Rating9.7
Rating9.2
Rating9.9Adults OnlyExceptional
Based on 8.4k reviews
Exceptional Dining
Six gourmet restaurants with outstanding cuisine. French (Piaf), Italian (Lucca), Mexican (Frida), and Asian (Sen Lin) are all standouts. Fish is never overdone. Mole & mezcal tasting menu is a cultural highlight.
Outstanding Service
Staff described as warm, kind, and highly attuned. Luxury check-in with complimentary massage, beverage, and cool towel. Personalized concierge service via text message.
Luxurious All-Suite Rooms
Every room is a suite with private balcony and ocean views. Complimentary minibar with Nespresso machine, wine, and mezcal. Marble accents, jetted tubs, and 24-hour room service.
Immaculate Cleanliness
One of the most frequently cited positives across all review platforms. Beautifully maintained grounds with lush tropical gardens.
World-Class Spa
SE Spa Water Journey is a must-do guided experience through sauna, steam, showers, and plunge pools. Twenty treatment rooms including couples' services.
Stunning Pool & Beach
Three-tiered infinity pool with swim-up bar overlooking Banderas Bay. Dedicated pool concierges. Beautiful long beach great for walking with free water sports.
Premium Price Point
One of the most expensive all-inclusives in Mexico. Most guests feel you get what you pay for, but value-conscious travelers should be aware.
Pool Crowding in Peak Season
Pool area can feel crowded December through March. Poolside loungers claimed early; no enforcement of chair-saving rules.
Limited Evening Entertainment
Could benefit from more live music and livelier nightlife programming. Kids Club space is excellent but activity variety could improve.
Distance from Downtown
Located in Nuevo Vallarta, 15 minutes from the airport but 25 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta. Great for a self-contained resort vacation.
Aggregate score derived from public review platforms. Category scores reflect our editorial assessment based on analysis of guest reviews. ResortFlock is not affiliated with or endorsed by any review platform.
AAA Five Diamond
14 consecutive years
AAA
Forbes Five-Star
Hotel & SE Spa
Forbes Travel Guide
MICHELIN Recognition
Only all-inclusive group worldwide with dual MICHELIN stars
MICHELIN Guide
AAA Four Diamond
Frida, Piaf & Lucca restaurants
AAA
Travelers' Choice Best of the Best
Top 1% of hotels worldwide
Tripadvisor
EarthCheck Silver
Sustainable tourism certification
EarthCheck
All-Inclusive Resorts with the Best Food
The original Grand Velas flagship with AAA Five Diamond recognition. Its dining program spans a world-class SE Spa restaurant, Pacific-fresh seafood concepts, and curated wine pairings that set the standard for the brand.
Resort Flock Picks
Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts
The original Grand Velas flagship with AAA Five Diamond recognition and a spa regarded as among the world's finest. Set where the Sierra Madre mountains meet the Pacific, with the brand's signature ultra-inclusive program.
Resort Flock Picks
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is widely benchmarked as one of the finest all-inclusive resorts in the Western Hemisphere — it holds both AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star ratings, and it's held them consistently rather than earning them once as a launch achievement. Opened in 2003 and extensively renovated in 2015, this 267-suite property sits on Banderas Bay in Nuevo Vallarta, about 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The U-shaped main building faces the Pacific, positioning most suites for ocean views from their private terraces.
The all-inclusive rate at Grand Velas covers things that other properties charge extra for: premium spirits and wines at every venue, 24-hour room service with a full menu, stocked minibar with daily restocking, and butler-concierge service. The comparison to standard all-inclusives where these are surcharges is a genuine quality gap rather than marketing copy. Suites start at 1,000 square feet with private terraces and ocean or pool views — the entry here exceeds most competitors' premium categories.
The dining program is anchored by Frida (Mexican) and Piaf (French) — both well-regarded enough to draw guests who travel specifically to eat there. Sen Lin covers Asian, Lucca handles Italian, and Selva del Mar is the beachfront casual option. The lineup covers more cuisine breadth than most all-inclusives at this price point.
The specific limitations: pool areas during high season (December through March) require early morning chair-securing to get prime positions. Some ocean view suites have partial view obstructions from palm trees or the Azul restaurant structure. Riviera Nayarit is a swimmable Pacific beach, which differentiates it from the Los Cabos properties — Banderas Bay's protected configuration allows for actual ocean swimming.
Practically: 267 suites, 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, rates in the Five Diamond tier for the Pacific Mexico region.
