We visited Mexico for the second time and had another great holiday in paradise. This time we went to Riviera Maya and stood at Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa and share our experience from the 5-star hotel we chose. This is a perfect place for your next beach holiday to relax and enjoy the beautiful white sands and palm trees.

The hotel offers spacious rooms, excellent food and drinks, great service, beautiful sandy beach with lots of palm trees, well maintained hotel grounds and a range of activities to choose from to complete your holiday. Find out more about our experience and what we liked and didn’t like about this hotel below.

1. Why We Chose Hotel Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa

We searched a lot for the perfect hotel to fit our requirements and budget for a Mexico all-inclusive holiday. We booked our all inclusive holiday with TUI.

To help us choose the right place, we shortlisted a number of Tulum and Riviera Maya beach hotels and watched YouTube videos before we agreed on this particular hotel. Here is why we chose Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa:

• Prime beachfront location
• Sandy beach with palm trees
• Village-style hotel (this is what we like)
• Wide selection of à la cartes restaurants
• 5-star resort in Riviera Maya
• Consistently good reviews on TripAdvisor
• Fit our budget

The only downside was the transfer time, around 2 hours from Cancun airport, but this wasn’t a problem for us. You can read more about the hotel and our experience below.

2. How to Get to Hotel Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa

We arrived via Cancún International Airport (CUN). From there, Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa is approximately 90 km away, a journey that takes between 1 hour 10 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on your transfer option.

As we booked a package holiday with TUI, we had the flights, hotel and transfer included in the price. Our transfer from the airport was in a big bus, similar to transfers we had in Alanya and Sharm El-Sheikh.

The hotel is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico and is one of the luxury hotels in Riviera Maya.

Address: Carretera Cancún – Tulum Km.259-100, Puerto Juarez, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexic

3. Reception & Lobby

The reception and lobby area are spacious, open, beautifully decorated and with comfortable furniture. The check-in experience was smooth and straight forward, although we waited a lot due to other guests checking in at the same time.

We were were given a map of the hotel and our all inclusive bracelets which were also the keys to the room. How smart is that! This reminded us of our stay at hotel Caribe Deluxe Princess in Punta Cana.

Reception staff were friendly and happy to answer any questions. The lobby boys were at hand and promptly helped us with the luggage and drove us to our room, so we did experience the friendly staff in Mexico resorts.

Next to reception is the Guest Relations team who helped us with some restaurant reservations but other than that, we relied a lot on the Palladium app to check and book activities and book restaurants during our stay.

If you booked a package holiday, this is where you will find your TUI Rep or other agency representatives and information boards.

4. Hotel Estate

The hotel estate is huge! We like these village-style hotels and having golf cars to take you from one point to another was amazing. This also makes it a great Riviera Maya family-friendly resort.

In the estate, there are a number of hotels part of Palladium group and at different tiers. We had access to all of the facilities of our hotel (Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa), Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa and Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa.

We had access to all three hotel’s reception areas where the evening entertainment was, access to restaurants, church, 24/7 bar with food, mini market etc. in addition to the main areas of the hotels where the villas, swimming pools, beach, sports centre and so on.

The hotel is in a massive mangrove which makes for a lovely walk. This is a beachfront hotel with palm trees and very well-maintained hotel grounds.

During the day you can see a lot of families wandering around and admiring the plants and animals. We saw a lot of iguanas, coatis, flamingos and variety of birds in their natural habitat.

The view from our room was towards the hotel’s garden and Mayan forest and felt very peaceful and secluded.

If you feel lazy like us on most days, you can use the hotel shuttle bus to go from one point to another. It’s super convenient to hop on and hop off at your desired place. The shuttle bus comes very often and we never waited more than 8-9 minutes.

5. Room Overview

We booked a Deluxe Double Room with Garden View and Balcony for 10 nights. This was our all-inclusive 5-star hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

We found the room to be spacious and with lots of day light coming through. We had a king size bed and a sofa in the room. The bed was super comfortable.

We had all the usual and necessary things in the room to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. The room was tastefully decorated and featured a large flatscreen TV with a great selection of TV channels (perhaps the best we have seen in a hotel so far).

In addition, we had a top to bottom mirror, hairdryer, mini bar (refilled daily), safe box and coffee making facilities. There was plenty of storage with multiple chest of drawers and spacious wardrobe with shelves and hangers. Iron and ironing board were also provided.

Our room was on the top floor with a nice balcony overlooking the hotel’s gardens and the Mayan forest. Most mornings we would have a freshly made coffee outside on the balcony whilst enjoying the peaceful morning and bird sounds.

The bathroom was spacious and with a bathtub. The water pressure was amazing and we had a rainfall shower as well as a hand-held shower.

Standard toiletries were provided – soap, shower gel, shampoo, body lotion and we also had make-up towels.

Towels were changed on a regular basis, some days we were even given extra towels. We were really impressed of the level of cleanliness throughout the hotel and the room was no exception – cleaned, mopped and tidied on a daily basis.

6. Food and Drinks

One of the reasons we like village style hotels is because you get a lot of restaurants and bars scattered across the hotel grounds with plenty of options to choose from. This hotel didn’t disappoint us with the food and drinks places and we were spoilt for choice.

In fact, we both agreed that this was the best all inclusive hotel we ever stayed at and the selection of a la carte restaurants and the included premium drinks were one of the reason for this. We had a real gourmet dining Riviera Maya.

