Riviera Maya, a luxurious destination along the lush Yucatan Peninsula, furthers its appeal with Grand Velas Riviera Maya representing the next iteration of the sophisticated all-inclusive, ultra- luxury resort experience. Set on 205 acres of luxurious living among pristine jungle and mangroves along with the finest white sand beach in the Riviera Maya, Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers something for everyone. You can choose from three separate ambiances in this Leading Hotel of the World property, including adults only majestic ocean-front, family friendly ocean view and a Zen-like tropical setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula’s jungle.
All 539 designer-like suites boasting views of the azure Caribbean Sea or vibrant jungle vegetation are exceptionally spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, all with balconies, and some with private plunge pools. Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers the most extensive cachet of luxurious and personalized amenities of any all-inclusive resort in Mexico. All feature fully stocked mini bars, plasma TVs, wireless Internet access, L’Occitane amenities, artisanal tequila and Nespresso machines. Bathrooms deserve special mention with walk in glass shower, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interior.
Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour of Mexico, Europe and Asia. Grand Velas signature restaurant, Cocina de Autor, at the hands of the disciples of world celebrity Chef Arzak of northern Spain, won the AAA Five Diamond Award, the only all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. The restaurant Piaf is offering The Best of France event by uniting 4 Top Maîtres Cuisiniers de France for 10-Course Culinary Experience, October 14-18. Sharing a kitchen and passion for creating an amazing culinary experience, Chef Michel Mustière, Executive Chef of Piaf restaurant, is at the helm. As one of only seven chefs in Mexico and 300 in the world to attain the prestigious Master Chef of France title, Chef Mustière offers gourmet delights set in the lavish ode to the great, late singer/actress from whom the restaurant borrows its name.
Grand Velas Spa, the region’s largest spa sanctuary at more than 90,000 square feet, known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offers the ultra relaxing signature seven-step water journey. Tracing back to its cultural roots, a new Mayan corn massage combines corncobs and honey for the Bacal Massage, an authentic Mayan treatment utilizing one of the Mayan’s most sacred plants. A one-of-a-kind cultural journey, the Bacal Massage begins with a soothing honey exfoliation that detoxifies the skin, followed by an essential oil massage using Mayan corncobs to apply pressure to the skin in a unique method.
The resort offers more than 91,547 square feet of indoor and outdoor flexible meeting space. All of this nestled within the natural wonders of stunning sugar-sand beaches, jungle flora and fauna and protected mangroves. “Grand Velas Riviera Maya is proud to offer guests a rejuvenating, inspiring and serene haven that undoubtedly raises the bar for all-inclusive resorts. This marvelous resort offers everything a guest desires from exceptional service and gourmet dining to the spa experience of a lifetime,” said Rodolfo Gonzalez, Grand Velas’ managing director.
As a deluxe traveler accustomed to attentive service, you will receive a level of service usually reserved for Britain’s landed gentry: your own personal butler-concierge. You can enjoy special attention from your own personal butlers, as well as an overall staff to guest ratio of three-to-one. With 180 hours of classroom training and 60 hours of service training, the multi-lingual butlers perform many functions, from simple to the uniquely personal: unpacking luggage, securing dinner reservations, arranging local sightseeing, airport departure and transfers, securing spa appointments, picking up and delivering dry cleaning, planning a last-minute surprise, arranging for purchases to be shipped to the guest’s home and so much more. And yes, just as their English counterparts do, they will iron the morning newspaper if so desired.
Another added feature at the resort is the Mezcal Menu, often called “the mother of tequila”, Mezcal is distilled liquor made from the maguey plant, a form of agave. Increasingly popular in restaurants, especially from Oaxaca from which most of the maguey hails, it now merits its own cocktail menu, including Mezcal straight, six varieties of varying degrees of aging. Some say there are even health and romantic benefits, that it helps control hypertension and diabetes, and is even an aphrodisiac. One of the resort’s more favored amenities, a beautiful bottle of artisanal tequila welcomes you in your suite, made exclusively by the founders of the renowned Don Julio brand, the tequila is “reposado”, aged for four months in white oak barrels.
For a special treat, make sure to take the Alltournative’s Tulum and Jungle Maya Tour where you will explore Tulum, an archaeological site by the sea set on a cliff giving you stunning views of the Caribbean. National Geographic declared Tulum the 4th best beach in the world. Continue with a ride through the exuberant rain forest on an all-terrain Mercedes Benz Unimogs. The excitement continues with rappelling into a beautiful cenote and swim in Yaxmuul, a unique natural pool. The Sac-Actun cenote system, the world longest underground river offers snorkeling in crystal clear waters of the Nohoch Nah Chiich cavern, surrounded by awesome rock. Continue to enjoy nature and as you fly over the jungle’s foliage on exciting zip-lines.
This incredible resort has won numerous awards from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today, Best of the Best Spa by Virtuoso, U.S. News and World Report and Forbes.com; which named it one of the Top Ten Coolest All-Inclusive in 2012. Grand Velas Riviera Maya was built and is operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, majority owner, founder and president of Velas Resorts, with brother Juan Vela by his side, vice president of Velas Resorts. For reservations or more information on Grand Velas Resorts, please call 1-888-407-4869, email reservations@velasresorts.com or visit rivieramaya.grandvelas.com.
