Head to head
Bahia Principe Explore AkumalvsGrand Velas Riviera Maya
Share as a post (opens in a new tab)
Scores at a Glance
Bahia Principe Explore AkumalGrand Velas Riviera Maya
Overall
8.5
9.3
Beach
8.4
8.7
Food
8.3
9.5
Service
8.5
9.4
Rooms
8.3
9.2
Luxury
·
9.5
Value
8.1
7.9
Romance
·
9.1
Scores out of 10 · higher is better
Quick Stats
| Bahia Principe Explore Akumal | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | Overall Score | 9.3 (better) |
| 5-star | Star Rating | 5-star |
| 4.7 (25,608) | Google Rating | 4.8 (4,173) (better) |
| From $108 | Price / Night (pp) | Rates TBD |
| No | Adults Only | No |
| Yes | Kids' Club | Yes |
| Near coast | Beachfront | Oceanfront |
| Mid-size | Resort Size | Grand |
| 75 min | Airport Transfer | 35 min (better) |
All Scores
| Bahia Principe Explore Akumal | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 8.4 | Beach | 8.7 (better) |
| 8.3 | Food | 9.5 (better) |
| 8.5 | Service | 9.4 (better) |
| 8.3 | Rooms | 9.2 (better) |
| 8.7 | Pools | 9.1 (better) |
| – | Luxury | 9.5 |
| (better)8.1 | Value | 7.9 |
| 9.0 | Family | 9.4 (better) |
| – | Romance | 9.1 |
| (better)7.5 | Nightlife | 6.7 |
| – | Quiet | 8.4 |
| (better)8.3 | Adventure | 8.1 |
| 8.3 | Wellness | 9.4 (better) |
| – | Remote work | 8.3 |
Of the 13 measures we call, Bahia Principe Explore Akumal leads on 3 and Grand Velas Riviera Maya leads on 10.
Vibes
| Bahia Principe Explore Akumal | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Lively | – |
| Yes | Adventure | Yes |
| – | Romance | Yes |
| – | Quiet | Yes |
Activities
| Bahia Principe Explore Akumal | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Spa | Yes |
| Yes | Golf | – |
| Yes | Water sports | Yes |
| Yes | Nightlife | – |
| Yes | Kids | Yes |
Bahia Principe Explore Akumal
- 3 pools
- 15 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- Swim-up suites
- 75 min from CUN
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
- SE Spa by Grand Velas
- Jungle & beach suites
- 8 gourmet restaurants
- Personal concierge service
Pros · Bahia Principe Explore Akumal
- Excellent family infrastructure and water-park access.
- Large pool and dining variety for a resort-complex vacation.
- Strong review mass and consistent all-inclusive verification.
Pros · Grand Velas Riviera Maya
- Exceptional all-inclusive dining program with eight restaurants and Michelin-starred Cocina de Autor.
- Very strong service culture, including personal concierge support and strong guest consensus around attentive staff.
- Large, polished suite inventory across three distinct resort ambiances.
- Excellent family infrastructure, including kids clubs, teen club, baby concierge, and long kids-club operating hours.
- Strong wellness offering anchored by SE Spa, water ceremony, fitness classes, and Forbes-recognized spa credentials.
- Three distinct pool areas allow the resort to serve families, couples, and quiet-seeking travelers at the same property.
Cons · Bahia Principe Explore Akumal
- Large scale can feel impersonal or logistically tiring.
- Restaurant reservations can be a recurring frustration.
- Beach conditions are seasonally variable.
Cons · Grand Velas Riviera Maya
- High nightly rates can make value feel weaker for travelers who only want a simple beach vacation.
- Zen Grand can feel inconvenient for families focused on beach and main-pool access.
- The property is large, so internal transportation and room location matter.
- Beach conditions are generally strong but still exposed to seasonal Riviera Maya seaweed variability.
- Some experiences, premium services, spa treatments, and tipping can add meaningful extra cost despite the all-inclusive positioning.
Keep exploring
Similar resorts
Not these two?