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Offering plenty of sun, sea, sand and fascinating history, Mexico is a perfect family holiday destination. For more than fifteen years, we’ve been helping families to plan their dream Mexico break, and one of the most popular areas remains the charming Riviera Maya. Whether you want to swim with dolphins, explore an archaeological dig or snorkel in the Belize Barrier Reef, the Riviera Maya offers it all. We take a closer look at one of the most stylish, luxurious and idyllic regions to the south of Cancun and the available package holidays on offer.
Discover the Warm Caribbean Charm of the Riviera Maya
To the south of Cancun lies the Riviera Maya, a popular tourist resort that blends Caribbean charm with comfort and luxurious amenities. Peppered with all-inclusive resorts and many fine-dining restaurants, the Riviera Maya is a popular luxury travel destination for Mexico family holidays.
Some of the benefits of its location include coastal and reef aquatic activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming in rock pools — or cenotes — swimming with dolphins, sailing, and yachting. Archaeological sites such as Tulum, Chichen Itza and Coba are a huge draw for those interested in Caribbean history, and the eco-parks of Xcaret and Xel-Ha are perfect family outings offering a blend of activities such as swimming with dolphins and exploring archaeological ruins. History buffs can visit the Mayan ruins at Tulum and explore the perfectly preserved city with approximately sixty buildings, the castle and the world-famous temple of the Descending God.
The sandy coastline, with its reef diving spots and Mayan ruins, provides an idyllic setting for a luxury family holiday. Soft white sands and warm turquoise waters make your Mexican resort feel like a tropical paradise, while giant underground cenotes offer a uniquely delightful swimming experience.
All-Inclusive Packages on the Riviera Maya: Our Top Picks
5* Seven-Night Spa and Golf Stay at Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa
Situated in a secluded bay with stunning views of the Caribbean Sea, Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort and Spa combines marina village charm with all-inclusive luxury. This hotel benefits from being in close proximity to the largest dolphinarium in the Riviera, so you can enjoy watching the dolphins and manatees play while taking your morning stroll or sipping your afternoon coffee. There’s plenty to see and do on the resort alone, with nearby golf courses, deep-sea diving and a luxury spa that’s sure to leave you feeling pampered and revitalised during your stay.
The House of Travel offers an exclusive Mexico family holiday package at Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort that you won’t find anywhere else, which includes:
- Deluxe accommodation in a Garden View room for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis
- Flights included
- All meals, drinks and snacks
- Unlimited international and local top-shelf spirits, juices and soft drinks
- Enjoy dinner and evening entertainment (from 6 pm to 1 am) at any of the selected Dreams or Now Resorts & Spas nearby
- Complimentary greens fees at a nearby golf course, excluding transfers, golf cart and premium tee times.
Prices per adult start at just £1,155 for seven nights. For more information, or to tailor your package to suit you, give our friendly travel experts a call.
5* Seven-Night Stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa
Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa is a five-star all-inclusive resort that sits along a stretch of pure white sand in the Riviera Maya. With the world’s second-largest barrier reef to explore, as well as a huge array of activities including golf, watersports and weekly beach parties, it’s the ideal place to enjoy your all-inclusive family holiday in Mexico.
Check out The House of Travel’s exclusive Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort package holiday, which includes:
- Seven nights in a Premium Deluxe Tropical Garden View room on an all-inclusive basis
- Flights included
- Limitless access to gourmet a la carte dining options — no reservations required, plus unlimited international and local top-shelf spirits, juices and soft drinks
- Pool and beach waiter service
- Enjoy dinner and evening entertainment (from 6 pm to 1 am) at any of the selected Dreams or Now Resorts & Spas nearby
- Endless daytime activities and live nightly entertainment.
Prices per adult start at just £1,532 for seven nights in a Premium Deluxe Tropical Garden View room. For more information, or to tailor your package to suit you, give our friendly travel experts a call.
We offer a vast array of Mexico family holidays for you to choose from, so if neither of these packages takes your fancy, feel free to give us a call and we’ll tailor your bespoke holiday to your exact requirements.
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Whether you’re combining your Universal Studios Orlando trip with a visit to Walt Disney World Florida, dropping in during a driving tour or grabbing a family day on the way to another holiday destination, we can help you make the most of your time at one of the most popular US theme park resorts.
Tip 1: Express Yourself (and the Kids)
We don’t recommend paying more for tickets unless it’s truly worth the investment, but in the case of Universal Studios express passes, those extra pounds make the difference between spending all day waiting in line and enjoying more of the major attractions during your trip. If you stay at certain on-site hotels, express passes are provided for FREE. Speak to our travel experts about booking in at one of these top hotels or adding express passes to your package holiday.
Tip 2: Download the App
The free Universal Orlando Resort app gives you access to lots of handy tools, including park maps, current ride wait times, show schedules and dining options. You can even buy tickets for shows or rides from the app and save a ton of time.
Tip 3: Get to Know the Three Universal Studios Theme Parks
Did you know that Universal Orlando Resort consists of three distinct theme parks, each with its own unique rides and attractions? Make sure you’re aware what each of the three parks offers before deciding where to go first and how to spend your precious time in Orlando.
The Three Universal Studios Theme Parks in Orlando Are…
- Universal Studios Florida — The main park, with The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem™ and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure — Known for its thrill rides, with seven individually themed islands. Main attractions include Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade and The Incredible Hulk
- Universal’s Volcano Bay — The water park, with slides, rides and a sandy beach. Check the weather to plan which day is best to visit Volcano Bay
Tip 4: Snag Early Admission and Extra Perks by Staying On Site
Staying on site at the park allows you to get early access to Universal Studios before any other theme park goers — a whole hour earlier. That’s enough time to head straight to your main attraction and ride the heck out of it before the queues start piling up. Other perks include the option to ride water taxis to the park gates rather than having to park, and free express passes for the family plus priority seating at select restaurants.
