Bring on the heat: Spring for a family fiesta south of the border

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula mightiness not beryllium apical of mind for family guardant vacationing, coming arsenic it does pinch nan image of outpouring breakers, bachelorette parties and overserved couples. But look beyond nan all-inclusives lining nan shores and you tin find hidden gems wherever multigenerational recreation is taking a beforehand seat.

One specified marque is Vidanta, which started arsenic a encephalon activity of Daniel Chávez Morán successful 1974, who saw nan worth of picnic nine ownership and promptly opened his first timeshare hotel. Now celebrating 50 years, Grupo Vidanta has complete 30 resorts, and is rolling retired bold description s nether nan banner VidantaWorld.

VidantaWorld consists of resorts successful Riviera Maya and Nuevo Vallarta — adjacent year, an elegant mega yacht will beryllium added to nan portfolio. According to executive vice president Iván Chávez, “we redefine family friends ultra-luxury hospitality, ensuring kids and adults tin genuinely relax and reconnect.”

Taking successful VidantaWorld Riviera Maya, 1 point becomes instantly obvious: you’ll ne'er consciousness crowded. The 1,000 acres sprawl on a half-mile of achromatic soil seashore connected nan Caribbean Sea, and incorporate a number of timeshare lodgings surrounded by landscaped foliage and a play course.

You’ll besides find 40 bars and restaurants (including a cevicheria and a high-end Italian, Tramonto, worthy of immoderate city), 2 spas and fittingness centers, 14 pools and a cabana-ringed formation club, truthful there’s ample abstraction to dispersed out.

And while VidantaWorld’s picnic nine programme accounts for nan bulk of nan rooms, there’s a modular edifice action astatine Jungala Park. (All suites, from $1,099 per night.) Families will emotion nan freely king suites, pinch a lounge area that closes disconnected pinch sliding doors to slumber 2 adults and up to 4 children. There’s besides a functional room — a mini shop on-site provides essentials, though savvy travelers extremity astatine Walmart connected nan measurement down from Cancun airport.

But don’t hide that luxe bit. There’s nary kids’ decor aliases motel vibes — suites are precocious extremity pinch neutral tones, and expansive balconies. A complimentary meal buffet, one-to-one concierge work and 24-hour room work makes judge everyone is genuinely connected vacation.

Guests are besides entitled to a cabana astatine nan Beach Club pinch a dedicated butler — a jalapeño margarita while lazing connected an in-pool lounger is recommended.

As you mightiness expect from a kid-friendly resort, there’s tons to entertain, pinch a kids nine offering everything from fittingness to arts and crafts arsenic good arsenic naturalist-led visits to spot nan on-site crocodiles and flamingos. Stuff for adults-only runs to tequila tastings and Texas Hold ’Em.

But Jungala Park besides has 2 unsocial things going for it. The first is nan Jungala Aqua Experience, a precocious opened h2o park. It was allegedly designed by retired Disney folk, and it looks for illustration it — landscaped paths meander past cabanas tucked wrong nan palms.

Aside from impaling yourself into your swimsuit connected an assortment of slides, there’s a kiddie area, activity excavation and a super-long lazy stream (over half a mile of it) wherever you tin while distant a batch of clip and get really pruny. Better still, steer your soul conduit to nan aquatics up (bob-up?) bar. Genius. A time walk ($70 per adult; $50 per child) is complimentary for edifice guests.

Their different ace successful nan spread is nan on-site Cirque du Soleil campus, wherever nan show Joya is now celebrating its 10th year.

While you tin simply rotation up and spot nan show (from $119), nan champion measurement to bask nan acrobatics is pinch a meal summons (from $286).

The VIP acquisition ($384) starts pinch a smoking cocktail created by 1 of nan show’s magicians, while nan meal is simply a curated group paper pinch dishes artistically presented.

But, if you person roller coaster-loving kids, return note. VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta has conscionable unveiled a caller $1.3 cardinal taxable park, BON (Beauty of Nature).

“BON will beryllium nan largest taxable parkland successful Latin America,” said Chávez of nan venture, which is slated to person 23 rides from “top manufacturers,” 25 restaurants, its ain licensed characters, a caller resident Cirque du Soleil show and a big of hotels and unit each successful a lush, earthy setting. It’s “designed to prosecute each ages,” said Chavez.