The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit
Family-friendly resort in Mexico.
Things to Know
Amenities
Traveler Insights(1,180 discussions)
The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit is best understood as a full-scale resort city rather than a traditional hotel. Sprawling across a ¾-mile beach on Banderas Bay, the property is part of the larger Vidanta complex and gives guests access to a staggering breadth of pools, restaurants, and activities. The centerpiece Aqua Park with its wave pool, Mayan Pyramid slide, and lazy river is a genuine highlight that families and adults both return for. The suites are true suites - full kitchens, living rooms, whirlpool tubs - and the beach is generous and well-kept. If sheer scale and variety are what you're after, very few resorts in Mexico can match it.
The experience differs significantly depending on whether you're a timeshare member or a paying guest. Members tend to love it; paying guests often feel the sales apparatus is built around converting them into members. The timeshare pressure starts at check-in and is the single most consistent complaint across traveler accounts. Food quality is praised when guests stick to the property's dining options - the teppanyaki experience at Gong and the street food at Mercado Mexicano get specific call-outs - but costs add up fast without a meal plan, and the resort does little to encourage exploring Nuevo Nayarit or Puerto Vallarta independently.
This resort is ideal for families or groups who want a self-contained, activity-dense vacation and aren't bothered by a timeshare pitch at the start. If you're a couple looking for intimate service and a boutique feel, you'll likely find the scale impersonal. The property is comparable in scope to a Barcelo or Hard Rock mega-resort, but the suite accommodations and on-site golf course push it toward a higher tier. Puerto Vallarta's old town, the Malecon, and the Marietas Islands are all within reach for day trips if the resort itself starts to feel like a bubble.
Pros
- +Massive Aqua Park with a wave pool, lazy river, and the iconic Mayan Pyramid water slide that families and adults alike rave about
- +Access to 40+ restaurants and bars across the entire Vidanta complex - from authentic Mexican street food at Mercado Mexicano to theatrical teppanyaki at Gong
- +Suites are genuinely spacious with full kitchens, living rooms, and marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs - nothing like a standard hotel room
- +A full ¾-mile stretch of beachfront on Banderas Bay with abundant chairs and palapas, rarely feeling overcrowded
- +The pool complex is enormous - guests regularly report sitting in a completely different pool area each day of a week-long stay
- +On-site Jim Lipe golf course and full-service spa mean you can fill an entire week without leaving the property
- +The 'Joy Squad' entertainment staff at the pool are genuinely enthusiastic and make kids and adults feel engaged throughout the day
- +Kayaking, pedal boating through interconnecting canals and lakes, and beach volleyball are all available on property
Cons
- −Aggressive timeshare sales presentations are the most consistent complaint - staff offer 'deals' for attending a 3-5 hour sales pitch starting at check-in
- −Guests who decline timeshare presentations report receiving worse room assignments - sometimes rooms facing trees instead of ocean
- −Check-in lines can stretch to 90 minutes with no clear direction system, particularly rough after a long travel day
- −The resort app is unreliable and the property is so large that first-time guests feel lost without better orientation at check-in
- −Dining out of the resort complex is actively discouraged - staff provide little information about local options and transportation is difficult to arrange
- −A typical dinner for a family of four at the on-site restaurants can run $400-500 USD if not on an all-inclusive package
- −Wi-Fi and parking carry additional fees that catch non-member guests off guard
- −Service quality is inconsistent compared to smaller, staff-attentive resorts - the scale of the property makes personalized attention difficult
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Google Reviews
“Cristian and his team at Joy squad made us feel very welcome and our vacation amazing. They kept us busy with lots of fun events. We were smiling the whole time because of their team. He is a huge asset to Vidanta resorts. I’d also like to throw out...”
“The best resort I have ever been to! Wonderful and kind employees made it feel like home and we never want to leave thank you to whole joy squad teams for showing my family a fun time!! Cristian was so helpful getting us started when we were wanderi...”
“What a wonderful week! This is specifically for the Jungle Bay (kids club) Halloween adventure. Massive thanks to Yara, Caro, Kim, Dulce, Moni, and Naty. The experience was top notch for our little one. Anyone who can keep 30+ kids entertained for 2+...”