Where to stay in Tulum with Kids

When Kevin and I decided to take our kids to Tulum, Mexico, I did a lot of research on where to stay. My main goals on our trip were to spend lots of time on a beautiful beach AND spend time exploring the city of Tulum and the surrounding area. We also had a budget, so needed to stay on point financially. 

And now that we are back from our trip...I'm here to say...we did just that! 

Tulum's beaches are some of my favorite in the world, so I knew we wanted to stay smack dab on the beach for a few days. There's no easy way around the fact that beach resorts are EXPENSIVE. So...in light of our budget, we decided to stay 3 night in a beach resort, and stay the other 3 nights in an Airbnb in town. Here are the two places we picked, which couldn't have been more perfect....

Best Restaurants in Tulum with kids

Tulum is a mecca when it comes to food, especially when you have food allergies like yours truly! I am allergic to gluten and dairy, and while I have been able to make it work in all my travels, eating in Tulum is a special treat because so many restaurants offer g/d -free items that are scrumptious!

Wether you have food allergies or not, Tulum is your place for a fun culinary experience! From cheap 30 cent tacos, to fancy gourmet meals, and everything in between, Tulum offers something for everyone! We had 3 children when we visited Tulum (now we have 4) and these restaurants were all super kid friendly!

Here is a round-up of some of my favorite places:

Tulum Mexico with Kids

There are very few places in my travels where I stop and Tell Kevin "I could live here"...(especially since we've had 4 kids!)

But, Tulum, Mexico was one of these magical places (along with Hoi An, Vietnam and Delft, Holland). 

What makes it the right combination for me? 

Gorgeous natural beauty

Tasteful and trendy eco development 

Incredible food options (specifically in light of my food allergies)

Friendly vibe

So so so much to do!! 

Truly, it is a destination worth considering for people of all ages and stages of life! Here are all the activities we did, places we stayed, and delicious things we ate....

My top 5 Favorite Tropical Destinations in the world

Being a total lover of all things warm and relaxing, it comes as no surprise that I tend to gravitate towards places that are tropical, especially when I need to kick back and rest! There are SO many amazing tropical places around the world, but these 5 beaches/islands have captured me in a special way and I wanted to share them with you today! I'm sure i'll have like 100 honorable mentions to list, but these 5 places are sure-fire bets to get you dreaming about a fabulous tropical holiday:)

1. Railay Beach, Thailand
I've said it before, and i'll say it again…this beach stole my heart. Thailand has hundreds of amazing islands and beaches, but this one was hands-down my favorite. While many beaches in Thailand have turned into crazy party hubs, Railay has retained it's kick-back feel. Kevin and I would just lay on the beach at night looking at the stars and it was so peaceful. The beach itself is amazing!! Gorgeous sand, crystal clear waters that were warm enough to swim in but cool enough to refresh you from the heat. Railay (and it's sister beach Phra Nang, just a few minutes walk away) are the closest i've ever felt to heaven on earth. That's how much I loved Railay!! And if you are an adventurer, there are SO many fun things to do on Railay (like rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, etc) and then you can take boats to other islands for some top class snorkeling and sight seeing. Something for everyone!
To see my pictures of our time in and around Railay:
Railay Beach
Phra Nang
Speed Boat Tour  & snorkeling {Koh Phi Phi, Maya Bay, Bamboo Island}
Our 3 Week Itinerary in South East Asia

2. Hoi An, Vietnam

Besides just being absolutely obsessed with the quaint little town of Hoi An (and wanting to move there!), the beaches on the outskirts of the town were pretty fabulous. Every day in Hoi An, we'd either scooter or ride our bikes to the beach for some serious R&R. They had great chairs and umbrellas you could rent for pennies, the water was warm but also refreshing, and it was lined with beautiful sand and palm trees. The Vietnamese people are just the best, and we found some delicious food just minutes walking from the beach to fulfill our hunger.  And as a whole, Hoi An is magical. If you've never even heard of this Asian hamlet, then by all means head on over to my posts about our time in Hoi An:
{Day 1} and {Day 2 & 3} and Our 3 Week Itinerary in South East Asia

3. Riviera Maya, Mexico

{via}

I think Mexico flies under the radar when people think about traveling to a tropical location. But let me tell you, I was SO impressed with the strip of beaches in the Riviera Maya, below Cancun. Kevin booked our honeymoon at this resort, and it was sheer bliss. The beach was absolutely incredible, with white sand and turquoise waters that were just the right temperature. There is SO much to do in the Riviera Maya…we went zip lining, snorkeled in a gorgeous lagoon here, and explored the ruins at Tulum which was fascinating. If you've never given a thought to the Riviera Maya, then you are missing out. I'm already dreaming about when we can return:)

