On Location: "Limitless luxury” – PAX unpacks the ultimate VIP escape at Grand Velas Los Cabos

Bubbly laced with strawberry-flavoured caviar. A personal concierge, ready to make every whim a done deal. And a check-in procedure not standing at a desk, but on a breezy terrace, sitting on a soft sofa, facing the sea.

Arriving at Grand Velas Los Cabos is like showing up to the soft launch of your upgraded self: timelessly stylish, deeply pampered and permanently out of office.

Perched on a tony stretch in between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, this 307-suite upscale resort, for both family and adults-only clientele, is the kind of stay that makes other hotels look like they're still in rehearsal.

It all starts the second you step into Velas’ dramatically-striped, open-air lobby, where a wow-worthy view of the sparkling Sea of Cortez (known for its seasonal whale sightings) awaits.

From there, markers of a memorable vacation begin to crystallize.

The three-steps-ahead-of-everything service – the personalized kind that confidently purrs, ‘Don’t lift a finger, dear. We got you’; the stylish suites so spacious, they don’t just redefine room to roam—they make square footage feel sexy; the gourmet dining at your doorstep, at seven chic restaurants (one of which has a Michelin star).

READ MORE: On Location: PAX & travel advisors unpack “a new era” of Velas Resorts in Los Cabos

Factor in a prime location (where the mountains, desert and the sea converge), shelves of premium pours, and next-level amenities –like a trio of tiered, sea-facing infinity pools cascading down a gentle slope adorned with lush gardens and swaying palm trees – and you have the ingredients for one epic getaway.

There’s a reason why Grand Velas Los Cabos has achieved AAA Five Diamond status, a Forbes Travel Guide Five Star rating, and a number one ranking on TripAdvisor. Here, guests get it all.

And while it’s easy to wax lyrical about luxury hotels, Velas Resorts—a family-owned Mexican brand with seven upscale properties across Mexico’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts—offers a distinctive edge: almost every property is all-inclusive.

That’s correct. The everything-included model (which applies to all, not just the ones who buy an upgrade) is about ensuring visitors enjoy a seamless, first-class vacation– without the need to review a bill, or reach for a wallet. At Velas, indulgence is built into the price.

“It’s a level of luxury you’d never imagine at an all-inclusive,” Karina Guzman, associate director of sales and marketing at grand Velas Los Cabos, told PAX at the resort’s annual Buyers Event for travel advisors and MICE planners last week. “It’s a culinary and service journey.”

Tomahawk steaks? Freshly-caught lobster? Consider it done – at no extra cost.

And when it comes to wine, forget the usual “red or white” spiel—each restaurant at Grand Velas boasts a menu of at least 50 bottles, all included. You want the finest tequila or mezcal? A Grey Goose martini? Sip away.

And, oh, Michelin-starred dining with zero limits on how many times you can indulge?

Welcome to the all-inclusive life you were meant to live. (You’re welcome).

“Go to Mexico, get the best of it”

It’s a bold take on vacation style that sometimes carries a reputation for being cheap or cookie-cutter, trading authenticity and quality for convenience and quantity.

Ultra-luxe vacations aren’t typically associated with the all-inclusive world – but that’s what Velas, for several years now, has been out to change.

Especially in the Canadian market, where the brand—led by Quebec-based Sophie Raymond, sales director for Velas Resorts in Canada—sees strong potential for expanding its market share.

As Juan Vela Ruiz, vice-president of Velas Resorts, told PAX in a sit-down interview back in 2019: “There are many Canadians who go on vacations just to get away from the cold. What we’re saying is, ‘Don’t just come to get away from the cold. Come and really enjoy your vacation. Make it worth it. Go to Mexico and get the best of it.” 

The company’s all-inclusive portfolio includes Grand Velas Los Cabos, neighbouring Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Velas Vallarta, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit and Casa Velas (a boutique property, built on a golf course).

