Hotel Cozumel and babies?

[mwhities]

Yes, I believe so.

What would possess anyone to travel with a 4 month old is beyond me - let alone doing it on a diving vacation.

Even if you found someone in Mexico to watch the kid, would you want to trust them? If something happens - good luck suing the pants off them like you can do here in America.

Were it me, I would find someone locally to do the babysitting and go to Mexico baby-free.

Good luck!
nd

WTH?

My son, only being 16 months old has traveled out of country twice since he was 10 months old. A third time in March 09 before he's two.

Why would someone want to be so selfish and to leave the baby alone away from the parents? Especially not family? We'd never leave our son somewhere and go on vacation "baby-free" even WITH family. I assume you have no kids or never been close to one.

That's the most self centered remark I've ever read.

You should be ashamed.

Michael

 

[BTravlin]

I wouldn't feel safe leaving my 4 month old with anyone other than family or a close long term friend be they American, Mexican or Martian.

 

[NudeDiver]

Wow, just.....wow. I don't even know what to make of this statement? What does them being Mexican have to do with anything?

Who said anything about them being Mexican?? I said "in Mexico". Lots of non-Mexicans live in Mexico. My point was about leaving your child with a complete stranger in a foreign country - no background check, no anything. I don't even like leaving my luggage or dive gear with a stranger. My inclination to leave my child with a stranger, esp. in a foreign country (Mexico or otherwise) is approximately zero.

Why would someone want to be so selfish and to leave the baby alone away from the parents?

Um...to have a good time on a vacation?? It's the same reason why I would leave in infant or small child at home when I go out to the movies. [partly deleted/edited by almitywife]

 

[mhedstrom]

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to start a flame war here. This is our first kid, and neither of us has any idea as what to expect, so I figured this was a good place to ask other people who may have gone on dive vacations with their kid what was feasible and what wasn't. I do know people who've gone to places like Roatan with really young kids (4-6 months), however I don't have their contact information to be able to talk to them.

I appreciate those who have given me useful information, and especially those who've gone traveling and to Cozumel specifically with young kids before. We're probably going to skip this trip and hit up the fall trip instead, but I wanted to get a bunch of information before we made our final decision. I definitely got some good intel from those who cared to provide it, so to those I thank you.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

Option C is to bring the babysitter with you. I have two different friends that travel with someone from home, to watch their kids while they dive. One is a grandparent and one is a college student who regularly watches their child while they work. It raises the cost of the trip, but they find it worth while. Not only do they get to dive together, but they get a few nights out alone as well. They both stay at AIs to make things easier. I know that this is a bit unusual, but it works for them.

PH

 

[BTravlin]

My post was purely my opinion and wasn't meant as a slight of the OP as a parent or of Cozumel as a safe destination. Everybody has to make these decisions for themselves and there is no absolute correct answer.

Personally I wouldn't go on a vacation anywhere with a 4 month old unless I brought someone along that I trusted 100% to care for my child while I was diving.

 

[johnnc]

I am glad we travle as a family. When they were younger it was a pain sometimes, but the memorys that were created will be with them forever. As they got older we would bring them with us on the boat and one time after we surfaced we saw the boat captain playing cards with them,one of the funniest memories i have of those trips we took. Now that they are all certified i never have to worry whose on my boat,we are a boat full

 

[Big G]

Especially a 4-month old. They're really going to appreciate all of those "family memories."

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

What's the point of having a family if you don't do things as a family!?!? I hate hearing people make excuses for not doing the things because they had children. It's not the child's fault. I believe the rewards of building strong family bonds and lifelong memories and exposing my daughter to other cultures far exceed the miniscule risks.

The OP's child is four months old. How many life long memories and how much culture appreciation do you expect her to have?

There will be plenty of time for all of that when she gets a little bit older.

I also think it is very important for a marriage, that mom and dad get some time alone again.

Ever hear the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

 

[driftin' by]

We just all have to agree to disagree. It's a touchy subject and people are going to obviously have strong opinions either way. I cannot think a single thing a toddler is going to enjoy at a deer camp so I agree with you on that. But at a resort where there are pools, sand, sun and many other activities suited for children of all ages, I don't see the harm of them tagging along.

Sure you're not going to spend 24/7 together, no one said anything about doing so. When we take our daughter on vacation, it's not 24/7 either... 7 hours of sleeping, 5 hours of diving. Leaves the other 12 hours for spending time together and not so much to instill memories for her but memories for me. Nevertheless, my daughter has fond memories of our trips to Coz and asks to go often... her favorite food today is guacamole because she had it in mass quantities her first trip as it was widely available. While at home she talks passionately about fish and the day she will join mom and dad diving to see them. She has many traditional hand-made Mexican/Mayan outfits that she wears proudly and tells people where she got them. I don't know, at just 3 she seems pretty culturally influenced by our vacations to Cozumel.

If Mom and Dad need to escape alone for several consecutive days without the children to spend some time together, there are other issues going on at home. Absence does make the heart grow fonder... on a normal day I'm at work 10-12 hours a day away from my wife and daughter and therefore it is absolutely imperative that when I'm away from work, whether on the weekends or on vacation, that my time is spent with them. Obviously, YMMV.

Lastly, I never said anything about bringing a child to an inappropriate movie where the child will disrupt other customers. Pawning off your children to go on vacation for 8 consecutive days versus having a babysitter watch your child to go watch a "9pm rated-R movie" so that it WON'T scream for a couple hours are 2 completely different things as is a deer camp and a dive resort... no comparison. Never been to any resort that didn't have activities for children as if the pools, sand and beaches weren't enough.

Looking back, memories I'm glad to have....


... now how can you say no to that?