Taking a family vacation to Mexico sounds blissful right about now as temperatures start to decrease and snowflakes start to fall. Although there are many choices of where to go in Mexico, one of our favorite places to visit in Mexico is the Riveria Maya.
Four reasons we love Grand Velas Riviera Maya for a family vacation to Mexico:
1. The resort
There is no shortage of choices when it comes to places to stay as a family in the Riviera Maya. One consideration for families is whether or not to choose an all inclusive resort or property, but after staying at several other Grand Velas properties near Puerto Vallarta, we knew that the all inclusive option would be perfect for our family. The biggest draw for us is that while we wanted a family vacation with a few adventures, we also knew that we needed couple time to relax – both of which are possible at this luxury resort.
Grand Velas is more than just any old all inclusive property offering activities for everyone in the family. Our favorites were the expansive kids club (with late evening hours for parents that would like a quiet dinner in one of the adult only restaurants), the decadent spa, multiple pools and a staff that goes out of their way to meet every possible need you might have. We traveled to Grand Velas during Spring Break, preparing ourselves for a bit of a crowd- but instead, thanks to the vastness of the property, we never felt crowded. One tip when traveling during the high seasons is to make dinner reservations early on during the week. The good news at Grand Velas is that the restaurants and staff were incredibly flexible if we needed to change the time or location as our week went on.
2. Water and sun sports
A trip to Mexico for me means being able to see the beach and hear the sound of the waves. Although we opted for a jungle room, we still had a water view of a small canal filled with lily pads outside our patio after having soaked up the waves, salt and sand during days spent pool- side overlooking the Caribbean coast.
Our routine on “sun” days was to spend the morning and lunch together at the beach or pool, with a trip to the kids club during the hottest hours for our daughter- while we continued to soak up the rays lounging in the waves or the infinity pool. By mid afternoon, we were all together again, opting for the shade of the pool in the jungle section of the resort. It was not at all a bad way to spend the day.
3. The food
We are foodies, so when we decide to take an all inclusive vacation, our expectations are very high. Luckily, with restaurant choices that range from Mexican cuisine to sushi and everything in between and wine lists that make us take note of labels so that we can find the same wines at home- Grand Velas does not disappoint. Piaf and Cocina Autor were our favorite parent night out restaurants while Frida and Lucca were our family friendly favorites.
[insert foodie cuisine grand velas riviera maya]
One tip- when having breakfast at Azul, overlooking the Caribbean, make sure to ask for perfect mooring wake me up- green juice (which to this day I have not been able to replicate at home).
4. The history and culture
Although the pyramids and fortresses of Tulum and Chichen Itza, are closer to Grand Velas and more well known, we opted for a glimpse into the mysteries of the Mayan culture and history with a trip to Coba. With over 6,000 structures set amidst the lush vegetation, Coba is estimated to have had 50,000 inhabitants dating back to the 1st century.
One of the unique aspects of a tour to Coba is the choice of walking or taking a guided “Mayan limo” (aka tricycle) from the main entrance to the ruins. Between the hot sun and young legs of children, we were happy to be led by tricycle to the The Nohoch Mul pyramid, which at 138 feet is the tallest in the Yucatan and towers above Kukulkan at Chichen Itza and the Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal. The view from the top is nothing short of inspiring, though the trip back down the 120 steps can be a bit intimidating due to the steepness. Our tour to Coba included a stop at a traditional underground cenote, with incredibly blue water surrounded by stalactites over head.
