Evaluate: The St Regis Kanai Resort (Riviera Maya, Mexico)

May 15, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a lodge or flight assessment.

Just a few weeks in the past, I loved a calming vacation within the Riviera Maya, Mexico, the place I stayed on the space’s high three luxurious resorts. You may learn my journey studies right here:

Right this moment: Evaluate of The St Regis Kanai Resort (Riviera Maya, Mexico)

Securing its spot on numerous “greatest” lists, the all-new St. Regis Kanai Resort boasts an an distinctive round exterior, signature butler service, and prime beachfront location inside a 680-acre gated neighborhood. However these aren’t the one causes you’ll find it irresistible. All 124 visitor rooms and suites provide ocean views (some even have personal plunge swimming pools). And with eight distinct bars and eating places, you’ll be able to fulfill your longing for elevated Mexican delicacies one evening and Mediterranean, Center Japanese, or Asian Fusion the following.

The St Regis Kanai options in my high 10 lists of the greatest luxurious resorts on the Riviera Maya and my favourite St Regis Accommodations & Resorts on the earth.

Have you ever ever stayed at The St Regis Kanai, Riviera Maya? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

I made a YouTube video with full tour of The St Regis Kanai, which you’ll watch right here:

On this assessment (extra information and pictures under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The St Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is ready throughout the tranquil, personal resort space of Kanai. Kanai is named the celestial mythological birthplace of the Mayans, who first named the land Kanai, that means “the place the sky is born.” Situated within the coronary heart of the Riviera Maya, inside a half-hour drive from Cancun Airport and 10 minutes from Playa del Carmen’s Downtown, Kanai is a 680 acre secured gated neighborhood which is dwelling to three luxurious resorts: The St Regis, The Version, and Etereo (700 rooms and residences in whole). The resort sits amongst a jungle and mangrove reserve and options 2 miles (3 km) of pristine white sand seashores. Kanai can also be lower than half a mile away from an undisturbed coral reef, providing a blinding arrays of several types of coral and offering meals to lots of of fish species, marine turtles, and different marine creatures.

Designed by Mexican agency Edmonds Worldwide, The St Regis Kanai Resort options an distinctive round structure, resulting in open views from almost each vantage level. The spectacular design comes forth as two small intersected circles that comprise the general public areas and three massive semicircles which home the rooms & suites. The round buildings float above a seemingly infinite sea of lush inexperienced mangroves, which – when considered from above – virtually seem like an ultra-modern white spaceship that landed in bright-green vegetation. In actual fact, the resort’s format reflects the constellation Pleiades, which the Mayans thought-about to be the birthplace of their historic ancestors. The circular design motif additionally alludes to the sun-shaped Mayan calendar comprising 13 moons lasting 28 days.

Upon arrival, friends of The St Regis Kanai are instantly immersed within the resort’s beautiful structure with a multi-story open air water set up and luxurious greenery main into the resort’s majestic, double-story foyer. Throughout the huge, semi-open air foyer area, biophilic options like skylights and dwelling partitions merge indoor and outside environments, permitting friends to bodily expertise Riviera Maya from inside. The reception and concierge space is tucked away in an intimate nook of the foyer, whereas a number of tranquil nooks and lounge areas are excellent for rest, meditation and remark of sunsets and starry nights. The foyer’s far finish presents floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the mangroves and the Caribbean Sea past.

Drawing inspiration from historic Mayan tradition, The St Regis Kanai’s refined aesthetics and modern interiors have been created by Chapi Chapo Design. The elegant decor is accented with bespoke components together with customized furnishings and art work from native artisans. The Mayan Calendar is recreated by way of textiles throughout the public areas and guestrooms, with components impressed by ceremonial Mayan clothes. The resort’s inside design additionally evokes the encircling components from the mangrove bushes to the close by cenotes – pure sinkholes generally used for water provides by the Maya. Wealthy supplies imitating this pure ecosystem embody marbles with hues of blue, gray and inexperienced that mimic the encircling components and travertine to resemble native limestone, whereas walnut wooden brings wealthy heat and grounding to every space of the resort the place design imitates life.

