Family vacations are a great way to create lasting memories and deepen familial bonds. But with multiple age groups involved, planning a multigenerational getaway can be tricky, since you need to satisfy the interests, abilities and preferences of a wide variety of age groups. And travelers looking to please multiple generations will find lots to love in Mexico.
The appeal of extended family vacations is strong, according to the 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report, which showed that — for every year but one since 2011 — multigenerational travel has topped the list of luxury travel trends. In addition, Mexico ranks as one of the top five family travel destinations in the same report. So, it’s no surprise that many families head to Mexico when they want to enjoy quality time with grandparents, parents and children.
To help multigenerational families maximize their time together, Park Royal Beach Resort in Cancun recently debuted the Mexican Family Memories Experience, a program that introduces both adults and kids to local traditions and culture. The program, geared for families with children ages from 5 to 12, features activities parents and children can enjoy together, as well as kid-only activities that give the grown-ups some time to be alone.
Families staying at Cancun’s Park Royal can enjoy activities such as pinata making and beach dinners together, and parents and grandparents can have some adults-only time during dinner while the kids join parties at the children’s club. In the guestrooms, amenities cater to various age groups. Local Mexican sodas, juices and snacks — as well as kid-sized bathrobes — are great for the little ones, while the “scents of Mexico” in-room aromatherapy kit can help adults relax. The Mexican Family Memories Experience also includes a variety of extras, including a beach bag, a photo album, children’s T-shirts and a souvenir box.
Enjoy beach time together at Cancun’s Park Royal.
Credit: 2019 Park Royal Hotels and ResortsThe Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun is another Caribbean coast property that’s well equipped to delight multiple generations. Perhaps it’s more than just a coincidence that both the spa and the kids’ club here measure an impressive 40,000 square feet. Children can enjoy everything from water games to craft classes and movie screenings at the kids’ club, which recently debuted a new outdoor play area. And at La Joya, the hotel’s upscale Mexican restaurant, adults can savor sophisticated menu items while the little ones play games in the venue’s new supervised children’s area that’s stocked with games.
Indeed, giving diverse family members the appropriate options is crucial for a successful multigenerational trip. Palladium Hotel Group, for example, is especially good at giving adults extra space to assure they can relax, even when traveling in large groups. The company’s resort complexes feature both kid-friendly and adults-only sections, making it easy for kids to have fun and for grown-ups to enjoy quiet time. Parents with kids can check into family-oriented properties such as Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa or the Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa. And grandparents can stay at the neighboring adults-only TRS hotels on each property, while still enjoying full access to the section where the rest of the family is staying.
In the Riviera Nayarit, families looking for upscale hotels with something for everyone will do well at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, which offers family-friendly amenities such as children’s menus and kid-sized bathrobes, as well as a Kids for All Seasons program that offers activities such as hiking and indigenous Huichol art classes. In addition, the hotel is home to The Container, a teen activity center for guests age 13 to 19, complete with specialized cuisine, a movie screening area and video games. Adults, meanwhile, can rejuvenate at the Apuane Spa and perhaps sign up for the resort’s Yin Yang Yoga or a chakra balancing ritual.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit also piles on the family-friendly activities, including mariachi music demonstrations and sandcastle building, to name a couple options. The Grand Velas brand, in fact, aims to make its properties around Mexico appropriate and enticing for all ages, with dedicated separate clubs for children and teens, and offerings such as the Family Wellness Package, which includes private family yoga classes and in-suite “digital detox” amenities to encourage travelers to disconnect and enjoy time together.
Las Brisas Huatulco is another Mexico resort property designed to appeal to multiple generations and age groups. Children can play games at the Little Angel’s Club, while teens can sign up for tennis and soccer or try their skills at the bungee pyramid. Grown-ups can indulge on a date night complete with dance lessons. Last but not least, family members of all ages can come together for activities such as minigolf and swimming on the amply sized beach.
Families headed to Los Cabos should note that The Resort at Pedregal offers a children’s club as well as “teen guide” consultants, who can help adolescent family members create personalized adventure activities. Parents and grandparents who value relaxation over adventure, of course, can treat themselves at the Luna y Mar Spa.
