Tips for Travelling to Mexico with Kids

One of the best things about living in an amazing vacation destination is that friends and family will come to visit! Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my old college buddies and his family here in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Dan Pajo, his parents, his wife, Dawn and his precious 6 year old daughter came to Mexico for vacation. They currently live in Louisville, KY. During their vacation they stayed in an all inclusive resort in Akumal. I asked Dan if he would share some of his personal thoughts and tips for travelling with children.
-Sherry Stevens

Here is what he had to say…

“Here are some tips that worked for us.

1. Love the A/C - sprinkle in some cool down spots with A/C, cold drinks… and ice cream is always a welcome addition
2. Exploring Adventures are great, but not with kids. I used to love going down the side streets when traveling and getting a real taste of the area. No longer. It’s worth paying a little extra to remove all doubt about safety and security.
3. Instead of renting a car or taking the bus, take a taxi or a taxi van if the group is larger than 3 or 4 people.
4. The last thing that you want as a parent is to be in an unfamiliar area, unable to speak the native tongue and in an uncompromising situation (out of gas/broken down, lost, unknown neighborhood, dehydrated, overheated, etc…). Our hotel even arranged to have a taxi wait for us while we shopped and when we went to Tulum. The prices were already pre-arranged and it did not cost extra to have them wait. Just that little peace of mind was nice… Not having to worry about your ride home. And you knew that they would be there waiting because you don’t pay until you return to your hotel!
5. It seemed like the Tulum Ruins were popular with the kids. Some may not be interested, but Eliza (age 6) was enthralled, curious and hung on every word. Plus, it did not hurt that you could not spit without hitting a lizard. She was bummed that we did not get in the ocean at the end of the tour, but the water was pretty rough.
6. Always have water activities (swimming) planned at the end of the trip- whether it’s the pool or the ocean, it is very refreshing and gives the kids something to look forward to.
7. Get a good sun hat for yourself and the kids. Just getting the beating sun off of your face will help you stay outdoors longer. And it will make it more enjoyable if your kid is comfortable and not making it implicitly clear that it is time to go.
8. Take plenty of water with you when you go out, even if you’re planning on buying drinks there. Same reasons as above.
9. Put on your sunscreen in your room before you go anywhere. Many places are environmentally concerned (and rightfully so) and won’t allow you to put on sunscreen while in pristine areas. But you can’t let your kid turn into a bacon strip either, so be discreet or invest in environmentally friendly sunscreen if possible.
Our thoughts on staying in an All Inclusive Resort
We went to a brand new all inclusive resort due to having a six year old daughter. It really was great having all the meals, drinks, etc… ready and waiting at all hours. It is very nice to not have to consider where you’re going to dinner, how long it will take and whether there will be something that your child will eat or not. They can be pretty headstrong.
The negatives are that we got no real sense of the culture as the environment was anesthetized or watered down, if that makes any sense. We were wanting eat real Mexican food, but we did not get that at all in the all inclusive resort. Oh, and the shows… My God. The shows were horrific. But if you looked at it as if very bad entertainment is funny, then you might be able to stomach them. I, however, could not. But there were a lot of people who seemed to enjoy them. The people who enjoyed the resort entertainment ranged in age from maybe 40-60 (this age group is not that far off for me!).
After we returned, my wife Dawn & I discussed going the total opposite route next time and go to a very small place.

Here are the must haves, in our opinion:
Clean
Close to authentic restaurants
Close to the beach without having to cross traffic
Nice pool
It would be nice to go to a place that offers at least one meal a day so you don’t always have to go out.” - Dan Pajo

*Eliza LOVED the abundant Iguana’s and Gecko’s of Mexico. If Eliza was not satisfied with the stuffed animal lizard Grandma bought her as a souvenir, I would not be surprised if the Pajo’s have made a trip to the local pet store and had to purchase a lizard of thier own???

Not just another big fish story - Snorkeling with the Whale Sharks

Before I moved to Playa del Carmen,Mexico I had never even heard of whale sharks.  Last year I had the unique opportunity to actually snorkel with them. 

My day began at the uncomfortably early hour of 3:00 am.  I was instructed to meet our local guide, Jason, at 3:30 am at a local hotel for our trip to Holbox Island and the Gulf of Mexico (not all tours depart at this time).  After sleepy introductions were made with my fellow whale shark ‘hunters’, a group of 8 from Colorado, we loaded into the van and began our journey to the other side of the Yucatan peninsula. 

