Tiffany Leigh
- I spent nearly $3,000 on an all-inclusive experience at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico.
- I loved the many dining opportunities and events my daughter and I could enjoy together.
My 2-year-old daughter and I spent three nights at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-inclusive luxury resort in Mexico that was featured on seasons one and five of Netflix's "Love Is Blind."
I stayed at the resort's sister property in Los Cabos with my husband in 2018 and had a great experience, so I hoped to make new memories with my daughter at this location.
I spent about $2,960 to stay in the grand-class oceanfront suite after taking advantage of a Black Friday deal that earned me 20% off.
Here's what my stay at the resort was like.
Right off the bat, the resort made me and my toddler feel right at home.
My toddler and I stayed in the grand-class oceanfront suite. Tiffany Leigh
Because the resort was featured on "Love Is Blind," I assumed the hotel would be oriented toward couples.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn how accommodating the property and its staff were to little ones, mostly thanks to the baby concierge services.
A few weeks before our stay, I received an email asking if I'd need items like a loaner crib, a bib, a baby bathtub, and beach toys.
The Kids' Club and planned activities entertained my daughter.
My daughter enjoyed spending time at the Kids' Club. Tiffany Leigh
The hotel also offered a supervised play area called the Kids' Club. Because my daughter is under 4 years old, I didn't have the option to leave her there alone.
But as long as I kept her company during the scheduled activities —which included arts and crafts, kiddie yoga, movie nights, and sand-castle building — the staff welcomed us.
Many guests had young children, so it was easy for my daughter to make friends.
There were plenty of on-site activities and events.
My daughter enjoyed the painting classes at the resort. Tiffany Leigh
I'm usually worried about encountering boredom when staying at an all-inclusive resort, but in this case, there wasn't enough time to try everything available to us.
Our all-inclusive stay included workshops, food tastings, yoga, Zumba, karaoke sessions, and more.
Our concierge texted me schedules each morning, which helped us plan our day on the fly.
My daughter's favorite activity was painting classes, and I preferred the tequila and mezcal tasting and workshop.
The food, drink, and restaurant options felt endless.
I loved the food at the resort. Tiffany Leigh
Our food and drink package gave us full access to the many on-site restaurants and bars, as well as a coffee shop.
I was astounded by the array of cuisines, including French avant-garde dining and classic and casual American dishes.
I loved the Mexican-style dishes at Frida, an upscale yet family-friendly restaurant.
I especially appreciated the authenticity and unique qualities of each dish. For instance, at one restaurant, our server added crispy mealworms, fire ants, crickets, and chicharrónes to our table-side guacamole.
Because we went right after a holiday, it felt like we had the resort to ourselves.
The resort was pretty empty when we arrived. Tiffany Leigh
All-inclusive resorts as beautiful as this are typically crowded, but because we went right after the long Thanksgiving weekend, it was practically empty when we arrived.
It felt like we had this slice of paradise all to ourselves.
There was never a line at the coffee shop, and I could easily make last-minute spa reservations and use our favorite lounge chairs.
The resort staff members I met were helpful and considerate.
The staff decorated the bathtub area for my daughter. Tiffany Leigh
The most wonderful thing about our stay was the attentive and super-friendly staff.
Staff members offered to carry our plates to our table at the buffet and included straws in my daughter's beverages.
After I mentioned my daughter was terrified of the resort's tub, they even decorated our suite's bathtub to make it more welcoming.
The spa was an otherworldly delight.
I really enjoyed the spa experience I got. Tiffany Leigh
I took advantage of the hotel's babysitting service, which cost $20 per hour, and booked a nanny to care for my daughter while I went to the Se Spa.
I selected the $300 páak'am-nopal massage, an 80-minute treatment that included a water ceremony.
During the ceremony, an attendant guided me to different rooms designed to help relax, detox, or cleanse the body.
When it was time for my spa treatment, I was led to my suite, and the attendant said a few words to honor the natural elements.
Most spa services I've tried don't have much personality, so I loved this memorable touch.
I wish I could've brought my daughter to more of the restaurants.
Not all restaurants on the property allow young children. Tiffany Leigh
Though I had full access to each restaurant, some dining areas are adults-only in the evening and require early reservations.
As a result, I had to pass up a few spots because I couldn't bring my daughter.
I was particularly heartbroken that I couldn't try Cocina de Autor because I loved its sister location in Los Cabos. However, no one under the age of 12 was allowed to dine here.
I would've preferred to stay at a more walkable property.
There weren't many walking paths connecting one resort area to another. Tiffany Leigh
To be honest, I didn't love the layout of the 80-acre Grand Velas Riviera Maya property.
During our stay, the hotel was sometimes described to me as three mini-hotel experiences with their own respective zones, restaurants, amenities, and suites.
Due to a lack of pedestrian pathways, we relied on shuttles to take us to the area where a few restaurants and kid's activities were located.
There were walkable pathways between certain areas of the resort, but I honestly would've preferred to stay at a hotel where I could explore the entire property on foot.
Overall, I loved my experience at Grand Velas Riviera Maya.
My daughter enjoyed our vacation at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Tiffany Leigh
The pros of staying at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya far outweighed the cons, and I would return in a heartbeat.
I was initially worried about doing a mini trip without my husband, but with all the services available to me and my little one, I could care for my daughter and still get some much-needed rest.