Family Vacation Rentals

Sea conditions change a lot from one end of town to the other, and from week to week with the swell. Ask at the beach restaurants before letting children in, and respect red flags.

That is why many families stay in Rinconada, the calm residential area near Carrizalillo and Puerto Angelito, where you can walk to the water in the morning. Bacocho suits families who want space and quiet and don't mind a short drive to the coves.

The sun is strong all year. Plan the beach for the morning and late afternoon, bring shade, and put small children in long-sleeved rash guards.

Many houses in Puerto Escondido sit on hillsides, around open terraces and pools, and were designed with adults in mind. That is fine as long as you ask first:

• Pool fenceMost private pools have none. With toddlers, ask for photos of the pool area, whether a fence or cover can be added, and how deep it is: many pools have no shallow end.
• RailingsTerraces, roof decks and open staircases are common. Ask how high the railings are and how wide the gaps between the bars.
• LevelsA house over three floors is great for teenagers and hard work with a baby or a grandparent. Ask which bedrooms are on the ground floor.
• Small hazardsGlass doors, hammocks and outdoor showers are where minor accidents happen.
• The streetOn a quiet street older kids can walk to the corner shop; on a busy road they can't.

Several families together, or a big pool for everyone? Villas usually have larger pools and gardens. One family that needs bedrooms more than a pool will often do better with a house.

The bed count on a listing doesn't tell you how a family will sleep. Ask for the layout: which bedrooms are next to each other, which have their own bathroom and which have air conditioning. Parents of small children want to be close by; teenagers and grandparents like a bit of distance.

• Cribs and high chairsSome owners keep them, many don't. Ask before you arrive and bring a travel cot if nobody can confirm.
• Air conditioningIn every bedroom if you can, especially from May to October and for afternoon naps.
• ScreensMosquitoes peak in the rainy season. Check that bedroom windows have screens, and bring repellent.
• Blackout curtainsThe sun rises early on the coast, and so do the roosters.
• Car seatsTaxis don't carry them. If you rent a car or book an airport transfer, ask for one or bring your own.

Our packing list for traveling with kids covers what to bring and what you can buy in town. Torn between sizes? Here is what a third bedroom gets you.

Cooking breakfast and a few dinners saves money and patience. Check that the kitchen has more than a kettle: a proper stove, a blender, plates for everyone and a fridge big enough for a week's shopping.

The Benito Juárez market in El Centro has fruit, vegetables, tortillas and fresh fish; the big supermarkets on the coastal highway cover the rest, diapers and formula included. Tap water is not for drinking. Houses use large jugs of purified water (garrafones) and a family gets through them fast, so ask the owner how refills are delivered. Ask about a washing machine too: after a day at the beach you will want one.

Puerto Escondido has more for children than the surf posters suggest. In season, baby turtles are released at sunset on Bacocho beach; our article on turtle releases in Bacocho explains how it works. Laguna de Manialtepec, a short drive west, has boat trips through the mangroves with plenty of birds, and on some nights the water glows with bioluminescence; it depends on the season and the moon, so ask the guide. Older children can take a first surf lesson at Carrizalillo, and everyone enjoys watching the fishing boats land at Playa Principal in the morning.

Bringing grandparents? Look for a ground-floor bedroom with its own bathroom, a second sitting area so different ages can keep different hours, and a house close enough to the beach that nobody depends on a single driver.

On this site you book with the owner or manager, so there is no platform service fee on top, and you can ask about the pool, the stairs and the crib before you pay, with answers from someone who knows the house.

Take the usual care with money: pay by a traceable method, get the dates, price, deposit and cancellation terms in writing, and be wary of anyone who wants a transfer to a personal account before answering basic questions. Here are the warning signs of a rental scam.