Honestly, traveling with three generations of family is usually a recipe for a massive headache. You have the toddlers who need a nap every two hours, the teenagers who won't get off their phones unless there’s a world-class pool, and the grandparents who just want a decent glass of wine and a view that doesn't involve a crowded buffet line. Finding a middle ground is tough. Most resorts in Mexico claim to be "family-friendly," but usually, that just means they have a colorful plastic slide and some chicken nuggets. Generations Resort Riviera Maya is different. It’s built on this specific, almost obsessive idea of "Gourmet Inclusive" luxury that actually scales across age groups without feeling like a theme park.
The place is massive. It sits right on the coastline between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, sharing a footprint with its adults-only siblings, El Dorado Casitas Royale and El Dorado Royale. This layout is the secret sauce. You get the benefit of a massive, sprawling estate with shared amenities, but the core of the Generations experience is centered on these enormous all-suite oceanfront rooms that actually fit a family of six or eight without everyone wanting to kill each other by day three.
The Suite Situation: Why Size Actually Matters Here
Space is the ultimate luxury. We’ve all stayed in those "family suites" that are just two standard rooms with a door between them. Generations Resort Riviera Maya rejects that. Their 1, 2, and 3-bedroom suites are legitimate apartments. You're looking at 1,200 to over 3,000 square feet.
Think about that for a second.
You have a full kitchen. You have a dining table. You have a living room where the kids can watch a movie while the adults are out on the balcony having a drink. The "Infinity Pool Suites" are the real winners, though. On the ground floor, you can literally step off your terrace into a "lazy river" pool that connects to the main pool bar. If you’re on the upper floors, your balcony is a pool. It’s a private infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean. It’s dramatic. It’s a bit over the top. And it’s exactly what makes a vacation feel like an actual escape rather than just a move to a different house.
Kinda makes you wonder why more resorts don't do this. The Karisma Hotels & Resorts group, which owns Generations, leaned hard into the "multi-generational" tag before it was a marketing buzzword. They realized that Grandma and Grandpa are often the ones footing the bill, so they deserve a master bedroom that feels like a sanctuary, not a cot in the corner.
The Food: Moving Beyond the "Buffet Fatigue"
Let’s talk about the "Gourmet Inclusive" concept because people get skeptical about all-inclusive food. Rightfully so. Usually, it’s lukewarm pasta and mystery meat under a heat lamp. At Generations Resort Riviera Maya, they’ve ditched the massive troughs of food for a la carte dining that actually tastes like it came from a kitchen with a chef.
Wine is a big deal here. They have a partnership with Jackson Family Wines. You aren't just getting "house red" or "house white" that tastes like vinegar. You’re getting curated pairings.
Then there’s the Greenhouse. It’s a 70,000-square-foot hydroponic facility right on the property. They grow their own tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. When you eat a salad at Jade (their pan-Asian spot) or Wine Kitchen, the produce was likely picked that morning. It’s a level of vertical integration you don't see at the big mega-resorts in the Hotel Zone.
- Wine Kitchen: This is the heart of the resort’s culinary identity. It’s designed around the kitchen, and the menu rotates based on what’s fresh.
- Jade: Pan-Asian flavors. Think high-end sushi and ginger-infused dishes that don't feel heavy in the tropical heat.
- Palapa Gastronomica: This is where you go for breakfast. It’s open-air, right by the water. No frantic lines for an omelet station.
The Eko Kids Club and the "Baby Butler" Reality
Kids clubs are often just a room with a TV and some beanbag chairs. The Eko Kids Club at Generations Resort Riviera Maya is a bit more involved. They have a focus on environmental stuff—hence the "Eko" name—teaching kids about the local ecosystem and the reef.
But the real game-changer is the "Baby Butler" service.
If you’ve ever traveled with an infant, you know the struggle of packing half your house. You need the stroller, the crib, the bottle warmer, the monitor, and the bathtub. Generations provides all of that. You just tell them what you need before you arrive, and it’s in the room. This isn't a small perk; it’s the difference between a relaxing trip and a logistical nightmare. It allows parents to actually sit by the pool for an hour while the "butler" ensures the room is prepped for the next nap time.
Honestly, the service is where this place wins. The staff-to-guest ratio is high. You’ll find that the pool servers remember your name and your drink order by the second day. It’s a level of hospitality that feels very "Old Mexico"—warm, genuine, and not just transactional.
