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
Sani Asterias
Pros
53–59 suites means the pool, beach, and spa are used by a fraction of the guests typical at larger resort hotels — a genuinely low-density experience
The Michelin-starred Over Water Restaurant is a dining format unavailable at almost all all-inclusive resort properties in the Mediterranean
Private beach exclusive to Asterias guests — not shared with Sani Beach's 392 rooms or Sani Club's 253 rooms
Full access to the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, Chelsea FC Football Academy, PADI dive school, and 20–40 resort-wide dining venues via Dine Around
The 1,000-acre ecological reserve provides forest trails, birdwatching, and guided runs that distinguish Sani from urban-adjacent resorts
Cons
Operates on bed-and-breakfast, half-board, or full-board — not all-inclusive; beverages are additional at every venue and are a notable ongoing expense
The Dine Around program has per-meal credit limits — review the credit allowances before arrival to understand what will cost extra
Summary
Sani Asterias 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 Sani Asterias offers more activities.
