Making the most of a short vacation?

[Anonymous]

2024 was a stressful year for us in many ways, and we are finally getting away for some much needed relaxation. Unfortunately, the trip is only 5 nights, with the first night we arrive not even counting due to a late arrival. We plan to hit the ground running, which is a poor metaphor because we plan on maximizing relaxation. But how do we do this without having our short stay feel like a waste?

We will be staying at an all-inclusive in Tulum. Our only plans are:

Day 1, No plans. Wake up and explore resort.

Day 2: Snorkel outing in the morning through most of the afternoon.

Day 3: Short jaunt into town where we have a lunch reservation, very very light shopping. If we are there three hours I will be surprised.

Day 4: No plans.

We don’t want to do anything else other than eat nice meals, relax in the sun by the pool, and just be together (parents, two teens) How do we make the most of these in between times without feeling rushed or “busy”, but while maximizing the time we have?

[Anonymous]

"But how do we do this without having our short stay feel like a waste?"

You need to relax.

Just relax at the resort. Do that stuff when you return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"But how do we do this without having our short stay feel like a waste?"

You need to relax.

Just relax at the resort. Do that stuff when you return.

This.

[Anonymous]

You sound really high strung.

The whole point of staying at all inclusives is to relax. The only decision day to day should be, which specialty restaurant should we hit.

What is there to maximize?

[Anonymous]

Relax!!! My kids are ES so maybe it's easier with them. We did 4 nights at a resort for winter break. We did NOTHING. No town excursions. Ate breakfast and lunch at hotel. Ordered food and drinks to our beach/pool chair. Kids swam in pool and ocean, made holes in sand, played cards and read books. We went out for simple dinner and all vegged with tv in the giant king bed and went to bed by 9 (all of us). It was amazingly relaxing. Everyone was refreshed. I read 2 books, older kid did too. You get kid got great at diving for toys at bottom of pool. They made friends with other random kids at the resort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relax!!! My kids are ES so maybe it's easier with them. We did 4 nights at a resort for winter break. We did NOTHING. No town excursions. Ate breakfast and lunch at hotel. Ordered food and drinks to our beach/pool chair. Kids swam in pool and ocean, made holes in sand, played cards and read books. We went out for simple dinner and all vegged with tv in the giant king bed and went to bed by 9 (all of us). It was amazingly relaxing. Everyone was refreshed. I read 2 books, older kid did too. You get kid got great at diving for toys at bottom of pool. They made friends with other random kids at the resort.

Thanks!

We are big snorkels so I don’t feel like I want to drop that excursion, but I may cancel the trip into town. I feel like we really only have one day to relax with no plans, and that’s the last day, which is never *that* relaxing since you’re packing up to leave. I just wish we had more time.

[Anonymous]

The fact that you already scheduled things makes me feel like you don't really enjoy relaxing with no plans.

[Anonymous]

Also, I too am traveling this weekend and 4 days is all I have, so it feels like a long time to me!

[Anonymous]

You’re there to relax. The destination isn’t really the point this time. So make a list of things you HAVE to do, if there’s even any must sees. And a few things you can do if there’s times. Then play it by ear. Bored? Pick something from the list. Blissfully doing nothing by the pool? Ignore the list and continue to enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"But how do we do this without having our short stay feel like a waste?"

You need to relax.

Just relax at the resort. Do that stuff when you return.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound really high strung.

The whole point of staying at all inclusives is to relax. The only decision day to day should be, which specialty restaurant should we hit.

What is there to maximize?

Sounds like the hot chocolate at 10.45am at the Louvre poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound really high strung.

The whole point of staying at all inclusives is to relax. The only decision day to day should be, which specialty restaurant should we hit.

What is there to maximize?

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound really high strung.

The whole point of staying at all inclusives is to relax. The only decision day to day should be, which specialty restaurant should we hit.

What is there to maximize?

Sounds like the hot chocolate at 10.45am at the Louvre poster.

Ooh, link to this thread, please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound really high strung.

The whole point of staying at all inclusives is to relax. The only decision day to day should be, which specialty restaurant should we hit.

What is there to maximize?

Sounds like the hot chocolate at 10.45am at the Louvre poster.

Ooh, link to this thread, please?

Reading this was exhausting
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1089811.page

[Anonymous]

Cancel the shopping/lunch day. If you picked a nice resort then don't feel like you need to leave. We did a similar trip last year and it was so relaxing.