Club Med Guilin vs Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Club Med vs Velas Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Club Med Guilin | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 330 | 539 |
| Restaurants | 4 | 8 |
| Pools | 5 | 4 |
| Year Opened | 2013 | 2008 |
| Year Renovated | — | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Club Med Guilin | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | No |
| Beach Access | No | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | Yes |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Club Med Guilin | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 7 | 15 |
| Included | 7 | 15 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Club Med Guilin | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 9 | 11 |
| Suite Categories | 1 | 11 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Club Med Guilin | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 23 | 23 |
| Included | 18 | 17 |
| Extra Charge | 5 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Club Med Guilin
Pros
- The Yuzi Paradise Sculpture Park integration is unique — no other Club Med property functions as an open-air contemporary art museum
- China's first natural plant-filtration pool provides a genuinely unusual swimming environment in Chinese resort context
- The HOMA Hotel's adults-only (12+) positioning within a family resort gives couples and adult travelers a quieter zone without booking a separate adults-only property
- Karst mountain climbing access from the resort is real terrain, not a manufactured wall — meaningful for guests interested in the activity
Cons
- Airport transfer (KWL) is 45–60 minutes — not as close as some Club Med properties
- Programming is primarily in Mandarin; English-language ski instruction and entertainment are available but limited — non-Mandarin speakers should confirm specifics before booking
- The natural pool is seasonal (May–October) — off-season guests lose the headline pool amenity
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
- Cocina de Autor and Piaf book up as far as 6 months in advance in peak season — call before arrival rather than assuming on-arrival booking
- Premium pricing at the top of the Riviera Maya all-inclusive market — the quality justifies it but the commitment is real
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.