Exact dress here (sold out but they restock often)
I got back last week from Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (near Puerto Vallarta) which is the #1 Tripadvisor luxury all-inclusive resort and as you can see in the photos, it was beautiful. I’ve been traveling quite a bit the last few years and I can not recommend this property enough. These are my ten reasons why I would DEFINITELY come back here and how it compares to the other resorts I have visited.
{1} Beautiful landscaping and resort. I love arriving and seeing a beautiful resort. From the flowers (bougainvilleas everywhere), to how the hotel was designed, and the pool in front of the beach, the property is gorgeous. When a property feels and is beautiful, I know it is luxurious and the trip will be amazing.
{2} Exquisite suites with terraces. Hannah and I stayed in a spacious 2 bedroom family suite that was to die for. The suite was big enough for 6 people which is PERFECT for families or groups of friends! It was HUGE. Family room, dining room, mini kitchen, 2 queen beds, and a 1 king bed with three bathrooms! Talk about spoiled. The rooms smelled fantastic and we had a wrap around terrace that had a view of the ocean and pool with a jacuzzi!
3} Food and Service. These two things are extremely important to me. I thought the food was high quality, well done, and very comparable to a 4-5 star restaurant experience. Definitely one of the best for an all-inclusive. The lunch menu at the pool was smaller and more limited, but they’ll make you anything easy that is off the menu! SERVICE was top notch! Friendly, frequent, consistent. We were at the pool every day and had the best service. Any of the waiters help you and they stop by often to see if you need something. I’ve been to other resorts where it’s spotty.
{4} Easy Travel Time. We got here in about 5 hours from Chicago (we did a transfer in Texas). It was a pretty quick flight, car service was less than 30 minutes and here we were in paradise. I love traveling to Mexico due to how close it is and the availability of flights is easy. Comparable to Nevis (which I loved) this is just easier to travel to if you want a quicker trip.
{5} Best pool drinks I have had. DRINKS! I am a tropical slushy drink kind of girl when I go on vacation and they had the BEST tropical drinks I’ve had out of all the spots I went to. The Miami Vice, Daiquiris, every single iced drink was delicious and the best. After too many sugary drinks I had Corona light (which I love). So if you are a gal that loves a good slushy drink and the pool, this is the place to be.
{6} Pool and beach seat availability with comfort. Essential to any tropical vacation is a good poolside lounger or beach lounger without the pain of getting up early or saving it with books and sunscreen. At any time of the day, there was a great lounger available with sun or shade so there was absolutely no need to rush and wake up early. It sounds funny, but I loved this. I really relaxed on this trip as I took my time, I loved the pool and the staff was awesome at helping with opening and closing of the umbrellas (which was available at every other seat)!
{7} Special Occasions in a gorgeous setting. We saw a few weddings/events at the hotel and it was perfection. I took a photo of a dinner they had set up and I can’t imagine a better place. If you are searching for a destination wedding. This is a perfect location. They had a saxophone player during dinner as well – so romantic.
{8) Daily activities such as this aerial class we took! So fun and great for beginners. There’s a calendar of events for those that like to be active and a great gym.
{9} Spa: BEST MASSAGE EVER. We were walked through the sauna, then the steam room, and the dip pools (each with its own little treat) and the massage started with a prayer ritual that was relaxing and meaningful. I get a massage once a month for the past 8 years. When I say best, it really was the best. SOOO good, I booked a second one for the day before our last day. So two massages in 5 days. It was WONDERFUL. I can not recommend it enough.
{10} Beauty. Relaxation. Retreat. Luxury. All of it spun in one at the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. I truly relaxed this vacation, which some may not understand, but sometimes when I go on trips, I work from my laptop, I take photos and am on Instagram quite a bit. I really felt like myself this trip, and even read a book! I absolutely recommend this resort to those seeking the same.
Comparison to other trips I recently took: On the caliber of Four Seasons Nevis (see my blog post here), I quite enjoyed both resorts. Nevis was a bit pricier and harder to get to so costs come into play. Grand Velas is all-inclusive so there are also no additional costs with food and drinks. Service at both is excellent.
Compared to Viceroy Riveria Maya (see my blog post here), for a girls trip or larger groups I prefer Grand Velas. Viceroy is perfect for a couple honeymooning and loves a small boutique. I loved that trip but a different vibe. Much smaller and great for an intimate trip.
I took my boys recently to Royalton Cancun which is an affordable trip for families. Royalton is a high energy place which is more party and activities than Grand Velas. The food was not as high end but still tons of choices. I would definitely recommend Royalton for groups of friends and family. Grand Velas is a different feeling and a bit higher in price.
Gorgeous sunsets on the main pool which something that we enjoyed every night. Our terrace faced this view and we ran to the pool to watch this sunset one night.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is the destination for families with small children, couples, and groups of friends. I would LOVE to come back and my plan is to visit another Grand Velas (Cabo or Riviera Maya) as this was one of my favorite trips so far!
