (Ages 2,4 & 6) and we are looking for a family friendly resort that is not too expensive.

Anyone recommend a resort in the Caribbean or Mexico for a 5 day trip with the kids? I know Beaches has the whole Sesame Street connection but is it worth the $$ for that?

Also - any thoughts on an all-inclusive with the 3 kids? Is that worth the $$?

 

[Darcy03231]

How about a cruise? My kids love cruising! Both Carnival and Royal Carribean have great kids programs (although my kids prefer Carnival) so Mom and Dad can have some alone time along with family time. Carnival's older ships do allow you to book 5 in a room, which is tight, but doable (I did it when my kids were younger). Last cruise I took them on was a 4 day out of Tampa and total cruise price for 4 (me and 3 kids - DH had to work) was about $1000.

 

[SummersMom]

I highly recommend an all-inclusive resort. We've stayed at 9 since I've had kids in the Mayan Riviera. If you want specific info on travel companies or certain hotels in Cancun or the Mayan Riviera, I'd be more than happy to fill you in. All-inclusive is great because the kids can eat whenever they are hungry, not necessarily on a time table. Most of the resorts in Mexico are very kid-friendly with kids clubs for age 4 and up and pools with great kids areas. Again, I can give you more specific info on any resort you are considering.

I wouldn't splurge for the Beaches/Sesame Street connection. I've found that going to Mexico is enough of a vacation for my kids, they don't need Sesame Street characters also.

There are a few travel companies like worryfree or applevacations or funjet or suntrips that offer very reasonable prices. For example our family of 4 just returned from 10 nights at the Catalonia Playa Maroma in the Riviera Maya for under $2600 total (air, hotel, tranfers, all meals and activities). That hotel wouldn't be my highest recommendation, but it was OK.

 

[mericletwins]

I highly recommend an all-inclusive resort. We've stayed at 9 since I've had kids in the Mayan Riviera. If you want specific info on travel companies or certain hotels in Cancun or the Mayan Riviera, I'd be more than happy to fill you in. All-inclusive is great because the kids can eat whenever they are hungry, not necessarily on a time table. Most of the resorts in Mexico are very kid-friendly with kids clubs for age 4 and up and pools with great kids areas. Again, I can give you more specific info on any resort you are considering.

I wouldn't splurge for the Beaches/Sesame Street connection. I've found that going to Mexico is enough of a vacation for my kids, they don't need Sesame Street characters also.

There are a few travel companies like worryfree or applevacations or funjet or suntrips that offer very reasonable prices. For example our family of 4 just returned from 10 nights at the Catalonia Playa Maroma in the Riviera Maya for under $2600 total (air, hotel, tranfers, all meals and activities). That hotel wouldn't be my highest recommendation, but it was OK.

I would love some specific places. I have just started looking into all-inclusives for next Easter. Thought about cruising, but it is very expensive over Easter and cruises are not family of 5 friendly.

 

[WDWjen]

I'd be scared about cruising with DS2.. he's a daredevil. My DH and I took a cruise last year and all we could do was point out ways that he would get into trouble! Maybe when they are all older...

I like the all-inclusive idea because my kids always seem to say they are hungry until the food arrives at the table and then we just paid for them to take 2 bites... we did an all-inclusive in Aruba without the kids and it was great for us. I just don't know how family-friendly most places are. I don't want to get all 5 of us dressed for dinner every night. And some resorts don't even have a playground etc...

SummersMom - Besides the Catalonia Playa Maroma you mentioned what were the names of the all-inclusive places in Mexico?

 

[Tam1067]

We had a very nice time in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. You can rent condos for a reasonable price there, which is great.

It's about 45 minutes from Charleston, a great city to tour. The beaches are lovely, never crowded, and very clean.