Mexico’s Newly Facelifted Resort is Perfect for Gen-X Travelers—And Here’s Why

Once upon a time, I was a member of the MTV generation. We wore flannel, rolled our eyes and watched Reality Bites on repeat.

Today, we’ve earned a different moniker: the sandwich generation.

And let me tell you—it’s much less fun.

In general, it’s not always easy to be a human in the world right now, but—with the extra addition of caring for aging parents and/or anxious children—it’s a true recipe for burnout. Not like complain, eat a pastry, feel better burn out. I’m talking about bone-deep, existential exhaustion.

Which is why we all need to take legitimate breaks, escaping from the pressures of our day-to-day—however we can.

Recently, just as I was feeling truly at the end of my rope, I was lucky enough to explore the newly revamped Banyan Tree Mayakoba, just north of Playa del Carman, Mexico. And though, at first, the thought of packing and preparing felt like another item on an already daunting to-do list, I cannot stress how legitimate a reset this refuge offered. (Honestly, just taking a break from having to cook nightly dinner felt like a dream.)

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Maybe it seems pat to suggest that a well-timed vacation to a tropical paradise can fix what ails us, if we’re fortunate enough to have the chance. It probably can’t change things for the long haul—but what about the long weekend?

Set amongst the mangrove forest in Riviera Maya, Banyan Tree Mayakoba is one of four upscale hotels (along with Rosewood,Fairmont and Alila) on 595 acres that are connected by lagoons via winding waterways. The destination is deeply special—impossibly lush, somewhat untamed, yet on the ocean. To arrive amidst all this wild nature is an instant balm for the nervous system—especially coming out of this past brutal winter.

Banyan Tree is unique from the other hotels here thanks to its connection to nature, emphasis on privacy (which they consider an underrated commodity in luxury travel) and the blending of the hotelier’s signature Asian hospitality with Mexican culture. When it originally opened its doors in 2009, this was the brand’s first North American property. Now, more than a decade later, the signature spot has unveiled a five-year, almost $100 million reimagining which involved their now 34 beachfront suites, 121 villas and seven two-story floating lagoon villas while maintaining that original energy and spirit. “The resort does not try to compete through excess or spectacle,” says Afonso Cunha, general manager. “Instead, it offers something increasingly rare: privacy, serenity and the feeling of being fully present. The renovation was approached with great respect for that identity, preserving the property’s emotional essence while being ready for a new generation of travelers.”

Related: Royalton Hotel & Resorts’ New ‘Hotel-Within-a-Hotel’ Embraces Quiet Luxury in the Riviera Maya

And You Say, Stay

One of the greatest luxuries in this age of nonstop inundation—with work and family demands, social coordination, social media streams, school communication and ads for all the glass skin masks we will perish without—is peace and quiet. And there is no true escape from overstimulation like holing up in a discreet residence. While it’s lovely to stay in a big, beautiful hotel, having a villa or suite—with space to retreat and breathe even while with others—is a different kind of gift.

During the re-envisioning of the resort’s accommodations, led by design firm Room 1804, the majority of the property’s villa portfolio—from one-bedroom spaces to multi-family residences—was redone. The property added 34 beachfront suites with private pools, outdoor showers and decks, as well as seven overwater Lagoon & Sunset Rooftop Pool villas with heated infinity pools, open-air relaxation spaces, outdoor bathtubs and rain showers. The look throughout the hotel now is intentionally simple and earthy, blending a Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetic (bring in the outdoors in) with Mexican roots. So, there is a simplicity and rustic elevation in the mix of parota and tzalam woods with crema maya stone. Though the floors are a dark stone, the countertops are a swirled white marble against the backdrop of unadorned white walls.

Nothing is overdone.

