Once upon a time (actually, it was around 1996) there was a family who took an adventurous trip to Mexico (it was Ixtapa–semi-adventurous).  While the dad chose the resort with price in mind, the rest of the family were whooping it up at all the activities available including trapeze and sailing lessons.  And the resort was beachfront, a big plus for everyone.  That family was mine and the resort in question was Club Med Ixtapa.  That was my first introduction to Club Med (I believe Club Med was the very first all-inclusive brand) and what a pleasant surprise it was.

While some Club Med resorts are for adults-only and therefore a bit wilder, many Club Med all-inclusive “villages” (a Club Med term for their resorts) are designed with families in mind.  Such is the case with the one in Cancun.  Club Med Cancun Yucatan is located very close to the Cancun airport and is surrounded on several sides by water–Nichupté Lagoon for water-skiing and wakeboarding lessons, a more dangerous beachfront with wilder Caribbean Sea undertows, a beach area for sailing lessons, a dock from which to snorkel, and gentle surf for swimmers at another beach area.  This resort also has a trapeze “school” where G.O’s (Club Med staff) are patient teachers of how to perfect hand-eye coordination so one can sail through the air with the greatest of ease.  Literally.  I have seen performances of guests on the trapeze at the end of a week’s stay where I would swear they had been practicing for quite some time.

Kids under the age of 4 stay free at Club Med villages, while some destinations such as Club Med Cancun Yucatan offer “Petit Club” services–a kid’s club for those ages 2-3.  What really impressed me about the various kid’s clubs at Ixtapa were the programs tailored to specific age groups; kids are presented with lots of activities and materials geared towards their age, they aren’t just put in a ball pit or told to make a craft.  Your children will be well-looked after at a Club Med village.  In addition, Club Med buffets also cater to young babies and toddlers with their offerings of baby food.

Club Med has repeatedly put most of their money into their sports equipment, carefully planned locations, hiring plenty of G.O.’s to provide an impressive guest-to-staff ratio, but traditionally has provided rather plain rooms with bare bone in-room amenities.  Club Med Cancun Yucatan was recently renovated in 2017, and this trend has definitely changed.  In addition to general renovations, all rooms here were re-done with a new section added, the 5-Trident Jade section (the Trident rating is akin to a “star” rating system).  Jade guests have their own private beachfront pool, rooms and suites with oceanfront views, sunset champagne and hors d’oeuvres, and private beach area.  The suites are roomy and attractively decorated–definitely worth the upgrade.

Take a moment or two and watch the video below of all the room categories; the Jade lobby and rooms will be towards the end of the video starting at about 3:14.  Would you stay here?