Vacationing with your family in Mexico offers many benefits. Though many cities are associated with constant partying, there are also many activities that are designed for young children and teenagers. Many children receive discounts at many popular tourist attractions. Selecting an all-inclusive vacation package for the whole family is one of the best ways for everyone to enjoy their vacation in Mexico, without having to worry about the cost.
If you are interested in visiting Mexico with your family, you will want to examine some of the many attractions that are specifically geared towards children. These attractions and activities are ideal for making the most out of your family vacation. Below is a summary of just a few of the many attractions and resorts that you may find exciting in Mexico. For additional information, you are encouraged to contact your local travel agent or use the internet to guide you in your search.
Located on the Mayan Riviera is the Xcaret Theme Park. The Xcaret Theme Park is a wonderful attraction for those who are looking for a family resort. Located in Cancun, Mexico, the Xcaret Theme Park is a theme park that is often compared to Disney World or Disneyland. Similar to Disneyland and Disney World, you can expect to enjoy a fun filled day at Xcaret, thanks to amazing rides and attractions.
An deep underground river is a popular feature of the Xcaret Theme Park. You and your family can see plenty of beautiful tropical plants as you enjoy the river. Xcaret is also host to many wild and exotic animals. There is a butterfly pavilion, a coral reef aquarium, and you are given the chance to swim dolphins. Many children, as well as adults, will be thrilled with this theme park. In addition to the Xcaret Theme Park, Cancun offers many family friendly resorts. To find a luxury resort that offers family oriented activities you may want to check on the internet or speak with your local travel agent.
Cozumel also offers many great attractions and activities that are designed for individuals of all ages, including children. Cozumel is ideal for family vacation, especially because it has one of the lowest crime rates in Mexico, as well as the world. Cozumel is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs. This often creates an incredible adventure and learning experience for children. If your children will enjoy scuba diving or snorkeling, then you will want to plan a trip to Cozumel.
With so many options for families, choosing a Mexican all-inclusive vacation is a great idea. The vacation package will also include items such as snacks, drinks, meals, as well as hotel accommodations and airfare. Teaching children about various cultures and customs and letting them view the Mayan ruins first hand is an amazing lesson in geography and history. While education is nice, the above mentioned locations do not completely just focus on it. There are so many fun filled activities such as snorkeling, diving, swimming, hiking, fishing, sailing, and parasailing. These activities are great for families with active children.
In addition to the above mentioned popular Mexican destinations are that are designed for the whole family, you may want to consider additional sights and attractions.
Family Resorts in Mexico
Cruises for Families
If you have always dreamed of retiring and going on a cruise, why are you waiting? Cruises are not just for retirees, they are also perfect for the family, no matter what age your children are!
Family cruises are designed specifically for relaxation for the parents and non-stop activities for kids. That means there are things going on until one am that your children can participate in, fully monitored by trained staff so you can hit the dance floor or the pool without having to worry about your children.
Cruises for families can be found through any major cruise line, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and, of course, Disney! Each one offers a unique experience for the kids while giving parents exactly what they want, time alone by the pool, full five course meals and relaxing spas.
For example, Disney, one of the most popular family cruises, offers live shows that kids love, as well as ongoing activities for all age groups. They even have a “nightclub” for teens where parents are banned, but the fun is supervised!
Carnival features the Camp Carnival cruises where activities are provided for 4 different age groups, from 2-15. Parties and pools for kids abound and everything is supervised. If parents want to go out to dinner in the evening, they can hire a babysitter to stay in the stateroom with the kids.
Norwegian Cruises has developed a family cruise called Kid’s Crew and they feature spas for parents, with treasure hunts, pajama parties, cookouts and sleepovers keeping the little ones busy. They also offer face painting, T-shirt decorating among many other activities. The whole family can get in on activities like sand castle competitions!
Royal Caribbean has the Adventure Ocean cruises for families where the entertainment for kids is actually educational at the same time. There are special play areas and plenty of opportunities for the whole family to have fun together, not just separated into groups.
