Careyes
Cuixmala
What it is: The private estate of Sir James Goldsmith that is now open for romantic retreats and family adventures.
The rooms: One bedroom casitas or luxurious villas await you, adorned in bright colors, with private dining terraces and spacious outdoor living areas. These accommodations are located next to nature trails and boast stunning views of the lagoons, river, or ocean.
Amenities: When staying in the villas, your family will have a personal cook and butler that will provide you with your own personalized service. Everyone on property eats from Cuixmala's organic farm, locally sourced (and delicious) cheeses, and dairy and meats from a nearby ranch.
Activities: Go sea bird watching on the beach or horseback riding in the mountains. Your family can also kayak or sail in the Bahia Paraiso or surf (or boogie board) nearby at Arroyo Seco.
Details: From $400 a night for a one-bedroom casitas.
Costa Alegre
Hotelito Desconocido
What it is: A rustic yet luxurious hotel facing the sea.
The rooms: The Master suite is ideal for families. It has a sitting room, a spacious bedroom, a tub and shower, and a private patio. The slightly smaller Junior-suite bungalow (separate from the main house) is good for families seeking more privacy. The furniture is all handmade and eco-friendly.
Amenities: At the on-site restaurant, Chef Felix offers a creative menu, and a snack bar is available across the beach. Massage services are also available.
Activities: Tour the mangroves and rivers from a kayak or take a trip to the jungle of Solferino. From May to September, you can swim with a whale shark in the world's biggest fish dwellings.
Details: From $175 a night for a standard room in low season to $350 a night for the Master suite in high season.
Holbox
Casa Sandra
What it is: A rustic yet luxurious hotel facing the sea.
The rooms: The Master suite is ideal for families. It has a sitting room, a spacious bedroom, a tub and shower, and a private patio. The slightly smaller Junior-suite bungalow (separate from the main house) is good for families seeking more privacy. The furniture is all handmade and eco-friendly.
Amenities: At the on-site restaurant, Chef Felix offers a creative menu, and a snack bar is available across the beach. Massage services are also available.
Activities: Tour the mangroves and rivers from a kayak or take a trip to the jungle of Solferino. From May to September, you can swim with a whale shark in the world's biggest fish dwellings.
Details: From $175 a night for a standard room in low season to $350 a night for the Master suite in high season.
NUEVO VALLARTA
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
What it is: A luxury oceanfront resort located just outside of Puerto Vallarta, inside a nature reserve with the Sierra Madre Mountains as its backdrop.
The rooms: 172 guest rooms in minimalist Mexican-chic style (think hammocks-meets-marble); 32 suites located inside tile-roofed casitas, and several private hillside residences. The rooms feature plasma TVs and DVD players, as well as Internet access.
Amenities: For those days when leaving the premises seems preposterous, the hotel's full-service spa offers facial and body treatments; there's the challenge of the Jack NiCklaus designed eight-hole golf course, the option of a supervised Nunutzi games room for the kids.
Activities: There is a cultural center onsite with a library and a showcase of contemporary art to boot. Beyond the resort, guests can explore Punta Mita's scuba diving spots, one of the top locations of its kind in the Riviera.
Details: Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit; from $545 for a one-bedroom Casita Room with garden view
San Jose del Cabo
One&Only Palmilla
What it is: A haven on the tip of the Baja Peninsula with the style of Old Mexico.
The rooms: Rooms range from 500 square feet to one-bedroom suites of 1,400 square feet. The oceanfront daybeds combine the comforts of the bedrooms (including butler service) with the pleasures of being on the shore. Room service sends the kids a carafe of cold milk and fresh-baked cookies at the end of every day. Parents get fruit, cheese, and olives.
Amenities: Restaurants include C (from world-renowned chef Charlie Trotter) and Agua (the casual, poolside "Mexiterranean" restaurant). The hotel also has Internet access.
Activities: The town of San Jose del Cabo is just 10 minutes by car. There you can find an array of shops with handmade arts and crafts, clothing, restaurants, art galleries, and more. Cabo San Lucas is 20 minutes by car.
Details: Kilometer 7.5 Carretera Transpeninsular, from $500 for a standard oceanfront room.
Tulum
Zamas
What it is: A small beachfront resort of colorful thatched huts.
The rooms: There are three room options: The Beachfront rooms are bungalows on the beach, Ocean View rooms look out onto the sea and jungle, and if you want more space, book a Garden room.
Amenities: Zamas has a great restaurant, private porches, and a dive shop. Take advantage of the massage and salon services and the hotel's help in arranging sightseeing tours.
Activities: Swim and snorkel in one of the freshwater pools in the jungle or along the beach. Visit the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Nature Reserve if you want to experience the jungle wildlife and check out the eco–amusement parks. Xel-Ha is the "world's largest aquarium" and Xcaret is great for traditional Mayan and Mexican shows and dancing. There are also Mayan Ruins nearby.
Details: Carretera Punta Allen Kilometer 5, from $65.
