Raving About the Riviera Maya

With its miles of uncrowded beaches, strategic location south of Cancun and diverse array of archeological and ecological sites, it’s no surprise that the Riviera Maya has become one of Mexico’s highest-profile vacation destinations. And when it comes time to sell this slice of the Mexican Caribbean, travel agents frequently find that families are among the clients most eager to book. 

“The Riviera Maya is great for families,” said Sheridan Samano, co-owner of Reefs to Rockies, a Denver-based company that designs custom itineraries to Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. “It’s the kind of place you can go back to multiple times and still have a different experience every time.”

The allure for families is based on several factors, according to Rober Miller, CEO of Minnetonka Travel in Wayzata, Minn.

“Our return clients overwhelmingly love the area,” he said, noting that the courtesy of the people, the safety of the region and the family-friendly aspects of the hotels are among the selling points.

Ease of access is another plus, according to Samano, who said that nonstop flights to Cancun from nearly every major U.S. hub make the Riviera Maya easy to reach — which is especially important for families with small children who might not want to hassle with connecting flights.

“Even if you’re coming from the West, it’s often faster to get to Cancun than to many other beach destinations,” she said, adding that, to make the arrival experience even smoother, clients with families can upgrade to either a nonstop transfer or a private transfer from the airport to the hotel. “Otherwise, you can be sitting at the airport waiting for other people to clear customs.”

Hotels for All Ages
The Riviera Maya’s ever-growing number of beachfront hotels — many of which have children’s programs — also makes it ideal for families.

“Mexico’s exceptional resorts are an ideal solution for accommodating the diverse needs of multigenerational vacations,” said Jack E. Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays. “First, many are all-inclusive or offer it as an optional program, providing a tremendous value for the travel dollar. All-inclusive vacations also eliminate the worry of going over budget while in a destination — a real concern in today’s economy. A family can set a budget, select the resort that matches it and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing [that] everything is included.”

Indeed, most agents interviewed for this article said that the all-inclusive concept has helped make the Riviera Maya one of their strongest sellers for families.

“All-inclusives are mainly in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico,” noted Geoff Millar, co-owner of Ultimate All-Inclusive Travel in Phoenix. “But Mexico has a much bigger variety of resorts than the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Clients have a larger choice, and that also keeps the price down because the resorts have to be competitive.”

Numerous hotel brands in the Riviera Maya target multigenerational family travelers. Among the biggest sellers for Catherine Banks, vice president of Legacy Travel in Plano, Texas, is Azul Hotels by Karisma, which operates four upscale family-oriented properties in the Riviera Maya. These properties work especially well for families, she explained, because of their multi-bedroom suites and their Gourmet Inclusive dining program, which she said has “higher-quality food that appeals across the board.”

In addition, the Azul children’s club, Azulitos, has a partnership with Fisher-Price that allows for popular toys and games to be featured as part of its toy-lending menu.

Ruth Peterson, another agent at Minnetonka Travel, also sells the Azul properties, among several others.

“The Moon Palace is the best thing going,” she said. “It’s considered part of the Riviera Maya, but it’s not a long drive from the airport. They have a family suite with two bedrooms and a whirlpool. And they have a great welcome kit for kids.”

The Barcelo brand is also among Peterson’s go-to properties, she said, thanks to the variety of price points and amenities available at the Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe Hotel, Barcelo Maya Tropical, Barcelo Maya Colonial, Barcelo Maya Caribe and Barcelo Maya Beach.

If a family is looking for an upscale experience, Samano recommends the Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa & Nature Park.

“It’s a newer property that is ecologically conscious and upscale with interesting children’s activities and good cuisine,” she explained.

Maria Thomas, CEO of Judy & Maria’s Travel in Philadelphia, said that Iberostar — which has seven different hotels in the Riviera Maya — is a good choice, since it offers so many options.

“Iberostar Playa Paraiso is a great beachfront location, and there are lots of excursions that families can take together,” she said. “It’s a short drive from Playa del Carmen. I recommend it to all of our clientele.”

In addition, larger complexes such as the Iberostar properties provide the opportunity for grandparents to opt for a quieter, adults-only ambience — found at Iberostar Grand Paraiso — while the rest of the family can enjoy the family-friendly offerings at an adjacent and easily accessible property, such as the Iberostar Tucan. In addition, Iberostar’s extensive event space can work well for family reunions, multigenerational wedding anniversary celebrations and other large gatherings.

Regardless of which hotel a client chooses, Millar said that it’s important for agents to pay attention to a property’s room options since, when booking multigenerational groups, they will likely book more than one room.

“The biggest request we get is, ‘If we can’t get connecting rooms, can we at least get rooms in the same building?’” he said. “That comes down to the agent really knowing the product and having the contacts at the resorts. We make the request when we make the reservation. We also email the resort about a week before the travel reiterating the request, because resorts often don’t assign rooms until just before arrival.”

Off-Site Adventures
From zipline and ATV adventures to wandering among ancient Maya ruins to snorkeling and swimming with dolphins, the Riviera Maya allows visitors of all ages to learn about nature and history, even as they are enjoying exciting activities. So, it’s just a matter of suggesting what’s appropriate, based on client interests and the age and ability of the travelers.

“Our big seller this year has been swimming with the whale sharks,” said Samano, referring to the seasonal migration that brings these giant creatures to the waters off the coast. “The ground operator we work with is based in Cancun, so you can do a whale shark excursion from anywhere in the Riviera Maya. Kids as young as 5 and 6 years old can do it with life jackets.”

Many families visit local eco-parks such as Xcaret and Xel-Ha, both of which allow guests to snorkel in cenotes (giant, water-filled sinkholes), swim with dolphins and enjoy other activities in a safe and supervised locale. In addition, Xel-Ha’s all-inclusive admission price means that parents won’t have to worry about spending additional money on food or drink during their visit.

For many tours — including to Maya ruins such as Chichen Itza and Tulum — Samano recommends that families hire private guides.

“If you have a multigenerational family group, with grandparents, parents and kids, you can hire a guide for a private tour and do anything you want. And, often, it is less expensive than joining an organized tour.”

“For Chichen Itza, because it’s about a three-hour trip, that’s where I’d recommend that my clients splurge on a private visit,” said Hope Smith, owner of Born to Travel in Sierra Madre, Calif. “Sure, you’re going to have to wake up early to beat the crowds, but wouldn’t it be nice to be there at sunrise? You beat the heat and, just as the crowds are arriving, you’re leaving.”

Smith also recommends tours that combine culture and adventure; her favorite company that does this is called Alltournative.

“Alltournative is very ecology-minded, and they know how to take care of children,” she said. “They get you in touch with Maya families before you actually start on activities. They have a trip called the Jungle Maya Expedition that takes guests to a small ranch, introduces them to the family who owns the ranch and then takes them to the cenotes where they can go snorkeling. They can also ride on 4x4s before they eat lunch there.”

With so many activities available both on the properties and off, it’s no wonder that families tend to make repeat visits.

“I’ve never once had anybody complain,” said Peterson. “I can’t imagine anybody getting bored.”

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