The van was quiet and cool, and we all dozed during the 3 hour drive.  We woke to the sun rising as we reached the coastal town of Chiquila.  From the dock in Chiquila we boarded a speed boat for the trip to Holbox Island.  Once on Holbox, Jason checked in with our guide, Roberto, to obtain our permits while the rest of us used the time to stretch our legs, grab a ham and cheese croissant and use the facilities.  I headed straight for the coffee. 

We hopped back aboard the speed boat and we’re on our way.  During the 1.5-2 hour ride, Roberto gave us an informative talk on the whale sharks we hoped to see, as well as instructions on how we were allowed to interact with them.  We would be allowed to enter the water, two at a time, with our guide.  We would not be allowed to touch them or swim underneath them.  These rules were developed in an effort to cause as little stress to the whale sharks as possible and any breach of the rules could result in our tour being stopped. 

As we sped along the green waters of the Gulf, we all kept our eyes open for the other marine life that is frequently seen along the way.  Our group was elated to spot several wild dolphins as well as a manta ray.  Truly an added bonus! 

It wasn’t long and we got word to start watching for whale sharks!!!  Until that moment I hadn’t really given much thought to what I was about to do.  I was about to jump into the water with a shark.  Not just any shark, but a shark the size of a whale!  Even though I knew I would not be in any danger, I was more than a little anxious when our first whale shark was spotted.  This yellow-spotted fish seemed as large as our boat!

The boat maneuvered into position and I watched as the first group donned their masks and fins and entered the water.  The smiles on the faces of the other guests as they emerged from the water was enough to quell my fears and turn up my excitement. 

My turn, and I’m ready to go!  I lower myself into the water as Roberto reached for my hand.  Together we swam toward the enormous creature.  Had I not had my teeth firmly sunk into my snorkel, my jaw would have surely dropped in awe.  We kicked hard to keep up with the shark, but it was as if Roberto and I moved in slow motion as the whale shark swam effortlessly by.  My memories of this first encounter play like still photographs in my mind; the large, wide mouth, the deep blackness of its eye, the gaping gills so large they seemed as though I could swim right through them.  A flick of the tail fin and it was gone. 

For a couple of hours we motored around, stopping to snorkel with several different whale sharks, each of us having three or four chances to swim join them in the water.  All too soon it was time to say good bye to the whale sharks and make our return trip to Playa. 

The drive back was quiet as most of the other guests slept.  I was too exhilarated to sleep and chose to relive this once in a lifetime experience of swimming with the whale sharks. 

 - Tyra Hamilton

Whale sharks migrate to the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula during the months of June to September.  For more information about whale shark tours:  http://www.travelrm.com/activities/whale-shark-adventure-seasonal/.  For general information about the whale shark:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark.  Drawing by Robbie Cada, http://www.fishbase.org/; Photographs courtesy of Jason Sartain

One of the Many Celebrations in Mexico, Dia de la Santa Cruz

While wandering around Playa del Carmen, you can not help but notice construction here, there and everywhere. We are growing like a weed. I began to notice crosses on the top of most construction sites and finally had to find out what it symbolized! Mexico is known for its celebrations and abundant holidays. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to the bank to find out it was closed for a holiday that I had never known about.

The crosses on the top of buildings in progress were to celebrate the DIA DE LA SANTA CRUZ (Day of the Holy Cross). It is celebrated on May 3rd.

This day is celebrated as the day of the bricklayers and the builders. On May 3rd the construction workers build altars to the cross, adorn them with flowers, sails and sometimes streamers of many colors. The construction workers work half day, and most likely celebrate and enjoy the second half of the day work free! 

The crosses are made with scraps from the construction site. The cross is placed in the highest point of the site. As soon as the cross is installed the holiday begins. In many cases, the acquaintances and family members of the workers are invited to celebrate the day.  They share in fun and a meal such as fried pork, corn stew and tamales. 

The crosses stay up long enough for people like me to wonder what they mean. This country has so many celebrations and traditions. As I continue to learn more and more about this country, I will share it with you. - Sherry

Drinking Water in Mexico

It is true, “Don’t drink the water in Mexico”, the TAP water that is. No one drinks it. Here is a little inside scoop on my personal routine of obtaining the “liquid of life” in Mexico.

Tourists have nothing to worry about. Purified water is easily accessible in rental properties and hotels. On the other hand, for locals, if you have a car and the build of a Pro Football Player, you can easily get your large bottles of drinking water at any grocery or most quick marts. For the rest of us, the darn things are heavy! You really don’t want to carry one very far unless you are training for the Olympics.

