We then made the 3.5 hour drive back to Cancun. The beach there was much better for playing in the waves, as the reef didn’t provide as much protection in this location. Depending on the age of the families, this may be preferred or a source of anxiety.
We stayed overnight in a rental near the airport and had a great dinner at Taco Tola, right next to the airport. They had amazing corn tortillas, quesadillas, and juices with great prices. It was also fun to have options of blue or yellow for the corn flour.
There were no surprises at the drop-off of the car and we were on our way to the airport without a hitch. Make sure to allow lots of time to wait in line. We got there at about 5:30 am and didn’t get through security and to our gate until close to 7 am. It was New Year’s Eve, so maybe other days will have less of a wait. The return home was uneventful and it was a great success as our first international family vacation.