I faced a high-stakes dilemma: pickleball or snorkeling? Should my family chase a plastic ball across a court or drift over a coral reef in the Caribbean? The decision loomed large.

Paralyzed by the pressure of planning the perfect day, I sat frozen at the dinner table, fork in hand, staring blankly into the turquoise horizon. Then, our 8-year-old daughter, Fallyn—calmly sipping a Shirley Temple—offered the wisdom we needed.

“Don’t worry, Mommy,” she said. “We’re on vacation.”

Just like that, the existential crisis vanished.

We were spending a long weekend at Club Med Cancún, an all-inclusive resort offering chic, boho vibes in Mexico’s famed Riviera Maya. A two-hour direct flight from Miami, it was our third visit to a Club Med property. The Paris-based brand pioneered the all-inclusive concept in the 1950s, and after a lively ski trip to Club Med Charlevoix in Quebec—where we indulged in French-Canadian cuisine and danced late into the night—we couldn’t wait to experience another of its resorts.

A Resort Reimagined

All-inclusives are booming among Gen Z and millennials, and Club Med has emerged as one of the world’s leading go-to brands, with its high-energy atmosphere, premium amenities and a cheerful staff known as G.O.s (Gentle Organizers). These team members do it all—from childcare to archery instruction to leading the brand’s signature Crazy Signs dance, a festive line dance set to upbeat music.

One G.O., a Parisian named Eva, had recently arrived at the Cancún property. “It’s hard not to be happy when you’re surrounded by palm trees and sunshine,” she told me. “I have fun working here, and I hope guests can feel that.”

Thanks to recent property renovations, Club Med Cancún is equal-parts high-end and on-trend, with a laid-back social culture that attracts adventure seekers, families and multi-generational groups alike. Our kids reveled in the resort’s new Family Oasis, with a Mayan-themed Splash Park, featuring water slides and a giant tipping bucket that, without fail, drenched me every time I walked beneath it. In addition, the property also rolled out a Sports & Wellness Island and has plans for major room upgrades that will roll out this summer. 

Like many parents in my circle, I have a goal to fill my children’s youth with memories of adventures in the sand, sun and surf. Turns out, memories of lazying around one of two expansive pools, cozying up together to read a book on our private balcony and eating our fourth pastry of the day count just as much as the adventure-seeking ones. 
 
With my newly acquired mentality of relaxing instead of scheduling, thanks to the advice from an elementary schooler, I left the beach with my family and spent nearly an hour lying in bed with my kids while gazing out of our floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that peeked out into unreal turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. I could not have imagined a more blissful moment.

Be Good to Yourself

For this mother of two, another standout amenity? Me Time. Thanks to the resort’s all-day kids club, I could finally relax, knowing a team of warm, enthusiastic caregivers was looking after my children. The club welcomes kids from infancy to age 10 at no extra charge, with separate programming for tweens and teens centered on sports and social activities.

With our kids happily engaged—our son mastering archery and mini golf, our daughter joining a spirited soccer match between slip-n-slide runs—my husband and I did something rare: we ate in silence. No interruptions. No requests for extra pasta. Just peaceful, glorious quiet.

Deciding where to eat was our only concern. Embracing our daughter’s carefree vacation philosophy, we debated between Taco Arte, an open-air beachfront restaurant serving Mexican cuisine, and Hacienda, the resort’s main eatery offering a mix of international and local dishes. The sea views at Taco Arte tempted us, but Hacienda’s decadent dessert spread ultimately won us over.

Indulgence is easy at Club Med, but so is balance. The brand’s Wellness Fusion program integrates healthy eating, yoga, meditation and nature-focused experiences. For the past three years, Club Med has partnered with vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli, a “Cupcake Wars” champion, to create flavorful plant-based options across its North American properties.

After fueling up, my husband and I unwound with a yoga session at the new Lagoon View Yoga Palapa, an open-air sanctuary where gentle breezes rustled through the palms as we flowed from one pose to the next. Recognizing the potential of this tranquil setting, Club Med Cancún collaborated with renowned yogi Jonah Kest to develop specialized yoga programming, including Roots Yoga for grounding, Restorative Yoga for relaxation, and Flow Yoga for energy.

My last bit of Me Time? A spa treatment. Tucked beside the fitness center, the spa offered an oasis within our Cancún escape. Though treatments come at an extra cost, they’re worth it. The dark bamboo decor and tropical flora set a serene tone, while mineral-rich Ahava products enhanced my 60-minute facial. Weeks later, my skin still thanked me.

Memories from Mexico

When I picked up the kids, they begged to stay longer. But we had dinner reservations at Estancia, the resort’s Argentinean steakhouse, where we started with empanadas, moved on to steak and fish and finished with ice cream. Yet, Club Med Cancún’s allure isn’t just in its cuisine. It’s in its community. 

The resort fosters an inclusive, social atmosphere where guests naturally connect. Nightly entertainment—ranging from lively dance parties led by G.O.s to elaborate stage performances—brings people together. One evening, we watched a neon-lit dance show reminiscent of the Jabbawockeez. As the performers leaped and spun across the stage, my son’s face mirrored my own: wide-eyed wonder.

Spending time as a family, free from schedules and to-do lists, felt refreshing. Despite my tendency to plan every detail, I learned to let go and embrace the beauty of unstructured time. After all, as my daughter reminded me, we were on vacation.

For more vacation inspiration, visit clubmed.us/r/cancun/y.

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