Generations Riviera Maya Wins with Gourmet Luxury

Jul 19, 2014

The resort emphasizes gourmet food. // © 2014 Cully Schneider 2

As the welcoming palm trees and coconut-lined pathways eased my everyday life stress, I delighted in the knowledge that the first activity during my stay at the newly opened Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma resort would be a five-course meal in its Habb Mediterranean Restaurant and Lounge.

The restaurant’s plush Mediterranean style, with its modern, cream-colored sofas and oversized turquoise pillows, made it the perfect venue to sample the resort’s Gourmet Inclusive experience — Karisma’s concept of offering distinctive restaurants helmed by chefs trained in Michelin-starred kitchens around the globe. In addition to Habb Mediterranean, the resort features three more eclectic restaurants: Jade Pan Asian Cuisine, Palms Gourmet Terrace Caribbean Mexican Cuisine and Wine Kitchen Restaurant and Tasting Room.

This emphasis on gourmet cuisine is part of an overall focus on luxury throughout the resort. Pillars of the concept include exceptional service, as well as including top-shelf amenities such as free premium alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service and personal butler service.

“Nothing signifies vacation like having everything taken care of for you,” said Mandy Chomat, vice president of sales and marketing at Premier Worldwide Marketing, the exclusive representative of Karisma Hotels & Resorts. “With unlimited butler service included at Generations Riviera Maya, every need is met and every whim is indulged without the stress of added costs. This all-suite oceanfront resort will take our signature Gourmet Inclusive concept to new heights, welcoming guests on truly luxurious and carefree vacations, only steps away from the white-sand beach.”

Luxury Accommodations
Opened in February and situated 25 minutes south of Cancun International Airport and 15 minutes north of Playa del Carmen, Generations Riviera Maya offers 144 oceanfront suites, each providing a view of the Caribbean Sea.

Each of the resort’s 144 luxury suites include an oversize balcony or terrace, two 47-inch LCD televisions, an iPod docking alarm clock, a safety deposit box, an iron and ironing board, a coffee maker, a fully stocked mini fridge, plush bathrobes and slippers, double sinks and a Jacuzzi tub for two.

My favorite feature in the room was the rain showerhead in the bathroom — the soothing droplets falling from above was a great way to wash off after a day spent sunbathing.

While luxurious, the Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma resort also promotes a green approach. A 150,000-square-foot greenhouse — the largest in the region — is shared among the three Karisma properties, which are all located within walking distance of each other. The greenhouse is certified by the Rainforest Alliance and the Sustainable Agriculture Network, and it produces 12 tons of crops per month, including the flavorful herbs and hydroponic vegetables used by the resort’s chefs.

In addition to the greenhouse, Generations Riviera Maya uses solar panels for energy and reuses its own cooking oils, turning the waste into biodiesel fuel to power landscaping equipment and emergency generators.

The resort has a kid-friendly atmosphere and offers plenty of activities for younger guests as well. Infants and toddlers can enjoy Baby Beach Lounges, which come with nanny service and toys. The hotel also provides in-room playpens, strollers, cribs, baby monitors, bottle warmers, bath toys and other helpful items so that parents with babies don’t have to worry about transporting extra luggage. Meanwhile, the hotel’s Eko Kids Club offers kids between the ages of 4 and 12 years old a supervised environment, complete with a craft and cooking station, a ball pit, a bean bag-filled movie room and a library, allowing parents an opportunity to sneak away for a massage at the nearby spa or a few hours of relaxation at the resort’s private beach.

For me, leaving the beauty of the beach behind was as challenging as leaving the friendly smiles, warm greetings and excellent service of Generations Riviera Maya staff. Their attention to detail helped make for a truly upscale experience.