Editor's No. 1 Best All-Inclusive - Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico
Grand Velas Ambassador pool Can you tell from this photo that this is the Ambassador pool in a family-friendly section of the resort? Neither can we. | Zach Stovall
ByIslands StaffNov. 9, 2012
Islands superstar traveler Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon has visited countless all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean. But the one she loves the most? The Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico. "I was impressed by the huge suite, personal hot tub on the balcony, welcome tequila service in the suite, and the butler service. And no children in sight!" Enjoy this exclusive gallery of the Grand Velas by Islands photographer Zach Stovall and see if you agree.
Grand Velas Ambassador pool The main infinity pool is the focal point for the family-friendly Ambassador section, with the Ambassador Kids' Club and the gym just steps away. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Ambassador pool Naturally, there's concierge service at the pool and on the beach. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Grand Class suite With the 24-hour in-suite dining available, in addition to the excellent restaurants, you truly do feel pampered here. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Grand Class suite The ocean view from these suites is truly stunning. | Zach StovallGrand Velas rooms The 493 suites here are beautiful. The suite Sarah stayed in had a modern design of hardwood and marble with a humongous bathroom that included a whirlpool tub. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Ambassador pool Yes, some all-inclusives have pool chairs made of plastic and claimed by questionable fanny packs. The Grand Velas pool chairs are at a whole other level. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Ambassador Presidential Suite The Ambassador section of accommodations is family friendly, but that doesn't mean it's any less luxurious. And the ocean view is truly amazing, especially from this terrace in the Presidential Suite. | Zach StovallGrand Velas all-inclusive offerings Yes, premium brand liquors are available at the bars that dot the Grand Velas. As the CT+L editors know, the quality of the alcohol at an all-inclusive resort can make or break your stay. See everything else that's included in the all-inclusive package on the Grand Velas Riviera Maya website. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Grand Class pool As Sarah says, no kids in sight at this absolutely stunning pool in the adults-only section of the resort. | Zach StovallGrand Velas spa We aren't the only ones who love the spa. Virtuoso, an organization of luxury travel agents, honored the Grand Velas Riviera Maya with a "Best Spa in the World" distinction. While the spa itself is immense, with 40 treatment suites, the design in the spirit of the Mexican culture retains that intimate, peaceful atmosphere. The "Journey Through Ancient Mexico" treatment includes a stone massage and a Mayan shawl treatment. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Grand Class Pool It's beautiful, peaceful, perfect. | Zach StovallGrand Velas spa The special spa treatment called "Riviera Maya Water Journey for Body and Soul" actually lives up to the name, in one of the most stunning spa settings you'll ever see. See more about the spa treatment on the Grand Velas Riviera Maya website. | Zach StovallGrand Velas welcome Upon arrival, you can delight to the Don Julio tequila, a standard — and complimentary — welcome offering here at the magical Grand Velas. | Zach StovallGrand Velas spa If you haven't yet experienced a "Water Bubble Bed," have you really lived? | Zach StovallGrand Class patio Here's that ocean view and the plunge pool we mentioned. Not pictured: the in-room massage table. We are not making this up. | Zach StovallGrand Velas spa Robes and sandals, personalized service and much more are all part of the joy of visiting the spa here. | Zach StovallGrand Velas beach No, Zach did not Photoshop this picture. This is what the 1,600-foot white sand beach looks like here on Riviera Maya, as perfect as a beach in Mexico can be on the Caribbean Sea. For Sarah — and really any Caribbean traveler — a day spent lounging in that cabana as the white curtains flutter in the sea breeze is a day you won't forget. And that isn't even mentioning the beach butler. Seriously. "Pardon me, would you like a chilled towel?" See the latest deals on the Grand Velas website. | Zach StovallGrand Velas spa Could you spend your entire stay simply relaxing in the spa? That's one thing we didn't try. | Zach StovallGrand Velas Riviera Maya When Sarah and Zach visited the Grand Velas, they gravitated to the adults-only Grand Class section, one of three areas of this all-inclusive resort. The 90 suites here have ocean views and private plunge pools. But the Grand Velas also includes two family-friendly areas: The Ambassador, circling the main infinity pool, and the Zen Grand, which is off the beach in the jungle for an unforgettable family escape. Few all-inclusives are able to provide both a romantic getaway for adults and a family vacation for all. Read Sarah's full all-inclusive resort review of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya. | Zach StovallGrand Velas beach The beach here is more than just a beach — it's a true extension of the resort. | Zach StovallGrand Velas restaurants Next time we go, we'll get more photos of the restaurants here. This ceviche from the Azul restaurant is just a small example of what's available. And all of the eight restaurants — all as high-end as you'd expect here — are part of the all-inclusive package. See all the restaurants and bars on the Grand Velas Riviera Maya website. | Zach StovallGrand Velas pool It doesn't all fit in our photo gallery. Wish you could be here at CT+L headquarters to see Zach's panoramic photos on the big screen. But until then, here's another photo of the pool so you can see just how close it is to the beach and to the suites — yet it all seems a world away. | Zach StovallGrand Velas service As Sarah wrote in her review of Grand Velas Riviera Maya, "Everywhere you go, staffers somehow know your name — a level of personalized attention that makes you feel genuinely cared for. And that, perhaps, is the greatest luxury of all." Read Sarah's full all-inclusive resort review of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya. | Zach StovallGrand Velas beach We'll leave you with this last shot of that perfect Caribbean beach. If you want to stare at this photo all day — like we do — get this and other great beach desktop wallpaper backgrounds in the always-expanding CT+L Wallpaper Gallery. | Zach Stovall