Princess Cruises features special Love Boat cruises for kids. They have several ships for this program and each one offer different, but very fun activities. There is a special Teen Club that allows older children to dance the night away in a teen night club, participate in talent and karaoke shows and have pizza and movie parties.
For the most part, family-oriented cruises won’t break the bank. They run anywhere from $600 - $1,250, which is not a very high price, considering the amount of fun and everything included.
Finding the best family cruise for your family takes a bit of research. You need to figure out which activities your kids will enjoy the most, whether you want to spend most of your time on the actual ship, or if shore leaves will figure into the activity plan. It is a good idea to sit down with older children and some brochures and discuss which cruise they think would be best.
With a bit of planning, your family cruises can be a lot of fun and have you coming back again and again.
Top Ten Tips for Traveling with Young Children
Being flexible in your plans is key to keeping children happy and safe while traveling.
Los Altos, CA (PRWEB) July 19, 2007 -– RealTravel (http://realtravel.com), a travel blogging and travel guide site that helps more than half a million people plan trips with advice from other travelers every month, today announces top 10 tips for traveling with young children, according to RealTravel editors and British bloggers Travelling Family.
1. Travel light.
When packing for yourself plus your young children, you will need two steps: First, pack your gear. Then unpack and re-assess what you really need. “When we left the United Kingdom we had 3 large bags, 1 medium bag, 2 car seats and a stroller,” writes Travelling Family. “When we returned we had 4 large bags, 1 medium bag, 2 car seats, a fishing rod, a child’s activity centre, a sun tent, and a stroller. The bags were also a lot fuller than when we started!” Also, keep in mind that small children grow quickly: “If your kids are growing rapidly (as our infant was), pack for the next sizes up, and be prepared to throw away clothes they have grown out of.”
2. Slap on the sun protection, then slap on some more.
Sun protection is essential, especially when you hit a new country and you have no idea initially about how strong the sun is in that region. Travelling Family offers their advice: “We tried aerosols, sprays, creams, and sticks. I would say the creams are the best, as they give the best coverage, and can be packed in the suitcase easily. The sun sticks were okay, but the kids didn’t really like using them, and were hard to apply. Try to get factor 50 if you can, and a kids version.”
3. Find the parks.
“We could be in the most beautiful spot in the world, but we had to forgo the scenic photographs temporarily to go find a park,” shares Travelling Family. “We found if we did this our kids would be so much happier the rest of the day. By the end of our time in New Zealand I was quite a connoisseur on the different types of parks. If you aren’t anywhere there are parks, as we were in Fiji, then make up some new games. We managed to get hold of a bucket and spade and play on the beach in Fiji, and some of the staff enjoyed partaking in a game of football with Matthew.”
4. Don’t plan too much.
Kids are unpredictable. Therefore, planning a meticulous itinerary may not be the best approach. Travelling Family explains: “I knew which country we would be in each day, and where we were sleeping. I planned all this long before we set off on holiday. But I didn’t know what we would be doing in each country. For instance, we planned originally to go to Te Anau and then visit both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, but we realized that Doubtful Sound was a step too far. Sometimes we woke up and it was raining. That put paid to any plans for the day, and we usually tried to drive instead.”
5. It’s not all about the kids - enjoy yourself.
Why should your life suddenly stop when you have children? Of course it’s going to be different, but you can still have a great vacation. Try to do at least one of each family member’s favorite activities along the way. “We compromised, writes Travelling Family. “I really didn’t want to go and play on the beach every day in Akaroa, but I had to because Matthew enjoyed it. But he didn’t want to watch a speedway in Tauranga, but he did as I wanted to see it. He didn’t care for sitting in a tin can plane whilst we saw Mount Cook, but he sat there and didn’t moan (actually I think he did quite enjoy it!).”
6. Have a positive attitude to plane flying.
Travelling Family shares their advice on air travel: “I have met a lot of people both before and since our journey who have said things like ‘New Zealand is too far for me (an adult) to travel to,’ or ‘were the kids an absolute nightmare on the plane?’ Well, actually, they were great. And I think a lot of the reason why was because I was confident they would be. The trick to traveling with a toddler is to not let them know they can get out of the seat (on their own). We also brought a bassinette and purchased a seat for our newborn, even though he was obviously too small to use it. This ensured we didn’t get people sitting next to us.”
