Family Vacation at Finest Playa Mujeres

Vacations are a well-deserved break from everyday life but when you have children, and young children at that, finding the right place to go with the whole family is important and can make or break your time together. So this year we went to, drum roll please, Finest Playa Mujeres. If you are saying to yourself, didn't they go there last year, the answer is yes, and we enjoyed it so much that we booked it all again. I will admit that since my husband and I started going to all inclusives 6 years ago (when our first child was born) we have never done the same resort twice. Well, that theory went out the window when we experienced the Finest with now 3 kids. This resort has outdone itself in design, service, food quality, activities for children of all ages, entertainment, accommodations and more. But what I like best about how top notch they are, is that it becomes a real vacation for me. If you are a parent, you know exactly what I mean. I don't have to grocery shop, meal prep, carpool, playdate or schedule everyone's lives. That is a luxury in itself let me tell you!! But before I get into the details of our trip, I would like to rave about our plane ride with Air Transat.

It was our first time travelling with Air Transat and it won't be the last. Although the flight is an easy one in my book, only 4 1/2 hours, I was very impressed with the service and perks of their "option plus" program, which is a great way to treat yourself in Economy Class. Which means that you can check in online with an infant, which saves a lot of time because with other airlines you can only check in at the check-in desk and with our family that can take up to 45 minutes and with three kids, a lot can go wrong in that span of time. You get 1 additional piece of checked luggage, priority boarding and priority baggage handling (which is amazing when you have a stroller), and the perks get better once you are on the plane. The grownups receive a comfort kit, natural wood earbuds, an alcoholic beverage (yay) and a meal. The kids are spoiled too with two free snacks, a badge with their name on it and on their luggage (which made my kids feel very important), and travel sized games to keep them occupied as well as their in-flight entertainment system, all while mommy and daddy drink wine. The staff is friendly, professional, courteous and great with children. If you haven't guessed by now, I highly recommend travelling with Air Transat! Now back to my actual vacation.

Just to recap from my intro, all inclusive vacations have become our thing since the birth of our children, before them we would stay in boutique hotels and dine out in the evenings, sightsee and take all the time in the world, now it's all about keeping the kids occupied (and out of our hair for at least a couple of hours please) so The Finest Kid's club is perfect!!! This is by far the best kid's club, so much so that my kids never wanted to leave and are already begging me to go back next year. The pool has its own built-in playground with a separate pool for babies and toddlers. There is a plaza and a mini theater for loads of entertainment. My kids went horseback riding, got their faces painted, dominated the waterslides and went for treasure hunts. They were so busy and happy, which it turn made our time there absolutely worthwhile. What was also a perk for the kids, and a major perk for the adults, was the Imagine Lounge. Which is a special daycare where parents can enjoy alone time for breakfast and/or dinner while their children are being taken care of and entertained by the competent and professional Imagine Lounge staff. My kids did eat with us, but loved being excused from the table as soon as they were done instead of sitting there listening to the grownups talk. They got to go play board and video games, watch movies and read books. Now if your children are older, the resort has kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, water polo, table tennis, volleyball (I am almost writing them all cause I couldn't believe how many activities were offered) and the list goes on. They even have three indoor areas that are grownup free zones and that was just fine with us. I think that your kids will really enjoy it and as I said before, my kids are begging to go back!

Since I have made it quite clear that this resort rocks for kids, it clearly rocks for adults too (there is a section for adults only if you are travelling sans children) and while this was my vacation too, I spoiled myself at their spa called One Spa. Sidebar, the spa has a section for kids and is exclusively for them where they can experience massages, mani/pedis and facials. I am telling you, they have really outdone themselves when it comes to catering to the kids. Now back to me, lol. I went to the spa twice. The facilities are very beautiful and Zen and the moment you walk in you immediately feel relaxed and rested. Their high-end services include massages, mani/pedis, hydrotherapy, and mud baths to name a few. The staff is thoroughly skilled in every treatment and they tend to you like royalty making your experience unique. They even have a "transition room" with swinging beds and hot tea. It is perfect place to enjoy your last minutes of relaxation and embrace the wellness. 

However the feeling of wellness doesn't end there because the suites at The Finest are spacious and modern and in my opinion and extension of the spa. Each oversized suite has a king bed and a sofa bed, a large bathroom with two sinks, a generous walk in closet, a big terrace with a daybed and Jacuzzi, and custom lighting. When you book a room, this is what you get because all these luxuries are standard when you stay at Finest. If you would like to upgrade, you can add a swim up pool or even your own private pool and the list goes on. There really is something for everyone's needs and desires.

The only thing left to talk about is my favourite topic, food. I would like to begin with The Market. It was their buffet, and I was very impressed with the large selection and variety they offered. It was very easy to eat healthy with a make your own salad station and fresh fish everyday. There was really something for everyone. The selection continued with their sit down restaurants. 8 of them to be exact and they ranged from Asian, to Mexican, to French, and Italian to name a few. The service was impeccable and it was nice to be taken care of. There was a dress code so always check the website of the place you are going to so you can pack accordingly.

For a more relaxed vibe, there was La Cocinita Food truck. It was the ideal place to quickly satisfy cravings with comfort food ie: French fries, nachos etc... Despite the burgers at the food truck, there were vegetarian options everywhere you dined, including gluten-free and lactose-free options which I honestly have never seen at an all inclusive before! There was a quaint restaurant on the beach for a quick bite in between sand castles, swimming and tanning which was nice and convenient. The juice bar was great! Their juices were fresh and healthy and the coconut water they used came from an actual real coconut. However, our favourite place was the Sweet Corner. It offered delicious coffee, French crepes with Nutella, Italian ice cream, pastries, and cupcakes. It was heaven for my husband and oldest daughter who have quite the sweet tooth and a little indulgence for me as treating yourself is always nice. This place quickly became our go to spot after a day at the beach. What really caught our attention though was the fact that there was room service. It is rare for resorts to offer it, especially since The Finest outdid themselves with all their restaurants, but it was delight to not be on a schedule in the morning. We didn't have to rush the kids to the restaurant before it closed, all we had to do was order in and enjoy our lazy morning. The kids lounged around slowing eating their breakfast and I actually got to read a whole magazine! More than one too. Can't remember the last time I had no schedule and got to read something from cover to cover. 

So can I possibly say anything more about this wonderful all inclusive resort that is relaxing for the grownups and playtime heaven for the kids? I actually could go on and on, but I think you get the point about how much this place was a huge hit for my family and I so check it out and perhaps we'll see you there next year. Adios! 

#experiencetransat