Is Mexico safe for traveling families?

January 23, 2012 By

The short answer: it depends on where you go. Asking whether Mexico is safe for traveling families is like asking whether the entirety of the U.S. is safe, or the Caribbean, or anywhere else you may wish to travel in the world. One cannot judge an entire country by unsafe activities in isolated parts.

For the long answer, I spent several days last month in Puerto Vallarta with the e-Commerce manager of Velas Resorts who, in addition to graciously (and enthusiastically) playing tour guide throughout her city of Nayarit and neighboring Puerto Vallarta, helped to put me at ease about the safety of the region.

The good news: traveling families can (and should) visit this beautiful Pacific coast of Mexico. Taking the following common sense precautions will ensure a happy (and worry-free) vacation:

1. Lock up valuables. Use your in-room safe! Store valuables whenever you’re out (even to meals). It may be an overreaction, but most hotels and resorts prefer you utilize the resource of your safe. That’s why it’s there!

2. When outside your room, take only what you need. All-inclusive resorts and resorts that allow room charges make this easy. During our stay at Velas Vallarta, my wallet and all cash was stored in my safe 90% of the time. When I did need money while away from the hotel, I found that all I needed was a small amount of cash, one credit card, and my phone. You can use a money belt, but you will probably feel safe without it.

3. Book excursions and activities through your hotel or resort. This is not to say you shouldn’t venture beyond your resort…you should! But use the resource of your hotel’s concierge or activities planner. He or she can book second party tours on your behalf, and/or recommend reputable and professional companies. If nothing else, a conceierge can point you and your family in the direction of the best beaches, snorkeling, or shopping.

4. Don’t drink the water. After talking with my host for some time about the safety of her country, I asked, mostly in jest, whether the advice not to drink the water in Mexico was a false rumor as well. Her face fell as she asked urgently, “You’re not drinking the tap water, are you?! Don’t drink the water!” So yeah…don’t. In all high-quality resorts such as Velas Vallarta and neighboring Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, families will be served safe, bottled water in their restaurants (so yes, you can order a glass of it there), and tap water, as Americans think of it, is not served (or used at all in food preparation) at all. Outside of restaurants, traveling families need to follow due diligence: this means no glass of water taken from the kitchenette tap at bedtime, no swallowing rinse water while brushing teeth or in the bath or shower. Kids, especially, have a hard time remembering all this, and parents do need to remind them. Instead, have bottled water by the bed and in the bathroom, and along with you on any outings.

5. That said, drink lots of water! It’s important to stay hydrated in the warm Mexican sun, especially if you’ll be consuming your share of tropical drinks by the pool (or pursuing strenuous activities such as hiking, snorkeling, or paddling). All-inclusive resorts such as Velas Vallarta makes this easy; bottled water is continually supplied. If you don’t have such service, be sure to make a stop at a grocery store (or Wal-Mart) after arriving to stock up.

6. Lastly, don’t be an easy target for scams. Upon arriving past customs at Puerto Vallarta airport, families face a gauntlet of official-looking taxi drivers, shuttle services, and the like, all ready to take you to your resort (often combined with a ‘resort credit’ or ‘discount’). These are actually time share affiliated. My advice? Pass right by this onslaught to curbside, where taxi cabs await. Better yet, arrange for a specific shuttle or car service ahead of time. On public beaches and streets, comparison shop before purchasing souvenirs, and when possible, arrange for tour experiences such as snorkeling or deep-sea fishing through the concierge at your hotel, not through beach or street vendors.

Family-friendly paradise: a stay at Velas Vallarta

January 16, 2012 By

Guests arriving at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico’s Velas Vallarta resort should expect to be greeted in the spacious, breezy lobby by a friendly staff offering a cool, freshly scented towel and an ice-cold bottle of water. My husband and I were also greeted by a resident peacock.

Throughout our four-day stay, we also made the acquaintance of a trio of iguanas, a turtle, a school of koi fish, and the rumor of crocodiles residing in a nearby river. The adjacent Pacific teamed with schools of fish, after which majestic pelicans dove. Suffice it to say, our kids would have been in heaven.