7. Travel when the kids are tired, stop when they are not.
Travelling Family found it was best to balance driving with fun activities. “We found that if we drove too much the kids got fed up. This is natural and to be expected. As a result we tried to only drive if they were tired, or if we had given them a few days of running around a lot. We did meet people that were attempting to pack more into two weeks of a trip to New Zealand than we were doing in one month. And with toddlers in tow, too. You could see it was stressful for both the parents and the children.”
8. Establish a routine.
Every family is different, so find your own unique routine that works for you. It will give your children some structure when the environment around them is changing. “It was strange how we had to re-establish a new routine at each place we visited. We were affected by things like the time the sun went down, the availability of food, the activities we were trying to do. But a routine is essential, and not just for the kids.”
9. Do an activity every day.
Plan activities to do each day using travel guides for your destinations. For example, look up fun things to do in your Australia travel guide if that’s where you’re headed. Writes Travelling Family, “You have to get out. So in the morning have a routine whereby you get up, get dressed, get breakfast, then go do something. Now this activity might not be anything big, it could just be walking 200 yards away to the park, or visiting the local supermarket. But get out and do something. The kids will be easier to cope with, and you won’t get cabin fever.”
10. Chill and relax.
The most important tip when traveling with young children is to relax and have fun! “You have to learn to count to 10, to chill out, to expect the unexpected, and just well relax and enjoy yourself,” advises Travelling Family. “The kids will be kids. They will trash the hotel room, throw apple puree all over the floor of the motorhome, mess their nappies when you are 10,000 feet up, and various other things besides. If you stress, the children will stress. If you laugh they will laugh. Enjoy your children, they will be grown up in the blink of an eye. Enjoy your holiday and make the most of those special days. It’s surprising, you will remember that holiday for the rest of your life, yet it is just a brief period in your day-to-day life. Listen to you children, laugh with them, play with them, and make the most of them. Don’t stress over the small stuff. Enjoy.”
RealTravelers Travelling Family are an adventurous couple with two young children from London who spent five months traveling around the Oceania and the United States.
About RealTravel:
Named \"Best of the Web\" by Forbes and BusinessWeek in 2006 and Best Online Travel Community of the Year in 2007 by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives, RealTravel is a travel blogging and travel guide site that helps more than half a million people plan trips with advice from other travelers every month. Visit us at http://realtravel.com
Media Contacts:
Christina Brzica
RealTravel.com
650-694-4970
When it comes to vacations, kids like ACTION!
ORLANDO, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that 84 percent of teens favor real-life action on vacation to playing video games at their hotel (16 percent). Adventurous activities high on the list include swimming with dolphins, such as here at Discovery Cove in Orlando. In addition to swimming with dolphins, Discovery Cove also offers teens the opportunity to snorkel with tropical fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches. (PRNewsFoto/Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks)
Parents, brace yourselves. Kids' expectations for family vacations just got higher -- and a lot more active. A new survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) and commissioned by Discovery Cove, an Orlando-based theme park where guests can interact with a variety of marine animals, reveals the following highlights:
- About 4 in 5 Teens(1) (78%) desire a unique, once-in-a-lifetime vacation event or activity that will provide them with bragging rights,and about 3 in 4 parents(2) (72%) want the same for their children.
- More than half of teens say their parents join in on their adventurous activities, while only 14% say their parents want to be left alone.
- About 4 in 5 parents (80%) allow their children to influence their vacation planning.
- Teens favor real-life action on vacation, such as participating in adventurous activities (84%) to playing video games at their hotel (16%).
A "Fin-tastic" Way to a Teen's Heart
More than half of teens (60%) want to tell their friends that they swam with dolphins on their vacation. Other aspects that make up a teen's dream vacation include: exploring a new place (68%), seeing a celebrity (49%), meeting a new friend (42%) and spending time with family (36%).
