Playa Mamitas in Playa del Carmen, site of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

Thanksgiving is a lovely family holiday, but sometimes, it’s nice to do something a little different. Why not think about spending this Thanksgiving in the Mexican Riviera? It’d be a last-minute trip, but there are lots of last-minute deals flying around at the moment to encourage people to travel. And, if you’re a big fan of jazz, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is definitely something to at least check out.

Just imagine…instead of getting stuffed to the brim with turkey and stuffing, you could spend some time with the family in paradise while listening to some fantastic jazz musicians. And the best part? The music is free for four nights — November 25-28. The second best part? You’ll be enjoying the music on stunningly beautiful Playa Mamitas. This is only one of dozens of gorgeous beaches in Playa del Carmen. And there’s so much to see and do during the day near Playa del Carmen. Snorkeling, visiting Tulum and the extraordinary ruins and water park at Xcaret Water Park and learning about Mayan history.

Tempting, isn’t it? Maybe this could be a new family tradition.

Earl Klugh performing at Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

Photos: GersonGC, noticaribe