Generations Riviera Maya Puts the Fiesta in Family Vacations

The mission of Generations Riviera Maya is to bring families together to make unforgettable memories in a fun, worry-free atmosphere — and it succeeds in spades. Conveniently located 25 minutes south of Cancun International Airport, on the quiet, secluded Riviera Maya, this all-inclusive property is a great alternative to the high-energy and crowds of Cancun. It’s the perfect size for a beach resort: big enough to offer a variety of amenities, yet small enough to feel welcoming, with personalized service.

Family-Friendly Review and Highlights of Generations Riviera Maya

Accommodations

Generations Riviera Maya is focused on accommodating families of all sizes, including multi-generational groups. With 144 oceanfront suites in several different room categories, there’s something for everyone. Junior Luxury Suites include a king-size bed or two queen-size beds plus a sofa bed; these rooms can be connected to create larger family suites. One nice feature of the Junior Suites is a large sliding partition that creates some privacy between the bedroom and the sitting area, where the sofa bed is located.

Luxury One-bedroom Suites are also available. These suites have a dining room, kitchen, and a living room with a sofa that converts into two twin beds. Guests are welcome to use the kitchen, but it is not stocked with dishes or cookware.

Once you’ve decided on your room configuration, the next choice is between an infinity suite, which has a patio connected to an infinity plunge pool; or a swim-up suite, with swim-up access to the resort’s large pool directly from their room. All suites with pool access have gates with safety latches to protect children.

Special Occasions

Generations Riviera Maya is happy to help with guests’ special occasions. Inform the staff that you will be staying with them during the month of your celebration, and there are sure to be balloons, banners and more. The Best Birthday Ever and Star for a Day programs include VIP treatment and treats. Kids can have a themed party for up to 20 guests, a gourmet birthday cake with dinner, and other surprises.

Those staying in One-bedroom Suites can arrange for a personal chef to prepare a themed meal in the suite. It includes a festive table setting and is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or just enjoy some private family time. In-room themed dinners are included in the cost of the accommodations.

Activities and Amenities

Generations Riviera Maya has amenities for every member of the family. Children ages 4-12 can enjoy Eko Kids Club, a fun and colorful space with a variety of activities and toys designed with kids in mind. Eko Kids Club also has scheduled arts and crafts classes with a focus on sustainability and the environment.

An exciting edition to the Eko Kids Club is Little Eko Chefs. In partnership with Master Chef Junior, Generations Riviera Maya has created a fun and educational program in which kids learn culinary skills while preparing recipes in a specially designed kitchen.

The Teen Club gives kids 13 and older a hip hangout of their own. Teens can watch movies, play pool or socialize. With older kids, I recommend making a reservation at Athens Clue — this interactive game challenges your team to escape a locked room using clues and puzzle-solving skills before time runs out. It’s a great bonding experience for families.

The outdoor areas at the resort have plenty of room for families to play and relax. There’s a small wading pool just for kids, with pint-size loungers. The extra-large family pool has a swim-up bar and plenty of chairs. And of course, there’s the beautiful white sand beach, which includes a playground. The beach is protected by a new artificial reef project that will provide great snorkeling in the future.

Other amenities include a spa and a small fitness center. And don’t miss the nightly family-friendly entertainment — the fire show was a unique and exciting experience.

Dining

One of the benefits of an all-inclusive resort is the worry-free dining. At Generations Riviera Maya, families can choose from several restaurants for dinner, including Mediterranean-themed Habb or the international cuisine at Wine Kitchen. Reserve a teppanyaki table at Jade Pan-Asian Restaurant; kids will enjoy the interactive element of preparing some of their own meal on the teppanyaki grill. Kids’ menus and highchairs are available. Dinner venues have dress codes, but they are not overly formal.

Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style at the casual Chef Market. Kids of all ages will enjoy the waffle bar at breakfast and creating their own grilled-cheese panini masterpieces at lunch. The poolside Palms Gourmet Terrace offers lunch with a Caribbean and Mexican flair.

Relevant Links:

Browse family-friendly accommodations and activities in Mexico on Ciao Bambino

Top things to do in Mexico’s Riviera Maya with kids

Editor’s Note: Ciao Bambino was hosted by Generations Riviera Maya in order to review the property for families. As always, our opinions are our own. Photos by Denise Smith.