One of the things we locals have to contend with is listening for the “water guys”. There are 2 companies that sell water in Playa del Carmen, Electropura and Cristal. The vendors circulate throughout the neighborhoods on tricycle carts or a company truck, selling water. The best part is that they each have their own style of melodic warning to let you know they are near by if you need a refill. I tend to buy from the guys on tricycle carts because it feels good to lighten their load that they are peddling around. As they ride around, they blurt out with their personalized inflection, “A-G-U-A-A-A-A!” (water) usually rotating in the name of the company they represent… ” E-L-E-C-T-R-O-P-U-R-A-A-A!”
One of the challenges is catching them when they are on your street.
If you are low on drinking water and happen to be in the shower with a thick lather of shampoo on your head when you happen to hear the water guy calling outside… if desperate, you may chose to jump out of the shower and run to the closest window and shout back, “AGUA!!!” This is the signal to them that you need a bottle and they promptly bring the water to your door.

Meet Hermenegildo Sanchez Ramiro, MY WATER GUY who always keeps me well stocked on water. He uses an old squeeze horn that he beeps in between his personalized shout out of… “A-G-U-A-A-A-A!”.If you have an empty bottle to exchange, it costs $21 pesos (Less than $2 US). If you do not have a bottle to exchange, it costs around $70 pesos (Less than $7 US).
I have been lucky to devise a system with Hermenegildo so that I never run out of water. I have 3 bottles so that I always have a full back-up. I put my empty bottle outside my door with coins inside along with a small tip and he replaces it even when I am not at home. It works like a charm. He usually makes 2 rounds a day through my neighborhood.

A “water guy” is a part of  life here. No one drinks the tap water here. But don’t worry, you will NOT find a restaurant in Playa del Carmen that would serve someone tap water. Even if it comes in a glass, I can assure you it came from a bottle. Business owners would never want a visitor to have a bad experience. We are all proud of this country and want visitors to enjoy themselves. But if you are still concerned, just ask for bottled water (botella de agua). Also know that the ice is always made with good purified bottled water as well. Another common question I have been asked by visitors is, “Do you brush your teeth with bottled water?” For the record, I have always brushed my teeth with the tap water and I am still alive but, if concerned you can always have bottled water by the sink.

I have to admit that the sounds of the streets in Mexico are something I truly cherish. If they ever replaced some of these vendors with more sophisticated methods, it would be disappointing. In addition to the water vendors, other familiar sounds on the local streets are the gas trucks that sell tanks of natural gas. They have a “Gas song” that blares from a speaker on the truck. I think most locals could sing the gas song or at least hum the tune if asked. The knife sharpener guy has a beautiful whistle that he uses to let people know he is available for sharpening. Although I have never used him to sharpen a knife, I love the sound of his flute-like whistle that he uses to promote himself. Life in Mexico! - Sherry

Note: After posting this and discussing it with local friends, some told me that they do not brush their teeth with the tap water. I did not want to imply that my choice to do so was necessarily typical. I will also add that as a general rule in Mexico for the local Mexicans and foreigners alike, we are recommended to take a de-parasite/lombrices pill every 6 months as a part of general health maintenance. If you visit Mexico and desire to take a similar treatment, they are easily found over the counter here. Daxon and Vermox are two names of brands you could buy.

Live music in the street to benefit local children

Last night April 14th I went to a local benefit with incredible live music. A wonderful non-profit organization here in Playa del Carmen, Mexico was raising money for 12 children needing open heart surgery that, for one reason of another, would never be eligible for the surgery here in Mexico. The organization is called Angel Notion and the band who traveled great distance to donate their entertainment was Paris Delane’s Tye Dye Skye of Chicago IL. with special guest Red Eye & Freemont Jackson from Mexico City. (Go ahead, google them… you will love them!) They set up a stage in the center of town (Calle 12 & 1st Ave.) for everyone to enjoy.
Establishments located near the stage that participated were Karta Bar, El Cielo and Diablitos cha cha cha. It was a great time with a whole lot of dancing in the streets. Our community of Mexicans and foreign locals come together to make some good things happen here.

This particular fund raiser was for 12 specific children needing open heart surgery in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. All 12 have been diagnosed in the last 8 months! If you can imagine your child being diagnosed with a heart defect at birth but you have no options of saving your
child’s life… This is the circumstances that these 12
local Mexican families have come up against. The good news
is that 4 of the children have already been sponsored!
It costs around $13,500 US dollars to take care of
the expenses for one child.The organization has worked hard
to get support in the medical field that has made it possible
to bring down the total cost for each child. Before the event
they needed at least $108,000 US more.