"
Today's kids have such active lifestyles, it seems only natural that they want to take their vacation plans to the next level," says Stewart Clark, vice president of Discovery Cove. "Discovery Cove has been aware of this trend and has responded by offering guests both a relaxing and adventurous vacation experience."
Parent and Teen Perspectives -- The Family Dream Vacation
Real World vs. Virtual World
Based on the recent sales and widespread growth of video games, one might assume teens would rather play in the virtual world than the realworld. However, an overwhelming 84% of teens opt to leave their joysticks at home and participate in adventurous activities while on vacation. Only 16% of teens would rather play video games in their hotel.
According to study findings, girls are more likely than boys to have an adventurous streak on vacation (90% girls vs. 77% boys), while boys are more likely than girls to prefer playing video games in a hotel (23% boys vs. 10% girls). But even boys grow out of their games eventually. Older teen boys (ages 16-17) are more likely than their younger counterparts to prefer adventurous activities over video games (89% of boys ages 16-17 vs. 74% of boys ages 8-15).
Guess What I Did This Summer?
When asked what makes a dream vacation for them, teens say they would most like to brag to their friends about a once-in-a-lifetime activity, such as swimming with dolphins (78%). An overwhelming number (72%) of parents agreed that their children would want unique activities for the ability to brag. Parents and their children see eye-to-eye that other must-have teen dream vacation characteristics are: staying up late (35% and 63%, respectively), relaxing (42% and 54%), the freedom to be on their own (42% and 54%), spending time with family (51% and 50%), sleeping in (29%and 49%) and not arguing (9% and 17%).
Parents are Just Big Kids ... So They Say
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Many parents seem to be doing just that when it comes to family vacations. Overall, parents crave participation in their kids' activities rather than lounging in solitude. An overwhelming number of parents (70%) say that, on vacation, they want to
engage in the same activities as their children (e.g.: swimming with dolphins or playing in the pool). Only 4% say they want to be left alone to relax. Others divulged that when they participate in their kids' activities, they let their guard down and were more laid back (64%), were easier to talk to (24%), and were less likely to anger quickly (19%).
Teens agree that their parents' attitudes change dramatically while on vacation. More than half of teens say their parents join in on their adventurous activities, while only 14% say their parents want to be left alone. Generally, teens agree that their parents are more laid back (53%), less likely to anger easily (33%), and easier to talk to (26%).
Teens Have the Power
When it comes to who has the most control over where the family will be vacationing, parents seem to be giving their children more and more choice, with 80% saying that their kids have some or a lot of influence. Teens echo the statement, saying they (65%) and their siblings (44%) have influence in their family's vacation destination. Both parents (96%) and teens (74%) still understandably say that parents have the most overall influence.
About Discovery Cove
Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive adventure park in the heart of Orlando offering its guests extraordinary experiences through up-closeencounters with dolphins and other marine life. Whether it's a 30-minute Dolphin-swim session, snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish in the
Coral Reef, wading with the rays in the Ray Lagoon, hand-feeding exotic birds in a free- flight Aviary or relaxing on pristine beaches, the activities are matchless and geared specifically towards youth and families.
The Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks include Discovery Cove in Orlando;
SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens in
Tampa Bay and Williamsburg, Va.; Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; Water
Country in Williamsburg; and Sesame Place near Philadelphia. For more
information about Discovery Cove, visit http://www.DiscoveryCove.com or
call 1-877-4-ADVENTURE.
Think Rentals Launches Florida Vacation Rentals as the Hottest Way to Beat Winters
With this expansion, Think Rentals now has properties in all 50 states.
Think Rentals (www.thinkrentals.com), a leading rentals company in the US, launches vacation rentals in the ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida. This marks an important landmark in the history of Think Rentals and the rental industry as a whole. With the launch of Florida vacation rental properties, Think Rentals has become the only rental agency in the US having hot spots lined up in all the 50 states.Coming close to holiday season, the new Florida vacation rentals are aimed to attract people looking for freshness in holidays and escaping extreme wintry weather. The temperate climate of Florida, diverse aquatic life, and some of the World’s best beaches, Florida has much to offer. And Think Rentals plans to make the trip joyful with plush condos, apartments, villas, duplexes, cottages, and cabins lined up to welcome guests
A home away from home; a home away from work, where one can relax after a hectic day at work. That’s the basic idea behind vacation rentals. And Think Rentals has been fast in putting this idea to work. Mel Reveron, of the Operations team at Think Rentals, puts it this way, "There is ample space for the vacationer and his near and dear ones. No outside extractions. Complete with a range of electronic gadgets to make the stay more convenient. And all of this at a price much lower than hotels."
