Looking for a beach/shopping vacation for my mom and me?

Question

I'm 26 years old and I'd like to surprise my mom with a mother/daughter beach getaway. She's not the most adventurous - she would probably rather a trip where she could lounge on a beautiful (not terribly crowded) beach and drink tropical fruity drinks. We would also love to walk around a charming nearby town and shop. Local cultural sites would be great too. Just nothing too strenuous, as she has an old back injury that limits her a bit. Any ideas? I've been looking at Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or maybe somewhere in the Caribbean. Also not sure if all-inclusive would be better or not. I don't want somewhere that's too far from an airport (we don't want to spend too much time commuting). We'll only have about 5 days, and I was thinking maybe late January, since we'd avoid spring break crowds and it'll be cheaper (and I'm paying for both of us:). Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated! I've been going in circles...

Answer 1

Cozumel is going to be a great match! The island is small, safe and clean. The beaches are amazing ( I would recommend the hotel Malia Cozumel, we stayed there in December and it was WONDERFUL) and not crowded and there are ruins on the island that you can tour. The city has many shops and vendors and is large, but small enough to be comfortable and able to see in a few days. The airport is on the island (the island is 4 miles wide and 9 miles long) so the commute is next to nothing. My husband and I went on our honeymoon to Cozumel (it was pretty much our first major trip since getting married and being on our own) and we loved it. We had a great time and I would definitely recommend it to people who don't want the "club scene" that you get in Playa del Carmen and Cancun. The Melia is all inclusive-that is for sure the way to go. The cost of food is about the same as in the states, but the alcoholic drinks are OUTRAGEOUS. My husband and I only had to take money to spend because our food, drinks and activities were included in the price of the hotel. Hope this helps and have a great time on your trip!

Answer 2

you should go to Destin.FL! i went there for my honeymoon and it is BEAUTIFUL! the waters are clear and they have a enormous shopping center!