The St Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya boasts 124 lavishly appointed guestrooms and 19 suites. Guestrooms characteristic customized hanging mirrors, bedside tables, ceramic mild pendants, and complex walnut wood-carved headboards, whereas ensuites loos are outfitted with double vanities, bathtubs and walk-in showers. The guestrooms on the primary and second ground all have balconies with uninterrupted sea views, whereas the ground-level rooms take pleasure in views over the mangrove and still have a non-public plunge pool. One of the best suites are positioned on the finish of every semi-circle since they arrive with a big outside area, with an outside bathe, hammock and/or pool. Friends of all room classes have entry to the St Regis Signature Butler Service.

The St Regis Kanai Resort options two large beach-front pool areas, one devoted to households and the opposite one solely accessible to adults. The household pool space is comprised of two massive swimming swimming pools, that are lined by dozens of sunbeds (a few of them set contained in the pool). Certainly one of these swimming pools additionally options a number of luxurious cabanas – with lounge areas and a big TV display – which may be rented for the day for a charge. The household pool space additionally has an indoor video games rooms, which comes with its personal TV lounge, bar and small outside pool. Situated subsequent to the household pool is the adults solely seashore membership, which options a big swimming pool, a separate Jacuzzi, and a bar serving cocktails and light-weight fare. Each the household pool and adults solely seashore membership open to a lovely white sand seashore, lapped by the turquoise Caribbean Sea.

The St Regis Kanai Resort’s wellness heart is a tranquil enclave positioned on the finish of the large foyer. That includes eight remedy suites and a standalone rest salon, the spa presents therapies impressed by historic practices and that includes native substances. Signature therapies embody the Secret Backyard ritual, permitting friends handy choose substances from the lodge’s backyard to personalize a physique scrub and masks. One other nice remedy is the Celestial Power remedy, which is impressed by Mayan cosmology and makes use of sizzling stones energized underneath the moon & stars and aromatherapy based mostly on the section of the moon. Subsequent to the spa is the unique Athletic Membership, that includes a variety of cardio and energy gear in addition to an outside yoga platform.

The St Regis Kanai, Riviera Maya presents gastronomic journeys in eight culinary venues.
- The lodge’s signature restaurant TORO by Chef Richard Sandoval is a bar and restaurant with a Latin-inspired menu led by the esteemed chef.
- Situated subsequent to the foyer, Chaya Restaurant contains a menu that mixes native substances and regional touches of Riviera Maya with culinary components rooted in Japanese Mediterranean historical past. Every morning, a breakfast buffet with some native Mexican touches can also be supplied at Chaya.
- Situated alongside the household pool, Riviera is a brilliant informal restaurant, open for lunch solely, which seamlessly blends the South of France with the Mayan Riviera. The venue serves recent seafood and different dishes ready from native substances.
- A tea and chocolate salon positioned subsequent to the foyer, The Library serves St Regis’s signature ritual of afternoon tea and it’s an awesome backdrop to take pleasure in a tasting of Mexican chocolate.
- Situated on the second ground, the intimate St Regis Bar presents the Kanai Mary, a neighborhood tackle the model’s signature Bloody Mary cocktail, which includes substances from the traditional Maya weight loss plan together with corn, peppers and cucumber. Designed to characteristic views of the sundown, the bar marks the transition from day to nighttime with a celebratory champagne sabering every night.
- Extra eating venues embody Jack’s Membership (a hidden speakeasy), Pik Nik (a grab-and-go deli), and The Seaside Membership for mild bites whereas stress-free seaside.

