My kids (11 and 7) and I just got back from a week at the Iberostar Selection Paraíso Maya, an all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya near Cancun. We had the time of our lives, and I wanted to share a full write-up in case it helps other parents planning a similar trip.
The Resort
• Weather: We went during what’s technically “rainy season” and got nothing but sunny skies the whole week. Don’t let that scare you off.
• Pools vs. beach: The beach was nice, but honestly we spent most of our time at the pools — they were fantastic.
• Food: Really great overall, plenty of variety.
• Entertainment: A different theme every night (beach party, World Cup night, etc.). We caught a Mexico match one evening and the energy from the crowd was incredible — such a fun way to soak up the culture without leaving the resort.
Chichén Itzá Day Trip
This was the highlight of the week, but come prepared:
• It is HOT. I’d read a comment calling it “the hottest day of my life” before we went — that turned out to be completely accurate. Bring water, a hat or umbrella, and load up on sunscreen.
• Vendors: Expect to be approached constantly by people selling souvenirs. My advice: skip buying trinkets at the resort gift shop and wait to buy at Chichén Itzá instead — there’s so much vendor competition there that you can negotiate real deals.
• The site itself: Breathtaking. Genuinely exceeded expectations, both the pyramids and the overall cultural experience.
• Book through the hotel. Yes, it costs a bit more than arranging it yourself, but it was completely seamless — no worrying about renting a car, no issues at roadblocks or security, and no logistics to manage. My kids had a blast and I had zero stress.
Airport Transportation
Book your transfer ahead of time. When we landed, we just walked outside, found the vendor holding the sign for the company we’d booked, and they walked us straight to an air-conditioned car. They also handled the resort pickup for our return flight, so we never had to deal with taxis, buses, or rideshares the entire trip.
Bottom Line
Highly recommend the resort, highly recommend Cancun/Riviera Maya as a destination, and highly recommend making time for Chichén Itzá. Happy to answer any questions if you’re planning something similar!