FUN IN THE SUN

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

You want to take the kids away for some fun in the sun but you and your partner need some downtime together.  A kid-friendly holiday or romantic getaway – these usually mutually exclusive goals can now both be satisfied at the same place. 

Azul Fives Resort, near Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a new, upscale destination – part of the Karisma chain – that packs a lot of punch into a smaller property.  The lobby, the suites, the grounds – all say great adult getaway, while many of the amenities say fun for the kiddy crew.  As the name implies, this resort is set up to appeal to all five senses. 

Upon entering the lobby, guests are treated to a cold glass of champagne, a cool face cloth and comfy chair – time for the long journey to end and the vacation to start!  The lobby’s modern look and the black coral art installation bespeak what awaits you in your room, also decorated with a contemporary flair. 

Check-in staff explains the kid perks.   Children get to choose a toy to take to the room with them and it can be exchanged daily from the Fisher-Price toy lending program.   Tiny tot-friendly amenities include strollers, bottle warmers, baby monitors, cribs, playpens, change tables and baby-sized bathrobes in the rooms.  At the restaurants, kids can play with more Fisher-Price toys to amuse themselves when waiting for dinner.  There’s even a special kid-size treatment room at the spa and special services for the youngsters.

After you’re escorted to your room or suite and check out its many amenities, it’s time to try out the pools – connected by a ‘river’.  Swim up bars, lounge chairs and pool-side eateries spell happy grown up time.  At one end of this water system is the perfect pool for little paddlers; its gentle slope allows them to splash away without worrying about getting in too deep.

The real aqua star, though, is the ocean-side infinity pool.  Its beautiful blue waters are reflected off the Caribbean Sea with a ribbon of warm, white sand separating them.  A swim-up bar provides refreshments to pool-side sun worshippers.  On the beach, cabanas and loungers provide plenty of room to relax in or out of the sun.

Mom and dad can spend the whole afternoon relaxing and reconnecting at the infinity pool during the day or at the nightclub in the evenings when they drop their offspring (ages four to 12) off at the kids’ club.  With a pool of its own, the Azulitos Kids Club is a resort within the resort, featuring ride-on toys, crafting and quiet play areas, as well as the latest in electronic entertainment.  Everything is pint-sized, including the bathrooms.

Mexican resorts are famous for their all-inclusive plans and Azul Fives is no exception, with excellent gourmet inclusive dining.  It features four restaurants, five bars and a couple of pool-side cafes, with gluten-free and vegetarian/vegan options. 

At Azul Fives, though, families who want to economize can choose the European plan and take care of their own meals.  Suites are equipped with full kitchens (stocked with everything necessary to cook up a storm) and nearby Playa del Carmen has grocery stores for supplies.  Take the European plan option and you can still visit restaurants, bars and cafes and pay on an a la carte basis.  The rest of the resort’s amenities are free to those on this plan – entertainment in the nightclub, language lessons, fitness classes, fitness room, lounging areas, etc.  Spa usage and services are an extra charge for everyone.

Azul Fives is also perfect for multi-generational families who want to travel together.  Each building has three floors with three rooms on each floor – two deluxe and a suite. These open to each other through a foyer.  Rented separately, they work like regular hotel rooms.   But take all three, and the foyer becomes a hallway that connects the rooms and allows parents, children, grandparents or in-laws to be connected but not in each other’s hair.  Many rooms face pool side, though none are right on the beach.  Those on the third floor have access to the rooftop terrace, which features a hot tub, covered bar and dining area, barbecue and view of the property and the ocean. 

As a special romantic treat, you can arrange for staff to cook you a sumptuous barbecue dinner for two on your own rooftop terrace, while a babysitter watches the kids in your room. Playa del Carmen also offers some lively nightlife. 

With romantic options for parents and tons to keep the kids happy – everyone gets a real vacation at Azul Fives by Karisma.

www.karismahotels.com

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