Designed with a minimal development footprint aimed toward defending the Sian Ka’an Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Website adjoining to the resort) , The St Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is ingeniously suspended above a mangrove forest on stilts, minimizing the consequences on the delicate habitats beneath. To additional decrease ecological affect, the completely different components of the lodge related by elevated walkways. To protect as a lot of the reserve and native flora as potential, the builders of the Kanai neighborhood constructed on solely 9% of their total property. They left the rest – largely dense jungle and mangrove forest – untouched, constructing alongside a single street by way of the reserve and placing all buildings and pavilions on stilts the place crucial.

Combining basic sophistication with a contemporary sensibility, St Regis Accommodations & Resorts – which at the moment manages Kanai property – is considered one of my favourite luxurious lodge manufacturers on the earth. Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, St. Regis Accommodations & Resorts is dedicated to delivering beautiful experiences at almost 50 luxurious lodges and resorts in a few of the greatest addresses all over the world. Starting with the debut of The St. Regis lodge in New York by John Jacob Astor IV on the daybreak of the 20 th century, the model has remained dedicated to an uncompromising degree of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its friends, delivered flawlessly by the signature St Regis Butler Service. A part of the Marriott Resort Group, St Regis participates in Marriott Bonvoy, the worldwide loyalty program from Marriott (permitting to gather factors and spend them without spending a dime nights).

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The St Regis Kanai contains a beautiful structure, however the complete construction – comprised of a number of intersecting circles – is huge and doesn’t really feel very intimate. Additionally, the buildings are so huge you could stroll by way of them with out working into lots of people (besides on the swimming pools). Some friends will adore this mind-blowing fashionable structure whereas others could discover it soulless and paying homage to an airport or museum. Nonetheless, irrespective of how you are feeling in regards to the structure, the general design of the resort – particularly the foyer – will go away you speechless.

The St Regis Kanai contains a whole of 143 rooms, however solely 19 of those are suites whereas the remaining are simply common rooms. Whereas the rooms are spacious and opulent, and outfitted with personal balconies and terraces, they don’t have the identical wow-factor because the villa-style lodging supplied at a few of The St Regis’ direct rivals within the space, corresponding to Rosewood Mayakoba (though the St Regis’ rooms are offered on the identical charge because the villas at different properties).

The seashores of the Riviera Maya are affected by the presence of sargassum seaweed, which is a priority to many vacationers. Traditionally, the seaweed season usually began at first of spring (April) because of an increase in sea temperature, and peaked through the summer time months. Nonetheless, within the final decade and possibly because of international warming, seaweed has appeared at any time all year long, making it difficult to foretell its seasonal patterns. For instance, once I visited in late January, a large quantity of seaweed washed onshore throughout a number of storms that handed over the world. That mentioned, the seashore in entrance of The St Regis Kanai gave the impression to be much less affected by the seaweed drawback when in comparison with different seashores within the space (corresponding to Mayakoba). Additionally, every morning and afternoon, the seashore is meticulously cleared of seawed by the resort workers.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Wow issue: 9/10
Worth for cash: 8/10
Total expertise: excellent 8.5/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving through Virtuoso (e.g. room improve, every day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out and $100 USD lodge credit score).

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting one of the best deal at a luxurious lodge like Rosewood Mayakoba (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my ideas for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The Riviera Maya in Mexico has a subtropical local weather with two seasons – a wet season (Might to October) and a dry season (November to April). One of the best time to go to is December to March when the temperatures are a bit extra snug and there are fewer rain showers. Throughout the wet season, interval temperatures stay excessive and though it rains day by day, downpours don’t are usually extended. There’s a probability for hurricanes, particularly from July to October.

HOW TO GET THERE

The St Regis Kanai, Riviera Maya, Mexico is positioned 40 minutes by automotive from Cancun Worldwide Airport, which is served by most North- and South American in addition to some European airways. Test the Wikipedia web page of Cancun Worldwide Airport for a repeatedly up to date checklist of airways that supply direct flights to Cancun.

PHOTOS

Right here’s a choice of my pictures of The St Regis Kanai, Riviera Maya in Mexico. To view extra lodge pictures (together with breakfast and dinner), click on right here.