Tip 5: Use the On-Site Lockers
Universal Studios Orlando is known for its wild and crazy rides that fling you about for breathless, giddy fun. The last thing you want to do is take your super expensive smartphone, tablet, gadget or jewellery with you on the ride and find it’s flung into the atmosphere or a little worse for wear after the ride is over. For less than $20 a day, you can store absolutely everything in a roomy family locker and access it as many times as you need during your park visit.
Tip 6: Be a Lone Rider
If you’re happy to go it alone, you can skip a lot of queueing by jumping in the single rider line when you get close to the front. Riding next to your family or friends is overrated anyway, and this way, you can scream to your heart’s content and not have to put up with their teasing afterwards.
Tip 7: Save Your Data
It sounds obvious, but if you’re constantly Instagramming your Universal Studios experiences, you’re going to end up eating all your international roaming data in no time. Make sure to turn on WiFi and connect to the park’s network before downloading or uploading anything to your smartphone.
Tip 8: Harry Potter Fan? Plan Your Wizarding Experience Well
If you’re a Harry Potter fan like us, you probably can’t wait to delve into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and wander through Hogsmeade, sip a butterbeer or two and be sorted into the right house, but there are a few important things to note. The experience is split into two distinct locations, Diagon Alley — located in Universal Studios — and Hogsmeade — located in Islands of Adventure. Make sure to allow time to visit both if this is a big draw for your family and prepare to queue for both (hello, express passes). We recommend avoiding these areas in the early mornings unless you’re staying on site and able to enter the park an hour earlier than general admission guests. This is especially important if you’re visiting after June 13th and eager to check out the shiny new Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™, which is sure to draw an impressive crowd or two.
Tip 9: Planning for Younger Kids and Toddlers
If you’re travelling with toddlers, there’s a lot they can enjoy during your Universal Studios Orlando trip. Seuss Landing has multiple rides with lower height requirements, and there’s also Fievel’s Playground, Camp Jurassic and the Curious George Water area to check out. Of course, we can’t forget a day in the Park with Barney, a live show and the playground area.
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Your bags are packed, the kids are jumping up and down with excitement and it’s finally time to embark on your dream holiday to Walt Disney World Florida. Making the most of those precious days spent in the Magic Kingdom is easier when you’ve got a guide to follow, so here are our top 10 best things to do at Walt Disney World Florida to help you have an unforgettable trip.
- Extra Park Time – Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Discover more magic when the parks re-open after hours to a limited number of guests and skip queues, watch fireworks, see the famous Magic Kingdom parade and even hang out with Disney villains! Some attractions, shows and rides are only available after hours, so definitely invest in tickets for the additional three hours of park time — it’s well worth it.
- Ride – Avatar Flight of Passage at Pandora – The World of Avatar, based in Animal Kingdom
Fly on the back of a mountain banshee and discover the vast and beautiful world of Pandora as you swoop and soar over the vast moon where Avatar’s inhabitants live undisturbed by humans. This is a beautiful and thrilling 3D experience that’s fun for older kids and adults alike.
- Show – Finding Nemo: The Musical at Animal Kingdom
Arguably the most elaborate live show at any of the Disney World theme parks, Finding Nemo: The Musical incorporates dancing, special effects, beautiful digital backdrops and car-size fish puppets! It’s delightful family fun.
- Ride – Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom
Since it first opened in 1967, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride has been delighting generations of theme park fans. It’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy thanks to its mild thrills, splashdowns and exciting story. If you look closely, you’ll see Captain Jack Sparrow pop up a few times during the ride, first from a barrel and later atop a mountain of treasure!
- New Land – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Opens 29th August 2019)
Use the force to discover an all-new Star Wars™ themed land this summer! Explore a remote outpost and fly the Millennium Falcon as you introduce your little explorers to this much-loved intergalactic franchise. You can even dine on the planet Batuu and get your farm-fresh blue or green milk from Bubo Wamba! Little ones can attend Jedi Training too.
- Fireworks – IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at World Showcase Lagoon, Epcot (Closes 30th September 2019)
Ending on 30th September 2019 after a phenomenal twenty-year run, IllumiNations is the much-loved laser, lights and fireworks display that depicts the past, present and future of the earth, celebrating the spirit of humanity. Make sure to catch this show before it’s gone forever.
- Adventure – Orlando Helicopter Tour from Walt Disney World Resort
Why not take in the view of your favourite theme parks from the skies? Splash out on an unforgettable helicopter ride that takes in Walt Disney World theme parks, Seaworld, Aquatica and Universal Studios.
- Fireworks – Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom
Arguably the most magical 18 minutes of your entire trip, Happily Ever After is the latest — and most spectacular — fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. It’s a late one, starting at 9 pm, but if your kids can keep their sleepy eyes open, they’ll be mesmerized as Cinderella’s Castle is lit up and transformed by colour, light and song.
- Ride – The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom
A true classic for many reasons, The Haunted Mansion has surprised and delighted generations of theme-park goers with its spooky settings, grand and sweeping scale, and thoughtful story. From holograms to dancing ghosts and mournful spirits, there’s plenty to take in and enjoy for all the family.
This night-time musical is the ultimate Walt Disney World Florida family show. Fantasmic! tells the story of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice through Mickey’s dream as he battles the forces of evil armed with a magic wand. See Maleficent as a towering 40-foot-tall dragon and enjoy cameos from stars of your favourite Disney movies, including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.
And finally… a little extra tip for you from our travel experts:
Until 30th September 2019, you can meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Town Square Theater and have your photo taken with them in their brand new party attire! It’s part of the Surprise Celebration event and an ideal scrapbook moment!
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