Tips for Families Traveling to Cabo San Lucas

We were looking for a trip to wrap up summer. I didn’t realize how easy traveling could be until my family’s trip to Cabo San Lucas. We went the week before school started, and it ended up being one of the most relaxing trips we’ve ever taken with the boys. The flight itself was only 2.5 hours from LAX and there was no time change, which is always a plus with kids and parents.

Ben and AJ loved getting their passports stamped at customs, and, of course, my boys had questions. AJ noticed there were different lines for citizens and noncitizens, so it was a great chance for them to ask questions about international travel and what it means to be a citizen or a noncitizen.

Once we got to the hotel, everything was taken care of because we stayed at a resort, which really made all the difference. It was the easiest trip we’ve had because we didn’t have to worry too much about figuring things out once we were there.

Our trip was so hassle-free that we wanted to share some things that worked for us in case your family was hoping to plan a trip to Cabo anytime soon. Here are our top three tips for traveling to Cabo San Lucas with kids.

1. Location, location, location!

Whether your family is the type to spend most of your vacation exploring the city or taking advantage of all the hotel has to offer, I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose your hotel wisely. No matter where you’re traveling, be sure that your hotel is located in a safe area. Do your homework: read hotel reviews, check out local news or crime alerts, and consider how you’ll be traveling to and from the hotel when you arrive.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Do you have friends who have travelled to the area before? Don’t be afraid to ask what worked for them (or, sometimes more importantly, what didn’t work). Our friends recommended we use a shuttle service, and it ended up being really great for us.

3. Keep it simple.

This is the most important tip to keep in mind. I think that we as parents are so used to things being complicated that we feel this pressure to over-complicate things that are supposed to be carefree. Remind yourself that this is a vacation. Don’t be afraid to make it as easy as possible on yourself and give yourself the opportunity to relax and truly enjoy your time.

Even though public transport was available as an option, we opted for a car service. We stayed at a resort that had five different restaurants so plenty of food options during our vacation. It was so much fun because we quickly became familiar with the staff and other guests. Ben and AJ got to make friends, and Ben even got the staff to play football with him. We didn’t choose the all-inclusive option this time around, but we definitely will on our next trip to Cabo, so we can try something new.

One final thing to note is the importance of staying true to your limits. When we first planned the trip, we had concerns about safety because that’s always something to consider with kids. Ultimately, we knew we weren’t going to be roaming around late at night or frequenting dive bars, and that we’d spend all our time at the resort, so we felt safe taking this trip. But there is no shame in having reservations, no matter where you’re traveling. If you don’t feel comfortable with something, you don’t have to push yourself. Feeling safe and comfortable is the foundation for planning a trip; without that, you can never relax.