I need Vacation help.

[sa226]

Looking to take our family of 5 on a December vacation. 3 kids under 6 years old.

My brain is turning into a pretzel using AI, Google and the cesspool of reddit. Our biggest obstacle as a young family is that our kids have food allergies and our oldest is celiac. Some times its easier to just stay home.

Kind of narrowed it down to resorts in Mexico/Caribbean.

Anyone have any recommendations, personal experiences? The allergies are okay enough to manage but celiac is really difficult to travel with.

Honestly open to any ideas . We're just trying to avoid the US for obvious reasons.

[Weitz]

Hyatt ziva brand of hotel all inclusives is great with kids of that age.

[Ashartus]

I'd stay away from all-inclusives with buffets and look for ones with sit-down restaurants, lots of potential for cross-contamination in the buffets. Other than that any of the major brands should be able to deal with allergies and dietary restrictions.

[Brupal]

Take advantage of travelling off-peak days. The cost of airfare spikes with the time off of the school schedule, so go well ahead of the posted holidays, and the added bonus is fewer crowds. Be mindful of the massive seaweed problem on the shores especially on the east coast of Mexico. Try for direct flights as connections and layovers with small are a pain.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by sa226

Looking to take our family of 5 on a December vacation. 3 kids under 6 years old.

My brain is turning into a pretzel using AI, Google and the cesspool of reddit. Our biggest obstacle as a young family is that our kids have food allergies and our oldest is celiac. Some times its easier to just stay home.

Kind of narrowed it down to resorts in Mexico/Caribbean.

Anyone have any recommendations, personal experiences? The allergies are okay enough to manage but celiac is really difficult to travel with.

Honestly open to any ideas . We're just trying to avoid the US for obvious reasons.

I am not a parent but taking 3 children under 6 to a foreign country like Mexico with food allergies/celiac seems like a recipe for a tough time in my opinion. It's the little things they just don't care about in Mexico like food safety, some places are better than others but your going in reverse regardless. The concerns get exasperated when we expect a certain standard of care and attention in health matters that just don't apply in countries like Mexico.

I know it sucks about the US right now and you want a good vacation but if it helps you and your family mentally, just do it if you want. I have a million fond memories as a child hitting up West Edmonton Mall attractions as a kid from Calgary all the time. Not the most exciting scenario for adults but for the children the memories are great although your children may be a little young?? I don't know.

Good luck regardless

[Fuzz]

As a celiac, I know the challenges. All inclusives are just too much of a risk and it sucks getting sick on holidays. Our last trip we decided to go to Saylulita. So much easier to do a condo or something with a kitchen, but you also get the chance to try local restaurants a lot more so than an all in.


We were a bit mislead on the availability of grocery store items that are GF there, but did find a few places. When I had a GF sandwich at an eaterie, I asked where he got the bread. Costco. Huh. To do it again, I'd fly into PV, go straight to a Costco, load up and then Uber to Sayulita. If you are considering this idea, let me know and I can give you a rundown on the restaurants.


Or, you know. West Ed.

[bizaro86]

Imo for celiac and 3 little kids I'd try for a rental with a kitchen and make your own food. Wal-mart in mexico has online grocery ordering and you can place the order in advance and just pick it up when you arrive which saves grocery shopping with little kids.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

As a celiac, I know the challenges. All inclusives are just too much of a risk and it sucks getting sick on holidays. Our last trip we decided to go to Saylulita. So much easier to do a condo or something with a kitchen, but you also get the chance to try local restaurants a lot more so than an all in.


We were a bit mislead on the availability of grocery store items that are GF there, but did find a few places. When I had a GF sandwich at an eaterie, I asked where he got the bread. Costco. Huh. To do it again, I'd fly into PV, go straight to a Costco, load up and then Uber to Sayulita. If you are considering this idea, let me know and I can give you a rundown on the restaurants.


Or, you know. West Ed.

He wants Gluten free, not chlamydia!

[Jason14h]

Any higher end resort with sit down restaurants will be fine for allergies and celiac

Avoid buffets and lower end resorts

But with kids that age just get a rental / accommodation with your own kitchen and a pool / beach . Young kids will just want “low end” food anyways . Why pay the resort prices for young kids ?

[Weitz]

If you have 3 young kids going to a condo or rental would be the last thing I do.

