Grand Velas Riviera Maya

We recently had week at Grand Velas Riviera Maya — my wife and I, our two kids (10 and 13), and both of my parents. Booking for six people across three generations is a tall order. Grand Velas pulled it off without us having to think about a single thing for seven days, which is the highest compliment I can give a resort. We stayed in Ambassador Suites and they were larger than most hotel rooms we’ve booked in our lives. The kids each had their own space and the rooms never felt crowded across the whole week. The food is where Grand Velas separates itself from any other all-inclusive we’ve done. Cocina de Autor was the standout meal of the trip and probably one of the best meals we’ve had in years. The pacing of the tasting menu, the wine pairings, the presentation, it was at the level you’d expect from a top restaurant in any major city, not an in-house resort restaurant. My parents still talk about the food. But the real reason we’re writing this review is the service. Our concierge team, Nora and Francisco, went out of their way for our family in a way that genuinely surprised us. They handled every dinner reservation, every kid logistics question, every “hey, could we make this happen?” ask and somehow always made it feel like we were the only family they were taking care of that week. That kind of attentiveness is rare anywhere and made our whole family feel completely looked after. The breakfast and lunch restaurant staff deserve their own callout. By day two they knew our names. By day three they knew that my mom takes her coffee a specific way, and that the kids wanted the same juice every morning. We never had to ask twice for anything. That’s a level of attention you don’t get even at most high-end restaurants in the U.S., let alone at a resort serving hundreds of people a day. A few other things worth noting: the kids’ programming kept our 10 and 13-year-olds entertained when they wanted to be entertained and left them alone when they didn’t. My parents (in their 70s) found the resort easy to navigate and were never rushed. And the included top-shelf liquor and zero-pressure-to-buy-anything atmosphere meant we never once thought about the bill while we were there — which is the whole point of an all-inclusive done right. If you’re considering Grand Velas for a trip, do it. We’re already talking about going back. Five stars, no caveats.

This was our third time staying at the Grand Velas and it did not disappoint. From the moment we arrived until we checked out, everything was taken care for us. The staff is incredibly thoughtful and attentive. The entire property is stunning, especially the Zen pool. The restaurants have so much variety and the food is delicious. The Water Ceremony at the Spa is a must. All of the staff we interacted with went above and beyond -- specifically: Ernesto at Azul; he knew what we needed/wanted before we did - it was amazing and his recommendations were perfect. Alejandro, our concierge, was so thoughtful and really made us feel like celebrities. Karen at the spa made the Water Ceremony even better than it already is. Everything about this vacation was amazing and we can not wait to go back!

Fabulous time at Grand Velas! We were hesitant to do an all-inclusive based on some past experiences but this trip far exceeded our expectations. First - You are provided a personal concierge who meet/greet you and are in constant communication with you throughout your stay. We had Enrique in the late afternoon/evening and Diana in early morning/early afternoon. They were both amazing! Extremely professional and helpful but also very friendly and personable. Anything we needed we just communicated via group text thread to Enrique/Diana and they were immediately responsive! Second - The food is phenomenal for an all inclusive. All of our dinners were at regular “order off the menu” type places. Not buffets. They even have a 1 Michelin star restaurant Cocina de Autor with an 8 or 9 course tasting menu with wine pairings. And the French place called Piaf was so good we ate there 2 out of our 4 dinners. The only buffet we had was breakfast and it was also excellent. Huge variety. Very well done. Overall this quality of food you would expect (and many times don’t get) at an upscale resort where you pay for each meal. And the included wine and liquors were all high quality as well! Service - Everyone we interacted with was friendly and professional. Waiters, pool staff, hostesses, etc. were all great. Spa - Amazing spa. Common areas, treatment rooms, staff, etc. All of it was wonderful. For a 2-4 night trip with friends, I would highly recommend it!

We had a wonderful stay at the ambassador building right on the beach. The food was of the highest quality and the service (especially our concierge/butler team, Jeronimo and Nicolas) were exceptional. The rooms were large, very clean and well equipped. We felt very little friction during our stay making it a truly relaxing experience. We look forward to our next stay!

Spent Spring Break with my family on the Zen side. The property delivered on every front. Jessica Meza served as our personal concierge and made the stay memorable. She handled requests fast, checked in often, and brought a warmth to her work you don’t always find at resorts. If you book the Zen side, ask for her by name. The Ambassador pool was the best on property. Clean water, attentive servers, comfortable loungers, and a calm vibe all day. Food was excellent across the board. Sen Zen had fresh sushi and a quiet setting. The Michelin restaurant was the dining highlight of the trip. Reserve early. Service everywhere, restaurants, pools, lobby, and housekeeping, matched the price point. You pay for all-inclusive luxury and you get it here. Already planning the next trip back.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​