Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Every time we return to Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, we’re reminded why it’s one of our favorite resorts anywhere. The service is truly unmatched, and every member of the team goes out of their way to make guests feel special. Our amazing pool servers Nino and Francisco made every day by the pool perfect — always making sure our umbrellas were in the right spot, our drinks were full, and that we were completely comfortable. Francisco even remembered us from past visits, which made us feel right at home. They also surprised my mom with a beautiful birthday cake that absolutely made her day! A heartfelt thank-you as well to our concierge Ramon, who went above and beyond to ensure everything in our suite was perfect. He checked in regularly, kept our room stocked with everything we needed, and made sure every detail of our stay was taken care of. And a special thank-you to Alan at Piaf, who provided exceptional service the night of my mom’s birthday dinner. He was gracious, attentive, and made the evening feel truly memorable — the perfect way to celebrate such a special occasion. From the incredible food and beautiful surroundings to the consistently warm, attentive service, our stay was flawless from start to finish. We’ve been to Grand Velas before, and each visit somehow manages to be even better than the last. We can’t wait to return again soon!

The first time we visited Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit was in 2007. Since then, for the past 18 years, we have returned as often as possible. We have never been disappointed after spending time there, and it is consistently the highlight of the year every time we go. I don't have adequate words to express how much we have grown to love this very special place and the incredible people who work there. There are people working there today who we met on our first trip nearly two decades ago. When we visit we remember them. They also remember us and make us feel special and appreciated each time we go. Every trip is a celebration of seeing old friends and making new ones. Even after all these years, they continue to find new and creative ways to make our experiences special and memorable. It is not possible for me to name all the people who have a part in making these trips extraordinary. However, I will name a few. I will first mention Leonardo Ramirez, the reservations specialist who has helped us many times. Leonardo is knowledgeable, courteous, follows through, and gives great attention to detail. He has always been this way. Then there is Santos, the bellman, who was our first contact at the hotel on this particular trip. He greeted us with a smile and words of welcome. Upon check-in, we saw the familiar smiling face of Latitia from spa services. She is a warm and considerate person who immediately makes you feel right at home. Shortly thereafter, we were greeted by Fabiola and Guadalupe, two long term employees who came to welcome us when we arrived and also to say "see you next time" on our day of departure. We always look forward to seeing them. It may be unusual, but the next person I want to mention is a very dedicated employee named Eduardo who is the head gardener and is responsible for taking care of the beautiful grounds. Eduardo has very little direct contact with the guests, but every time I saw him he took time to wave, smile, and say hello. Every time I saw him he was either cutting or bagging grass, watering plants, trimming shrubs, edging flowerbeds, or removing weeds. I think he knows that I admire and respect him because of his strong work ethic and because of the quality of the work he does. There is something special about humble people who do their work to perfection regardless of how difficult and maintain a great attitude while they do it. This describes Eduardo, and it is something I have observed in him the last several times we have been there. His commitment is demonstrated by many others who are part of the Grand Velas team. There are two ladies I noticed this year, Luz and Elena, who were responsible for mopping and sweeping sidewalks all around the property and in the common areas around the pool. Their work is difficult and physically demanding, yet each time I saw them they smiled, greeted me, and returned to the task at hand. They are genuinely happy people and part of that happiness seems to come from the pride they take in the work they do. Everyone I met on the grounds crew or in housekeeping exhibited this kind of commitment and positive attitude. The evening restaurants are always exceptional in the presentation of the food and the service you experience. Most nights, upon entering the restaurants, we were greeted by the smiling face of Monica, a long term employee who remembered us from previous trips. There are others as well who are equally welcoming and are continuing the Grand Velas tradition. We were served by outstanding waiters and I remember a few of their names - Francisco (more than one), Alan, Kevin, Celso, Leonardo, Cesar, Diego, Carlos (more than one), Conrado, Armando, Marvin, Oscar, Roberto, and Eduardo. There are others. Sebastian does a great job overseeing all of the restaurants and making sure everything is going smoothly. Then there is Azul, a wonderful place with a great group of people where we normally had breakfast and lunch. Upon arriving at Azul, we were normally greeted by Fidel (who has been employed at Grand Velas over 20 years) and his assistant Georgiana. The waiters are awesome and some special people there are Francisco, Carlos (more than one), Ricardo (more than one), Julio, Edgar, Eduardo, Diego, Litui, Pablo, Luis, and Hilda. I apologize for names I did not mention because they are all deserving of recognition. I especially appreciate those who brought me early morning coffee (Francisco, Julio, Carlos, Ricardo, Edgar) on many mornings when I went down before daylight to sit at a table and read near the oceanfront where I could hear the sounds of the waves. The restaurant was not yet open, but if they saw me arrive to have quiet times by the ocean they were present within minutes with a fresh pot of coffee. Julio even brought warm bread and pastries when they came out of the oven. This is going above and beyond and creating memories that will last a lifetime. The pool staff has the same commitment to taking exceptional care of guests. This group is led by Jose Ramos, and includes Nadia, Kenia, Patricia, Miguel, Manuel, Gabriel, Gilberto, Francisco, Saturino, Edwin, Lemuel, Alejandro, and others. They are always present to provide fresh cool water, anything you wish to order, fresh towels, or to provide help with an umbrella. They all work hard and maintain a great attitude. There were also two outstanding pool concierge people, Eduardo and Gustavo, who were present and helped with whatever we needed. They even found a button I lost on a shirt (a white button which came off my shirt and was lying against white concrete), took the button and the shirt to the hotel and had the button sewn back on the shirt, then returned and folded the shirt on my lounge chair all while I was in the pool. This is another example of a memorable Grand Velas experience where two employees went the extra mile to provide service that is above and beyond the ordinary! I want to also mention the activities staff which consisted of Brandon, Emma, and Carlos. They were present and enthusiastically led various activities around the pool and on the beach for anyone who wanted to participate. They also fully understood if you preferred to relax in your chair and continue to enjoy the book you might be reading or take a walk on the beach. They all did a great job. Let me also mention the tremendous job done by each person on the concierge staff. This time we were privileged to be served by Mario Chavez who was in frequent contact with us, even on his day off. If we needed something and he was not available, others were there to help with anything we needed. Luis Mateo, Jose Reynoso (Chepe), Ramon, Maria, Gabriela, or Perla were all very present without ever being intrusive. One final person I wish to mention is a gentleman named Antonio Ramirez who works in suite service. We first met Antonio several years ago when he worked as a pool waiter. He later became captain of the pool waiters team, then worked in Azul for a while. We saw him in many different roles and he excelled in each area. Now, because he is in suite service, we do not have opportunity see him as often. However, when he learned that we had arrived at the hotel, he took time to find us and greet us on the day we arrived within an hour of when we got there. Then, before we left to return home, he came to say goodbye. Alejandro, his son, now works around the pool and is continuing the strong work ethic demonstrated by his father. Antonio's effort to come see us is a great illustration of the special type of people who work at Grand Velas and the type of enduring friendships that have been formed. Before closing, I must mention that this entire crew is under the supervision and direction of a very talented leader, Pilar, Perciavalle, and one of her very capable assistants, Jareth Hernandez. Both these ladies do a great job and it is always nice to see them when they are able to be out on the property. They are kind, responsive, and accommodating and I am confident that under their leadership the hotel will be in great shape for years to come. If you ever have an opportunity to visit Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, I encourage you to go and experience it for yourself. If you go the first time, I am confident you will want to return and experience it again and again. On your first visit, you will make new friends. When you return, you will feel like you are being reunited with old friends. It is my sincere hope that we will be able to return again and spend more time in this special place with these very special people!