The boho-chic Mar del Cabo, also next door to Grand Velas Los Cabos, is the company’s only EP-plan hotel. As PAX learned last year, it’s a Mediterranean-inspired gem.

Limitless Michelin-star dining

Value is a consistent theme at Velas – but it’s not just that.

“The value is not only in the bill, it’s [also] in the experience,” as Mr. Vela told us years back. “Luxury travellers are looking for experiences.”

The rates at Velas may be on the higher end, but the bar is set extremely high—especially when it comes to restaurants, where well-developed dining concepts cater to travellers with first-class tastes.

At Grand Velas Los Cabos, two-star Michelin Chef Sidney Schutte serves up an 8 to 10-course tasting menu at dimly-lit and intimate Cocina de Autor (which is also available at Grand Velas Riviera Maya).

It’s the only all-inclusive restaurant to hold Michelin stars. On the menu – during our visit – were mouthwatering dishes such as farm-raised totoaba (fish) from the Gulf of California, wagyu tartare, yellow corn velouté, a tender Angus tenderloin with beetroot and black garlic, and a heavenly Miraflores honey ice cream.

Small bites, big flavours.

READ MORE: Velas Resorts' Cocina de Autor restaurants maintain two Michelin stars

From the first bite to the last, you forget you're at an all-inclusive resort and feel instead as if you're dining in a cosmopolitan setting that complements the world-class cuisine. Cocina de Autor is also exclusively reserved for guests aged 18 and over.

The other stylish restaurants at Grand Velas Los Cabos uphold the same high standards, from Frida (gourmet Mexican cuisine) to Lucca (Italian-Mediterranean) to Velas 10 (seafood and steaks) to poolside Cabrilla (fresh ceviche and seafood) to Sen Lin, a newly-opened Thai restaurant (which replaces French-focused Piaf).

Azul is a buffet-style restaurant offering breakfast and lunch, while Amat Café is your anytime coffee shop, serving gourmet coffees, sandwiches, salads, sweet treats and “energy shots” (the invigorating papaya, lime, ginger and pineapple combo is a must– especially after a morning pump at the sea-facing gym). 

Sprawling suites

But at Grand Velas Los Cabos, it’s not just about the show-stopping dining—it’s about delivering, well, a really, really good vacation.

The resort’s sprawling suites, with contemporary Mexican design, start at 1,100 sq. ft., for the Ambassador Level category, and go up to a whopping 5,451 sq. ft. (for the Presidential suite).

Spacious living areas, spa-style bathroom with jacuzzis, terraces that seamlessly blend the indoors and outdoors. The suites are like if elegance and comfort had a love child who majored in interior design.

READ MORE: “Everyone’s a VIP:” Canadian travel advisors unlock eye-popping luxury with Velas Resorts in Mexico

Grand Class Suites come with private plunge pools for an extra touch of luxury. Or, if you splurge on the Presidential quarters – the ultimate VIP experience – you not only get your own pool, but an entire rooftop terrace overlooking the sea, all to yourself.

The hotel’s curved, half-moon shape ensures that all suites have ocean views, and the building itself is perpetually adorned in vibrant fuchsia, courtesy of cascading bougainvillea flowers—an iconic hallmark of Velas—gracing every balcony.

The newest suite category at Grand Velas Los Cabos is the Family Duplex Suite—spacious, two-story accommodations that were formerly designated as Wellness Suites.

In response to growing demand from families, these seven units have been reimagined to cater to multigenerational guests. Each suite features a private terrace, jacuzzi, and plunge pool, along with a popcorn machine, indoor tepees, and a selection of games for all ages.

Grand Velas also has separate Teen's and Kid's Clubs, and a children's pool (with kid-sized cabanas) to keep younger ones busy. The Teen's Club, for one, is very cool. It has nooks for videogames and a light-up dancefloor.    

There's even a Baby Concierge - available at no extra charge. Managed by skilled caregivers, this service provides the comforts of home, ensuring babies are happy while parents unwind (bottles, teethers and pacifiers are also included).

