Grand Velas Riviera Maya vs Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas
Velas Resorts vs Rixos Hotels — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.2 | 8.3 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 539 | 410 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 8 |
| Pools | 4 | 30 |
| Year Opened | 2008 | 2019 |
| Year Renovated | 2021 | — |
Features
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | No |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | Yes |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 15 | 27 |
| Included | 15 | 24 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 3 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 11 | 10 |
| Suite Categories | 11 | 6 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 23 | 32 |
| Included | 17 | 21 |
| Extra Charge | 6 | 11 |
Pros & Cons
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
Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas
Pros
- All 410 accommodations are suites or villas—no standard rooms. The entry-level suite still comes with a separate living area, which is a meaningful baseline for this price category.
- 7 km from Hurghada Airport means 10–20 minute transfers—useful for late flights or early departures.
- The 1 km private beach is one of the longer stretches in Hurghada, giving adequate space even in peak season.
- La Churrascaria (Brazilian churrascaria) and Lalezar (Turkish cuisine) are genuinely uncommon in Egyptian all-inclusives—the dining variety is a real differentiator.
Cons
- The pool count (30 pools) sounds impressive but includes individual villa pools—the shared pool capacity is proportionate to the 410-room occupancy, not extraordinary.
- The ultra all-inclusive rate in the suite-and-villa category comes at premium pricing that significantly exceeds comparable Hurghada alternatives.
- No dedicated teen club—teenagers aged 13–17 fall into the general activities program rather than a targeted youth space.
Summary
Grand Velas Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the larger property, while Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas has more dining venues, while Rixos Premium Magawish Suites and Villas offers more activities.