*edited* Hey all. We are thinking of taking our first family winter vacation this year. We have a 9 and a 6yr old. We are NOW thinking of Cancun, Mexico. Any feedback on hotels would be fantastic. Crown Paradise club?

Are you thinking Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo? They are both part of Los Cabos, with the Corridor between them.

Um lol you tell me haha we're open to anything right now. I think we were looking at a holiday inn. Not sure which part it was in.

We took a 5 & 7 yr old and chose San Jose because it's closer to the airport and we didn't want a 90+ minute ride after the long flight. We went to an all inclusive and don't drink. I felt it was worth it with young kids. All the food and drinks they want all day long. Also we didn't have to take the kids off site to eat which would have been a huge hassle.

Just a heads up beaches, although beautiful in the area are not safe for swimming. At least not when I've been there. Need to drive a bit for a swim able beach.

DO you need travel insurance?

Drinks don't have to alcohol, my kids 12,10 and 9 drank their share of fruit smoothies and virgin pina coladas! All inclusive was great for our family.

Would not take my kids to Cabo , Water is deadly there. many people have drowned in cabo. The Sea of cortez and the pacfic slam each other and cause rip tide. Just me 2 cents but beaware

I agree with the concerns others have made regarding the Cabo area and water safety. We have three young children and have traveled Mexico a few times before...I'd recommend Cancun/Mayan region if you think the kids would spend a lot of time enjoying the ocean and beach experience. Puerto Vallarta and area is lovely if the beach isn't as big of an issue. My kids are more pool oriented so we decide based on what the adults are looking for
Yes all inclusive is totally worth it regardless of alcohol. Absolutely effortless for the parents and so enjoyable as the kids love buffets.

Nuevo Vallarta has fantastic beaches and the water is fantastic, also typically about 15-25% cheaper than Mayan.

Sandos Finisterra is all inclusive and has nice pools, a day care, beach area (shouldn't swim in ocean tho there is too much of a current) has a great coffee shop that serves smoothies, specialty coffees, and deserts all day and part of the all inclusive. It is within walking distance to some shops and is just over all a really nice resort and the food is great!

Thanks for the info. I have just seen the ocean warnings now and we are leaning more towards Cancun now. They seem to have super kid friendly places there!

We really enjoyed Grand Sirenis. Rooms are great, staff enjoy working there, food was really good and available all the time including a specialty free coffee shop and free ice cream shop, there is a lazy river, many pool areas and you can snorkel right from the beach. Tons of activities, bike tours of the property, snorkel tours in their own lagoon etc etc If you leave the resort you can take the collectivos to Akumal Beach to snorkel with turtles, to Playa Del Carmen for shopping, a Tulum to see the ruins, or to cenotes (sink holes filled with fresh water) for a really unique experience.

We stayed at both the Grand Bahia Principe and the Barcelo Palace both outside of Cancun in the Mayan region. They're excellent for families with fabulous pools, beach and load's of kod friendly activities. We are headed to Sandos Caracol next, near Playa. Reviews of Crown Paradise are not great, but it depends on what you're really looking for.

Original Poster, did you decide on a resort?

I think we are booking at Crown Paradise club. Seems to have a good mix of what we are looking for. And I loved the off resort suggestions too?