Inside the New Kidz Club at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos

When my 11-year-old son emerged from the newly renovated Kidz Club at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, he was holding a carefully crafted handmade fiber arts project. Like most tweens, he’s not easily impressed and a bit too cool for almost everything. So this display of quiet pride over a craft project was a tiny miracle.

Part of a $50 million renovation, the recently expanded Kidz Club is just one part of the resort’s efforts to enhance its family-friendly offerings. And we were there to take it all in.

Although I had spent more than a decade traveling solo before having kids, and another 10 years as the chief travel planner after that, my family was experiencing a series of firsts during this trip: It was our first time in Mexico, our first all-inclusive resort experience and our first international trip as a family of three, following a recent separation. At home, I had settled into my “newish” role as a single parent with aplomb, but travel was another story — the age gap between my two kids (ages 8 and 11) had started to get tricky.

We spent the first half of the summer tiptoeing back into travel, with a couple weekend getaways close to home. But then, it was time for our international family trip, which felt like a test of my mettle — a rite of passage into single motherhood — and I was nervous whether each member of the family would enjoy this hotel experience.

I didn’t have to wait long for the answer. Upon stepping into lobby of Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos for check-in, my daughter squealed when she spotted the glittering azure water of the Sea of Cortez, and my son beamed with joy as he pointed out the palm-fringed shore. I knew then we were in for a treat.

We promptly went to our room, divested ourselves of our jackets and ran onto the beach, where we discovered that the sun-bleached sand glitters gold underwater.

The Kidz Club

You can hear the Kidz Club at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos well before you see it. Follow the peals of laughter and loud splashes ringing from the perimeter of the main pool to find it. An indoor-outdoor space for kids ages 4 to 12, the club is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with a lunch break from 1 to 2 p.m.). Outside, there’s a mini-waterpark and two fenced play areas; during our visit, one was being used as an outdoor art studio.

Once signed in, you’re greeted by camping-inspired decor: cloud-shaped lights suspended from the ceiling, a log cabin wall, a faux campfire and a miniature teepee surrounded by a pile of oversized “rock” pillows. Foosball and air hockey tables beckon visitors to indulge in friendly competition, while glass-walled nooks give gamers their own space.

The program is varied; Spanish lessons, origami classes, karaoke parties and even beachside teepee nights on Tuesdays and Saturdays (for an additional fee). Other highlights include child care services and a Teens Club.

After checking out the place, I was excited to drop my children off so I could enjoy the resort’s adults-only hydrotherapy spa. I spent a couple blissful hours oscillating between hot and cold water circuits, which included a steam room, a sauna and a cold plunge. At the end of my session, I sat in a pool lined with powerful jets that worked out a month’s worth of tension from my shoulders. I felt rested and relaxed when I returned to pick up my children.

Upgraded Rooms

During the renovation, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos revamped 248 of its 607 rooms and suites. Our one-bedroom suite could easily house a much larger family.

It included a king-size bed and two full bathrooms, along with sofa beds in the living room and bedroom. The room was well-appointed, decorated in beige and browns and accented with navy and rust. One of our favorite features was the Jacuzzi on the balcony.

Restaurants

When we weren’t poolside or beachside, my kids and I rotated between the resort’s eight restaurants, sampling Indian at Mahika, Italian at Farina e Olio and seafood dishes at Casa Cortez and more. One of my favorite venues was La Plaza, the resort’s international buffet, which had a kids’ section. We also enjoyed delicious treats as we lazed by the pool; my kids happily sipped on mango smoothies while I enjoyed an Aperol spritz or two under the balmy Baja California sky.

Throughout my life, travel has served as a confidence booster and a reset. I had never needed more of both when I arrived in Los Cabos. So, though our family may be in a season of flux, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos offered me that self-assuredness I was seeking. By the end of our stay, I felt ready to take on single motherhood and all the future family vacations we'll enjoy.