Grand Velas Riviera Maya

The Grand Velas resort was beautiful with accommodations for families and adults. The food options provided a wide variety. The conference staff and facilities were top notch . Andrea was assigned to assist with all conferences needs- she was great. Photographers and a sound team supported our team dinner. Excellent pictures! Alexis our concierge was excellent responsive and provided great suggestions. Wonderful experience

First: I have to give a huge shout out to our E-concierge Karla Ayala. We asked for good,c drinks, a reading nook for our children, and reservations for shows and restaurants and she had everything ready. When we were on the property Jose Zavala and Francisco Velazquez took superlative care of our needs, including booking a child spa experience, and ensuring our frictionless movement through our holiday. We were celebrating a birthday and the staff did everything to make it memorable. The food was spectacular, freshly made and seasonally appropriate. The rooms were gorgeous and well appointed, and the service was the best I've had in a long time. I am looking forward to returning with my whole family again!

Absolutely amazing. Top notch. Beautiful resort, great food selection and quality, amazing service. They go the extra mile. Food at the buffet was great and of great quality, everything from pizza and pasta to ceviche, sushi, raw fresh tuna, raw scallops, jamon, everything you'd ever want. The specialty restaurants were delicious. Our Personal Concierge was Alfonso Alamilla and he was super great. We communicated on WhatsApp and he was always quick to respond with any question or need that we had. He even arranged a birthday surprise for my husband. Transportation was seamless, very well organized. Would strongly recommend a stay here.

In summary, two "words": Ricardo Flores. He sets the bar high for hospitality. As our personal concierge, Ricardo provided the perfect amount of attention - not too much, not too little - to ensure our maximal comfort and enjoyment of all the resort offerings. From texting us a pillow menu...to arranging for an off-menu drink I requested...to acquiring a much-coveted reservation at Cocina de Autor...to a poolside visit to check in on us...to researching an item my husband needed delivered from off property...Ricardo made us feel like we were his only guests. Love is in the details, and we were well-loved. Ricardo embodies the ethos of this paradise-like resort: lavish elegance, classy presentation, impeccable professionalism, and down-to-earth, warm hospitality. We lacked nothing during our 4-night stay. Undoubtedly, behind Ricardo was his assistant Cesar and a small army of staff taking care of us in so many unseen ways. Our 4th floor Grand Class oceanfront suite from which we enjoyed breathtaking sunrises, a brief and dramatic thunderstorm, and 2 delicious en suite service breakfasts was a wonderful oasis to return to each day. We slept soundly on the comfortable bed (not our usual experience at hotels). I am a stickler for cleanliness and was pleased to find our suite and all three ambiances spotless. The light smell of lemongrass throughout the resort (infused even in the cold welcome refreshment towels - thankfully not smelling of bleach), while effectively repelling insects, is a thoughtful touch for those who have a keen sense of smell - subtle, refreshing and relaxing! Shout outs to many individuals who served us beautifully...I can't name them all, but these stand out: Cinthia - on our first night, in the Grand Class lobby when we asked for directions to Frida, did not just point us in the right direction but walked us all the way there in an unrushed manner, chatted with us, and oriented us to the various offerings within the Ambassador ambiance along the way. Meredith - hostess at Frida, warmly welcomed us and took note when we asked about the mini tasting bar at the entrance of the restaurant. More on that later. Gamaliel and Luis - attentive and friendly wait service at Frida. Highly recommend dining at Frida! Rafael Garcia - manager at Frida who took the time to arrange a mezcal tasting which introduced us to the rich history of tequila and mezcal - a memorable bonus after a delicious meal thanks to Meredith who remembered our curiosity. Camila - at the spa who gave me a much-needed Wellness massage. And so many ladies on staff there who guided me through the water ceremony and spa - I can't remember all their names, but they were fantastic. Highly recommend the water ceremony and spa experience. Pedro - at Azul who along with his team served us with extra attentiveness. Daniel - at the Ambassador poolside mini buffet was so chill and friendly as I tried conversing in my broken Spanish. Mitchell - at the Ambassador pool who led us in aqua exercises with energy and fun. Chef Valasco, Jesus and Abraham - along with their amazing team at Cocina de Autor guided us through a 9-course gastronomical experience that was brilliant and delightful. Highly, highly recommend. Grand Velas Riviera Maya goes all the extra miles to pamper guests with next level care. The design of each space and each staff offer a unified, consistent brand and level of service which I am sure is hard to achieve. Some candid notes for future travelers: - Mosquitos - bring itch cream for inevitable mosquito bites (we got a pricey but effective one on Amazon called Snowy Summit Devil's Club Itch Relief Cream and did not regret it). No matter how beautiful the resort is, if you're itchy the whole time and can't sleep well, it does not make for a relaxing stay. - Wildlife - the coati, iguanas, lizards and the 1 small snake I saw all kept to themselves. We were hoping to spot a spider monkey, but the staff said they are rarer. - Baked goods - sadly the macarons at Amat looked better than they tasted. In general, the bakery options throughout the resort were mediocre. - If you like landscape photography (like my husband), photo and time lapse opportunities are plentiful. - Be ready to be greeted with a smile and served by multiple staff - this took some getting used to but speaks to how everyone there puts the guest experience first 24/7!

What an amazing first class experience! Aaron our concierge was amazing in every way, attentive and professional. Would highly recommend him and this resort.