Xcaret Hotel is an ‘all-fun’ inclusive resort which means not only do you receive the typical benefits of an all inclusive resort, but also unlimited access to the Xcaret parks and tours. What exactly is included in the Hotel Xcaret ‘all-fun’ concept?  Full access to Xcaret parks, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses, and the Xenotes and Xichen tours, in addition to food and beverages, transportation between parks and airport shuttle.​  

​Let’s start with the Xcaret Hotel resort itself. Xcaret Hotel is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Mexico.  This resort has unique architecture and prides themselves on sustainability.  I’ve toured over 170 all inclusive resorts in Mexico and have to say this resort stands above many others for multiple reasons.  The beauty, the service, and the dining are all exceptional.  The only problem I can think of is that because you are so drawn to the outside activities you don’t have enough time to enjoy the resort itself.  Think this resort is just for families?  Think again.  With a separate adult only suite section, romantic dinners at Las Cuevas, adult activities such as spas and nightlife, it is a place everyone will enjoy. ​

​Xplor
Your resort stay includes transportation from the resort, bbq buffet, and activities.  The activities here include amphibious vehicles, zipline, underground cave swimming, river rafting, bbq buffet and more.  It’s a place to get your adrenaline rush!  Tip:  If you can do both Xplor and Xplor Fuego, do it!  The night time version (Fuego) gives you a completely different feel than during the day.

​Xel-Ha
Your resort stay includes transportation, food and beverages at the park, and most activities. Xel-Ha is a water park with snorkeling, water slides, river floats, and more.  Some activities come at an extra cost such as spa services or the submersion speed boat.  It’s a place to enjoy nature and beauty and relax in a hammock.  Reservations are required as it’s a 45 minute bus ride.  You depart around 9:30am and return at 6pm.  Tip: The ‘adrenalina’ boat ride is more of an submersion experience so get the details on what you are signing up for.

​Xcaret
Your resort stay includes transportation, food and beverage at the park, most activities, and ‘Xcaret Plus’. Activities such as the Dolphin experience, Sea Trek, etc. are extra.  One big attraction of this park is the underground river float.  There are places to lay by the beach, snorkel, and swim.  If you love animals and the culture of Mexico, you will want to spend significant time here.  Tip:  Don’t miss the Aviary.  

​Xichen Tour
Your resort stay includes transportation, food and beverages, and tour guides.  Chichen Itza is one of the seven wonders of the modern world and this is the way to see it!  Although you are given some time for ‘siesta’ on the bus, your tour guides do a great job keeping you entertained and providing information.  At Chichen Itza your guide is with you for about the first hour and then have free time to explore on your own.  This is an absolute must if you have not seen Chichen Itza and are staying at Xcaret Hotel.  Tip:  It is a 2.5 hour bus ride each direction so prepare for a long day.

General Tips:

• Be sure to bring natural sunscreen.  If you don’t, you can exchange your ‘non natural’ sunscreen for natural sunscreen at the park entrance.
• It’s quite possible to leave your camera at home.  Want to know why?
• Some of the parks and resort restaurants require reservations.  I can help you make those in advance.
• You will want to avoid the vacation club/time share presentation as it only takes up your precious vacation time.
  
• I recommend a stay of at least a week to enjoy everything the resort has to offer

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in river and ocean cruises, all-inclusive vacations, European packages, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
[email protected]
480-725-8837
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Taking your kids to Europe is a wonderful way to expose them to new cultures.  Here are some tips for the cities of Venice and Athens to make it even more enjoyable for them.  After all when the kids are happy, the parents are too!

Choose the right tours.  The majority of kids do not rank museums and tours as their activity of choice.  But, if you choose the right tour and guide it can really help connect your children to the area.  Bliss Travel Service can assist you with booking the right types of tours.  Here are some examples:

1. Venice – Family walking tour.  This tour is based on a scavenger hunt around the city.  You will see where Marco Polo lived and get to taste tiramisu.
   
2. Venice – The Doges Palace has a ‘secret itineraries’ tour.  This tour appeals to kids more than the regular palace tour as you explore secret passageways, torture rooms, and the attic prison where Casanova was held.
3. Athens – You don’t want to miss the mythology tour of the Acropolis and other ancient burial sites.  Most kids have either read or seen the Percy Jackson series and that will help to make the ancient sites come alive.

Kids don’t like to wait in line so make sure you plan ahead. In Venice if you plan on going up St Mark's Bell Tower or inside St Mark’s Basilica, have Bliss Travel Service purchase your skip the line tickets in advance.  These are TRUE skip the line tickets that allow entry via a different door.  The only rub is that you have a 10 minute window to use them.  You choose the time frame.

Kids and adults are the same in that we all love good eats.  Venice is a child foodie’s dream!  Spaghetti, pizza, and gelato, well, it doesn’t get any better than that.  Be sure to allow your child to indulge!  In Athens the gyros usually go over quite well.  Fresh pita stuffed with French fries and seasoned tender chicken or beef?  Yes please.  If you come across the Hans and Gretel ice cream shop you can’t pass up their bubble waffle cone.

What kid doesn’t like to wander?  Venice is the best city to wander in and ‘get lost’.  Since you are surrounded by water it’s impossible to truly get lost although you may feel that way at times.  Explore the carnival mask shops, ride a gondola, and oh did I mention they have gelato?  The Plaka district in Athens is especially fun at night to wander with tiered landscaped restaurants, street music, chocolate walls, shopping, and the Parthenon light up at the top of the Acropolis.