Checking Out the Brand-New Kids’ Club at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Suiting up for her next activity, my daughter donned a tan vest with oversize pockets, a matching bucket hat and miniature binoculars that clipped onto her outfit. 

Our resort just launched a new safari activity as a clever way to introduce kids to the area’s fauna and foliage.

But we were not in Africa — not even close. In fact, underneath my daughter’s outfit was her swimsuit. We were in Mexico, back at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit which — after 22 years — keeps finding ways to make the all-inclusive resort experience fresh and fun for families. 

The tour took us around the property to feed koi fish, inspect the resort’s apiaries to learn about honeybees and past the pools to the beach, where we squinted in search of marine life. Chocolate coins were used as a reward for good listening.

The other highlight for my daughter was meeting the resort’s resident hawk, who we learned keeps other birds and critters from swooping in on the property’s poolside eats. 

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I marveled at my daughter, who bravely put two of her fingers together as instructed to pet the hawk. Last time we were at the resort, she wasn’t even 2 years old. Now, she is “3-and-three-quarters" as she likes to explain — and not only had she changed, but so had the property, with even more offerings for our family.

The New Kids’ Club

When we last visited, the Kids’ Club for kids 4-12 was under construction, and the hotel had set up a temporary club area under a canopy by the kids’ pool. The five-month construction project wrapped up in March 2023, and the brand-new club wowed us all.

The 3,272-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space is full of natural light, whimsical details and plenty of fun things to do from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Once kids are signed in, they are greeted by a jungle scene featuring realistic-looking tree trunks crowned with flat green canopies that extend to the ceiling. Hanging from the branches are ropes —and clinging to the ropes are white monkey statues holding light bulbs. Under the trees is a patch of green carpet embedded into a dark wood floor.

Against one wall are circular pods for kids looking to quite literally “hole up” with a movie or video game. And for social screen time, there’s a large light-up dance floor where kids can play various dancing games or cheer each other on from a large, modular sofa. 

Murals of jungle trees and colorful flowers add to the inviting tropical aesthetic. My daughter was clearly inspired by her surroundings — so much so, that when it was time to get her face painted by the staff, she skipped her usual requests of butterflies and princess tiaras for a full orange-and-black tiger face. 

The daily schedule kept things fun, and in addition to face painting, my daughter loved the various arts and crafts offered, including creating a paper fish and a pig made from a painted water bottle.

We also loved the outdoor part of the Kids’ Club, which includes a horizontal climbing wall that several kids can scale at once, along with plenty of astroturf for kids to chase balls, play tag or stage a performance to their favorite song. Stairs led up to a terrace that is meant for kids ages 6-12 to play table games and watch television shows suitable for their age.

Since my daughter is just under 4 years old, I could not drop her off unattended. But the venue was always staffed with multiple employees, all of whom were friendly and quick to lend a hand so I could enjoy whatever my daughter was doing (rather than facilitate her fun — or clean her messes.) And when I brought my 1-year-old son, employees were more than happy to play with him with age-appropriate toys. 

Once my kids turn 4, I would not hesitate to leave them at the club for hours. I saw plenty of parents drop off their kids for the day, knowing that the facility also provides kid-approved lunches and even dinners.

We also ran into the Kids’ Club staff throughout the resort. Most afternoons at the kids’ pool, employees facilitate various activities, including a water balloon party.  There’s also plenty of evening programming, including excursions to see the hotel’s nightlife, such as a performance by a Michael Jackson impersonator in the hotel’s amphitheater that got us all dancing.  

The resort makes traveling so easy for parents, which is a huge reason why we came back — this time with our friends and their daughter in tow. Excellent dinners at the resort’s three award-winning restaurants offered food that is tasty for kids and parents alike, plus live music and even a magician who performed several tricks at our table.

Other highlights include a baby concierge who helps with delivering baby items, and a Teens’ Club that is equally as impressive as its kids’ equivalent. Great service guarantees that everyone has what they need when they need it — which for my daughter and her girlfriend was a smoothie or milkshake, preferably served poolside.

We were also all happy to post up at the new Amat Cafe in the late afternoon for a pick-me-up. My friend and I would get lattes, while our daughters enjoyed their chocolate frappes. And because Amat is right by the koi pond and near the Kids’ Club, our daughters would gleefully run over to the club together, sans adults, and ask for fish food. They would then excitedly run back, full of pride for completing the task without help.

Grand Velas does so much to create a safe, warm and fun environment — and I’m glad that my daughter picked up on it, too.