Dubai or mexico

samphe

We're looking into options for next years holiday. We're planning to go at the end of May/early June. We want to go somewhere a bit different, as since the kids have been born (now age 12 & 8) we've just done majorca/ibiza type beach holidays.

We're thinking of going to either Mexico or Dubai. Dubai is likely to be just a week, Mexico probably 2 weeks, purely due to cost.

Which would you recommend with children, I fancy the 2 week option in Mexico as a longer break is always nicer but am concerned it may feel like just another beach holiday once we're there.

Dubai would be different and could be interesting for us and the kids, and we'd still spend some time at the beach/pool for the kids.

Any thoughts either way to help us make up our minds?:)

sunshinetours

Mexico would be great with kids IMO. Mayan Riviera coast has plenty of historic stuff to check out along with water parks, usual shopping and bars restauramts in places like Playa Del Carmen and Cancun (not a fan of that one) along with some smaller coastal villages

Dubai seems to me to be an amazing place to visit for a couple of days but personally with kids would choose Mexico everytime. We went before we had kids but would love to take them there one day

charlearose

Im off to mexico in jan staying in playa del carmen at the rui playacar hotel its with the three other rui hotels that you can use there facilities plus its five mins to playa del carmen

basically for the riveria maya area of mexico you have the main highway along this highway at the far end you have tulem and askumel area and the ruins positined on this highway set back are lots of hotels then you get to peurto adventures complex then it playa del carmen /playa car


if you are the sort of family that like to get out and walk around each day ect and not be stuck on a luxury gated prison ie all
inclusive hotels then playa del carmen/playa car area is great for families your kids wont be bored there is so much to do even the historical stuff is done is such a way that its really interesting lots of wild life huge huge lizards everywhere

its close to fifth avenue and you can get the ferry to cozumel island and there are lots of bars and shops resturants ect there is lots to do there as well for kids i took my son when he was 9 a few years ago and he loved it there is good snorkling and the ruins at tulem and akumel are amazing the beaches are amazing

xcaret park is worth a trip for the snorkling and the shows and beaches

if you pick a hotel on the Riveria maya (think huge 6 lane highway with luxury hotels on one side its, a bus trip to playa del carmen which although is cheap and easy to do ie a 50 cents or so it can take around 30 -40 mins to get there depending on where your hotel is This would really be a beach holiday based around the hotel there is no where to walk to outside of the hotels unless you fancy playing chicken with the traffic and probably not win
but the buses are great fun to go on


hotels in playa del carmen/playacar area are the rui tequilla rui playacar rui yucatan these are sister hotel that you can use each other facilities rui palace playacar , puerto grand real the tucan sandos playa car

i stayed at the bahia prinicpe in akumel when i went a few years ago which is on the highway at the far end really lovely hotel but huge ( 4hotels in complex) but around 35 mins from playa del carmen on the bus


another nice place is the peurto adventures complex which is a nice gated complex of hotels marinas shops resturants and condos and a huge aquarium where you can swim with the dolphins and sharks ect there is a hotel on this complex i think that with first choice cant remember the name this is about 15 mins from playa del carmen

May/ june there is a spring break so it may be really busy with american teenagers as well
also really check around for prices my holiday cost 3100 for 3 weeks with first choice but others were quoting as much as 4k for
the same holiday

johnnyroper

sunshinetours wrote: »

Mexico would be great with kids IMO. Mayan Riviera coast has plenty of historic stuff to check out along with water parks, usual shopping and bars restauramts in places like Playa Del Carmen and Cancun (not a fan of that one) along with some smaller coastal villages

Dubai seems to me to be an amazing place to visit for a couple of days but personally with kids would choose Mexico everytime. We went before we had kids but would love to take them there one day

agree with the above mexico with kids,i have toyed with idea of dubai myself but decided it is the sort of place for a few days a bit like NYC i also think it is more suited to adults aswell.also bare in mind dubai temps will be really hot.
last time i went to mexico i went to cancun and found it caters for all ages.

samphe

Thanks for the advice. Looks like Mexico is the favourite. Hubby seemed keen on Dubai so he's a bit gutted!

He mentioned that there are theme parks and a ski slope in a shopping centre and also the chance to go out to the desert.

Decisions decisions, i think you've made the decision harder!!

Any further suggestions welcome!

neilbond007

Been to Dubai about 6 times with work. The wild wadi is great! Seen the ski slope... was very crowded in there.
Shopping isn't as great as it's cracked up to be (unless you're after gold / watches).

I've been to Mexico (Cancun) twice. It's OK.

Would definitely go to Mexico (but not Cancun) purely for the fact that it's 2 weeks!