Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Puerto Vallarta's upscale all-inclusive gem
The sophisticated Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit shows what an all-inclusive resort can be. Grand Velas stands seaside on the northern edge of Mexico's Banderas Bay, about 25 minutes north of downtown Puerto Vallarta. It is home to spacious suites, five chef-driven restaurants, a grand full-service spa, and daily adventures for guests ranging from snorkeling to golf.
This well-styled resort — with its contemporary Mexican design and lush, colorful gardens — is everything you'd never expect from an all-inclusive.
This well-styled resort — with its contemporary Mexican design and lush, colorful gardens — is everything you'd never expect from an all-inclusive.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The luxury resort is home to four acclaimed restaurants: Frida, Lucca, Sen Lin and Piaf. The array of eateries offer an elevated, around-the-world culinary experience.
- If the resort's warm, powdery shore and steadily pounding surf aren't enough to chase away your worries, a visit to its sprawling spa should do the trick.
- The spa is also home to a fitness center and salon, so you can hit the day's next destination looking and feeling totally refreshed.
- The resort offers a slew of activities including fitness classes, bike tours, kayak touring, Spanish lessons, bocce ball, beach volleyball, scuba diving clinics, cooking classes and various theme nights (like salsa dancing) to keep you busy well into the evening.
Things to Know
- Teens are welcome at the luxurious spa, with three new 50-minute treatments that cater to the unique needs of the younger set.
- All spa services begin with the Grand Velas Water Ritual, a hydrotherapy circuit that treats the whole body with water at varying temperatures and states, from steam to ice.
- While dining at Frida’s, be sure to try the tortilla soup; it’s quite possibly among the best you’ll ever taste.
The Rooms
- Stay in one of the 267 one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites, which start at a minimum of 1,000 square feet and feature private balconies complete with Balinese teak furniture and sweeping views of the pool, beach and the bay.
- Living spaces include lounge areas, spa-like baths with sufficient space to accommodate in-room spa services and, in some suites, Jacuzzis and dining rooms.
- The resort's 10 suite categories include 12 Wellness Suites, which debuted in October 2015. Check in to these two-story, 1,750-square-foot specialty suites to receive a slew of extras like an in-suite fitness kit including a yoga mat, dumbbells, resistance bands, and an exercise bike.
The Restaurants
- Fine Mexican-style fare is the star at Frida, where those mejilones (mussels) come from the Sea of Cortez and are served with a delicate black bean salsa.
- Lucca dishes out Italian and Mediterranean food with an updated twist, such as pillowy ravioli filled with seafood and goat cheese and served with truffle oil.
- And at Piaf, you'll cry, "C'est si bon!" over French-inspired fare ranging from duck confit puff pastry tartlets to hazelnut-butter-marinated sea bass.
- Indulge in modern Asian cuisine at the resort's brand-new restaurant Sen Lin. Chic surroundings set the scene for a parade of perfectly plated dishes ranging from mango salad and spring rolls to hearty pad Thai and savory Peking duck.
- Selva del Mar serves substantial pool snacks (citrusy ceviche, crispy calamari, grilled dishes and hearty sandwiches, to name a few), and Azul's vast breakfast buffet is loaded with international options that warrant several trips to the buffet tables.
Getting There
Av. Cocoteros, 98 Sur, Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico C.P. 63735
TEL877-418-2722
TEL877-418-2722
TEL52-322-226-8677
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
PVR (16-20 min)
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