Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

I've been to Grand Velas almost every year for 10 years and it's unequivocally better and better each year. The past 3 years have been particularly amazing. I love the volleyball court and the pool/beach employees (especially Carlos) are extremely fun to play with and very good! Will be back next year for more games.

We are on the plane home to snow in Chicago and so sad to leave our home away from home. From the moment we arrive and see Leticia’s smiling face ready to give us a welcome massage to the moment we leave in tears, hugging the servers, concierges, bellmen, managers…everyone we came in contact with, we are in pure heaven. This is our tenth year coming to Grand Velas (11th for my husband and I who celebrated our honeymoon there in 2008). And there really is no place like it. Nowhere provides the service that Grand Velas does. We truly feel like we are amongst family with the staff. Our son Benjamin was four years old when we first went to Grand Velas as a family. He loved the staff there so much that he begged for his very own name tag, which of course they obliged. He became the “Mini Manager” of the resort and this year, at age 14, he was promoted to “Junior Manager”. From days with Eduardo and Gustavo by the pool to afternoons and evenings with Mario, Chepe, Dulce, Maria, Ramon, and the other concierges to nights with the wonderful bellmen, and time with dear Leticia from the spa and the director of the hotel, Pilar, and tours with the hotel manager, Jareth, Benjamin’s days are filled with guidance, Spanish lessons, getting to know guests and helping with their needs, and feeling so appreciated and loved by all the staff. Meanwhile, my husband, daughter and I enjoyed the wonderful service and camaraderie at the pool with Leonel, Zenon, Nadia, Jose, the activities directors and all the other fabulous pool staff. Leonel always had us laughing. Nadia is just such a bright light. Everyone makes you feel so special. Eduardo made sure we were set up for the day with umbrellas perfectly placed and our pool floaties brought out from overnight storage. He always had a smile on his face and proclaimed another beautiful day was beginning. Mario and Chepe checked on us throughout the day making sure our evening plans were set and all our needs were taken care of. And then of course were the meals. Such incredible food and equally incredible service. Breakfasts were always delicious and the staff was always eager to assist. Fidel made sure we had what we needed and carried our plates to our tables. Each server was warm and friendly. And the breakfast buffet was always delicious. Eating a fresh, healthy lunch poolside can’t be beat. Every dinner was memorable and so tasty. We love our servers: Carlos at Lucca, and Diego and Miguel (??) at Frida. Truly each staff member made our meals so wonderful. And they even remembered our daughter’s doll’s name! And made sure she had a high chair and kid plate for each meal (the doll, that is!). We of course loved our adults-only meal at Piaf as well. And coming back to a clean and tidy room every day was just the icing on the cake! Needless to say, we cannot wait for next year. Spending Thanksgiving with our Mexican family is the absolute best!!

This is our fifth time at Grand Velas and we can not wait to return next year. The rooms have been nicely updated recently. The food was great as always-and the service from Pablo, Ricardo, and Fidel at Azul every day was top notch. Our pool server Nadia went out of her way each day to make our trip special, including remembering our nephew's favorite vanilla milkshake. Gustavo was incredible as well. The kids love all the daily activities with Emme, Fernando, Brandon and Carlos-water aerobics, volleyball and soccer. My nephew turned 11 and they sang to him at least 5 different times and decorated his room with a cake/ The service is always the best part of our stay and it starts at the top, with Pilar, who always checks in to make sure everything was going well. Thank you for another incredible trip.

Everyone who works there is lovely and kind. Carlos runs the best waterfront and pool activities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gustavo was an incredible scuba teacher and Zenón took great care of us. Highest recommendations.

This was our second Thanksgiving with Grand Velas, but our first time at Riviera Nayarit, and we were blown away. We came with two other families, and from the moment we arrived, we felt taken care of in every way. The location is absolutely gorgeous - the beach is wide and soft, the water is calm, and the sunsets are the kind you remember forever. The overall atmosphere of the resort feels intimate in the best possible way. The size is perfect; it never felt overwhelming, and everything is easy to get to without shuttles or long walks. Our suite was spotless, beautifully maintained, and incredibly comfortable, with plenty of space for our family. Housekeeping kept everything immaculate, and room service was consistently excellent. Even with the resort being full for the holiday, it never felt noisy or chaotic - just a relaxed, happy place to spend time. The pool area was fantastic; we always found chairs, the staff took great care of us, and everything was clean and well-managed. The food at Grand Velas continues to impress us every time. Dinner every night was a highlight - from Lucca to Piaf to Sen Lin to Frida, each restaurant delivered something memorable. Breakfast and lunch at Azul were just as good, and the variety kept everyone in our group happy. The kids absolutely loved the Kids Club, and the pickleball and tennis courts became part of our daily routine. Whether it was activities for the kids or relaxing by the pool, the amenities were spot-on. A special thank you to our concierge, Luis Mateo, who went above and beyond for us throughout the stay. His attention to detail made a huge difference and really elevated our trip. Overall, Riviera Nayarit was everything we hoped for and more: incredible setting, warm service, amazing food, and a resort that feels both luxurious and welcoming. We can’t wait to come back.