This place is the definition of a true 5 star property. SE spa was second to none. Front desk Guadalupe was attentive and friendly. Mario our concierge was excellent, as ALWAYS. Second time here. Coming back in February. I can't say enough good things. Highly highly recommend. You will not be disappointed. Absolutely exceptional personal customer service top to bottom. Thank you Grand Velas Nayarit. 🙏

We absolutely love this resort. The food is great and newly renovated rooms are beautiful. However, the best part of this resort is the amazing staff. Perla is THE BEST concierge. She made our trip perfect from beginning to end. Thank you Perla for making our anniversary celebration so special. The team at Azul for breakfast and lunch are incredible - Fidel, Ricardo, Francisco, Pablo, Carlos, Litui and Georgiana. Eduardo and Gustavo at the pool make sure you are comfortable and well looked after while poolside. Carlos, Brandon and the activity team made sure beach and water volleyball were happening daily. Also thank you to Perla and the Chef at Lucca for making me a Bianca pizza (no longer on the menu) - one of my favourite comfort meals of the trip. This resort has the best staff which continue to make us come back again and again.

My family (3 adult couples) just returned from an 8 day vacation at Grand Velas Puerto Vallarta. We planned this trip carefully because we know how hard it is to get everyone together and we wanted it be relaxing. Fabiola helped ensure everything was perfect. She and Edna coordinated our arrival and departure plans, and every detail was covered. Eduardo and Gustavo at the adult pool deck were engaging and attentive. They kept us hydrated. Eme and Carlos invited us to participate in activities which kept us interacting with other guests. And Ramon, our concierge, checked on us each day. He made sure we knew about daily activities by texting us the prior evening. Every meal was wonderful. The four themed restaurants are superb. It’s hard to choose a favorite. Azul, the breakfast and lunch buffet, is not the typical all-inclusive buffet. We were never bored by the food. The cafe de olla is fantastic. The week exceeded our expectations in every way.