I’ve been wanting to go on a family holiday for a little while, but for various reasons it just hasn’t happened. Part of the reason I’ve been holding off booking anything is because I want more than just a getaway; I want a memorable family holiday. I want something the kids will talk about for years. Call me daft, but I want perfection.
This search for perfection lead me down an internet rabbit hole (we’ve all been there). I spent a bit of time looking at Mexican holidays on YouTube, before eventually searching for vacation rentals in Mexico; you know, just to check it out.
It turns out I’m easily swayed because now I am absolutely certain I want to go to Mexico! All I can think about is how much I’d like the warmer weather. Things are looking a little bit grey from my current view and I’d love a bit of sun. A few daytime cocktails wouldn’t go amiss either. I have visions of sipping some bright and tasty beverages while me and my husband take it in turns to run around with the kids.
Why this year would be perfect for a memorable family holiday
My first consideration was the children’s ages. The eldest is nine and the youngest is three, turning four this year. This means they are a good age to travel, much better than a year or two ago. Some kids travel well, but my son was not one of those kids. Right up until he was two he would scream if he travelled for any longer than half an hour, which made it difficult to make plans to go anywhere exciting. Obviously our son came first, so holidays were instantly out the window. Now he’s older, he’s a much happier travelling companion, which has opened up the world to us really.
Why I want to go to Mexico
Truthfully, all the window shopping got to me. I really wanted a memorable family holiday and my searches lead me to Mexico. Once I’d spent a bit of time looking at travel blogs and vlogs about Mexico I decided I had to go. Even if we don’t make it this year and we book something for next year. I’ve made my mind up, I need to go.
My searches lead me to bright colours, a country steeped in history and culture. The Day Of The Dead fascinates me, but it’s probably not something we’ll do with the little ones in tow. I’ve also heard that Mexico has charming markets; crafts, food, and one-of-a-kind handmade wares. You don’t have to convince a shopping addict like me how wonderful that would be.
I know the kids would love it
My daughter’s an easy one to please. She likes a lot of the same stuff I do, so I know she’d love a sunny holiday in Mexico, relaxing on beaches, trying different foods and visiting the markets. Greg would love it too, he’s really lively and like any little kid, absolutely loves the beach. I could see him spending hours digging in the sand, building sandcastles and being generally energetic and fun.
It all just feels like it would be so perfect!
Things you’ll need to consider for a memorable family holiday to Mexico:
Since my Googling has basically made me an expert in things you need for travelling to Mexico I thought I’d share my new found knowledge with you.
- Passport: A passport is an obvious requirement, just make sure you order yours in plenty of time if it needs renewing. There was recently a delay with passports and I remember my Facebook feed was full of disgruntled people who possibly had to miss their holidays.
- Tourist card: This is a tourist permit that basically says you can’t do any paid work during your stay. If you wanted to do paid work, you would need a visa. It would seem that you can get these when you enter the country.
- Money: Mexican currency is Pesos, I would advise to shop around for the best deal when exchanging your cash, some places charge more to change it than others.
- Health care: Be aware that certain illnesses can be transmitted by mosquito bites, so taking relevant measures to avoid getting bitten is the best thing to do. Prevention is better than a cure! Remember to reapply repellent throughout the day.
- Water: Don’t drink the water! Whenever you travel, water from another area of the world carries bugs that our guts aren’t used to, which can result in an upset stomach. Instead, drink bottled water and be vigilant when you shower or brush your teeth. It’s always best to avoid ice in your drinks and anything on the menu like washed salad.
- Insurance: It always pays to look into travel and medical insurance whenever you leave the country. If you fall ill (or, you know, off something) hospital bills can be really expensive if you haven’t planned ahead with insurance. Obviously it would be a nightmare to become ill or injured when you’re away, but it would be even more of a nightmare if it cost a small fortune for treatment.
- Sun protection: If you’re fair skinned like me, you’ll need a lot of high factor sunscreen and you’ll have to reapply regularly throughout the day . Sunglasses should have dark lenses and block out harmful UV rays (the label should say when you’re purchasing them). If you have long, colour treated like me, I’d advise some moisturising hair masks for the evenings as the heat can make your hair dry and frizzy.
Have you been to Mexico? What would you consider a memorable family holiday? I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences. Especially if you’ve got a fabulous holiday planned for this year. My wanderlust has been well and truly sparked!
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I’m going to Mexico next week for a family wedding. I can’t wait 🙂
I think I’d need to wait another few years for such a long haul flight. In two years mine will be 4 and 9 (similar to yours) then Mexico could be in the cards
It’s so hard to do anything when you’ve got small ones. I know plenty of people do, but when my youngest was only sightly younger he was an absolute monster and so bad at travelling!