Scores at a Glance
Club Hotel DolphinGrand Velas Riviera Maya
Overall
8.1
9.3
Beach
7.4
8.7
Food
8.0
9.5
Service
8.6
9.4
Rooms
7.6
9.2
Luxury
·
9.5
Value
7.9
7.9
Romance
7.6
9.1
Scores out of 10 · higher is better
Quick Stats
| Club Hotel Dolphin | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | Overall Score | 9.3 (better) |
| 5-star | Star Rating | 5-star |
| 4.7 (9,162) | Google Rating | 4.8 (4,173) (better) |
| From $38 | Price / Night (pp) | Rates TBD |
| No | Adults Only | No |
| Yes | Kids' Club | Yes |
| Near coast | Beachfront | Oceanfront |
| Mid-size | Resort Size | Grand |
| 35 min | Airport Transfer | 35 min |
All Scores
| Club Hotel Dolphin | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 7.4 | Beach | 8.7 (better) |
| 8.0 | Food | 9.5 (better) |
| 8.6 | Service | 9.4 (better) |
| 7.6 | Rooms | 9.2 (better) |
| 8.7 | Pools | 9.1 (better) |
| – | Luxury | 9.5 |
| 7.9 | Value | 7.9 |
| 8.2 | Family | 9.4 (better) |
| 7.6 | Romance | 9.1 (better) |
| (better)7.8 | Nightlife | 6.7 |
| 6.4 | Quiet | 8.4 (better) |
| 7.8 | Adventure | 8.1 (better) |
| 7.6 | Wellness | 9.4 (better) |
| 7.5 | Remote work | 8.3 (better) |
Of the 14 measures we call, Club Hotel Dolphin leads on 1 and Grand Velas Riviera Maya leads on 13.
Vibes
| Club Hotel Dolphin | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Romance | Yes |
| Yes | Lively | – |
| Yes | Adventure | Yes |
| – | Quiet | Yes |
Activities
| Club Hotel Dolphin | Measure | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Spa | Yes |
| Yes | Water sports | Yes |
| Yes | Nightlife | – |
| Yes | Kids | Yes |
Club Hotel Dolphin
- 3 pools
- 2 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- 35 min from CMB
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
- SE Spa by Grand Velas
- Jungle & beach suites
- 8 gourmet restaurants
- Personal concierge service
Pros · Club Hotel Dolphin
- Verified all-inclusive availability
- Large pool setup with children's pool
- Strong family-friendly amenities
- Friendly staff feedback is recurring
- Convenient for Bandaranaike International Airport
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 · Club Hotel Dolphin
- All-inclusive is rate-plan dependent
- A la carte dining may cost extra
- Some room refurbishment and air-conditioning complaints
- Large active-resort feel can be noisy
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.
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