Of course, much more than a menagerie makes Velas Vallarta ideal for families. The following amenities make for a stress-free, kid-friendly family vacation, all in a stunning beachfront location.

All-suite room configurations. Velas Vallarta began as a condo development. As such, every room, from studios to three-bedroom units, include kitchenettes with stove-top, mini-fridge, sink, microwave, dishes, cups, and silverware. Studios sleep up to two adults and two children (making use of a pull-out couch), and one to three bedroom units provide separate space for families up to eight.

All-inclusive food. Any parent who’s vacationed with kids knows the truth: not worrying about meals and their costs is worth its weight in gold. Velas Vallarta provides all-inclusive guests with three meals a day in up to three on-site restaurants (our favorite by far was La Ribera, located directly on the beach). In addition to meals, additional snacks, beverages, and desserts are available virtually 24 hours per day, through their swim-up Aqua Bar, poolside service, and room service. Each room’s fridge is stocked with bottled water, soda, beer, and snacks daily, all at no extra cost. We loved that by showing their resort wristbands, parents could keep their kids properly hydrated all day, and that families could eat casual meals wherever they choose: the beach, the pool, the restaurants, or the balcony of their rooms.

Family-friendly activities. On the resort grounds, families have the run of three connected, free-form swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, ping-pong tables, beach volleyball courts, scheduled activities, a full kids’ club, and beach access (complete with cabanas to help reduce sun exposure). Velas Vallarta’s pool-side kids’ club is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily for kids ages 4-12, is professionally staffed, and is included in the all-inclusive nightly rate. Kids’ Club staff take kids to the pools, organize games and sport tourneys, teach arts and crafts, and provide meals. Each evening, themed entertainment is on stage in the lobby bar. Tip: for beach rentals such as snorkeling gear, kayaks, and boat rentals, Velas Vallarta recommends neighboring resort Malia Vallarta, located a 5-10 minute walk down the beach. We rented a kayak from their beach rental tent for $15/hour.

Attentive activities desk. Organized tours such as whale watching, snorkeling, hiking, or horseback riding in the nearby Sierra Madre mountains can be easily arranged by Velas Vallarta’s activities desk, located in the main lobby. Activities can be arranged once you arrive, or before your reservation date.

Proximity to town and airport. Velas Vallarta is only five minutes from the airport, and only a 10 minute (or 80 peso) cab ride from downtown Puerto Vallarta’s famed Malecon boardwalk (definitely worth touring). Though most organized tour operations do not pick up guests directly at the resort, it’s 2-3 minutes by cab or car to all Marina Vallarta pick-up points.

Relaxed atmosphere. When we travel with our kids, above all, we want to feel comfortable. Kids are welcomed with both arms at Velas Vallarta; in every pool (though one is designated ‘quiet’), every restaurant, and every activity. The Velas staff is friendly and attentive, from the poolside waiters who ensure you’re never wanting to the groundskeepers and service staff. Wherever you and your family go in the resort, you’ll hear ‘hola’ or ‘buenos dias’ or ‘hello’.

Options. Most guests at Velas Vallarta don’t realize the hotel actually has a sister resort, on the coastline in nearby Nayarit. The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit defines five-star (and four diamond) luxury while still managing to be very family-friendly. I spent a good deal of time there, and can vouch for its elegance, attention to detail, and delicious fine dining. If you prefer a luxury stay, be assured that kids will be welcomed!

Tip:Velas Vallarta always has a lot going on, and guests need to know where to find information. Be sure to check the day’s poolside activities at the dry-erase board near the Aqua Bar; the evening entertainment is listed by the elevators. For any other activities or information, stop by the activities desk. Information is also listed on the Velas Vallarta website, but guests do pay for internet service (currently $16 per day).

As I always disclose whenever applicable, my stay, transportation, and meals were hosted at Velas Vallarta by Velas Resorts, for the purpose of review. And as always, all opinions are my own.