Grand Velas Riviera Maya All Inclusive Resort in Playa Del Carmen plus Wellness program- Jan. 2025

If you’re seeking an unforgettable getaway that combines luxury, relaxation, and gourmet dining, look no further than the Grand Velas Riviera Maya This resort is an absolute gem on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and my experience here was nothing short of spectacular. From the stunning accommodations to the world-class dining, every moment was filled with awe and joy.

The Resort:

Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a sanctuary of beauty and relaxation. The resort offers spacious, elegantly designed suites, some with sweeping ocean views and private balconies. The architecture blends modern luxury with traditional Mexican elements, creating a serene atmosphere. The service is impeccable, with staff going above and beyond to ensure your stay is flawless. Whether you’re enjoying a cocktail by the pool or lounging on the beach, you feel pampered at every turn.

The Beach:

The beach here is beautiful, and while you can swim in the crystal-clear ocean, it’s worth noting that the water is relatively shallow, with a depth of only about 2-3 feet. While this might not be ideal for deep-water swimming, it’s perfect for lounging in the warm waters, paddling around, or enjoying a cocktail while you relax. Plus, the soft, powdery sand and gentle waves make it a great spot to unwind.

The Dining:

One of the highlights of my stay at Grand Velas Riviera Maya was the incredible dining options. There’s a fantastic variety of cuisines, each one more delightful than the last.

1. Lucca (pics above) : For an Italian-inspired dining experience, Lucca is an absolute must-visit. The atmosphere is cozy yet elegant, and the food is top-notch. From their freshly made pasta to their gourmet pizzas, everything was cooked to perfection. The standout dish for me was the truffle risotto—it was rich, creamy, and divine. Every bite felt like a little piece of Italy.
2. Frida (pics below): Frida offers a mouthwatering taste of authentic Mexican cuisine. The vibrant setting is filled with rich colors, and the dishes are bursting with flavor. I especially loved the tacos de carnitas and the mole, which was a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. The service at Frida was exceptional, and it was a wonderful spot to enjoy traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist.
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4. Chaka (picture below): For an upscale take on Caribbean cuisine, Chaka is the place to be. Situated in a lush, jungle-like setting, the ambiance is both romantic and intimate. The seafood here is fresh, with flavors that sing. From ceviche to grilled fish, every dish was a celebration of the region’s bounty. The presentation was impeccable, and the taste was even better.
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6. Piaf (pics below)-If you’re looking for a more sophisticated dining experience, Piaf is a French-inspired restaurant that will not disappoint. Elegant and refined, the menu showcases the best of French gastronomy, with standout dishes like foie gras and a perfectly cooked duck confit. It was a truly luxurious dining experience that transported me straight to Paris. The wine selection was also incredible, with a wide variety of options to complement each dish.

Beach Dinner:

 

Perhaps the most memorable meal of all was the beachfront seafood and steak dinner. Imagine dining on the soft sand under the stars, with the gentle sound of the ocean in the background. The dinner featured an incredible array of fresh seafood and shellfish, including lobster, shrimp, oysters, and a selection of sushi rolls. But what truly set this meal apart was the tomahawk steaks—juicy, tender, and perfectly charred. Every bite of that steak was an indulgence. Pairing this with a glass of chilled white wine made for an unforgettable evening. The culinary team went above and beyond to make this dinner an experience to remember.

Service and Lobby:

The service throughout the resort was nothing short of exceptional. The staff at Grand Velas Riviera Maya truly care about your experience and go out of their way to make sure every detail is perfect. From the concierge team to the waitstaff at the restaurants, everyone was attentive, friendly, and professional. They made me feel like a VIP throughout my stay.

 

The Room:

The accommodation at Grand Velas are nothing short of spectacular. I stayed in a Grand Class Oceanfront Suite, and it was an absolute dream. The spacious suite featured floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the turquoise ocean. Waking up to that view each morning felt like a privilege. The room itself was modern, yet warm and inviting, with a blend of elegant furnishings and top-of-the-line amenities. The jacuzzi tub on the balcony was the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring or sunbathing, offering the perfect vantage point for watching the sunset over the Caribbean Sea.

The all-inclusive nature of the resort made it even better. Everything, from the premium drinks in the minibar to room service, was included in the package, allowing me to truly relax without thinking about additional costs. The minibar was stocked daily with a variety of beverages, snacks, and treats, and room service was available at all hours, offering a wide range of dishes, including breakfast in bed. The beds were incredibly comfortable, and the sheets felt like silk. Every detail was crafted to ensure ultimate relaxation and comfort.

