Resort for family of 5

[jewels3081]

My husband and I vacationed in Playa in 06, loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, I got significantly sick when I got home and never finished my trip report, and now don't remember all the details. Anyway...
The problem now is that we want to vacation this year in Playa with some family members. My brother and his wife have three children, ages 4, 6 and 9. We need something with a good, fun kid's club and definitely beachfront. So far, I have researched the hotels that have been recommended here, but when I check availability, there are no options for a room or suite that will allow 5 people. I also want to be as close to Playa Del Carmen as possible, because my husband and I fell in love with 5th ave and we want to take advantage of the restaurants and shops there if we can as well.
Any ideas?

[Shammy]

There are only a few hotels that allow families of 5 to stay in one room as long as it's 2 adults and 3 children ALL under the age of 12. The Palladium, Sandos Gala Playacar and Sandos Caracol Beach. Sandos Gala Playacar would be the closest one to town, it's in Playacar which is only a 5 minute cab ride away. You can only stay in certain room categories so if you are checking availability at these specific hotels and are finding nothing available, the rooms that allow 5 people may be sold out.

[jewels3081]

Thanks for the info. Maybe we should just rent a villa or condo, because we might have another couple with a child traveling with us as well. Do you know of anything beachfront that may still be close to town? A private pool would be nice also. I have looked around at the ones on the site, but it's hard to tell what is close to town and what isn't.
Anyone with personal experience at renting a villa or condo?

[KC Arrowhead]

Have you considered that you can all book the same resort and just move some of the kids around in booking and get the discount? And not worry about needing a room for 5? Then when you get there everyone stays in whatever room however they want? Sure very cramped & not so sure if this is allowed, but seems like an answer to your question if you are looking at an AI? I'm sure that shammy would know if this is wrong and cheating so to speak even if someone did this. I have 3 children and one is over 13 and we have to book seperate rooms using 2 adults in each and can't get the 2nd child at the "stays free rate" But we always wind up getting rooms next to each other and put the 2 older ones together in 1 room and us with the little one in our room with twin beds in each. I think as long as when booked thier are at least 2 adults over 18 and no more than 2 children.
Just a thought to possibly help??

[Shammy]

You can configure the rooms any which way you want as long as you don't exceed max occupancy. I have had families travel together and one family of 3 or less will pick up the 3rd child from a family of 5 - "on paper only" - and then once they check in they are free to handle the sleeping arrangements any way they want. The biggest drawback of this IS space - one bathroom for 5 people is a tough one, especially when it comes to showering. But people do it and an agent can make bookings like this if asked.

Regarding this comment:

I have 3 children and one is over 13 and we have to book seperate rooms using 2 adults in each and can't get the 2nd child at the "stays free rate"

There is no guarantee that ANY child will stay free no matter how many rooms one books or how many children there are. Occasionally a certain resort will have a kids free promo but those are few and far between and typically only good during certain times of the year. Kids rates for those 12 and under are the norm but please don't think that you'll automatically be getting A kid or kids free because it really does depend on the actual resort and if they have this promotion going.

BTW KC - IF only one of your kids is over age 12, you should probably be booking your two rooms with 4 people in one room (2 adults/2 kids) and a single (1 adult) in the other room. Even though you'll pay a single supplement in the one room, you'll get 2 kid rates in the other and in most (but not all) cases, when you add the two rooms together, a 4+1 booking total ends up to be less than the 3+2 booking total where you'll pay 4 adult rates and only one kid rate.

As far as the villa/house/condo route...certainly up to you as long as you're willing or want to do non AI. There are plenty of condos, etc. available IN Playa but most are not on the beach, you'd have to walk a bit depending on the actual location. Some are on the beach however (Xaman Ha is one complex) and if this is the way you want to go, you should fill out a request form on "Trip Planning" tab above and send it off to Heather letting her know what it is that you are looking for and she'll get back to you with the proper choices available to you.

[KC Arrowhead]

Shammy, You are the expert!! That is why if I'm not to sure I throw your name in the converation ...Just maybe my trusted travel agent does'nt really have the answers I need ..
KC

[KC Arrowhead]

BTW KC - IF only one of your kids is over age 12, you should probably be booking your two rooms with 4 people in one room (2 adults/2 kids) and a single (1 adult) in the other room. Even though you'll pay a single supplement in the one room, you'll get 2 kid rates in the other and in most (but not all) cases, when you add the two rooms together, a 4+1 booking total ends up to be less than the 3+2 booking total where you'll pay 4 adult rates and only one kid rate.


Shammy, Are you saying that I can book 1 room as 2 adults / 2 under 12 year olds and 1 room 1 adult? My scenerio is we have a 15,11,3 year olds. So Can I book the 15 yr old as an adult with myself and the 2 little ones and then book the other room with my wife only? I thought each adult in each room had to be 18? You are the T.A. and if so that's not what my T.A. has been telling me .I just might be giving you a call..

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by KC Arrowhead

Shammy, Are you saying that I can book 1 room as 2 adults / 2 under 12 year olds and 1 room 1 adult? My scenerio is we have a 15,11,3 year olds. So Can I book the 15 yr old as an adult with myself and the 2 little ones and then book the other room with my wife only? I thought each adult in each room had to be 18? You are the T.A. and if so that's not what my T.A. has been telling me .I just might be giving you a call..

It should be priced out BOTH ways and whichever works out best is how the reservation should be booked. Some resorts have high single supplements and if that is the case, it might turn out best to put 2 in one room and 3 in another. But that is rarely the case, it usually works out best to do the rooms as 4 in one and 1 in another and get the two childrens rates. No idea what your TA is talking about, EACH person paying as an adult in a room doesn't have to be 18, just the LEAD passenger listed on the reservation. Assuming your wife in room #1 is 18 and you in room #2 is 18 - that IS the only requirement.

Option #1

Room 1=Wife, 15, 11 and 3 year old
This room will price as two adults and two children

Room 2=You
This room will price as one adult w/ a single supplement



Option #2

Room 1=Wife, 11,3 year old
This room will price as two adults and one child

Room 2=You, 15 year old
This room will price as two adults


That should do it!

[pkfirefighter]

We had a similar problem. We have four, two adults, two 2.5 year olds, and we wanted to take our 16 year old baby sitter with us on our trip. We wanted to stay at AI's only. We would have had to book 2 rooms, 4 adult prices, and 1 child. When the children take up a complete bed, they are charged an adult rate. The trip would have been about $7k, with out the babysitter, it was $3k without her. So, the baby sitter doesn't get a free trip. Thats ok, the in-laws are now going.

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by pkfirefighter

We had a similar problem. We have four, two adults, two 2.5 year olds, and we wanted to take our 16 year old baby sitter with us on our trip. We wanted to stay at AI's only. We would have had to book 2 rooms, 4 adult prices, and 1 child. When the children take up a complete bed, they are charged an adult rate. The trip would have been about $7k, with out the babysitter, it was $3k without her. So, the baby sitter doesn't get a free trip. Thats ok, the in-laws are now going.

Again, that could have been priced the same way I stated above - not necessary to have 4 adult prices and 1 child. The 16 year old is priced as an adult no matter what as she is over age 12, but you could have done the 4 in one room and 1 in another room and ended up getting child rates for both of your little ones. Still would have been more than just the 4 of you but one less adult rate makes a difference.