Donation jars were circulating through the crowd all night. VIP tables with food and drinks included were sold to groups of 10. Everyone was welcome despite the level of donation. Some large local companies and organizations have made the
kick-off to raising money for this group of 12 a bit easier. Xcaret has sponsored Jolet, Calica has sponsored Sammy, Bernie from El faro hotel has sponsored Jesus and The city of Playa Del Carmen has sponsored Jose Luis from the Zona Maya.

During one of the band breaks, some of the families came to stand on stage,
some with the children in need. One mother (in the pink pants) spoke to the crowd (in Spanish of course) and cried while asking for help. It was a moment I am sure none of us will forget.

They are needing help to sponsor the other 8 children who
are desperately holding their breath for a chance to live.
If for any reason you want to support this wonderful organization
please go to their website to make a donation. www.angelnotion.org. It is tax deductible in the US and Mexico. If anyone is interested in seeing the general clinic on your next trip to Playa del Carmen, I am sure they would welcome your presence! The clinic is located in Nicte-ha, on the north end of Playa del Carmen just past the Colosio.

Thank you to Lavonna Redman, the founder and hard working volunteer of the Angel Notion organization. She is truly an “Angel”!

If I can get an update on the amount of money they raised last night I will update my post! - Sherry

Kool Beach Club on Tucan Beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

There is a lot of beach on this amazing coastline of the Riviera Maya. Most beaches are public so you will not have a problem finding a spot you like. If you are willing to pay a few dollars for a fancy chair it gets even better! We want to share with you “Kool”, as it is called, a great new beach club located on what is called Tucan Beach in Playa del Carmen.

If you take calle (street) 28 and wiggle a little bit down to the beach it will be on your right side as you arrive to the beach. It is tucked back a little bit behind some of the more publicly placed beach chairs. If you want to treat yourself and find a wonderful gourmet fusion menu and comfy big bed lounge platforms to relax on while enjoying the Caribbean, this is a great place to go. There is a beautiful pool and lounge bar & restaurant with great ambiance and music by D.J. Marvin.

The menu is unlike most beach spots offering more than just the typical burger and fries. They have a great selection of sushi , as well as, other delicious options: octopus carpaccio, tuna steaks, New York Strip with mango sauce, couscous salad as well as many other typical dishes and Premium beverages. Don’t worry, picky eaters will find something simple to enjoy as well. Dish prices range from $100 pesos - $250 pesos. (Approx. $10 - $25 US) This would be a spectacular spot for a group of friends to hang out for the day! They offer discounts to college students and they do accept Credit Cards! (Visa and Mastercard).
Cloth lounge beds in the pool area are for rent for the day for approx. $120 pesos and others plastic chairs in the beach area are approx. $40 pesos.

You will also find a variety of activities to do on this beach including diving, catamaran sailing, wind surfing and more.

My personal photos are not doing it justice! I will try to post better photos as soon as I have a better photo session. - Sherry
Hours: 8:30 am- 12:00 am. Monday to Sunday
Cloth lounge beds in the pool area are for rent for the day for approx. $120 pesos and others plastic chairs in the beach area are approx. $40 pesos.
Location: Calle (Street) 28 & Zona Federal Maritima (the beach).
Phone: 984-803-1961
Website: http://www.koolrivieramaya.com/ At the time I posted this, they seem to still be working on their site. Hopefully it will be up and running with all services and details listed soon.

Charm in Mahahual, Costa Maya, Mexico

This charming beach front home is owned by a long time local in Mahahual.

Mahahual is an emerging coast town about 4 hours or so south of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Mahahual is part of an area called Costa Maya along the Mexican Caribbean.

This coast town was once used for an outpost for the Mexican Navy and a home to a few fishermen and palapas inhabited by locals. The cruise ship industry took an interest in this quiet coast and built a deep pier for their boats.

Since then, it has become the gateway to southern Quintana Roo’s little known Mayan ruins and beaches. (Quintana Roo is the Mexican state in which Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Mahahual and more reside in).
The little town has stepped up to the occasion and found ways to accommodate vacationers who make a stop here to enjoy Mahahual’s sandy white beach and inland adventures before they sail off to their next destination.

Helping Animals in Chemuyil

This past weekend (March 17 & 18), I was involved with a free animal clinic in Chemuyil. Chemuyil is a small town in the Riviera Maya south of Akumal and north of Tulum.

