The search for a perfect family vacation is over! Gone are the concerns of meager activities, bland food, and surprises on your bill. Club Med Ixtapa Pacific is not the common “family-friendly” resort. Here, every feature on the property is designed with families in mind.
Getting to the resort is exceptionally simple. After a short 3 ½ hour direct flight from Los Angeles, we were greeted by the first G.O. (genteel organizer), who made our transfer to the resort absolutely seamless.
Upon arrival, a second G.O. was waiting with cold towels and ice cold lemonade – the perfect way to refresh ourselves in the tropical heat. As we followed our luggage to our room, we were given a short tour of the property to orient us. The Club Med staff radiate their desire to assist all guests. No question or request seems too large or too small.
The Family Club Room with balcony was wonderfully spacious with a spectacular ocean view. The room included one queen and two twin beds, separate tub and shower and a small sitting area leading to the balcony.
I personally have a great passion for international cuisine and appreciate how significantly the quality of the food impacts the overall quality of a vacation. When traveling with children, one of the most common challenges occurs at mealtimes, satisfying everyone’s whims. Incredibly, Club Med Ixtapa removes any difficulty before you even notice. From picky eaters to special diets, even non-traditional mealtimes are accommodated.
The main buffet was very consistent in quality. It offered a large variety of selections at each meal – there was seldom a dish I tried that I didn’t enjoy. Each station remained constantly staffed, ensuring fresh food regardless of what time you chose to dine.
The fact that Club Med offers such a variety of choices at a family resort is particularly exciting, since it allows children to be independent and empowers them to be as adventurous or as comfortable as they’d like when selecting their meals.
However, Club Med Ixtapa is not just perfect for families based on the guestrooms and restaurants alone. The highlight of the resort is the sheer amount of activities offered. Each day there were activities nearly every hour, ranging from soccer games to beach front Zumba. The primary activities include paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and even a trapeze – all at no additional cost! The ever present and wonderful G.O. team is always willing and excited to assist beginners in any activity they’d like to try.
Even if the property doesn’t offer exactly what you are looking for, you can head over to the discovery center, near the gift shop, to learn of affordable excursions in the area; such as deep sea fishing, whale watching or the highly recommended snorkeling tour on Ixtapa Island. I chose to try the snorkeling tour which also included a drink and a snack at the Island’s restaurant afterward – an incredible value. The water taxi that takes you to the island pulls right up onto Club Med’s beach. The ride is very short, about 5 minutes, during which you get a fantastic view of the area.
When we got off the taxi, we were led to the snorkeling stall to collect our equipment. In just moments we were fitted and heading to the water. We were shown to our guide and the tour began immediately. The groups were nice and small, about 5-6 people, allowing everyone to get a handhold on the boogie board. Our guide slowly led us around, pointing out various fish. Periodically, he would dive to the ocean floor and surface with different items for us to handle and inspect up close. We were able to see coral with crabs and two types of sea stars. Once the tour was over, we were allowed to keep the gear for a little longer and explore on our own. When finished, we returned the equipment and walked to the café to relax with our drinks and snacks before getting back on the water taxi and returning to the resort.
