The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is a stunning resort located north of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is a stunning resort located just north of the northern edge of Banderas Bay in Mexico.
IN THIS POST
OVERVIEW
The property is a tropical paradise with two pools (one large infinity pool and a small pool for kids). In addition, there is an adult pool area with jacuzzis. In addition, there is a beautiful garden area and a total of six eateries on site.
When you arrive at the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, you are greeted with a luxurious experience. From fresh juices for kids, passionfruit margaritas for adults, and a welcoming massage!
FIRST IMPRESSION
The architecture is stunning. The building is built in the shape of a half-moon so that all rooms have oceanfront views. The service was top-notch, leaving no question why this property has received so many awards from travel publications (including being named one of the best resorts in Puerto Vallarta!).
LOCATION
To get to Puerto Vallarta, you will fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). The airport is about 15 minutes away from The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit Resort.
This luxury resort is in the ideal location, close to Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta’s historic downtown, El Malecón, and the airport.
CHECK-IN
The check-in was a breeze! When coordinating my trip with marketing, they knew my flight arrival time. So when I arrived, the staff was waiting for me.
Everyone immediately made me feel like I was home. They welcomed me with open arms and had small gifts for my son! In addition, the check-in area had staff ready to accommodate anyone ready to check-in.
THE ROOMS
The Grand Velas has a total of 266 suites arranged across nine floors. There are several spacious suites to select from, and they are enormous!
I had a two-bedroom family suite. This room features two queen beds, one king bed, and a private terrace in both rooms, followed by a common area balcony with a jacuzzi.
You will have a separate dining and living room area in this room. When booking a suite at Grand Velas, you will have a 24-hour personal concierge and 24-hour room service.
One 50-minute massage per adult per stay is included, so be sure to take advantage of this. The family suite also includes 50% off transportation to and from the airport.
There is so much to do at this resort, so I did not spend much time in the room. However, my room was cleaned whenever I returned to the room, and they always left a treat for us, whether it was a bottle of wine, chocolate-covered sweets, or snacks for my son.
View the room tour HERE.
AMENITIES – THE LUXURY ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAN
This all-inclusive resort has plenty of things to do here, making it perfect for solo travelers, a girl’s trip, a couple’s trip, and for families. There is just about something to do for everyone.
This property features recreational activities for children and adults, a kids club and teen club with daily activities, live entertainment, a fitness center, an infinity pool, and a kid’s pool. In addition, there is a top-rated spa that is a must-try amongst many more.
You will also have access to premium high-speed wi-fi and more!
SPA
The SE Spa was named among the best spas in the world by Condé Nast! The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit offers a wide range of spa and wellness services for guests looking to relax and unwind.
I was so excited to try this spa after seeing its high ratings; wow, it’s a must-experience. I had an 80 Grand Cora Massage, and it was much needed. Before your treatment, they recommend you visit the spa an hour before for water therapy treatments. This is optional, but it makes the experience better.
The SE spa also offers a kid spa! This is perfect for a mommy and me experience. Kids Spa treatments are recommended for ages 3 – 12 years and are done in your suite.
I recommend booking an experience at the spa if you have time. Also, if you book a family suite, you can get a one- 50-minute massage per stay.
ENTERTAINMENT
This resort had entertainment. There was always something going on for both adults and children. During your stay, your concierge will send you a calendar of everything going on for the day. There is also a digital board in the lobby area with entertainment.
When I arrived, they had a Sonic The Hedgehog show and Mario Bro’s show happening. Yes, the workers were dressed up as the characters and entertaining the kids. During my stay, they set up a picnic with snacks and drinks for kids and had a Paw Patrol show.
The kid’s area had plenty of activities like bracelet making, arts and crafts, card games, and more! I liked that the activities were relaxing for the kids.
They had entertainment in the pool as well. Everything was for everyone, from water basketball to water volleyball and aerobics. Although these might have been for adults, the workers encouraged kids to join, which I loved!
For evening entertainment, you will find live music in the lobby area. This was relaxing! They also had a theater where they had shows, and in the garden area, they had events like a light show and a fire show.
Overall for a family-friendly resort, the entertainment was perfect.
FOOD & DRINKS
This resort had the best food out of all the all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed at this year! I ate at all but one of the restaurants, and I had the best experience. The cocktails were also great.
Azul – This beachfront buffet-style restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast and lunch. They offer an a la carte menu as well. This is where I went daily for breakfast and lunch.
The food was fantastic. They always had a variety of food, a full salad bar, a sushi bar, and a dessert bar. The food was always fresh and hot.
Selva del Mar – This is the poolside restaurant. This is where you can order from the pool. They had similar things at Azul, but you can get poolside comfort food like french fries, chicken nuggets, and even buffalo wings.
Aqua Bar – This is a swim-up bar. Here, you can lounge and enjoy delicious cocktails with gorgeous ocean views.
Frida serves Mexican cuisine. AAA awarded it Four Diamonds. They offer authentic local Mexican cuisine. The food and drinks were excellent! You can tell that many of their sauces were made fresh in-house, and the seafood was outstanding.
Lucca – In Puerto Vallarta, Lucca is one of the best Italian-Mediterranean. Known for its fresh seafood to pasta, this is one of the restaurants you must try. My son had their pizza, and it was his favorite.
Sen Lin – This fine-dining restaurant specializes in Asian cuisine. They offer a variety of Asian food. I immediately opted for their Thai dishes, which were pretty good.
Piaf – This fine-dining restaurant specializes in French cuisine and serves dinner only. This restaurant is the only restaurant on site that is for adults. During my stay, I did ask what people thought about this restaurant, and in their opinion, this is one of the best restaurants! I’ll give it a try when I return!
Koi Sports Bar – This is an 18+ sports bar. I took a peek inside; they had TVs with sports playing from all countries!
You can make your reservations online HERE.
SERVICE
I have traveled quite a bit this year, and comparing my previous customer service encounters at other resorts, the Grand Velas tops all of them. The employees go above and beyond for you. They treat you like they’ve known you for years. The staff at Grand Velas makes you feel like you are at home.
After speaking with guests throughout my stay, I understand why they continuously return to Grand Velas! I met a family who told me that this was their fifth time visiting, and the service has always been top-notch!
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit can accommodate weddings, honeymoons, and other special events. While the resort is spectacular in its own right, it also provides incredible options for an unforgettable wedding or celebration.
FINAL IMPRESSION
The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is one of Mexico’s premier luxury resorts outside Puerto Vallarta. I have nothing but positive things to say about this resort, and I could go on and on, but I suggest you visit and experience it yourself!
From the magnificent views from the rooms and pool, the clean beaches, excellent hospitality, delicious food, and drinks, this is a family-friendly resort that I will visit at least once a year. For booking information visit vallarta.grandvelas.com