January 2017 – Ages 5 and 4
Sometimes the best family vacations are the ones that teach you the most about your kids (and yourself). Our January 2017 trip to Tulum, Mexico was exactly that kind of adventure – equal parts paradise and parenting reality check, with a healthy dose of “what were we thinking?” thrown in for good measure.
The Plan (Because We Actually Had One)
After enduring another brutal New York winter, we decided our 5-year-old and freshly-turned-4-year-old needed some serious vitamin D. Tulum seemed perfect: relaxed, uncrowded, and familiar territory since we’d fallen in love with its laid-back vibe on previous (kid-free) visits. The goal was simple – find that magical sweet spot between adventure and relaxation that every parent dreams about.
Our logistics game was strong. We booked JetBlue out of JFK with reserved parking (because wrestling car seats through an airport while chasing toddlers is nobody’s idea of a vacation start). I’d done my research and invested in lightweight, narrow car seats specifically for travel, plus those ingenious straps that turn your rolling luggage into makeshift strollers. Pro tip: these contraptions are worth their weight in gold when you’re juggling kids, carry-ons, and the eternal question of “did we pack enough snacks?”
Reality Meets Paradise
Casa Violetta became our home base – a charming, middle-of-the-beach spot that was comfortable without being flashy. The kind of place where an expat owner had clearly prioritized authenticity over amenities. Their restaurant was solid, which felt like a small victory since “on-premise dining” translates to “we don’t have to negotiate with hangry children in public” in parent speak.
Day one was magical. Another family was staying at the hotel, and our kids instantly bonded with their children. While the adults actually got to relax on the beach (remember relaxing?), the kids created their own little international friendship society. We smugly congratulated ourselves on our brilliant vacation planning.
Then day two happened.
When Paradise Gets Complicated
The other family checked out, taking our children’s entertainment committee with them. Suddenly, we realized that our kids were not, in fact, those mythical “chill children” who could spend hours building sandcastles and watching waves. Our beautiful, serene beach became a stage for the age-old parental drama: “I’m bored, there’s nothing to do, when can we go home?”
The hotel, perfect for couples seeking tranquility, had zero kid-focused amenities. We found ourselves in full-on parent panic mode, making emergency runs to the local superstore (the kind you pass on the way thinking “we’ll never need to stop there”) for beach toys and anything that might occupy small hands for more than five minutes.
But here’s where things got really interesting: our son Henry decided the ocean was his nemesis. While the rest of us reveled in Tulum’s incredibly warm, perfect-temperature water, Henry established himself as the beach’s most dedicated landlubber, sweating it out on the shore while shooting suspicious glances at the waves.
The Silver Linings
Despite our entertainment challenges, we made the best of it. We explored the Tulum Maya Ruins, which the kids approached with the enthusiasm typically reserved for dental appointments, but hey – cultural education, right? Our evening restaurant walks became family traditions, sampling different beachside spots for dinner and lunch. (Silver lining: the food was universally excellent.)
And then, on our very last day, magic happened. With departure looming at 11 AM, we decided on one final beach attempt. Something clicked for Henry – maybe it was the pressure being off, maybe it was FOMO, or maybe four-year-olds just work on their own mysterious timeline. He ventured into the water and absolutely loved it. We stayed in as long as possible, savoring this breakthrough moment before rushing to shower and catch our ride back to reality.
The Real Lessons
This trip taught us some valuable truths about family travel:
Our kids aren’t the “go with the flow” types who can entertain themselves anywhere – and that’s okay. They have strong preferences, firm boundaries, and once they make up their minds about something (like avoiding ocean water), they commit fully to that decision. These aren’t bugs in their personalities; they’re features.
Sometimes the best family vacation spots aren’t the ones that appeal to your pre-kid selves. My wife had suggested all-inclusive resorts with pools and organized activities, and I’d resisted because they felt too crowded and structured. Turns out, “crowded and structured” might actually translate to “functional with small children.”
Looking Back (and Forward)
Would we do it again exactly the same way? Probably not. But would we trade this experience? Absolutely not. Those challenging moments – the boredom, the negotiations, the superstore emergency supply runs – they’re all part of our family story now. And Henry’s last-day ocean breakthrough? That’s the kind of memory that makes all the earlier struggles worth it.
Next time we’ll probably split the difference: find a place with a little more kid-friendly infrastructure while still maintaining that relaxed vibe we love. Because if there’s one thing we learned in Tulum, it’s that the best family vacations happen when you can meet your kids where they are, not where you hope they’ll be.
And who knows? Maybe by the time we plan our next beach vacation, Henry will be the first one in the water.
Even that's Odd 
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