Recommendations for Carribean/Mexican getaways?

[Christien]

Ok, I think February has beaten me up enough. We're strongly considering a quick 4-7 day getaway to somewhere sunny and sandy.

I'd love to hear your recommendations, based on the this criteria:

-2 people (wife and I) + 7 month old baby
-don't care where or when, but would have to be in the next couple weeks
-NO spring break craziness
-preferably all-inclusive package deal, but I don't care about booze being included
-doesn't have to be right on the beach, but of course that's preferable
-All in for under $1500 (including air). If we can't do it for that or less, I'd rather spend more and go to Europe or somewhere more exotic.
-no need for babysitting, but I don't want to have to worry about massive crime rates, kidnappings, etc!

At the risk of sounding like a dick, we don't care about touring the city or anything, this is purely to relax on a beach for a few days and escape the cold. Neither of us have ever been to one of these places, and never thought we'd go - we much prefer much more exotic and interesting places, but what can I say, I'm so @#$%#$ fed up with shoveling snow, and I can't get away for more than a few days in the next couple weeks.

We looked at a few places on expedia, travelocity, etc. and a lot of them only had mediocre ratings when we checked it out on tripadvisor. Man, I love the internet...

Thanks!

[legion]

Secrets Capri in Playa del Carmen.

I went there for my honeymoon. I would go back in a heartbeat. A top notch, adults only, all inclusive.

[legion]

Wait, you have a kid.

Check out some of the "family resorts" in the "Mayan Riviera".

[Dueller]

Isla Mujeres. Off the coast of Cancun. A sleepy little sliver of an island that hasn't quite been spoiled totally by tourism. Modest but clean, safe accomodations can be had for $100/night. Two adults can eat local for <$50 day. Waaaay less if you try or shop the market for fresh fruit, cheese, etc

Try www.myislamujeres.com

for hotel:

www.posadadelmar.com

[Dueller]

Oh, yeah...check my previous posts and pics here on Pelican:

Best all-inclusive vacation.

[MRM]

My family just booked spring break at Crown Paradise Club Cancun through Hobbit travel. The four of us Thursday to Thursday for $3,000 all inclusive including air and drinks. They specialize in families and have kid clubs and lots of pools and a nice beach. We leave next week. I'll tell you how it goes.

[89911]

We've done beach vacations for the past 16 years with my growing family and I would strongly suggest staying in the US if you can with a 7 month old. Avoid Cancun like the plague, even if you don't have a baby. If you go to the Caribbean, you'll enjoy 1/10 of what it has to offer because of the age of you child. One suggestion is one of Florida's lesser keys (Not Key West ) or the extreme Southern portions of the West Coast (Naples, Marco Island). Your budget sounds pretty tight though if your including flying, hotel, car rental, and eating. How about some tanning sessions and dinner at Tony Roma's?

[masraum]

I don't know how you'll do a mexico trip for $1500, but I've been to Puerto Vallarta (actually, Nuevo Vallarta) and Cabo San Lucas and have travelled through Sayulitas.

Of the two main cities, I preferred Cabo. It was much prettier.

I have to say that after visiting Sayulitas I'd love to go there. It looks really cool and much cheaper than the regular resorts, but I've never stayed there and don't know what it would be like with a baby.

[Gogar]

Unfortunately, I too feel that for $1500 you're probably pricing yourself out of the Carribean. Like others, I would suggest staying away from Cancun and Playa del Carmen for both spring break and baby reasons.

Cabo is nice, but beach challenged on the Pacific side (Cabo san Lucas) of things. Los Cabos (the Eastern side of the peninsula) is a little more relaxed and has better beaches, but the water will still be quite cold this time of year, if you care.

If you need warm water, maybe something along the lines of Isla Mujeres may be perfect for you, like stated above.

Don't count out Puerto Rico, either! Lots to be found there, and not quite as much of the "tourist" vibe. Good beaches, good food, it's part of the U.S. (kind of), and it's not too hard to find a flight. Lots of the big cruise ships depart from San Juan, so flights are a piece of cake.

[BeyGon]

Check out Loreto, it is in Baja, the east coast, look up the hotel, Posada de las Flores, cool little town on the water, plenty of things to see and do. The oldest mission in the Californias, one up in the hills that is a great trip also. Fishing is great, lots of good places to eat. Little town, you can walk all around at night and feel comfortable. Not a lot of shopping cause everything is brought over from the other side. Your wife won't spend much.

[JavaBrewer]

Pueto Vallarta, Casa Magna Marriott resort. Was there in Sept last year with wife. AWESOME. Flew there US Airways (America West) from Phoenix. Great pool right on the ocean, 2 blocks from the Marina. Was totally relaxing and we are going to make it an annual trip. You can stay on the property and have a great time. Avoid the pool side specialty drinks and stick to beer and tequila shots.

[JavaBrewer]

[BeyGon]

Loreto is a good spot, not the heavy tourist place like a lot of Mexico, here is a picture of the bottom of the glass bottom pool on the third floor. Great bar and great food here, the Posada de los Flores.

[Dueller]

What's gonna kill your budget is the air fare from Ont to points south. You might wanna leave the baby with the grandparents and the two of you get away. Bet the missus deserves it

[Gogar]

Oh boy. I didn't see the Ontario part. I think the only way you're gonna do ANYTHING worth while for $1500 is leave the baby at home and check out "last minute deals" on the travel sites. Maybe someone has a good one for you.

[imcarthur]

Cuba. The Holguin/Guadalavaca area is nice. Villa Covarubbias for very quiet or resorts in Guadalavaca for a bit more action - Paradisus del Oro is tops, but there are many at different prices.

See Debbie's for the best resort reviews.

For her BBS see Debbie's Pro Board

Ian

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by legion
Secrets Capri in Playa del Carmen.

I went there for my honeymoon. I would go back in a heartbeat. A top notch, adults only, all inclusive.

OMG, I was going to say Playa del Carmen.

Awesome place. It's not very "touristy" either....

Tulum is a good day trip, about an hour away........

[cool_chick]

Do you need a passport now? Has that been officially enacted yet?

[Big Ed]

Originally posted by cool_chick
Do you need a passport now? Has that been officially enacted yet?

Yes.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Christien
Ok, I think February has beaten me up enough. We're strongly considering a quick 4-7 day getaway to somewhere sunny and sandy.

I'd love to hear your recommendations, based on the this criteria:

-2 people (wife and I) + 7 month old baby
-don't care where or when, but would have to be in the next couple weeks
-NO spring break craziness
-preferably all-inclusive package deal, but I don't care about booze being included
-doesn't have to be right on the beach, but of course that's preferable
-All in for under $1500 (including air). If we can't do it for that or less, I'd rather spend more and go to Europe or somewhere more exotic.
-no need for babysitting, but I don't want to have to worry about massive crime rates, kidnappings, etc!

At the risk of sounding like a dick, we don't care about touring the city or anything, this is purely to relax on a beach for a few days and escape the cold. Neither of us have ever been to one of these places, and never thought we'd go - we much prefer much more exotic and interesting places, but what can I say, I'm so @#$%#$ fed up with shoveling snow, and I can't get away for more than a few days in the next couple weeks.

We looked at a few places on expedia, travelocity, etc. and a lot of them only had mediocre ratings when we checked it out on tripadvisor. Man, I love the internet...

Thanks!

The former Dutch colonies, Bermuda, Pueto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands are all pretty safe, but as someone else pointed out, travel with a 7 month old is stressful to say the least and the Carribean area still has malaria cases. You'll have to get your child immunized against several diseases, and I'm not sure a child that young can be immunized for everything an adult can.