We spent a week at the Grand Velas Resort in February. We were not disappointed. We booked 3 rooms - all were spacious and exquisitely appointed. All the rooms were like mini-suites: sitting room, bedroom, and luxurious bath.

We were greeted warmly by the staff when we arrived. We were given a very short orientation tour and then escorted to our rooms.

Pool and lounge area were wonderful - the pool water was perfect - a bit cooler than the outside temp, so we felt totally refreshed when going into the pool. The infinity edge pool - WOW! The pool has a "swim-up" bar that our teenagers could not get enough of - lots and lots of virgin pina coladas were consumed. The resort is all-Inclusive - everything, including the drinks, were included.

The resort is situated right on the edge of the water - so the views of Banderas Bay, sunsets, etc., are spectacular. The only negative with the location is that beach is small and not too inviting - though the kids had plenty of room to toss around a football and/or frisbee.

We ate at the resort most of the time - there are three different restaurants plus a buffet restaurant on site. Reservations for dinner at the specialty restaurants are a must because they are in demand with guests wanting to try something other than the buffet.

Nuevo Vallarta is several miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta. We ventured downtown one time via taxi cab. It was well worth the drive to explore downtown Puerto Vallarta - charming town with loads of shopping, farmacias, restaurants.

We spent one day whale watching on Banderas Bay - oh my - it was so exciting because we did see many whales. The waters were quite calm and no one became seasick. We were lathered in sunscreen cause the sun was very, very warm. Great day on the water was had by all.

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa, Nuevo Vallarta, March 3 to 10, 2006

Our first time to the Puerto Vallarta area was very enjoyable. Timing it right made our arrival very smooth, as we arrived right at the terminal and did not have to take the bus from the airplane. Customs was very quick, as we only had one person in front of us.

Upon request, the resort will pick you up at the airport for no charge via their VIP services. The reception at the resort was great and extremely efficient. After a warm greeting, we were escorted to one of the many resting areas and some refreshing fruit punch was in our hands after a nice cool cloth was presented. The all-inclusive fee was discussed, and they collected it for the week, which is normal in our experience.

We had selected a one-bedroom room through our exchange and received just that. It was very clean and comfortable. The simple, earthy tone to the room was adequate and the pillow menu really does exist. We were very satisfied with the room for the duration of our stay.

The outside areas were very well kept and almost everyone says hi when you walk by. English is quite abundant and is usually their first choice in communicating with you. Note, however, that their English is limited to their jobs, so don’t expect the waiter to understand you when you ask for directions into town, etc. The concierge and front desk staff were fully bilingual.

The three-tiered infinity pool area was a really nice touch to this resort. Only the lower pool is heated.

Almost every night there was some special reception that was setup for newly arriving groups. I believe this is why the place has a combination conference centre/resort feel to it The groups showed up did not impact getting any chairs by the pool.

Azul is the only place for breakfast. We tried a mix of menu and buffet, typically preferring the buffet. The food was good and I quite enjoyed the omelettes and the selection of juices and fresh fruit.

There three formal restaurants; Frida (Mexican), Lucca (Italian) and Pilaf (French) offer great food and fantastic service. For some reason, Pilaf is not mentioned in too many places and may be a newer restaurant. For our tastes, Lucca was the best, both in food and service.

We heard wonderful things about the spa, but we only used it for the Grand Velas Ritual. It’s complimentary and is definitely worth it. I think we probably had the best sleep that night.

The lobby bar was formal and usually quiet until later in the evening.

Tipping is included in the all-inclusive fee, and you are not pressured to leave any additional amounts.

Best Things Nearby:
The best thing about the area is the resort. There are several places for scuba diving and snorkeling, dowtown is lovely, the nightlife is lots of fun, and there are many tours you can take (like a jungle tour, a pirate boat with a show and dinner, whale watching, and fishing). A week is not enough.

Best Things About the Resort:
Service is one of the focal points in this place. Everybody makes an extra effort to make you feel special. There is also the grounds, especially the pool!!! The sunbeds are so comfortable, and the food is delicious and the best quality. Try the sushi at Azul, near the pool, where food is served all day. Lunch is light but with a great taste. In your room there is a pillow menu from which you can choose what kind of pillow you want to have (soft, hard, goose feathers, etc.).

Resort Experience:

As soon as we got there, the bell boy asked us to sit at a very comfortable sofa and offered us a refreshing drink and a small towel that was moist to freshen up. A lady came to put us our all-inclusive wristbands, take our info, and explain to us a little bit about the place. Our room was a very good size for a one-bedroom and had a very nice balcony that overlooked the beautiful pool and ocean (all the units have an ocean view).

There are three restaurants. Frida has gourmet Mexican food for dinner, Lucca has gourmet Italian-Mediterranean food for dinner, and Azul offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner (very good). At the pool there is a very nice swim-up bar with all the main brands of alcohol, and the pool has the best view of the ocean. There is a lobby bar with a live band every night that is lots of fun. There is nothing bad that I can think of. It is the best resort I've stayed at and definitely will go back! By the way, everybody I talked to agreed with me.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

This resort was would be a great place for a honeymoon. It had a romantic atmosphere, and there were not many people there. The all-inclusive covered food, drinks, room service, activities, tours, and a massage. The beach was nice, and there are a lot of locals selling souvenirs on the beach. The town of Puerto Vallarta is nearby, and there are lots of shops to see.

Best Things Nearby:
This place is in the middle of the bay, and you can see the wild dolphins while eating breakfast. It was great! Also, Vallarta Adventures is not far away, where you can take part in many activities.

Best Things About the Resort:
The wait staff made this place out of this world. They talked to you like you were friends/family.

Resort Experience:
I had some troubles with the managers at this resort overcharging me for my all-inclusive price and charging me for a spa treatment that was supposed to be free. This is a 5-star resort, and you don't expect to have problems, but I guess there are problems everywhere. This is a place to relax. I am in my 30s and did not care for this place, because it was more for older people or people with young kids. The wait staff is excellent. The AI price was too high; there was no way I could eat and drink $125 a day. I was forcing myself to eat to feel like I was getting my money's worth. The food was okay--there were three restaurants to choose from. Two of them are very fancy, and the third, which was my favorite, was more normal food. You could order whatever you wanted, even if it was not in the buffet or on the menu.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Very Good