4. Bora Bora, French Polynesia


Kevin and I got the chance to take a once in a lifetime trip this past summer…a yacht cruise through French Polynesia with Inspiration Cruises & Tours. It was unbelievable. My favorite island (by FAR) was Bora Bora, and lucky for us we got to anchor there for two whole days! Bora Bora is gorgeous. What makes it such a special tropical location is not necessarily the beaches, but the reef activities. There is a beautiful coral reef surrounding the island, where you can discover a whole new world under water! We got to swim with manta rays, sharks, and all sorts of tropical fish. I will confess to you that i'm terribly afraid of fish, but even I couldn't wait to get into the beautiful waters and interact with the wild life! While Bora Bora is harder to get to than many of the other places i've shared, it is worth every penny!
To see our pictures of French Polynesia (and in specific Bora Bora):
An Introduction to Inspiration Cruises & Tours 
Our First Day in Tahiti 
Exploring the Island of Moorea
This Island of Ta'Haa
Exploring Raiatea
Bora Bora Day 1 (swimming with sharks and Manta Rays!) 
Bora Bora Day 2 (Luau and fire dancers!) 


5. Bali, Indonesia

{via}

Kevin used to coach basketball in Indonesia, and Bali was a $50 plane ride away. The first time I went to Bali, I assumed it would be like the rest of Indonesia…and boy was I wrong. Bali is a magical place unto itself. As you may know, Indonesia has the biggest Muslim population in the world…but Bali is Hindu. There are shrines everywhere (you literally have to make sure you don't step on the offerings) and it is shrouded in a very mystical feel. The whole island is utterly spectacular…from the beaches to the mountains to the terraced farming to the coffee plantations. My favorite places were Ubud (a little mountain town), the beaches at Candidassa, and visiting the coffee plantations that dot the island. And in my humble opinion, Indonesians are literally the nicest people in the world. Just love them:)

What tropical locations would you add?? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Have you been to any of these?  Maybe one day i'll do my favorite beaches, as there are TONS of beaches in Europe that are gorgeous, just not necessarily tropical!

And if you're checking in on baby-watch 2017, our sweet girl is not here quite yet. Today is her due date, so feel free to send up some prayers that she will come soon. I'm SOOOO excited to meet her! Hope you all are doing well! Much love…xoxo

Ensenada, Mexico

The second full day of the cruise we embarked in Ensenada, Mexico. Even though we live so close to Ensenada, I've actually never been. I've certainly been to many of the surrounding areas, but never Ensenada. My brother-in-law drove the whole gang out to La Bufadora (or the blowhole) where we walked down a beautiful scenic vista along the cliffs of the ocean, to witness the natural blowhole. It was actually pretty amazing. Water would come in, and then by some scientific reason {which I don't know} it would build water pressure and send a whole bucket of water shooting up into the air. I just love how impressive and creative nature can be…God's a genius! We literally watched the water spout up and down for a long time, I loved it.

And what is a trip to Mexico without tacos? Seriously, you haven't had "real" Mexican food until you eat a street taco off the grills of Mexico. They are the very best. Because they are so good, we visited not one, but two taco shops! The first shop sold only fish tacos, so we cleaned up there! Yum! The second shop sold everything, and I devoured a carne asada taco! Everyone was going to town and it was a blast just hanging out and eating such fresh food!

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, I will be honest and say that Ensenada does not need to be on your list. Kevin and I toured the Maya Riviera in Quintana Roo, and that was AMAZING, by far our favorite. And as you know, I recently went into the heart of Mexico here {to do some medical work} and that was also brilliantly beautiful. Ensenada is fun for a day or two trip, but no need to add it to your "must sees"! Regardless, we had a blast, and I am so grateful I got to do a little touring!!

I hope you all are having an amazing week! It's been raining here in Southern California, which is SUCH a wonderful and refreshing change! I did have to chuckle because as I walked into work today, everyone was saying things like "it's so cold!" {it's like 68 degrees} and "be safe driving out there" {like we are in some hurricane except NOT! }. We just don't know what to do when the weather changes! But as for me, i've been soaking it in (no pun intended!!). I've been blasting Christmas music on my record player, lighting Christmas candles, and drinking Christmas teas. I've also been reading the Christmas story which amazes me. A few things have struck me, which I'll be sharing more about on Friday!

Oh, and so totally random. Today at our international student lunch, Kevin and I met a Hungarian celebrity. She was so sweet and kind, and was showing us her tv shows on youtube! We were kinda startstruck! #randomtidbitiknow But we feel so blessed to be meeting the most amazing people from all over the world!! I love how wonderful it can be to meet new friends, such inspiring stories out there.

Happy day friends!!