Tulum, Mexico

Tulum was not at all what I expected it to be. Going into the planning stages of this trip, which was executed within 2 weeks, I understood Tulum may not be the ultimate family trip. However, the convenience of “free” tickets through my husband's job for all 7 of us, myself, my husband, and my children was quite convincing. Shortly after arriving in Tulum, I realized the con of a family trip to Tulum is not experiencing the town through the lens of an adult with no responsibilities or safety concerns for children. Rather, this trip quickly became a relaxation trip.

Upon arriving, I was expecting to fly into ocean views and palm trees, I was quickly humbled when the expected view was a sea of jungle. Nothing but greenery was seen as the plane descended into Tulum. The airport was extremely nice and surprisingly clean. I would hope so since it's not even a year old yet. The construction of Tulum’s airport was recently completed at the end of 2023. One of the most important things to consider when traveling to Tulum is how you will get around the city. Unfortunately, transportation services are quite pricey in Tulum. Avoid taxi services at all costs! They are nicknamed the “taxi mafia” by most locals because they upcharge prices for tourists due to the lack of transportation options in the area. Private transportation is not far behind with the high prices charged from the airport to the city center. We paid $360 round trip, for private transportation to and from the airport to our Airbnb in the hotel zone or city center, which was about a 45-minute drive. The other option was to take the ADO bus from the airport to the city center. However, we were unsure of the distance from the ADO bus stop in the city center to our AirBnB. In hindsight taking the ADO was a cheaper option we would have taken advantage of, had we known the proximity from the bus station to the AirBnB. The ADO bus is approximately $11 per person one way.

Once we made it to the AirBnB, I was quite underwhelmed by the cleanliness of the space. Not only did the home not live up to the hype from the pictures on the Airbnb site, the bedding, towels, and rags, were not in the best condition. I would not even think twice about considering this home if I ever were to return to Tulum. The best part of the home was the pool, which the children took full advantage of.

The people were friendly enough, but again, most people who had businesses were more likely to upcharge tourists in the area. The beaches in the area were not free. Beach Clubs are in abundance in the area, but they charge a fee to enter and reserve seating. We decided to try a public beach our driver recommended; it was the worst beach I have ever been to. The water was plagued with trash, and there were no options to rent beach chairs. Unfortunately, there is not much public access to the beaches in the area. That alone made the experience unpleasant. Overall, we had a great time as a family, however, I would undeniably think twice about returning to Tulum with children or renting an Airbnb. If I ever return, I would opt for a luxury hotel and remain on the resort for the majority of the trip.

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