As a mom of three, there was a time when all I dreamed of was a vacation without my kids. But now with two in a college and one more year of high school left for my youngest, family time is sparse and I tend to want to milk as much time with my husband and kids as I can when we're together. So recently I've been on the hunt for the perfect family vacation destination for that rare occasion when all of our schedules align and we can escape to somewhere exotic together. While "perfect" is defined differently for every family, for mine the ideal family vacation would have to include a beachside destination, comfortable sleeping arrangements, quality food, the opportunity for local adventures, plenty of entertainment and, of course, downtime for us all.
Recently I traveled to Riviera Cancun and I think I've found the location for our next family vacation that checks all of our boxes. Karisma Hotel and Resorts' Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun is a gourmet all-inclusive resort located only 20 minutes from Cancun and about 30 minutes or so from the popular tourist destination Play del Carmen. It lies on a sandy stretch of beach in the quaint Mexican fishing village of Puerto Morelos, and there's plenty for families to do on and off the property. Take a closer look at how Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun measures up to my family's idea of the perfect vacation.
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| ✅ Location, Location, Location Our family loves a beachside location when on vacation that is close enough to local fun in case we want to leave our "home away from home" for a while and experience the local culture, but it also has to be somewhat quiet and secluded for those times when we just want to relax and chill. Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun is just steps away from the beach with its private cabanas and beach chairs, chairside service by friendly staff who are more than happy to take your drink order (virgin or of the alcohol-fueled variety), a BBQ Grill and Beach Bar to keep your bellies full and the Coco Loco's on hand. Oh, and a sunrise that sets your heart on fire. This is definitely the location for us |
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| ✅ Comfortable Sleeping Arrangements For a family of five, pretty much, grown adults, we all need our space, and comfy beds with a little bit of privacy to boot. (And my youngest has chimed in to let me know that he would rather not sleep on the floor or the pullout sofa like he's had to do on occasion as the youngest in the family 🤣) Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun has a number of accommodations options for families of all sizes including a variety of suites ranging from 640-1924 square feet. With the option of connecting suites, my husband and I can have our privacy and each child can be assured a comfortable place to lie their heads at night. No floor here for Shea |
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| ✅ Quality Food (and LOTS of it) Our family likes to eat, eat well, and eat a lot, so good food on vacation is a priority and Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun has this in spades. From casual beach dining at the Beach Bar, pizza at Pizza Dude, and the dining selections at Spoon where even the pickiest of eaters can find something to stimulate their taste buds to authentic Mexican dishes at Zocalo, Carribean at Zavaz, Italian at Sienna, Spanish at Tapaz or a 14-course meal at Le Chique (there is an extra fee to dine here, but well worth it), the food at this gourmet all-inclusive is no joke. My family would be more than happy with their food options here and I would be happy that their bellies were full and satisfied and that I didn't have to cook a thing! |
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| ✅ Opportunities for Adventure My husband is dying to take our kids SCUBA diving, I've been ziplining a few times and every landscape offers a different type of adventure so I'd love to do that again someplace cool with the kids, a fishing excursion is almost always on the vacation itinerary for at least two of our family members and well .... the list goes on. Needless to say, we want the option of some type of excursion while on vacation. At Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun finding adventure is as easy as visiting the concierge or one of the poolside butlers. Whether snorkeling or fishing, exploring cenotes or Mayan ruins, these staff members are there to help and get you scheduled with an excursion that suits your family's abilities and needs. Want to stick closer to the resort? For only $4 per person for the length of your stay, you can have access to kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling equipment at the beach. |
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| ✅ Family Entertainment No one wants to get bored on vacation, so music, performances, opportunities to laugh and dance and play, are all included in our recipe for the ideal family vacation destination. At Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, there is plenty of that and then some. Whether playing a game of volleyball at the beach or in the pool, dancing in the sand at a Glow Party, partaking in the festivities of an afternoon Pool Party at the Adults-Only pool, being serenaded in the lobby by an acapella group or mariachi band, or enjoying a comedic puppet show, the resort offers up plenty of opportunities to keep your family entertained during your stay. If we go before our youngest turns 18 (that is very wishful thinking) he can enjoy the Extreme Breeze Teens lounge that boasts video games, billiards, air hockey, and more, as well as organized daily outdoor activities. |
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| ✅ Downtime To thoroughly reap the benefits of a family vacation, we learned one thing years ago after an on-the-go trip to Disney World, you absolutely need to leave room for plenty of downtime on vacation — as a family, by ourselves, and (for my husband and I) with each other. With six pools, private balconies off of every room with plenty of space to lounge, the nearby beach (which I've already mentioned) and the on-location Vassa Spa (can you say couples massage?), Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun was made for relaxing. Whether napping in your pool- or beachside cabana, enjoying a complimentary cocktail from your room refrigerator on your balcony, enjoying a body treatment at the spa, or simply taking a stroll on the beach at the end of the day, there is no doubt that when your family returns home from their stay at Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, they will be relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world. |
So needless to say, ALL OF OUR BOXES ARE CHECKED, at Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, so if all goes well, my family's social media profiles will be full of more photos like this come June. *written while crossing fingers, knocking on wood, and making a wish or two*
Note: For those with little ones between the ages of 4 and 12 you'll definitely want to take advantage of the Azulitos Playhouse and My Gym Children's Fitness Center. This little gem would have been instrumental in making sure all the above boxes were checked when my kids were younger.
*I received a complimentary all-inclusive stay at Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.