All-Inclusive Food and Drinks: (pics above from the Bistro, Azul and the Coffee Shop)

The all-inclusive package here is top tier. It covers everything—from gourmet dining to unlimited drinks. No need to worry about counting your cocktails or trying to decide which restaurant to visit for lunch, as everything is part of your stay. The premium liquors and international wine selection are included, so whether you’re sipping a craft cocktail by the pool or enjoying a glass of champagne with your dinner, you can indulge without hesitation.

As mentioned earlier, the variety of dining options is beyond impressive. The all-inclusive food is consistently high-quality, and the selection at the buffets, restaurants, and bars is a culinary adventure. The ability to enjoy top-notch seafood, steaks, sushi, and authentic Mexican dishes at any time is a major perk that truly elevates the entire experience.

Amenities and Activities:

Beyond the exceptional dining and room accommodations, Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers a wealth of amenities and activities to keep you entertained.

1. The Gym: The fitness center at Grand Velas is state-of-the-art. Whether you want to keep up with your workout routine or are looking to try something new, this gym has everything you could need—modern cardio machines, free weights, and a variety of equipment. Plus, there are fitness classes available if you prefer guided workout experience, such as yoga or spin classes. It’s the perfect way to stay active while on vacation.
2. Bike Tour: One of the most unique and enjoyable activities offered at the resort is the bike tour. This guided tour takes you through the beautiful grounds of the resort, where you can explore the lush landscape and learn about the area’s flora and fauna. The bikes are comfortable, and the pace is relaxed, so it’s perfect for anyone, regardless of fitness level. It’s a great way to explore the resort in a fun and active way.
3. Beach and Sand Volleyball: If you’re a fan of beach sports, you’ll love sand volleyball courts. The resort offers a fun, social atmosphere for anyone looking to get in a game. The courts are perfectly maintained, and the ocean view makes it a memorable place to play. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, it’s an enjoyable way to meet new people and get some exercise while soaking in the stunning beachfront setting.
4. Other Activities: Grand Velas also offers a variety of other activities throughout the day, including cooking classes, tequila tastings, water aerobics, and even a tequila sommelier experience. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure. The resort also offers guided excursions to nearby attractions, so if you’re in the mood for exploring, there are plenty of opportunities.
   • Yoga sessions: Held in a serene environment with expert instructors who catered to all levels.
   • Fitness classes: From high-energy cardio sessions to calming stretches, there was something for everyone.
   • Animal Flow yoga: This unique practice combines yoga, dance, and functional fitness for an invigorating experience.
   • Sound baths: A deeply relaxing and meditative journey using sound frequencies to promote healing and tranquility.Wellness Programs – More about the Wellness, Spa, Eco, Food, Family, Amenities, Weddings & More below
     

      

     The Grand Velas excels in its wellness offerings, providing guests with opportunities to rejuvenate both body and mind. I participated in several wellness activities- see photos above

However, if you’re hoping to enjoy some snorkeling, it’s worth noting that while the resort offers direct access to the beach, the ocean in this area is too shallow for snorkeling right from the resort. For more extensive water activities, including snorkeling, you may need to book an excursion through the resort. The concierge team is very helpful in organizing off-site activities, so you won’t have to worry about anything.

Final Thoughts:

Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an oasis of luxury, relaxation, and fun. Whether you want to spend your days lounging by the pool with a refreshing cocktail, enjoying incredible meals at world-class restaurants, or partaking in a variety of activities and amenities, this resort has something for everyone. The spacious rooms with their oceanfront views, jacuzzi tubs, and top-tier all-inclusive offerings make for a truly memorable vacation.

Add in the stunning beach, exceptional service, and unbeatable culinary experiences, and it’s clear that Grand Velas Playa del Carmen is an extraordinary destination for anyone seeking the ultimate luxury getaway. This resort truly knows how to deliver a vacation that feels effortless and extraordinary at every turn. I can’t recommend it enough!

Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a slice of paradise. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, gourmet dining, or an immersive cultural experience, this resort has it all. The combination of stunning natural beauty, world-class service, and exceptional cuisine made this vacation one of the best I’ve ever had. If you’re considering a luxury escape to the Mexican Caribbean, I can’t recommend Grand Velas highly enough—this resort will exceed all your expectations.  It is also a very popular place for destination weddings.