It really depends on budget. Like mentioned, any high end resort would be fine.

[indes]

We went to Royalton Splash Cancun last year with our 3 kids and it was pretty solid. No allergies to deal with but the kids loved the kids club the couple times we put them in there and the restaurants were all pretty good. It was also pretty expensive but we opted for the king suite so the kids had their own bedroom in our room. Highly recommend and now we regret any time all 5 of us share a hotel room because it sucks just sitting in the dark/quiet once the kids are sleeping.

[DoubleF]

Would something like a Disney cruise work? When I went, they had set meal times and this we had a server who "followed" us to the different themed restaurants and would remember things such as having our preferred drinks before we even sat down. Tbh, made me realize how much creatures of habit we are. I wonder if that would greatly help for the dietary restrictions stuff.

[Harry Lime]

I was going to make a joke about needing Vatican help, but possession is nine tenths of the law.

[cmyden]

Some replies from someone who asked this recently in one of my FB groups:

"Does anyone out there have experience for someone with celiac at Mexico all inclusives. Is there a property where you have found them to be attentive to food issue? If so, please let me know.
Their first priority is the food at the restaurants, with the Mexican desitination being second priority."

Replies:

- I suggest joining this page for specific reviews from Celiacs
Celiac Beach All-Inclusive Reviews
https://www.facebook.com/groups/891912135271753/
Personally, I've had 10+ amazing visits to Bahia Tulum and Bahia Akumal resorts in Mexico without getting sick.
^^ I second that! Celiac son with 3 trips there and never had a problem.

- Marina El Cid in Riviera Mayan was extremely attentive to allergies.

- Armony was excellent for my adult daughter in January. They have since changed from adult only to family friendly resort.

- Royal Haciendas near Playa del Carmen, February 2025. One of our group is celiac. The amazing chef, Hector, at the buffet, would consult with her at each dinner, then prepare something amazing that fit her needs. Both the a la cartes were also very attentive. She was able to really enjoy the trip knowing that the food staff not only understood and delivered on her dietary restrictions, but went above and beyond to make her meals special, not second-class.

- I’ve had excellent service at Paradisus Playa del Carmen. The manager comes and walks around the buffet with you and tells you what you can have or they’ll have the chef make something. And in the restaurants they were great too. Same with Grand Palladium (we did costa Mujeres) but I’ve heard all GPs are super attentive and lots of options.

- Moon Palace the Grand was good with both my celiac and my sons tree nut allergy.

- Royal Caribbean does celiac cruises if that interests you at all!

- We have stayed 4x at oceans riviera paradise for my daughter with celiac. No issues.

[fotze2]

Just got back but Costa Rica is bizarrely cool for gluten free. Blue zone area, every place had gluten free, it’s like their staple. Like Mexico but without the sketchiness.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Just got back but Costa Rica is bizarrely cool for gluten free. Blue zone area, every place had gluten free, it’s like their staple. Like Mexico but without the sketchiness.

My wife and I love Costa Rica, we’ve been twice and going a third time this November. We’ll likely snowbird there every winter after retirement as well.

It’s so easy to eat clean in Costa Rica, there’s fresh fruit and vegetables at roadside stands and it’s mind blowing how good it is. Cleaner, safer and more relaxed than Mexico. Hell of a country.

[Fuzz]

Blue zone is woo-woo. But ya, Costa Rica was good for GF from what I remember.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Blue zone is woo-woo. But ya, Costa Rica was good for GF from what I remember.

My buds who fought through cancer is moving there to try and stop working. I wanted to buy zyns for my coworker. You can't even find cigarettes. Its bizarre actually. No fat people.

[Fuzz]

It's fair enough a different lifestyle can have an effect on your health, but the blue zone stuff is not scientifically proven that some special magic areas exist on Earth that you will be healthier by just being there. It comes down to lifestyle choices, not a magical location. Now, is it easier to live a healthy lifestyle in these places? Sure, but that doesn't mean you can't do it in many other places on Earth with a little more effort. And yes, yes, mr pedantic, some places, like Gaza, would be near impossible to do that. Generally.

[cam_wmh]

Portugal or Costa Rica.

Tacos etc are of course corn based, but many of the street stands in C.A, use wheat based.
I just asked for corn based, and they accommodated.