Mexico with a 2 year old???? I need opinions please!!!!

[ez2luv]

DH and I are thinking of going to Mexico this winter, and since we'd like to go for 2 weeks - we were thinking of taking DD along.

I've never been to Mexico before, we are looking into the Playa Del Carmen area. This is because we love Punta Cana and have heard that the beaches and water are as close to Punta Cana as it can get. Also, it's close to shopping/sightseeing.

I have to make sure (medically) that DD can go, but is it a good idea overall??

I think she's too young for the kids' clubs even.
She'd love it, but won't remember it.

Would we even be able to relax???

I need some opinions or suggestions from parents, even on places to look into that would be the best for 2 year olds......

[lil_geek]

I have never travelled with kids, so I'm sure there are others with much more relevant experience.

But the last time I was in Cuba there were a few people with young (between 1-4) kids. I think there are things you need to think off (like you can't really do the day trips, you may need to eat early sitting if you don't want to use a sitter from the resort, any special dietary concerns)... but the families we spoke too had a great relaxing vacation. Scheduled in an afternoon nap (one day mom would stay with the kid and dad could go fish/snorkle etc. the other dad would stay and mom would go to the spa, etc.)

The resort we were at had a zero entry pool which let the kids play in only inches of water. Lots of umbrellas (naps by the pool). A suite (so you can read/watch TV while the kid is sleeping )

DH and I are REALLY hoping to be able to travel like that when we have kids.

[bellabonga]

I have always taken my daughter with me on vacation because I couldn´t stand to be two weeks without her and after all, we are one family and so we go on vacation together. But that is just me.

Speaking from experience I can tell you that your DD certainly is too young for a kid´s club. Most I know start from the age of 4. My DD enjoys being on vacation with us a lot and since she loves to look at photos, she keeps some of the memories alive by doing that. But generally children certainly won´t remember what they did with two years in the long run. So maybe she also won´t remember if you leave her at home. You certainly are not able to relax in a comparable way to travellers without children. It is the same stress you have at home, only in a nicer location. ;) But still I would not want to leave DD at home because it also makes the good times of the holiday better.

Still I would not want to go to Mexico because I would be too worried about DD getting diarrhoea or something more serious. I would not trust the health system in Mexico enough to go there. Friends of mine have just been to Bulgaria which is probably similar from the medical care and had the worst holiday ever. Their DD(3) caught diarrhoea and both parents stayed at the hotel room with her for five days, only shortly leaving to get some food. The girl even had to get some infusions as she was so dehydrated and they were at a local doctor who had a dog running around in his practice and wore a tee saying "legalize marihuana, ecstasy... (and several other drugs)". Not the thing I´d wish for if someone from my family was ill.

That is why we have only been to Florida with DD so far. The weather is great, so are the beaches, there are many things to do with children, shopping is great and if something happens, I don´t have to worry about the medical care. :)

[Toonces]

I agree that you'd be dealing with the same type of stuff you deal with at home, but in a nicer location. We've taken DD on vacation with us, but mostly close to home, and we haven't relaxed like we did when it was just the two of us. Two weeks is a really long time to be gone with a 2 year old. At that age they crave consistency and it takes them time to adjust to their new locale (some don't adjust very well) and time to adjust when you get back home.

We just went on a 3 hour road trip to a waterpark resort for 5 days. DD, 22 months old, tolerated the first few days well, but the last 2 days weren't very pleasant. She woke up early, didn't nap well, and was crabby because of that. She did have fun while at the waterpark, but that was it. She had an awful meltdown when we tried to do some shopping. The road trip home was one of the worst and the last few days at home (we just got back on Friday) have been miserable. I don't know if all of this is from our trip, or just the "terrible 2s" in general. We did have some fun, but it was stressful for me and DH. I would have been bummed if we had spent the $$ to go to a tropical location and had the experience we just had.

If I were in your shoes, and if you want to go on vacation with your DD, I'd plan several close to home road trips to locations where there are plenty of activities for a 2 year old (possibly indoor waterparks). DH and I can't wait to take our kids to Disney World, beach vacations, on hiking trips, etc., but it's really hard to do much of anything with a 2 year old. You kind of have to do things on their terms or deal with meltdowns. That's just our experience. Maybe someone who has a more laid back baby has had better travel experiences, but ours haven't been the greatest.

[BabyD]

We have vacation in Mexico many times. Our first trip was to Cabo when my DS was 8 mos. old. And we have been going to many different spots since. We love to travel with him. We love to go to the beach. And we love to go swimming in the great pools. One great treat for us it to order drinks and food pool side. None of us have ever gotten sick. Just don't drink the water. When washing his sippy cup out we always use bottle water. We just got back from a Mexico vacation and my DS is now 2 1/2 he did great.

[dollface]

If you stay at one of the nicer resorts, you'll have no issues with water. I have never been to Playa Del Carmen, we like Cabo and have never had any problems. A good friend of mine just got back with her 1 & 2 yr. olds and didn't have any problems.

[Phen]

I don't know...I am of the mind that unless you can bring a sitter or nanny or Grandma, ain't no such thing as a vacation for a mama. More than anything else, it's just an opportunity to introduce new nightmares (sleeping, napping, eating).

But if your kid adapts easily, then go for it. I just know that it took us several days to get our boys used to being away from home and by then, vacation was half over.

~ Phen

[ez2luv]

Thanks for all the replies.
That's what I mean, If we take DD - the grandparents are too!!!!
For the help!

I was concerned about the water, illness and she's had a medical procedure done in June that may/may not interfere with her travelling. I really don't think so, but it's best to be sure.
I'll be talking to doc at her 2 year appt this month.

It's just that DH is so intent on taking her if we go....

Me? I'd love to have quality time with DH and be adults and not parents for a short time.
BUT - We just missed her so much last time......

We'll see what doc suggests and go from there.

But I do like hearing the recommendations and advice in case we do take her along.....

[wildcat]

My DD will be 1 in a few weeks and DH and I just booked a 5day, 4night trip to Playa del Carmen, alone (we leave in 5 weeks). I'm going to miss her terribly, but we see it as a reward to ourselves for being such good parents for the first year;), and to have some couple time, as we NEVER get that (no family near by, we've maybe spent 6 hours total alone without her in the last year, not including after she goes to bed).

I can't WAIT to take DD on vacation with us, and we probably will next year...although it will be a short trip and somewhere close to home. Then we will also take a trip by ourselves, we intend that to be an annual tradition (one trip with the kids, one without) and my parents love that they get DD to themselves for 5ish days everyyear!

I guess what I'm trying to say is, taking DD on vacation won't be a vacation, but it depends on what you want...quality family time or quality, relaxing couple time.

[ez2luv]

Well, DH and I went to the dominican last year alone.

It was sad and I missed DD, but we had such a nice and relaxing time.
We just went for one week. It went by so fast and swore we'd never do one week again.
That's why we are contemplating taking DD along this time......

Still don't know..........