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

A number of weeks in the past, I loved a soothing vacation within the Riviera Maya, Mexico, the place I stayed on the space’s high three luxurious resorts. You may learn my journey reviews right here:

Immediately: Evaluation of  The St Regis Kanai Resort (Riviera Maya, Mexico)

Securing its spot on numerous “finest” 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 group. However these aren’t the one causes you’ll adore it. All 124 visitor rooms and suites provide ocean views (some even have non-public plunge swimming pools). And with eight distinct bars and eating places, you possibly can fulfill your yearning for elevated Mexican delicacies one night time and Mediterranean, Center Japanese, or Asian Fusion the subsequent.

The St Regis Kanai options in my high 10 lists of the finest luxurious resorts on the Riviera Maya and my favourite St Regis Lodges & Resorts on the planet.

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

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

On this overview (extra information and photographs under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

• The St Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is about inside the tranquil, non-public 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 group which is house 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 stunning arrays of various kinds of coral and offering meals to a whole bunch 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 practically each vantage level. The spectacular design comes forth as two small intersected circles that comprise the general public areas and three giant 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. Actually, the resort’s format reflects the constellation Pleiades, which the Mayans thought of 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 gorgeous structure with a multi-story open air water set up and plush greenery main into the resort’s majestic, double-story foyer. Inside the huge, semi-open air foyer house, 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 statement of sunsets and starry nights. The foyer’s far finish affords 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 up to date 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 via textiles inside the public areas and guestrooms, with components impressed by ceremonial Mayan clothes. The resort’s inside design additionally evokes the encompassing components from the mangrove timber to the close by cenotes – pure sinkholes generally used for water provides by the Maya. Wealthy supplies imitating this pure ecosystem embrace marbles with hues of blue, gray and inexperienced that mimic the encompassing 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 complicated walnut wood-carved headboards, whereas ensuites loos are outfitted with double vanities, bathtubs and walk-in showers. The guestrooms on the primary and second flooring 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. The most effective suites are positioned on the finish of every semi-circle since they arrive with a big outside house, with an outside bathe, hammock and/or pool. Visitors 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 giant swimming swimming pools, that are lined by dozens of sunbeds (a few of them set contained in the pool). Considered one of these swimming pools additionally options a number of luxurious cabanas – with lounge areas and a big TV display – which might 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 lightweight fare. Each the household pool and adults solely seashore membership open to a stupendous 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 big foyer. That includes eight therapy suites and a standalone rest salon, the spa affords therapies impressed by historic practices and that includes native elements. Signature therapies embrace the Secret Backyard ritual, permitting friends handy choose elements from the lodge’s backyard to personalize a physique scrub and masks. One other nice therapy is the Celestial Power therapy, which is impressed by Mayan cosmology and makes use of sizzling stones energized below the moon & stars and aromatherapy primarily based 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 affords 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 encompasses a menu that mixes native elements 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 provided 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 contemporary seafood and different dishes ready from native elements.
  • 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 incredible backdrop to take pleasure in a tasting of Mexican chocolate.
  • Situated on the second flooring, the intimate St Regis Bar affords the Kanai Mary, an area tackle the model’s signature Bloody Mary cocktail, which includes elements from the traditional Maya food regimen 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 embrace Jack’s Membership (a hidden speakeasy), Pik Nik (a grab-and-go deli), and The Seashore Membership for mild bites whereas enjoyable seaside.

• Designed with a minimal development footprint geared toward defending the Sian Ka’an Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Web site 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 influence, the completely different components of the lodge related by elevated walkways. To protect as a lot of the reserve and native flora as doable, the builders of the Kanai group constructed on solely 9% of their whole property. They left the rest – largely dense jungle and mangrove forest – untouched, constructing alongside a single highway via the reserve and placing all buildings and pavilions on stilts the place mandatory.

• Combining basic sophistication with a contemporary sensibility, St Regis Lodges & Resorts – which at present manages Kanai property – is one in every of my favourite luxurious lodge manufacturers on the planet. Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, St. Regis Lodges & Resorts is dedicated to delivering beautiful experiences at practically 50 luxurious motels and resorts in a few of the finest 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 Lodge Group, St Regis participates in Marriott Bonvoy, the worldwide loyalty program from Marriott (permitting to gather factors and spend them free of charge nights).

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

• The St Regis Kanai encompasses a gorgeous structure, however all the construction – comprised of a number of intersecting circles – is very large and doesn’t really feel very intimate. Additionally, the buildings are so huge you can stroll via 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 harking back to an airport or museum. Nevertheless, regardless 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 encompasses a whole of 143 rooms, however solely 19 of those are suites whereas the remainder are simply common rooms. Whereas the rooms are spacious and splendid, and outfitted with non-public balconies and terraces, they don’t have the identical wow-factor because the villa-style lodging provided at a few of The St Regis’ direct rivals within the space, resembling Rosewood Mayakoba (though the St Regis’ rooms are offered on the identical fee 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 in the beginning of spring (April) attributable to an increase in sea temperature, and peaked through the summer time months. Nevertheless, within the final decade and doubtless attributable to 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, an enormous quantity of seaweed washed onshore throughout a number of storms that handed over the world. That stated, the seashore in entrance of The St Regis Kanai appeared to be much less affected by the seaweed downside when in comparison with different seashores within the space (resembling 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
• General expertise: excellent 8.5/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

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

• Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious lodge like Rosewood Mayakoba (and/or obtain many free perks).

• Learn my suggestions for making 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 (Could to October) and a dry season (November to April). The most effective time to go to is December to March when the temperatures are a bit extra snug and there are fewer rain showers. Through the wet season, interval temperatures stay excessive and though it rains each 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 constantly up to date record of airways that provide direct flights to Cancun.

PHOTOS

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

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