For more information and to book your stay, visit their website at https://www.grandvelas.com.

 

F&B
Nahúm Velasco, Head Chef of Recently Awarded MICHELIN Starred Cocina de Autor, Promoted To Executive Chef
Nahúm Velasco has been promoted to Executive Chef of the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Known for his exceptional culinary talents, Velasco is head restaurant chef at the resort’s signature restaurant, Cocina de Autor, which recently received a MICHELIN star in Mexico’s first rating. In his new expanded role, Velasco’s leadership will extend to the additional five gourmet specialty restaurants at the hotel, multiple bars, 24-hour in-suite service, and extensive catering operations. His promotion marks a significant milestone in the culinary offerings of the 539 all-suite, uber-luxury all-inclusive resort on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

 

FAMILY
Pampered Kids: A New G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S Getaway for Families
The resort collection that originated the VIP Baby Concierge and $2M Birthday Party for Billionaire’s Kids has gone over-the-top for its littlest guests once again. Families visiting the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya will now be able to book a G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S activity packed getaway inspired by top influencer visits to the resort. The package is a VIP experience catered to the whole family, inclusive of spa, culinary experiences, presidential suite, Mexican shows, and more. The 5-night G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S Getaway starts right at check-in with a welcome gift, cookies and milk for the kids from the resort’s monkey mascot Pancho while parents are treated to some Veuve Clicquot. From there, guests are taken to their two-bedroom Presidential Suite where they will find deluxe custom robes and slippers to commemorate the stay. The almost 3,000 sq. ft. suite also comes complete with 24-hour suite and poolside private butler service and private terrace with plunge pool. Luxurious spa services are on tap for both adults and kids including the renowned water ceremony at Se Spa for the former as well as kid-friendly treatments in the spa cabanas. Kids can opt for a Tarzan & Jane Experience with relaxing stretches, chocolate, orange or candy Aroma Massage, Mini Me Facial, or Hand Massage with nail polish. Daily yoga and meditation for the family keeps the vibe calm. Foodie kids can test their baking skills with a cake shop cooking class and even another dedicated to the molecular cuisine of the resort’s AAA Five Diamond

 

Virtuoso Honors Grand Velas Riviera Maya as Best Family Program In Annual Best of the Best Awards Global luxury travel network Virtuoso® has named Grand Velas Riviera Maya the Best Family Program in its annual Best of the Best Awards. Every year only 50 hotels and hospitality leaders are nominated in the coveted awards, which recognize those who raise the bar in their respective areas. Nominees were determined by a poll of both Virtuoso travel agency members and Virtuoso preferred partners. Juan Vela Ruiz, vice president of Velas Resorts, received the award last night during Virtuoso Travel Week 2019. Grand Velas Riviera Maya was selected above other nominees as the very best Family Program, demonstrating innovation in family-friendly services and amenities and distinctly unique experiences.

The AAA Five Diamond resort has special services and activities for all ages to enjoy with their age group or as a family. Cozy indoor spots offer everything from a Mexican Toys Workshop and new Kids’ Art Gallery to cooking and baking classes, Spanish lessons, and dreamcatcher and piñata workshops. The resort is also now offering a new kids glamping experience and Bubble Bath Menu that serves up delicious-looking ice cream soap bombs full of favorite Mexican flavors. Teens aren’t forgotten with the dedicated Teens’ Club that has video games, disco floor & lights, karaoke and bar with teen-friendly drinks & snacks. A teens’ training camp in the summer consists of a bungee, Zip Line, and climbing walls.

For Grand Velas’ littlest guests, babies are catered to with a Baby Concierge who can coordinate a crib, Mexican toys, baby floats, gentle bath and shampoo gels, and organic foods in advance. To foster quality time together, entertainment for families ranges from astronomy nights, Insta-worthy Cooking Classes that combine food and photography, sandcastle building, tortilla making, and Mexican Fiesta, to drive-in movies, eco-cycling tours, and Pre-Hispanic Shows. Kids’ Glamping Offering Introduced at Grand Velas Riviera Maya Grand Velas Riviera Maya is offering a new glamping activity for kids. A popular trend among adults, glamping is a fusion of glamour and camping perfect for those wanting to explore the outdoors while keeping some of today’s modern comforts. Now kids can get in on the fun. A highlight of the activity, kids can fancy up s’mores with gold marshmallows and several flavors of gourmet chocolate. Additionally, kids will have fun sitting by the campfire, making glammed up dreamcatchers, telling stories, creating puppet and shadow theater shows, and playing games like musical chairs and hide-and-seek.

