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 Beach
Pros
7km of Blue Flag beach with complimentary sunbeds and luxury mattresses — the beach quality and length are consistently the highest-rated aspect of the property
Complimentary morning and sunset yacht cruises from Sani Marina are an included activity at a level unusual for a European resort
The Sani Explorers Kids Club, teen Ozone house, and Little Explorers Crèche cover children from 4 months to 17 years with well-staffed programming
Poseidon breakfast buffet is consistently praised as one of the better hotel breakfast operations in the Halkidiki region
The 1,000-acre ecological reserve with cycling trails and guided runs gives the resort genuine natural context beyond the beach
Cons
Beverages are not included in any board plan — drinks are an additional charge at every meal and throughout the day, which adds meaningfully to total trip cost
Popular à la carte restaurants fill early in peak summer — dinner reservations must be made immediately on arrival, or before via the Sani app
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 Sani Beach offers more activities.
The Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, Chelsea FC Football Academy, kids' club crèche sessions, and most motorized water sports carry additional charges beyond the room rate
The indoor spa pool has restricted hours for children — families wanting the indoor pool for under-16s need to plan around the Splash Hours schedule
