The family vacation where parents can relax too

Our family stayed in the newly updated Aguamarina Family Oasis at Club Medʼs Cancun Yucatan resort, located at the tip of the iconic Riviera Maya. This outstanding property offers an abundance of sports and activities for all ages – both in and out of the water. The family area is located on the southern edge of the lush landscape between the Caribbean Sea and a beautiful lagoon. It’s secluded and peaceful – ideal for a relaxed family getaway and exactly what I needed after a busy few months.

The oceanfront family suites were incredible. There was a separate bedroom and bathroom for my four-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, so our evening could go on long after the kids were in bed. The balcony overlooking the ocean included an outdoor shower and a comfortable chaise lounge, which is where I sat each morning, before the kids woke up, to enjoy my morning cup of coffee.

If that’s not enough, Aguamarina has its own swimming pool with a very shallow entry, perfect for even the smallest children. There were plenty of lounge chairs, even kid-sized ones, to recline on while kids splashed in the water. The restaurant caters to children and the menu offers kid-friendly beverages and snacks. Each afternoon, they offered a different treat, from churros – my kids’ personal favourite – to popcorn to shaved ice.

Club Med Cancun is located a short 15-minute drive from the airport, which is important when you’re travelling with young kids. Club Med will organize private airport transfer for you and the family. It’s little things like this that really make for a luxurious and relaxing experience for parents.

One of the best ways for parents to be able to enjoy some downtime is by making use of Club Med’s Kids Club program. Run by qualified child-care specialists, Kids Club offers guests aged 2 to 17 a multitude of activities tailored to different age groups and categorized by four themes: sports, creativity, expression and games.

My children, 4 and 6, thoroughly enjoyed their time at Mini Club Med, which included a flying trapeze, trampoline, archery, a cooking class, a talent show, nature discovery and time at the splash pad (complete with water slides). With our kids being so well cared for, we were able to relax and enjoy some of the luxurious amenities at the resort, like the all-new L’Occitane spa, scuba diving, and a tennis lesson with qualified instructors.

Club Med also offers in-suite babysitting services, so parents aren’t confined to their rooms in the evenings. The resort has six different wine and cocktail bars to enjoy a nightcap as well as live music, theatre shows and diverse shopping options.

The newly renovated Spa by L’Occitane is the ultimate pampering experience and should be every parent’s first stop after dropping the kids off at Kids Club. Situated in a quiet corner of the beautiful, lush lagoon, the serene space is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Mexican heritage.

I enjoyed a signature Club Med massage, which is a combination of a relaxing and deep-tissue massage to get the best of both worlds. I took a sensory journey into the heart of Provence through L’Occitane’s sustainable skin-care products, sourced ethically in Corsica, France. The private treatment rooms open to the lagoon and the sounds of gentle waves and birds chirping set the stage for ultimate relaxation.

The relaxation doesn’t start and end with your treatment, though. There is an outdoor area where you can relax and enjoy a refreshing drink before your treatment as well as have some tea and an authentic Mexican treat afterward.

Our time at Club Med was exactly what we all needed – some stress-free quality family time in the sun with a little luxurious relaxation for the grown ups sprinkled in. We were sad to leave but it makes us all the more excited to come back next year and enjoy this beautiful resort all over again.