But it’s the indoor-outdoor piece that most stands out. As we Gen-Xers know from when our Boomer parents threw us outdoors without a plan or shipped us off to godforsaken sleepaway camps, nature is nourishing for the soul (mostly). And these villas offer that with details like sleek outdoor tubs set against rock walls. In my own Serenity Pool Villa, as an example, guests would enter through a large wooden door into a private courtyard—rather than a building—with an angular private swimming pool, hot tub and lounge deck a step above. The accomodation backs up against the lagoon itself, wild and free. “There is a sense of arrival . . . calm and connection with nature here that feels increasingly rare,” describes Cunha. “What I love most is how immersed you feel. Lagoons, mangroves and jungle constantly surround you and, even inside the villas, there is a feeling of openness. There is always natural light . . . and fresh air.” (He also appreciates the Faraday cage offered in the Wellbeing Pool Villa that helps guests truly unplug.)

Related: This Is the Best Luxury Resort in Mexico for Families With Teens

Naughty By Nature

One evening, as we were dining al fresco under twinkle lights on an overhanging dock at Thai restaurant, Saffron, we were distracted by something swimming in the lagoon below us. When we shined a light, we realized it was a crocodile! This was no Nova special, people; it was the real thing.

Fortunately, the dude was small, and, actually, the property monitors the size of the few crocs, who are sometimes transferred to a nearby sanctuary—away from guests sipping their spicy margaritas with abandon.

The sighting was deeply cool. Once we stopped to look, we realized we could see giant fish and turtles swimming below the surface of the water, as well.

Nature is everywhere here—and that’s true whether guests are traveling from place-to-place by boat, spotting marine life and birds, or wandering the paths alongside adorable coati (furry brown and orange guys with narrow snouts and striped tails). I definitely met a few on my daily runs.

There are opportunities for classes like yoga on the lagoon too, under the tropical trees and amidst the critters.

Related: This Is the Best New Adults-Only Resort in Cancun, Says a Top 1% Travel Advisor

Nice & Smooth

After seeing the croc, it was easy to get drawn back into dinner at Saffron—because the food at Banyan Tree is solid. (And not just because I don’t have to cook it!) In truth, from the moment guests arrive on property and are handed tangy Chaya juice drinks, the culinary delights begin.

As someone who is woefully allergic to dairy, I want to acknowledge how seamlessly they handled my needs. With food sensitivities being so rampant, it’s a huge leg-up to have this mastered. In addition to showing patience and adjusting dishes as needed, they actually made special dairy-free desserts that almost tasted too good to believe!

Though I am not a breakfast person, I especially loved the mountains of fresh papaya and mango at Sands Beach Club. They also served a coconut-based acai bowl that forever altered my meh view of the category.

There are many great dining options here at multiple restaurants, but the newest addition from the renovation is Suna, a speakeasy with Nikkei-style cuisine (which means Peruvian flavors with a Japanese preparation). The lightness is perfect in the tropical warmth.

All I Want To Do Is Have Some Fun

Though, in truth, it’s hard to imagine a better activity for a burnt out sandwicher than lying by a villa pool while reading a good book, Banyan Tree does offer other ways to spend time. For instance, guests can lie by a pool—and the turquoise ocean—with a book and some local seafood at the new adults-only Sur Beach Club.

Another fantastic option for relaxing, beyond cabana life? The above-par spa, where services are performed in overwater treatment rooms. A new dimly-lit Rainforest journey—which includes everything from saunas and steams with natural exfoliating scrubs to multiple plunges—has an otherworldly feel and leaves guests feeling truly refreshed.

Bikes abound for exploring beyond the golf carts. Of course, there are water activities galore.

No matter what one’s preference, though, the goal here is to escape the responsibilities of home. And that ethos is almost more a vibe than anything else. “At sunset, the lighting throughout the pathways and villas creates a completely different mood that feels warm, intimate and deeply relaxing,” says Cunha. “It is something guests often remember emotionally more than visually.”

It turns out that relaxation is possible if you’re lucky enough to find a true escape. So, as some wise women once said, “Hold on for one more day.”

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