Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Our Rating
8.2
9.2
Star Rating
4.0
5.0
Room Count
479
539
Restaurants
5
8
Pools
8
4
Year Opened
2020
2008
Year Renovated
2020
2021
Features
Metric
Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
All-Inclusive
Yes
Yes
Adults Only
No
No
Beach Access
Yes
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Kids Club
Yes
Yes
Dining Comparison
Metric
Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Total Venues
16
15
Included
14
15
Extra Charge
2
0
Room Comparison
Metric
Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Room Categories
16
11
Suite Categories
13
11
Activities Comparison
Metric
Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Total Activities
18
23
Included
14
17
Extra Charge
4
6
Pros & Cons
Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma
Pros
Velika Plaza is legitimately one of the Adriatic's best sandy beaches — shallow entry, soft sand, and a 12 km stretch that absorbs the crowds.
Eight pools including dedicated children's pools with proper water features — families with young kids are genuinely well catered for.
Seven tennis courts and an on-site school make this one of the better tennis destinations in the region for enthusiasts.
The Premium Section pools are meaningfully less crowded and the BBQ Restaurant is an exclusive perk worth costing in.
Montenegro as a country is dramatically underrated — renting a car for day trips to Kotor, Ulcinj, and Budva is easy and strongly recommended.
Cons
Main buffet dinner quality gets repeated low marks — repetitive, overly local, and inconsistently executed.
À la carte restaurants book up days in advance — arrive and make all three reservations within the first two hours.
Mosquitos in the evening are a consistent problem. Pack insect repellent as a non-negotiable.
Limited English-speaking staff creates friction for international guests during any service issue.
Room air conditioning malfunctions and bathroom odors appear frequently enough in recent reviews to be a real concern.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Pros
Cocina de Autor is the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to earn both a MICHELIN star and AAA Five Diamond — included in the rate
SE Spa with Forbes Five Stars, 90,000+ square feet, and 40+ treatment suites is one of the largest and most awarded resort spas in Mexico
Three distinct ambiances mean guests in Zen Grand have a completely different resort experience from guests in Grand Class — useful for multi-room group bookings
Tulum ruins are 15 minutes away and cenote tours are easy half-day excursions from this location
Cons
Zen Grand suites are three-quarters of a mile from the beach — the shuttle runs frequently but beach access requires active planning
Summary
Grand Velas Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more restaurants, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the larger property, while Azul Beach Resort Montenegro Ultra All-Inclusive by Karisma has more dining venues, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers more activities.
