Carretera Cancun Tulum Km 62, Playa del Carmen, Mexico | 52 (322) 226-8689
Gorgeous all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen
Set on a beautiful white-sand, 1,000-foot-long beach
Adults-only area with a peaceful pool
Luxurious suites have butler service, jetted tubs, and rainfall showers
Rooms have outdoor spaces – some with plunge pools and ocean views
Phenomenal holistic spa has hydrotherapy and extensive treatment menu
Three stunning pool complexes with bar service
Eight restaurants serving outstanding buffet and a la carte food
Bars serve premium domestic and international liquor
Great fitness center with personal trainers
Free non-motorized water sports
Kids’ Club with daily activities and a modern teens’ club
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Few on-site nightlife options open after midnight
The all-inclusive Grand Velas is one of Riviera Maya’s most sophisticated properties, offering 491 impressive suites and extensive features across over 80 acres of mangroves that meet a postcard-perfect beach. Suites are spread out in three different buildings (two family-friendly, one adults-only), with their own stunning pool complexes, gyms, and restaurants. All suites have jetted tubs, rainfall showers, and furnished terraces – some with ocean views and plunge pools. The property is so huge guests will need to take a three-minute shuttle ride from the farthest building to the beach, but the hotel’s spotless service, outstanding food, luxurious spa, and wonderful amenities make it a great pick for discerning (and well-heeled) travelers. Couples wanting a completely adults-only property should consider the chic Royal Hideaway Playacar.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
What Are the Design and Scene Like at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
This top-notch all-inclusive resort has a luxurious spa, multiple dining options, and high-end suites.
The Grand Velas is one of the top three hotels in Riviera Maya, a region known for its luxury resorts and gorgeous beaches. It is set on 86 acres of beachfront mangroves outside Playa del Carmen -- but the jungle is so thick and the path to the main road so long that the resort feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of more touristy areas in Playa del Carmen, located just a short drive away.
The resort is comprised of three separate areas -- Zen, Ambassador, and Grand Class -- all hidden away amid the lush grounds. The Zen section is the first one off the road (but that means it’s still a two-minute drive from the main entrance), and has a hushed vibe despite being family-friendly, with dimly lit pathways covered by palapa roofs, a stylish pool complex playing soft music in the background, and the hotel’s top-notch spa. It’s the least luxurious of the three sections, but here that only means rooms are a tad smaller (1,100 square feet) and overlook the jungle instead of the sea.
Down the road, right on the beach, are the Ambassador and Grand Class sections. The Ambassador is home to the largest pool complex and to several restaurants, both casual and formal. It’s busier than the Zen building because of its proximity to the beach, but the hotel’s stretch of sand is 1,000 feet long, the pool is huge, and the room count is relatively low (491 suites spread out in three buildings), so the resort does not necessarily feel crowded.
Unlike the Ambassador and Zen sections, the Grand Class is adults-only. It’s the most luxurious of all buildings, with three restaurants, a beautiful infinity pool, and private plunge pools in every room. The 90 huge suites also feature contemporary Mexican artwork, large terraces, and stunning bathrooms with dark-wood sliding doors.
Where Is the Grand Velas Riviera Maya Located?
It's on a beautiful beach outside Playa del Carmen in Mexico's Riviera Maya.
The Grand Velas is located on a gorgeous white-sand beach off the Cancun - Chetumal road that runs along the Riviera Maya coast. There is nothing within walking distance aside from a handful of resorts, but a 15-minute cab ride gets you to dining, shopping, and nightlife in Playa del Carmen.
It used to be the home of the ancient Mayans, and after that a small fishing village, but now Playa del Carmen -- or "Playa," as the locals call it -- is full of exciting nightclubs, popular restaurants, cute boutiques, and resort hotels that sit on lovely white-sand beaches. Because many of the businesses are European-run, the rest of the town retains a hint of European flair. The main tourist thoroughfare of Playa is the cobblestone-lined, pedestrian street Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue), but there are plenty of fun outdoor activities for visitors, too, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and sailing. The offshore reef is part of the second largest reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
What Are Rooms Like at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Beautiful, huge suites have furnished terraces, luxurious bathrooms with jetted tubs, and high-end amenities; some add plunge pools and ocean views.
The Grand Velas Riviera Maya's 491 suites are housed in three separate buildings (Zen, Ambassador, and Grand Class), each with its own characteristics and decor. The Zen section is the only one in the jungle and does not offer ocean views. It houses the hotel’s convention center and the spa, but it’s the least transited of the three buildings, and the vibe here is hushed and romantic. While families are welcome at the Zen and Ambassador buildings -- both featuring kids’ clubs and plenty of connecting rooms -- kids under 12 are not allowed in the Grand Class section. In-room amenities are comparable in all buildings, and all rooms have furnished terraces, but the largest and most luxurious units can be found in the Grand Class building.