This is where Grand Velas manages to strike a thoughtful balance that caters to guests of all ages. Though it's a family-friendly place, the atmosphere remains serene and sophisticated. It’s never chaotic or overcrowded. Space, after all, is a luxury. You'll never have trouble finding a lounger by the pool. 

The tiered design of the infinity pools likely plays a key role in maintaining a tranquil vibe.

The upper two levels are designated for family-friendly fun and activities, while further down the slope—removed from the lively energy—is an adults-only Serenity Pool.

It’s not only the quietest of the three, but also the most coveted, thanks to its prime location in front of the sea.

You could easily while away the afternoon here—reclined on a plush lounger, sipping premium Don Julio over ice and savouring fresh ceviche—accompanied by the soothing sound of crashing waves, in a kid-free setting.

The only “interruption” you may hear, here, (depending on the time of year), is the resonant sound of a “whale gong”—a ritual guests are encouraged to partake in whenever a whale is spotted offshore.

Alternatively, for those seeking a true adults-only escape, consider Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, located just next door.

Opened only last year, this 79-suite, adults-only, all-inclusive retreat offers a quiet sanctuary with its own restaurants and amenities—including a stunning sea-facing infinity pool. A pool within a pool concept.

(Curious? Read PAX’s detailed report from our visit to the property last year).

Guests at Boutique also enjoy full access to the facilities of Grand Velas Los Cabos, getting the best of both worlds.

“The magic begins here"

There’s a sense of magic in the air at Grand Velas Los Cabos—embodied, most strikingly, by a towering 20-foot bronze sculpture in the lobby.

Created by Mexican artist Alejandro Colunga, and titled La Silla del Mago (The Wizard’s Chair), the piece serves as a whimsical symbol of the enchantment that defines the resort.

“The magic begins here" also happens to be the brand’s motto. This line is inscribed in a book sculpture, also in the lobby, signed by Eduardo Vela, founder of Velas Resorts.

If there’s magic at play, then it’s the highly-trained, welcoming staff who make it possible, orchestrating every detail with precision.

Grand Velas has an impressive three-to-one staff-to-guest ratio, so someone is always close at hand to assist.

When you ask for directions, staff don’t simply point the way—they personally walk with you, guiding you there. Poolside, attentive waiters promptly take drink and dining orders.

Each guest is assigned a personal concierge, who stays in touch via WhatsApp to share daily activity updates (which could be a Painting and Wine workshop or yoga class) and coordinate logistics, from restaurant reservations to airport transfers, so you can spend less time planning and more time vacationing. 

The personalized butler service in Grand Class suites takes it to another level—they’ll even unpack your luggage and carefully organize your clothes in drawers and closets, should you wish.

Even at the 35,000-square-foot SE Spa—an aquatic paradise and the only on-site amenity not included—the service is elevated.

An "entry-level" treatment like the hydrotherapy circuit—a multi-sensory journey through a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and polar pool—is led by a dedicated attendant who times each phase, guiding you seamlessly from one room and pool to the next, offering refreshing extras along the way, like cleansing smoothie shots.

Embracing “limitless luxury”

Not the typical all-inclusive you were expecting, eh? In fact, Velas plans to retire the term “all-inclusive” altogether.

Cynthia Kunz, global director of sales for the meetings and incentive division at Velas, shared with PAX that the company, very soon, will adopt the phrase “limitless luxury” to better capture the essence of their everything-included vacations.

“It’s the general sentiment of who we are,” she said. “It will differentiate us from other all-inclusive [resorts] and give future clients a clearer understanding of our brand.”

Toronto-based Michelle Brunet, director of business development at One10, a specialist in incentive and rewards travel, said it best after spending a few days at the property for the Buyers Event.

At Grand Velas: “You really feel special,” she said.

Intrigued? With more than 16,370 square feet of event space, Grand Velas Los Cabos is also a destination for epic events. What types of magical experiences can be curated for MICE groups? Click here to learn more. 

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