Rarely am I completely captivated by a resort. Rarely does an all-inclusive product deliver such an extraordinarily high level of food and service. And almost never will anything compare to Grand Velas Rivera Maya!
Located on the Riviera Maya, five minutes from Playa del Carmen and thirty minutes from Cancun airport sits this brand new gem. If you have experienced Grand Velas Nuevo Vallarta – you’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg – as the Rivera Maya “newbie” picks up from the original and explodes into something so far spectacular!
With close to 500 suites, Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the most luxurious all-inclusive EVER built. When completely done, she will have a total of eight gourmet restaurants ranging from French, Italian and Asian Fusion to high-end Mexican and International – you will never go hungry or bored. Even the in-suite dining is delicious – and arrives hot inside a warming cabinet that doubles as a dining table. Service at this resort is by far the finest I have experienced at an all-inclusive and possibly in all of Mexico. No request is too burdensome. Each guest is assigned to a personal concierge who attends to your every whim. You never have to ask twice.
And the suites…ah! Gorgeous! Enormous! Luxurious! Perfect! The bathtubs are superb. The beds are ultra-comfortable. The verandas are spacious and well-equipped. The amenities are delightfully upscale and plentiful – and the mini bar is fully stocked – over and over again. The snack tray in each suite is filled with candy, chips, granola bars – enough to keep kids and adults happy! The single-pod coffee maker and the bottle of tequila are a nice touch! There is nothing they have not thought of…and I have not even told you about the spa or the 90,000 square feet of function space. You could completely fill this resort and still have function space left over. Anything from a beachside dinner to a full-blown banquet can be easily accommodated. The beach is gorgeous with white sand and azure waters. Why leave?
The property is actually broken down into three different hotels or “ambiances”. The first, and most likely to be booked by an incentive group is the Ambassador section. All 197 suites are ocean view, 1,270 square feet and some with plunge pools. Guests of any age are welcome here. The large infinity pools with a swim up bar are incredibly inviting and relaxing. Never a fight for a lounge chair, always someone willing to move an umbrella or take your drink and food order! The second, and most expensive of the “ambiances” is the Ambassador Grande section with 90 suites – all with plunge pools and all ocean view. They are even larger (1377 square feet) than those found in Ambassador. Last but not least is the Jungle section. Located next to the spa and convention center – this “ambiance” is the most affordable, since the 206 suites are “jungle view” and not ocean view. They are 1184 square feet. The views are actually quite pretty and peaceful – with incredible foliage and peaceful streams. This is a great alternative for a group whose budget does not allow for ocean view – and for groups with a good deal of meeting content due to the proximity of the convention center.
And then there’s the spa…or should I call it the spa-ahhhhhhh! Unbelievable. Over 76,000 square feet with 40 treatment rooms. Ridiculous! With the purchase of a one-hour massage for example – so many amenities are included. The water journey is a pool of various sprays, bubbles and massage jets guaranteed to put you in the “spa” mood. Afterwards, visit the steam room, sauna or the “experience” showers – with more jets than I could count. My personal favorites are the clay and ice rooms. The clay room – also known as a rasul – is a steam room in which you apply different colored mud to your entire body and allow the steam to activate the mud so that it softens and heals your skin. In the ice room, crushed ice flows into a basin. Scoop up handfuls of ice and apply to your skin before heading off to the shower. Brrrr! And all this before you even get to the treatment room! Truly amazing. Totally different. Nothing like it in the world!
There are frequent and on-demand shuttle vans to take guests from the Ambassador and Ambassador Grande sections to the Jungle, Spa and Conference Center. It only takes two minutes in either direction. Seriously…no big deal! When groups are in house, the resort brings in large motor coaches to make the process quick and easy.
If I don’t have you convinced by now that Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the place for your next incentive, then let me add this: our DMC partners – CEO Events will make your transfers to and from the airport painless. They will handle all of your off-site excursions – golf, Mayan Ruins, shopping, etc. Personally, I see no reason to leave this resort paradise EVER – but you might want to check out the surroundings!
For more detailed information on grand velas rm, click below:
www.grandvelas.com
