My wife and I are looking to go somewhere warm with water for a week in mid-February. We have two boys, ages 11 and 7. So, while she and I want something peaceful and out-of-the-way, we need access to activities and some services (like bland food and stocked pharmacies) for the kids.

The Yucatan -- with the ruins, snorkeling, rainforest and beaches -- sounds like it would be great. But, Cancun and Cozumel are too developed. Playa del Carmen might be too much, also. Can anyone help us find the perfect balance? What is Tulum like?

As a reference, we once went to Belize and had a great time in Pacencia -- no crowds, accessible services, great day trips, swimming and snorkeling -- and a wonderful time an adventure camp in the rain forest.

Zihuatenejo, on the other coast, sounds like an OK match. But, aside from the beach, is there much to do with kids?

Thanks,

Gary

Ah, Placencia! Now that is a town to enjoy at the end of a Belizean journey.

You don't say how much time you have or whether you will have a rental car. How much time you have limits what you can see. Whether you will have a car makes a lot of difference in whether you will like Tulum.

To generalize, Tulum is in three parts that are somewhat distant from each other. There are Tulum village, Tulum beach and Tulum ruins. The beach is the better place to stay, but the better choice for restaurants is the village.

Answer back and I can go on to try to help more. BTW, the village has a place that with me is tied for the best take out BBQ chicken anywhere I have tried.