A Review of Club Med Ixtapa Pacific

club med beach, have baby will travel, playa quieta — Club Med’s Beach – Playa Quieta, Mexico

A Vacation for Everyone: Club Med caters to families of all ages

When I used to tell people that I’m not really a fan of All-Inclusives, occasionally someone will ask if I’ve ever ‘done’ a Club Med. My answer was always an emphatic “No!” My impression of Club Med was that of a crazy singles resort… Where we’d have to sing “Hands Up” every hour on the hour and participate non-stop in goofy summer-camp games.

But, winter had been tough. So, when the opportunity to visit Club Med’s then-newly renovated family resort in Mexico came about, my answer was an emphatic “Yes!” Club Med Ixtapa Pacific is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It’s about 100 miles North of Acapulco and just a 25-minute drive from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport.

Getting There:

At roughly 5.5 hours direct from Toronto, this was our longest flight yet. Our daughter was really getting into certain shows, so we invested in a portable DVD player(!) However, our plane had seat-back entertainment with decent kids’ programming, so she mostly watched that. But, the purchase of toddler-sized headphones was definitely money well-spent. Our flight was fairly civilized flight — thank you Air Canada! Walking onto the tarmac at Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport made the 8-foot high snowbank on our front yard seem a million miles away.

We were greeted by the Club Med ” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow”>Club Med is not your average All-Inclusive.

Arriving There:

A party of about 40 staff greeted us at the entrance to the lobby. We would come to learn that they are called GOs (Gentle Operators) but we didn’t know this yet. Cold towels were handed out, and trays of ice water (safe) and lemonade were passed around. Our bags were hauled out of the truck and taken away. We were checked in as my toddler ran around being chased by her dad. I sat surprised on a leather chair, and handed my documents and credit card over to a friendly stranger, wondering where our bags had gone. GO Emily wristbanded us (ah – the hated AI wristband – but at least they were clear) and walked us to our room.

This was the first time ever arriving at a large resort and not feeling completely lost for the first few days. The tour on our way to our room was a mini-orientation in itself. Our bags and car seat arrived at our room just after we did.

club med deluxe family room, deluxe family room, club med ixtapa pacific deluxe family room — Parents’ Side, Deluxe Family Room

Our Room:

After speaking with families who’d been there before, the renovations they’ve done have been largely cosmetic, but they are impressive. Our Deluxe Family Room had been 2 rooms in its previous life, but we appreciated the extra space. I would suggest that even a family of 5 could easily fit. Everything was new – firm beds, fresh linens, fluffy towels, cute artwork in the kids’ room… And, in spite of being in the tropics, not a critter to be found. A downside for us was a lack of balcony.

A room with a balcony can be booked as an additional upgrade. I was informed of this by the (then) Village Chief, Jean Marc, during one of our many friendly conversations. I’m mentioning Jean Marc now – ahead of the beach, food, amenities, etc – because it’s his role and that of his staff of GOs that made our Club Med experience different from any other All-Inclusive resort we’ve stayed at.

Club Med’s GOs:

The GOs are omnipresent. They join you for meals. They work at their particular specialty but can answer questions about anything. The GOs are welcoming and friendly without being intrusive or pushy. The Baby, Petit, and Mini-Club GOs are caring, attentive and fun. After hanging out at the Petit Club for much of the week, we did leave our daughter in their care for a few hours one morning. We were confident that she was having fun with the other ‘Tigers’ in her age group and well-looked after by the Petit Club team.

Baby & Toddler Programs:

The Baby Club and Petit Club are programs offered by Ixtapa Pacific and two other Club Meds in North America: Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Sandpiper in Florida. There is an extra charge for these services. However, you are able to use all of the facilities without signing up if you are there to supervise.

club med ixtapa pacific, play structure, kids club, baby club med — Peekaboo!

Amenities for Families with Babies & Toddlers at Club Med Ixtapa Pacific

I was surprised by all the complimentary facilities available at Club Med Ixtapa Pacific for families traveling with babies and toddlers. In the main dining room there is a fridge stocked with baby food, yogurt, and milk, as well as a station offering dried cereals and crackers. At the buffet are differing options of plainly cooked vegetables and pastas. They also offer a baby welcoming program that consists of a high chair, crib, and bottle warmer in your room. Plus, the use of a stroller, and 24hr access to a room that has a fridge, bottle washing and sterilizing facilities, microwave, and all the same baby food and snacks available in the dining room.

Diapers and wipes are for sale in the gift shop, but selection was limited so I’d recommend bringing your own. Still, not having a week’s worth of baby food in your luggage could totally alleviate the possibility of paying for overweight luggage, as well as strain on your back! Club Med Ixtapa Pacific also offers private babysitting and a Pajama Club – where you drop off your tot ready for bed and you pick them up on your way back to your room.

Babysitting:

We did have a few hours of babysitting one evening but felt that our daughter was a bit too young to enjoy the Pajama Club. Maybe in a few years when she’s a little older… Many of the bigger kids seemed reluctant to return to mom and dad once their Mini Club was done for the day. We’re trying to take advantage of the fact she still actually wants to hang with us for the time being! We loved being able to spend so much time together. It was nice to have so many things to do or not do. This resort is not just family-friendly, it’s all about families. Your children are welcome and welcomed everywhere. The food was fantastic.

playa linda, playa linda mexico, club med playa linda — The Aptly-Named Playa Linda…

Club Med Ixtapa Pacific: Location & Facilities

The beach and grounds are beautiful. The pool area is lovely and the resort is large without being overwhelming. But we still needed to venture off. Down the road is Playa Linda – a lovely public beach with a small marketplace. There is also a pier from which to visit Isla Ixtapa – the small island facing you.

Next to Playa Linda is the Cocodrilario Tamakun, where lots of large crocodiles hang out in a protected reserve. Ixtapa itself is really just a hotel strip, but Zihuatanejo is a charming fishing village. We spent a lovely morning strolling around and absorbed the authentic Mexican charm. We negotiated with our cab driver to hang on to our car seat, and he picked us up at a designated spot and time. It’s a lot cheaper to take the public bus. But, we liked knowing we wouldn’t be waiting at a bus stop with a tired toddler ready for her nap!

But Is There a Downside?

Club Med Ixtapa Pacific is top-notch in every regard – but there is a downside. It’s pricey. There are deals to be found on the Club Med website, but don’t expect the rock-bottom last-minute rates you can often find for other hotels and destinations. A nice thing about the Pacific side of Mexico is that there is no hurricane season. Their rainy period runs from late June until September, with the rain usually occurring in the evening. So, it is possible to travel in the off season at reduced rates without fear of a hurricane.

So now that I’ve ‘done’ a Club Med, would I ‘do’ it again? My answer is an emphatic “Yes!” Only one thing disappointed me just a little… We didn’t hear “Hands Up” once the entire week 🙂

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Club Med Ixtapa Pacific at Tripadvisor

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