Julie's Club Med Ixtapa Trip Report - March 2008

I just returned from an all-inclusive family vacation at Club Med's newly renovated Ixtapa Pacific resort. Having been there prior to having a baby, my needs definitely changed and what a surprise I had! After all, we had been thinking weeks prior; "do we want to take our 9-month old baby with us on vacation"? Wow… did Club Med change and all for the better. As early as the arrival into the main lobby, the changes were apparent. Club Med had grown up, became upscale and now was a match for the discriminating traveler: the décor is Mexican contemporary, and the service is very personalized. No matter where you are in the resort, it is very cozy and inviting, just like the Mexican culture. The gracious staff could not have been more friendly and hospitable.

We booked the family room, which has 2 bedrooms, which share a bathroom (it can accommodate a family of 6). They even have suites now. My husband, who is extremely picky, said, "it looks like we are staying at a Westin!" It was very spacious and comfortable. The only thing that resembled the old room was the color (white) of the tiled floor. We had the Baby Welcome included in our package. There was a pack and play, high chair, stroller, changing pad, & bottle warmer in the room and a baby bathtub in the shower. We stayed in the Iguana building, which is the closest to the kids clubs and was extremely convenient. There is a 24-hour bottle room, which has a sink, bottle brush, bottle sterilizer, baby food, yogurt, milk and purified water. This is a much better alternative to washing bottles in the bathroom sink!

We pre-reserved the baby club for our 9-month old. As a working mom, I have never had my daughter in a "daycare-style" setting and was very apprehensive about the experience. They take kids from 4 months old here. There is a formal registration upon your arrival. They ask you very specific questions about your child's routine, eating habits, allergies, etc. I think my meeting the Baby Club G.O. (gracious organizer) lasted for 25 minutes. I, also, performed a mini-interview on them. I found out that they have to have a minimum of 2 years experience with babies, their Early Childhood Certification, CPR and First Aid certification and have had background checks. I was very reassured with this information. The ratio of staff members to baby (4-11 months) was 1:2.

The Baby Club is open 6 days a week (closed Saturday). On Saturday, they do a major cleaning and sanitization of all of the toys/facilities (they do clean daily as well). Their hours are 9-5:30. You may sign your child in and out as you please; the charge is $65 per day. The baby club facility was fantastic! The room was bright and cheery, the floors are cushioned, and there is an abundance of toys, swings, & exersaucers. There is a room for napping. My daughter really seemed to enjoy the surroundings, the other kids and got a lot of attention from the wonderful G.O.s. They even documented her feedings, naps and diaper changes. At other hotels, we would always have to stay in the room while our daughter napped. At Club Med, we could do what we want, while our baby napped in the air-conditioned baby club.

The mini-club facility was amazing as well; the kids have a mini version of everything they have for the adults. They have their own pool, playground, mini restaurant (which is the cutest thing I have seen), and tons of activities to keep them busy! They have yoga, archery, magic, cooking, golf, tennis, soccer, hip hop dance, circus school and more; their club is open until 8:30 pm. Parents need not feel guilty; the children would much rather be in the club than hanging out with their parents. They even performed in a show for the whole resort at the end of the week; there were a lot of wet eyes in the theater.

My favorite time of the day was at 6:00, when we'd all gather by pool bar for happy hour. We'd unwind from our 'tough' day and listen to the beautiful music (there was a singer/guitar player), as we'd watch the picture-perfect sun set.

As for the food, it was delicious, and there was always a lot to choose from. There are 3 restaurants. The main restaurant, El Encanto (open all day), is buffet style and has indoor and outdoor seating. You may choose from a table for 2 up to a table for 8. The other two restaurants require reservations, which you may book at the reception desk. Luna Azul (open for dinner) is a la carte style, which serves contemporary cuisine, including seafood and steak. Miramar (open all day) is also a la carte; it serves late breakfast and lunch and converts to an Argentinean-style steak house in the evening. It's ocean-side and was my favorite spot. We chose to dine at the a la carte restaurants without the children so we booked the Pyjama Club for those 2 nights. It is open from 7pm-1am and only costs $22 for the whole night ($3.6/hour, compared to $10/hour at home)! This was a fantastic option for our daughter and us. They also have baby sitters, who will come to your room, for $17/hr.

The activities are all included and abundant. I enjoyed the exercise classes under the shaded palapa, the tennis program and relaxing poolside on the new bed-like lounges. I also treated myself to a facial at their new spa (the spa is an extra charge). My husband got to fly on the trapeze, go sailing, kayaking and rock-climbing!

The memories that we created on this trip will definitely last long after our suntans fade away. I will never forget the smile and excitement on my daughter's face the first time her feet touched the Pacific waters. It was a perfect balance of family, friends and a little alone time. The family-friendly, all-inclusive package really makes for an easy, hassle-free vacation. The only trouble we have now is deciding when we can go to Punta Cana next (it was renovated too). Club Med has changed for the better; it is truly the perfect place for families!