Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife vs Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts vs Velas Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.2 | 9.2 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 372 | 539 |
| Restaurants | 4 | 8 |
| Pools | 5 | 4 |
| Year Opened | 2018 | 2008 |
| Year Renovated | — | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife | 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 | Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 12 | 15 |
| Included | 12 | 15 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 8 | 11 |
| Suite Categories | 6 | 11 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 24 | 23 |
| Included | 19 | 17 |
| Extra Charge | 5 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife
Pros
- Evening theatre productions (Drago, Toy Circus, Imox) are genuinely high-quality — multiple guests compare them to professional touring shows.
- Kids Club accepts children from age 3, earlier than most Canary Islands all-inclusives, and the magician greeting at check-in is a memorable first impression.
- Five pools are heated in winter, making this a viable winter family destination when other resorts' outdoor pools are cold.
- The Castle Suite is one of the most distinctive accommodation options in Tenerife all-inclusives — themed down to the costume dressing room and Moët welcome.
- Baby stations with microwaves and sinks are positioned around the resort — a practical detail that matters when travelling with infants.
- Buffet breakfast quality is consistently praised; the lunch and dinner buffet are more variable but the live cooking stations add variety.
Cons
- Pool deck surfaces are described as dangerously slippery in multiple guest reviews — reported injuries including a fractured wrist. Pack pool shoes.
- À la carte restaurants are limited to 2–3 reservations per stay and fill within hours of guests arriving — latecomers to the app queue may get the times they don't want.
- The nearest sandy beach is 8 km away, and the on-site seafront is pebble. This is not a beachfront all-inclusive.
- Elevator availability in the accommodation blocks is repeatedly cited as a problem, particularly for guests with strollers.
- Couples seeking a quiet adults-only atmosphere will find the property overwhelmingly family-focused, despite the adults-only pool zone.
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
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 Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more dining venues, while Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife offers more activities.