Two-Bedroom Family Suites Include Stuffed Animal, Bathrobes & Slippers and Turndowns for Kids Families can now “stay together” in the new two-bedroom Family Suites at the “Beyond All Inclusive, Beyond All Compare” Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico. The luxury resorts, with properties in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit, understand the need for families to vacation together while also needing time for personal space. The spacious suites, all over 2,000 sq. ft., feature one King bed suite and a suite with two queen beds interconnecting, a private terrace with jungle or ocean views, 24-hour Suite Service, and complimentary nights. Additional amenities for families consist of a stuffed animal of the resort’s mascot, bathrobes and slippers in special mini sizes, family photo session and credit for the purchase of photos, kids’ welcome beach kit, kid-friendly evening turndown and more. Dreamcatcher Handcrafts – Children can step back in time and discover the ancient Huichol tradition As part of Grand Velas Riviera Maya’s continuous commitment to ensure its guests are acquainted with the ancient history and customs of Mexico, the Kids Club is launching a new, exciting program that enables children to master the 2,000-year-old tradition of weaving their own dreamcatcher. Known as the ‘Huichol Eye’ which means ‘The Eye of God’, this ancient craft process has been present for centuries amongst the native populations of the Coras and Huicholes in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Inspired by this historical influence, little ones can re-enact this famous tradition of weaving colorful patterns around five circles representing the Eyes of God. Dreamcatchers are designed to bring good luck encourage positive dreams, warding off negativity energy and nightmares. Each color has a different meaning and children in the Kids Club can have fun choosing their own color palette so that they can bring home a homemade and personalized souvenir. Organized twice a week within the state-of-the-art Grand Velas Riviera Maya Kids Club, children will be able to learn a fun new creative activity as well as the history of the native Yucatán Peninsula populations.

Babies are VIPs at Grand Velas Resorts – With Special First Haircut, Massages, Organic Food & More Babies get VIP treatment at Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico. The newest offering from Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is baby’s first haircut, which comes with special pampering and a certificate celebrating the milestone. This can be combined with a 25-minute Sun rise Massage for 1 to 3-year-olds to stimulate the child’s senses, allowing him or her to recognize the differences between textures and sounds. At Grand Velas Riviera Maya, guests can reserve a crib prior to arrival and at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, besides cribs, everything from Mexican toys, baby floats, and baby clothes to gentle bath and shampoo gels are available. At both AAA Five Diamond resorts, baby’s diet is cared for: the hotels will prepare organic foods and beverages on request. Nanny service is also featured on advance notice. Teen Lounge- High-Tech Hangout Spot Sets Industry Standard.

The new teen lounge at Grand Velas Riviera Maya has everything a teen could want, with features ranging from games like billiards, air hockey, foosball and arcade games, to video game systems Xbox and PS3, special seats with built in speakers for enhanced game play and individual cubicles with a 40” LED TV. When evening sets in, the fun continues with a disco dance floor with surround sound and special lighting, and karaoke complete with 45,000 songs in multiple languages. Four 55” LED TVs project current sports programs and music videos, while teens can also enjoy the lounge’s Apple TV. Younger kids ages 4 to 12 enjoy an expanded kids club complete with seven video game consoles with Xbox, Wii and more than 30 games as well as equipment for projection of Blu-ray films, and comfortable tables and chairs for all kinds of board games and craft projects.

 

SPA

SE Spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort continues to add to its diverse menu of locally-inspired spa offerings by releasing the Mayan Jade Facial. The anti-aging treatment (80 min / $342 USD) uses a jade roller to enhance the massage experience. Jade is said to bless whatever it touches so the native tribes of Mexico, Central and South America carved it into deity masks and ritual artifacts, even casting it into wells as an offering to the water spirits for fresh and plentiful water. With active ingredients targeting lines and wrinkles, the treatment immediately reduces expression lines and signs of aging. A Jade facial roller is used to help the skin absorb the serum, as well as tighten, smooth, and sculpt the skin’s surface. The treatment also helps relieve facial tension, sinus pressure, and headaches, improves skin elasticity, and reduces puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. Using a jade roller benefits the skin by increasing lymphatic drainage, helping to remove toxins from the face while also encouraging circulation, leaving the skin with a natural, glowing appearance. Mayan Spa Treatments Added to Se Spa Menu at Grand Velas Riviera Maya