Think Rentals has many such vacation rentals in store, close to desired locations all over the country. While hotels come as a standard package, the good thing about a vacation rental is that there is much to customize. The number of rooms, the amenities, kitchen and dining room, spas, etc can all be added to the package depending on an individual’s requirement and budget.
Think Rentals is planning to soon expand to the other facets of the tourism industry. It has plans of tie ups with tour operators, companies plying tourist buses, airlines etc. Brandon Lusan, who ideated the Florida vacation rentals launch, says, "The idea is to offer individuals a one-stop portal for all his tour related needs. And it will not be long when people can shop for accommodation, air tickets, and shopping accessories, all through us."
Booking for vacation rentals takes place all the year round; what with the excessive demand of vacation rentals. Think Rentals encourages online booking on its website. For the holidayers, there is ample information about a place of their interest on its website, with accurate maps and images of rental homes and places of interest in the vicinity.
Vacation homeowners too can fetch cheap advertisement of their rental homes, condos etc with Think Rentals. They can register their property/properties by paying a nominal fee. This agency directs all queries for rentals to the owners, allowing them to decide the price and other factors. The owner of property is free to revise listing, renew calendar and make additions or deletions to photos of his property at anytime and at no additional cost.
Think rentals is a nationwide rentals hub. For renters looking for a holiday home and for property owners or dealers looking to rent out their property, anywhere in the country, this agency has much to offer.
For more information on how you can get more from your holidays, visit http://www.thinkrentals.com.
Contact:
Justin Adams
Thinkrentals.com Inc
386-689-5796
FLY FREE to Almond Resorts in Barbados or St. Lucia
Stay 5 nights or longer and you get a credit of $500 per person towards your airfare.
Sale ends Feb. 8, 2007, for travel Feb. 1-May 31, 2007
Almond Resorts, the Caribbean's premier all-inclusive chain of resort hotels, has a very tempting sunshine offer this Winter. With bookings of five consecutive night stays or more, Almond Beach Club & Spa, Almond Beach Village and Almond Morgan Bay, are all offering a $500US credit per person, towards airfare. There are various room categories to choose from, ranging from the standard to luxurious beachfront suites. The wonderfully landscaped tropical gardens at all Almond Resorts, border some of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean, inviting guests to melt their cares away from the moment they arrive. Attractively designed rooms, activities and amenities to please guests of all ages, and gourmet restaurants offering a choice of cuisines, complete the picture.
To qualify for this FLY FREE offer, all bookings must be made by February 8, 2007. Travel period allowed is February 1-May 31, 2007. Some restrictions apply.
For triple and quad room occupancy, the maximum airfare credit allowed is $1,000 per room.
How this works:
Book and fly any airline of your choice and the resort will give you a rebate on the land portion of your trip.
The Almond Resorts FLY FREE Offer applies to new bookings only and it is not combinable with any other promotion or discount offers.
The all-inclusive hotels offer:
- Numerous free water sports such as water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, banana boat rides and reef fishing, with free lessons, if required
- State of the art spas with treatments including massages, facials, manicures and hydrotherapy treatments available at a locally payable cost
- Tennis facilities and fitness centers
- Children's clubs and family entertainment at all hotels except Almond Beach Club & Spa. The Kid's Club concept was pioneered at Almond Beach Village in Barbados and is a standard feature of the company's family friendly resorts
- A choice of a la carte restaurants serving fine cuisine and bars offering premium brand named drinks
For more information, please contact your favorite travel provider or Almond Resorts at 1-800-4ALMOND or visit http://www.almondresorts.com.