Standard amenities consist of large flat-screen TVs with pay-per-view movies and DVD players, iPod Docks, free Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines, free minibars, pillow menus, desks, and sitting areas with couches. All units have furnished terraces or patios, some with private plunge pools.
Spacious bathrooms (huge in Grand Class suites) have separate rainfall showers and large jetted tubs, hairdryers, bathrobes and slippers, and upscale toiletries.
Personal butlers are shared with a maximum of 10 other rooms; private butlers are provided in Governor and Presidential Suites.
What's the Beach Like at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
The pristine beach has loungers, bar service, and free non-motorized water sports.
The Grand Velas Riviera May sits along a gorgeous white-sand beach a few minutes north of Playa del Carmen. It features tons of loungers, several cabanas, and bar service from early in the morning until sunset. There are also two restaurants a few feet from the sand, and a couple of poolside bars for those who want to sit at a table instead.
What Are the Pools Like at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
There are three stunning pool complexes, two of which offer ocean views.
The Grand Velas has three separate pool complexes, all absolutely stunning. Probably the most striking fact about the pools is that they’re made with marble brought from Thailand, which gives them the color of the Caribbean seabed; they truly look like an extension of the sea. All three pool areas have swim-up bars and waiter service, and unobtrusive music plays in the background. The most relaxing pool might be the one found in the Zen area, but the Ambassador’s is the largest, and the Grand Class’ is the only one that's adults-only. Guests can access all three pools, not just the one in their section of the resort.
The Ambassador and Grand Class pools have ocean views, but Zen is surrounded by the jungle.
What's the Spa Like at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
One of the top spas in the world is found here, offering tons of treatments and hydrotherapy.
The hotel’s 89,000-square-foot spa is one of the world’s top wellness centers and a member of the Leading Spas of the World. It features 40 treatment rooms -- including some for couples, and some with private whirlpools -- as well as relaxation areas, a meditation room, a beauty salon with services for brides, and a hydrotherapy circuit. Service here is top-notch, with a dedicated spa concierge, welcome drinks, and tea service after each treatment.
The salon offers manicures and pedicures, as well as a wide array of hair services and facials. Traditional Mexican, Maya and Indian treatments available, and all treatment cabins have natural light. There are two bridal suites, each with a deep jetted tub, a massage bed, large mirrors and a salon area for hair and nail services.
All treatments include the spa's Riviera Maya Water Ceremony, consisting of a sauna, color therapy steam room, hot tub, cold plunge, sensation showers, ice room, and clay room.
What's the Fitness Center Like at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Two well-equipped fitness centers are available, as well as daily fitness classes.
The hotel features two fitness centers: one in the Ambassador building and the other one in the Zen section. They’re both well-equipped with a wide array of cardio and strength-training machines and feature personal trainers. Pilates, yoga and meditation classes are available.
What Family-Friendly Amenities Are Available at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
The property is very family-friendly, with many connecting rooms, two kids’ clubs, and activities for children and teens.
The Grand Velas is a very family-friendly hotel. It features two kids’ clubs with daily activities, a shallow pool area at the Ambassador section, and many connecting rooms. Note that children under 12 are not allowed to stay in the Grand Class section, but families are welcome in the Zen and Ambassador buildings.
There are also kid-friendly menus at most restaurants. A wide array of fun activities for kids and teens includes beach Olympics, movies, Wiis, treasure hunts, crafts, and painting. Babysitting services are offered for a fee.
What Restaurants Are Available at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Eight all-inclusive buffet and a la carte restaurants serve outstanding food in stylish spaces.
The Grand Velas Riviera Maya features eight restaurants, all included in the all-inclusive rate. There are casual poolside spots for a light bite and fine-dining restaurants with a stricter dress code, but all serve outstanding food, including Mexican, pan-Asian, French, and Italian cuisines. Reservations are required at all restaurants except for Azul and Chaka.
What Bars Are Available at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Eight bars serving premium liquor and non-alcoholic beverages include a karaoke spot and swim-up bars at all pools.
What's Covered by the All-Inclusive Package at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Butler service, gourmet dining, and non-motorized water sports are all covered by the all-inclusive rate.
All-inclusive rates include:
What Services Are Available at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Top-notch services include butlers and babysitters.
What Eco-Friendly Practices Are at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya?
Reverse-osmosis desalting plants, a water treatment plant, and a waste reduction program are some of the green initiatives.