Some local women with the support and assistance of Sandra Valdez (who holds a local office pertaining to animals in our state) were able to get enough government support to put on a well organized 2-day free spay-neuter and vaccination clinic.

There is a serious problem in this country of over-population of cats and dogs. I have been involved in helping this cause since the day I moved to Mexico in 2001. Over the past 5 years many of us have worked hard to get the support of the community and the government to assist in humanely addressing this problem. It has not been easy!

Many Local families do not have the education or funds to care for the animals they claim. Not to mention the great number of homeless animals without anyone to care for them. These free clinics are always located in areas of need and are designed to help the communities gain knowledge about the health of their animals and how to properly care for them.

I have long worked with http://www.vidas.org/ in free sterilization clinics they do in the Riviera Maya. Vidas group is based out of the states. The participants volunteer their time and skills to put on a large, highly organized clinic every year. It has been a huge success and we have been able to help so many animals in a short amount of time. But, as locals living in the Riviera Maya we needed to try to continue their efforts throughout the year. This Chemuyil clinic is a result of that effort. This has been a long process but appears to be turning the corner with some new support of the local Mexican government. They have begun to help cover costs of some of the drugs, supplies and vaccines needed.

As for my experience helping with the clinic, it was amazing! I help mostly in the recovery room making sure the animals are relaxed and doing fine while coming out of the anesthesia. We also clean ears, treat flea and tick problems and administer “TLC” to the recovering patients.

In this particular clinic the offer was free sterilization surgery with full vaccines for cats or dogs. If their animal had already been sterilized the year before, they could have all their needed vaccinations for free. If they chose not to sterilize their animal and still wanted vaccines, they were asked to pay only the “cost” of the vaccines which was $150 pesos (less than $15 US).This of course is to encourage the owners to sterilize their animals. The Government supplied rabies vaccines for any animal free regardless of owner decision.
The clinic organizers went into the schools before the scheduled clinic, talked to the children about the importance of the clinic and sent home notices to parents about the free event. This was a way to reach out to the children and have them share it with their parents. The notice acted as a permission slip to bring animals into the clinic.

It was great to see how many animals had already been sterilized in previous free clinics and came back to insure the good health of their animals with yearly vaccines. I have watched many owners come in for the free service and observe the kind of care the clinic workers give to their animals… it is as if they had never realized that their animal was something special until they see how the doctors and volunteers treat their animal. It appears to create a new level of pride they have for their animal that they had not known before.

The children come to see what is going on at the clinics since they heard about it in school. They spend the whole day watching through the surgery room windows and into the recovery room. On occasion, we get some help from the curious children and teach them simple things about proper care for animals. They soak it up like little sponges.

If anyone is interested in volunteering, learning more about this ongoing project or wanting to donate money or needed supplies, please let us know. We are always happy to find more supporters.
Please check out our page: http://www.travelrm.com/travel-tips/local-animal-charity/ - Sherry

7 Wonders of the World!

There is a unique opportunity that we have come across…

Our very own Chichen itza Mayan Ruins are on the list of candidates to be one of the newly named 7 wonders of the world. Chichen itza is a spectacular Ruin located due west of Playa del Carmen about 3 hours within the state of Yucatan. It has been 2,200 years since the original 7 wonders had been named and now YOU have a chance to vote for your top 7 favorites.

We hope you will consider voting for our Chichen itza Mayan Ruins. Chichen itza (A.K.A. as my father likes to call it “Chicken Pizza”) symbolizes worship and knowledge.

Go to this site to place your vote! There is still plenty of time before the votes are counted. They will announce winners 07-07-2007.

VOTE HERE! http://www.new7wonders.com/ VOTE HERE!

We are offering a tour to Chichen-itza in our tours & fun section!

Our Blog!

We are excited to share with you our personal experiences, photos, stories and advice through our new blog. Please feel free to sign up for notification of any new entry. We think you will enjoy seeing what goes on for locals living in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. We will let you in our lives and what we learn along the way. Our blog will be informal and at times, more interesting than the straight-forward information we provide throughout the site. We want you to see through our eyes and experiences so that you may enjoy this beautiful country the way we do.

Here is a funny photo from my weekend. This was taken while driving through small pueblos/towns on the way back to Playa del Carmen from Merida. Merida is located inland on the peninsula in the state of Yucatan. Approx. a 4 hour drive from Playa del Carmen. This is an example of what you might see if you drive on the Cancun Libre (free) highway. Enjoy! - Sherry Stevens