Farewell to Generations and Riviera Maya

It was time to say goodbye to Generations Resort.Roberta and I were glad our flights weren’t until the afternoon because we were in no hurry to leave Riviera Maya.

We started the day with our last room service breakfast. I loved the idea that Generations Resort lets you get pretty much anything you want for breakfast in your suite. 

We loaded up our omelets (me with veggies and Roberta with seafood) and enjoyed the fresh baked goods.

I decided to enjoy the swim-up suite one last time and relaxed in the lounge chair in the water on our patio for a leisurely breakfast with a view.

Roberta headed out for more exploring and shopping at El Dorado Royale , the adults-only sister resort next door.

When she came back we ventured to the Riviera Maya beach one last time and had the waiters deliver some nachos to us for lunch.

With my ankle injury limiting my standing, 

I took advantage of the butler Generations Riviera Maya provides guests to help me pack. 

Before we took off in our van for Cancun Airport, we took some final pictures of Generations Resort and said goodbye to the staff, who went above and beyond (with wheelchairs on demand J) to make our visit special.

At the airport, Roberta and I said our goodbyes as she boarded a plane to Nashville and I went to Dallas.

I know I probably should have gone for something more local before I left Mexico, but I couldn’t resist a Johnny Rocket’s burger, malt, and fries to take with me on the plane. 

It was a favorite treat when I lived in NY and I hadn’t been in years.

Here are some more photos from a great trip to Riviera Maya.

Thanks again for the hospitality, Karisma Hotels.

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Karisma Resorts Introduction to Generations in Riviera Maya

Karisma Resorts asked me to go to the opening of the first Nickelodeon Resort this summer in Punta Cana. It looked like it was going to be quite a place, and I’m always a fan of the Dominican Republic.

Unfortunately, the resort wasn’t open in time for me to go, but it worked out just fine: I got to check out some of the resort company’s Riviera Maya offerings.

To make things a bit more complicated, just before the trip I injured my ankle. At the time, I didn’t know how serious it was, but I did know that I could not walk much.

That left me with the terrible job of having to lay back, relax, and enjoy Mexico for a few days!

My friend Roberta was flying from Tennessee to meet me at Cancun airport. We were going to stay in Riviera Maya at Generations Resorts.

It’s a luxury family resort next door to the chain’s El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas adults only properties we would also be able to enjoy.

We arrived at Generations quickly and the lobby was inviting. It was early in the day and our suite wasn’t ready yet. I repeated my requested for a ground level swim-up suite as it would have the least amount of walking.

While we waited, we enjoyed our first cocktails with lunch at the only buffet restaurant at Generations All Inclusive Resort , the Chef Market. Roberta picked up and assortment of food while I decided to ask the waiter to bring me the Carnitas Tacos from Palms Gourmet Terrace so I didn’t have to walk around.

We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and then our butler came to escort us to our suite.

It was the room I had requested, a one-bedroom swim-up suite. It had two queen beds, a view of the Caribbean Sea, a jacuzzi, 24-hour room service, a stocked mini refrigerator, and a butler to serve our every need. What more could we want?!

Roberta decided to explore and I was more than happy to put on my bikini and lay down on the couch on our patio. The butler brought some ice for my ankle and I enjoyed the view and a book I had waited a long time to read.

It was Roberta’s first trip to Mexico -- I had been many times before, including five trips to the Cancun and Riviera Maya area)-- so she was gone a while checking out the landscape.

When Roberta came back, she helped me down to the lounge chairs in the water below our patio – one step closer to the resort’s main pool.

It had been a long day and I wasn’t feeling like a big swim. Instead, I showered and took a nap before dinner.

We were having dinner the first night at Generation’s Wine Kitchen Restaurant. It was a menu filled with small plates, and, of course, lots of wine.

It was a very relaxing atmosphere and there was even a water view from our table at Generations Resort .

We started with a tasting of a watermelon and cheese bite, followed by fresh vegetables on flatbread, carpaccio and shrimp linguine for Roberta, and soup and risotto for me.

Everything was delicious and that's a great way to start out at an all-inclusive resort.

Like the courses, the desserts were small. We weren’t complaining as we had plenty to eat and were close to falling asleep.

We made it back to our room and quickly drifted off, excited for the upcoming full day at Generations Resort in Riviera Maya.

Food Festival, Boulud and Secrets Farewell

It was another beautiful day in Cancun as I woke up refreshed at Secrets The Vine.

I wasn’t rushing anywhere this morning so I went down for breakfast in the Market Café.  The selection was as big as it had been for lunch the previous day.

I had a little of everything, including one of my Mexican favorites, Chilaquiles. These are tortilla chips soaked in a green chile sauce (it can also be made with red sauce) and topped with cheese.

After breakfast, I changed into my bathing suit and met up with my fellow journalists at the Preferred pool.

It had a unique infinity setting that made you feel like you were floating in the middle of nowhere. We enjoyed some cocktails and chatted about how unique this setting was.

In the afternoon, we all headed to the Gourmet Tasting Village at the Moon Palace Resort. It was very different from ones I had been to at previous wine and food Festivals. It was smaller and had a bigger concentration on food than personalities or food products.

I sampled a selection of wine, mostly from Mexico and other Latin countries.  One that I really enjoyed was the Vallformosa Mistinguett Cava Brut from Catalonia, Spain.

All of the major resorts and restaurants in the area also had booths with samples of food from their restaurants. 

Since we were on one of their properties, Palace Resorts had quite a selection.  I enjoyed sampled Dona Pura sauces and preserves, and lots of chocolates

Also participating in the festival were students from Gastronomia, who made some delicious treats.  In fact, I have to say I was most impressed with their offerings.

We had a few hours before the banquet for Daniel Boulud and I took advantage of them to enjoy the main pool and beach some more. It was, after all, my last day.

The formal Tribute Dinner was held just downstairs at Secrets The Vine. It began with a cocktail hour by Taittinger Champagne.

The wine pairing dinner was coordinated by top chefs and sommeliers who participated in the festival, including Oliver Augeard and Elyse Lambert.

The chefs prepared items that were inspired by Boulud, such as a Saint Jacques Carpaccio and Beef Indochine braised in a sweet soy sauce.  All the chefs were recognized on stage before Festival Director David Amar presented Daniel Boulud with his award.

I had my final night of sleep in my junior suite at Secrets The Vine.. I took one more look at the breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea from my balcony before grabbing my bags to leave in the morning.  I was definitely regretting not adding another day to the trip, but I knew I would be back.