<p>I’m relying on the collective knowledge of all you wonderful people! My sis and her two teenage daughters want to visit the ruins at Tulum and stay in an all-inclusive place that would allow the kids to participate in activities safely while my sis (who is disabled) rest by the pool or someplace warm. Any ideas for specific resorts or activities? They want to book soon, so I said I would help investigate. Playa del carmen or cancun? which resorts offer nice facilities and good deal?</p>
<p>Go SOUTH of Playa del Carmen. The nicer all-inclusives are being built further and further south. We stayed at Copacabana with kids/relatives a few years ago and it was wonderful. It wasn’t too far north of Tulum. My understanding is that there are some even nicer ones south of Copacabana and closer to Tulum.<br>
It is a little bit of a bus ride from the airport, but it is worth it. You still fly into the Cancun airport. There is nothing offered in Cancun proper that you can’t get at the southern resorts.</p>
<p>There are cruises that offer Tulum as a day excursion. Just another option.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Barcelo Maya Tropical Resort. Was about 1 hr south of the airport, you could arrange trips to the ruins. We had a fabulous time and still miss being there! We’ve had friends stay at the Iberostar and Moon Palace. Both loved the resorts, altho I think Iberstar has changed their room policy, limiting 3 per room.</p>
<p>Shangri-la-caribe located in playa del carmen. We stayed there a couple of years ago. Affordable, relaxing, and very nice, with a great pool and beach. Took fabulous day trips to Tulum and elsewhere (including a dolphin swim for the kids and great snorkeling). Highly recommended!</p>
<p>We stayed at the Royal Solaris a few years ago. My kids loved it! My kids did not notice, but we noticed that it was slightly more run down on our second stay. I don’t know if it has gotten a facelift. We have also stayed at the Moon Palace, which was vey nice too. The Moon Palace was relatively cheaper for us once our younger son turned 12 (cost slightly more, but is a more upscale resort), but with one child under 12, the Royal Solaris was the much better deal. We felt relatively safe about letting our boys go by themselves at both resorts. We did both as all inclusives. Both resorts are lovely.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Mayan Palace -Riviera Maya
I agree with Jonri, that many of the resorts wil do day trips to Telum, Xcaret, Xel-ha , Isla Mujered, etc.</p>
<p>Club Med Cancun! All-inclusive, fantastic staff to keep the kids/teens active with tons of sports and activities on the best part of the beach of Cancun, away from all the development. This is not your old school Club Med, but a very upscale family village. Went there last year and are returning this year.</p>
<p>I much prefer Playa del Carmen to Cancun. Playa del Carmen is tourist-y but you can tell it’s in Mexico. Whenever I’m in Cancun I feel like I’m in some strange adult Disney World. Every person speaks English; it hardly feels like another country. I haven’t stayed in any resorts in the area, at least not the all-inclusive type with food, pool, beach, sports, activities, etc. It would be very, very easy for the girls to get alcohol or go out partying on their own if that’s a concern for them, but this is true in most countries that don’t card as heavily as the US. They should have a great time, in any event.</p>
<p>There’s a collectivo (small van) running along all the resorts that will take you to Tulum for only 20 pesos per person each way, and if you go on Sunday if I’m not mistaken, the Tulum ruins are free.</p>