As much as I love traveling around Europe seeing the culture and eating the most delicious foods, I also love spending a week at an all inclusive resort, poolside where my big decisions for the week always involve what drink should I have this time.
Our first all inclusive with a little one who was 18 month was in November 2013 when we traveled to Cuba. I have been to Cuba numerous times with my first trip there back in 1992. I had no concerns with bringing a young child to Cuba but my criteria for a resort had changed from our previous trips. Things that were important on my list: short flight, short bus ride from the airport, small family friendly resort with good reviews.
We found all of these things at Memories Flamenco Cayo Coco. The flight is about 3.5 hours from Toronto, and only a 20 minute bus ride to get to the resort. The resort had such good reviews on Trip Advisor that we almost couldn't believe they were true. The resort was amazing and so great that we went back again in 2014 with a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you go to an all inclusive with young children.
1. Have realistic expectations - once you have a child your life is no longer about sitting around and drinking mojitos. This is especially true when you travel even to a resort. Do not expect that sitting at the pool all day will be relaxing and that you will return from your travels well rested. As with at home your number one priority will still be your little one and they are still a lot of work.
2. Go with the flow and don't sweat the small stuff - you are on vacation for one week, don't stress if junior doesn't go down for his nap on time or only wants to eat pasta for a whole week. Even if they scream for the entire plane ride (yup been there and done that) just know that you will eventually get off that plane and everything will be alright!
3. It can get HOT - the heat was more of an issue when my daughter was only 5 months old. We were hoping she could nap poolside, but most days it was just too hot for her to be in her stroller and tent even in the shade. This of course leads right back to #1 & #2, where we just went with the flow and sometimes someone had to be in the room so the baby could nap. Also toddler/preschooler nap time is usually right after lunch when the sun is the hottest, neither J nor I usually minded taking a mid-day siesta when it got to hot.
4. Bring help! - if you can, it is always great to have other people with you, be it grandparents or other family members or friends. You can never go wrong with extra hands (or feet to push a stroller around the resort so little ones can go to sleep). Just be mindful that they are on vacation too and might not want to babysit all the time.
5. It is better to be over packed then not prepared - I am not talking about have 5 suitcases full of stuff, I am just talking about making sure you have all the essentials that you are going to need. Especially in Cuba where there is no store that you can just run out to pick stuff up and the tuck shop on resorts are super expensive. Also going right back to #1, think about what you are going to be spending you days doing. We packed our snorkel gear and never once used it, so that was wasted space in the luggage. We also had our little guy break out in a bad rash from the sun screen we brought, thankfully I learned the diaper cream works wonders on rashes.
