When I tell people that I’m not really a fan of all-inclusives, occasionally one will ask if I’ve ever “done” a
Club Med. My answer was always an emphatic “No!” but as the founder of havebabywilltravel.com, an online guide for travel with babies and toddlers, I was curious to see how a resort chain with a reputation for attracting swinging singles could cater to families as well. So when the opportunity arose, during a particularily harsh winter, to visit Club Med’s newly renovated Ixtapa Pacific family resort, about a 150 miles north of Acapulco my answer was an emphatic “Yes!”.

Why it’s family friendly

• After speaking with families who’d been there before, the renovations they’ve done have been largely cosmetic, but they are impressive. Our Family Club Room had been two rooms in its previous life and we appreciated the extra space. Everything was new — firm beds, fresh linens, fluffy towels and cute artwork in the kids’ room.
• I’m mentioning Jean Marc, the Chief of the Village and a fellow Canadian, because it’s his role and that of his G.O.s (Gentle Operators, as they call the staff) that made our Club Med experience different from any other all-inclusive resort we’ve stayed at. The G.O.s are omnipresent. They join you for meals; they work at their particular specialty which can be sports, entertainment or even administration but can answer questions about anything; they are welcoming and friendly without being intrusive or pushy.
• The Baby Club Med (for children under 23 months) and Petit Club Med (children two to four) are programs offered by Ixtapa Pacific and two other Club Meds in North America — Cancún Yucatán, also in Mexico, and Sandpiper in Florida. Staff provide educational and creative activities (from nature walks to arts and crafts) for the little ones as well as feed them and play with them. There is an extra charge for their services, but you can use all of the facilities so long as you are there to supervise. The Baby, Petit, and Mini-Club (ages four to 11) G.O.s are caring, attentive and fun. After hanging out at the Petit Club for much of the week, we did leave our two-year-old daughter in their care for a few hours one morning, confident that she was having fun with the other “Tigers” in her age group and well-looked-after by the Petit Club team.
• I was surprised by all the other complimentary facilities available to families travelling with babies and toddlers. In the main dining room there is a fridge stocked with baby food, yogurt and milk, as well as a station offering dried cereals and crackers. At the buffet are differing options of plainly cooked vegetables and pastas. They also offer a baby welcoming program that consists of a high chair, crib and bottle warmer in your room, the use of a stroller, and access to a room that has a fridge, bottle washing and sterilizing facilities, microwave, and all the same baby food and snacks available in the dining room.
• Club Med also offers private babysitting and a Pyjama Club — where you drop off your tot ready for bed and you pick them up on your way back to your room. We did have a few hours of babysitting one evening but felt that our daughter, 2, was a bit too young to enjoy the Pyjama Club.
• The food was fantastic. The beach, pool and grounds are beautiful and the resort is large without being overwhelming.

Day trips
Down the road is Playa Linda — a lovely public beach with a small marketplace, as well as a pier from which to visit Isla Ixtapa, the small island facing you. Next to Playa Linda is the Cocodrilario, where lots of large crocodiles hang out in a protected reserve. Ixtapa seems like just a hotel strip, but Zihuatanejo just minutes away is a charming fishing village. We spent a lovely morning strolling around and absorbed the authentic Mexican charm, which has been slowly removed from the more touristy spots in Mexico. We negotiated with our cab driver to hang on to our car seat, and he picked us up at a designated spot and time. It’s a lot cheaper to take the public bus, but we liked knowing we wouldn’t be waiting at a bus stop with a tired toddler ready for her nap!

Staying there
Approximately $9,200*, one week, including airfare, all-inclusive for a family of four. clubmed.ca

*at the time of writing