Riviera Maya with a Baby: All-Inclusive Stay at Grand Velas

If you are reading this post, then congratulations! That means you have taken the huge first step towards planning your all-inclusive Riviera Maya vacation with your baby – and that is the hardest part! Okay, I wish that last part was true. But I promise I will do my part to help make this process as easy as possible for you.

airplane with baby looking out the window

Why Grand Velas in Riviera Maya?

We had two main considerations in picking our first vacation destination with a 4-month-old: Convenience and Comfort.

We chose Grand Velas Resort in Riviera Maya first and foremost because it was a reasonably short (and direct) flight from our home state of New Jersey (~4.5 hours), and had exceptional reviews as a family-friendly all inclusive resort.

Grand Velas is definitely luxurious and exceeded all of our expectations during our 4-night stay. We opted for the Ambassador Suite with Ocean View and it proved to be well worth the money.

grand velas riviera maya ambassador suite ocean view

Convenience of All-Inclusive in Riviera Maya with a Baby

Transportation: The resort offers free pickup from the airport, and provided a car seat upon request. Note, they charge for the same service back to the airport, however.

Nanny Service: The resort provides a baby-sitting/“nanny” service for a fee (please check their website for latest rates). Although we were a bit nervous about using this at first, we were encouraged that their nannies are employed directly by the resort and fully trained. In fact, our “nanny” was the same delightful woman who checked us in! In the end, we could not have been happier with the woman we worked with, and could tell she genuinely cared and treated us like family.

Baby Monitor Hack

Having a baby monitor in the room also gave us peace of mind when employing the “nanny.” Be warned, if you have a Nanit (or similar monitor that only works on password protected/secure WiFi networks), this device will not work on hotel public WiFi. Fortunately, we purchased this wireless portable router which enabled us to use our Nanit on our own personal network. A lifesaver!

Click here to learn more!

poolside with the family at grand velas riviera maya

grand velas riviera maya hotel ocean view

Food (for little one): Our little one was only 4-months old for this trip, so was still on an all-milk diet. Still, we were amazed to see the room service menu included tons of puree/food options targeted specifically for infants/toddlers. We just wish we could have taken advantage!

Food (for us): Yes, life may revolve around our little ones now, but us parents still need to eat well on vacation too! Grand Velas had about 9 incredible restaurant options to choose from. Our personal favorite was Cocina de Autor. (Note, reservations are highly recommended). For quick meals in a pinch, even the poolside food was outstanding.

grand velas riviera maya spa massage room

Spa: As a busy mom, we always need some time for ourselves to recharge and the spa at Grand Velas did not disappoint. It’s not a surprise that their spa has received numerous awards from USA Today, SpaAwards.com, Travel + Leisure and Trip Advisor for Best Spa Hotel in recent years. This spa stands out for its expansive hydrotherapy pool and it’s seven-step journey. Arrive at least an hour early before your spa treatment to fully experience the different sensory rooms. The Hydrotherapy pool features a sensory pebble walkway, cascades, bubble beds, neck massage jets, and a bubble geyser. Relax and unwind in the chaise lounges by the pool with a good book or magazine.

Although traveling with a young infant can be nerve-wracking and requires quite a bit of preparation, Grand Velas in Riviera Maya was well worth the effort. From the moment we arrived, we felt safe, pampered and rejuvenated. Our only regret was that it had to end!