Managing Expectations: The Beach and the Reef
I have to be honest about the beach. If you are looking for those miles of wide, powdery white sand like you see in the Tulum Instagram photos, you might be slightly disappointed. The Riviera Maya coastline has been hit hard by sargassum (seaweed) over the last few years, and this specific stretch of coast has some rocky areas.
To combat this and protect the shoreline, the resort installed an artificial reef. From the shore, it looks like a series of dark humps in the water. Some people find them an eyesore. However, they serve a massive purpose. They’ve created a thriving underwater ecosystem right in front of the resort. If you grab a snorkel mask, you’ll see way more fish here than at the "perfect" beaches further south. It also keeps the water near the shore incredibly calm, which is a massive plus if you have toddlers who are scared of big waves.
If you want the classic beach experience, there are plenty of spots on the property where they’ve cleared the entry points, but just know that the reef is part of the deal. It’s a trade-off for the ecological health of the area.
✨ Don't miss: Is the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Open? What You Need to Know Before Heading to Hollywood Studios
The "Exchange Privilege" Secret
One thing most people overlook is the access to the neighboring properties. Because Generations is part of a larger complex, adults have "exchange privileges" at El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas Royale next door.
This is huge.
It means if the grandparents want to escape the noise of the kids for a few hours, they can walk over to the adults-only side and enjoy a completely different vibe. They can eat at the restaurants there, use their pools, and then come back to the family suite for dinner. It provides a "resort within a resort" feel that keeps everyone from getting cabin fever.
Sustainability and the Real Cost of Luxury
In 2026, we can't ignore the footprint of these massive resorts. Generations Resort Riviera Maya is part of the Karisma group, which has been fairly vocal about their sustainability efforts. Beyond the hydroponic greenhouse, they’ve implemented significant water recycling programs and have worked to eliminate single-use plastics.
Is it a "green" resort? It’s still a luxury hotel with air conditioning and massive pools, so let's be realistic. But compared to the older builds in the region, their focus on local sourcing and reef protection is a step ahead. You aren't just consuming; you're supporting a business that at least has a seat at the table regarding environmental conservation in Quintana Roo.
Navigating the Logistics: Getting There and Getting Around
The resort is about 25 to 30 minutes from Cancun International Airport (CUN). Do not, under any circumstances, just grab a random taxi at the airport. You will get ripped off. Book a private transfer through the resort or a reputable company like Canada Transfers or USA Transfers. It’s a straight shot down Highway 307.
Once you’re on the property, you can walk most places, but there are also golf carts constantly circling the grounds. If you're staying in one of the far suites and heading to a dinner at the other end of the complex, just flag one down.
Actionable Steps for Planning Your Stay
If you're looking at booking a stay at Generations Resort Riviera Maya, don't just click "reserve" on the first site you see. There are ways to optimize this experience.
- Skip the standard suites. If you can swing it, go for the Infinity Pool Suite on the second floor or higher. The ground-floor swim-ups are great, but the privacy and the view from the upper-level infinity balconies are unmatched.
- Request your "Baby Butler" items 72 hours in advance. Don't wait until you check in. Send an email with a list of exactly what you need (crib, sterilizer, specific brand of stroller) so it's waiting in your room the moment you arrive.
- Book your dinner reservations on day one. Even though it’s all-inclusive, the popular spots like Wine Kitchen and Jade can fill up, especially during peak season (December–April). Use the resort app or talk to your concierge as soon as you drop your bags.
- Check the seaweed forecast. Use local Facebook groups or sargassum tracking sites to see what the conditions are like. If the seaweed is heavy, plan for more pool days or excursions to nearby cenotes like Cenote Azul or Garden of Eden, which are a short drive away.
- Utilize the Greenhouse tour. It sounds nerdy, but it’s actually really cool to see where your food is coming from, and it's a great "educational" hour for the kids that doesn't feel like school.
Generations Resort Riviera Maya isn't just another hotel; it's a specific solution for the specific problem of family travel. It balances the "high-end" needs of adults with the "I'm bored" reality of kids. By focusing on food quality and massive living spaces, it manages to feel like a vacation for everyone, not just a trip where the parents are doing all the work in a prettier location.