We had access to restaurants and bars at all three of the resort’s Grand Palladium hotels and experienced international dining in Riviera Maya.

If you ever wondered how food is prepared at an all-inclusive hotel, then read our article “Inside an All-Inclusive Kitchen” for more details.

6.1. Restaurants – Savour Global Flavours

The hotel offers a lot restaurants across all three Palladium hotels to choose from. These include:

• Main buffet restaurants (self-service)
  • La Hacienda
  • El Gran Azul
  • La Laguna
  • La Dalia
• Las Olas (at the beach)
• A la carte restaurants:
  • La Adelita (Mexican)
  • El Dorado (American Steakhouse)
  • Poseidon (Seafood)
  • Sumptuori (Japanese and teppanyaki)
  • Portofino (Italian)
  • Bahia e Brasa (Brazilian)
  • La Paisana (Argentinian)
  • Chang Thai (Southeast Asian)
• Special a la carte restaurants at an extra charge

We tried a few options but were mainly eating breakfast at La Hacienda and having lunch at El Gran Azul (by the pool) or at Las Olas (by the beach).

The first two nights we had dinner at La Hacienda and at La Dalia and were rather disappointed. The variety of food in the evenings at the buffet restaurants is not great but then we realised that you are not really meant to eat there as the idea is to experience the a la carte restaurants and enjoy a more premium experience.

We tried most of the a la carte restaurants (except the Italian and the Southeast Asian one) and even went twice to the Brazilian restaurant.

6.1.1. La Hacienda – Feast at the Main Buffet

This is the main restaurant where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. There is plenty of seating area to choose from. This is airconditioned and a great way to cool off from the Mexican heat.

You will find a good selection of salads, hot and cold foods, bread and pastries and desserts here. In the morning, there are special sections for eggs and omelettes, pancakes and freshly squeezed juices and smoothies.

You can also enjoy some alcoholic drinks such as Mimosa or Bloody Mary.

We had fresh juices and smoothies in the morning and Paul loved the pancakes and waffles with dulce de leche.

For lunch and dinner you will find different areas to choose from including fish section, meat section, freshly made pizza and pasta zone, tacos, desserts area and ice-cream. These are in addition to the buffet area and are great!

Overall the food was fresh and tasty and we really enjoyed it. Some of the highlights include the freshly made tacos, made to order steaks, delicious seafood stew and ice-cream bar.

We found the service at the buffet restaurant was hit and miss. If you sit in the middle of the restaurant, perhaps you will get more attention than if you sit by the side.

We especially noticed this in the morning whilst we were waiting for the waiters to serve us coffee at the table.

6.1.2. El Gran Azul – Dine by the Pool

This restaurant is open for breakfast (late start) and lunch and was our main choice for lunch. The seating area is outside with a nice view towards the pool and had a lively atmosphere.

There were different food sections scattered around – pizza and pasta section, tacos area, salad bar and different other live cooking sections.

My highlight was the seafood stew with lots of prawns, calamari and mussels cooked to perfection. I ate this almost every day as it was that good! And let’s not forget the daily dose of nachos topped with cheese and salsa!

6.1.3. Las Olas – Enjoy Fresh Bites by the Beach

Las Olas is at the beach and offers lunch and snack options and a beach bar. We came here for coffee and pre-lunch (usually fruits and nachos) but you could also have a proper lunch including burgers, pasta, chicken, salads, sides and more.

This was our hiding place to escape the strong sun whilst enjoying the beach views. We loved it!

Being by the beach and one of the swimming pools, the dress code is vey casual and you can walk in your swimwear unlike the dress code in the main restaurant.

Another thing we enjoyed here is the table service and generally the staff attitude.

6.1.4. La Adelita – Indulge in Mexican Specialities

This was the first a la carte restaurant we went to and to be honest, we were rather disappointed. Being the Mexican restaurant in Mexico, we thought people will be proud to serve their food and show us the best of the best.

We had the octopus tacos served with roasted pineapple (3 pieces) which were a real highlight and certainly the most memorable food we ate in the restaurant. It was delicious!

For main we had the lamb mixiote and the pork knuckle which were OK but the portions were really small. Honestly, we had to go to the buffet later that night for a top up.

I loved how the churos were served, the presentation was really catchy. The churos weren’t particularly amazing but I liked the dulce de leche they were served with. I still compare the churos to the ones we ate at St. Gines in Madrid.

Unfortunately the service was slow and the waiter forgot to bring us sauces to complement the dishes we ordered.

6.1.5. El Dorado – Savour Juicy American Steaks

We loved the American steakhouse, it exceeded our expectations. We started with a selection of appetisers from the salad bar and were also received an amazing freshly baked bread with onions, served with bone marrow – Wow, this was exceptional!

There is a great variety of steak options and we were surprised to see T-bone steak also included. In the Argentian restaurant this at an extra charge and here it was included.

Needless to say we both got the T-bone steak and a selection of sides and sauces. The chimichurri sauce was beautiful with the perfectly cooked steak. With your main, you choose up to 3 side dishes and sauces to accompany your steak.

Desserts were also good, I had the New York cheesecake and Paul had the chocolate brownie.

6.1.6. Bahia e Brasa – Experience Brazilian Cuts

We love going to Brazilian restaurants in London so knew this would be a highlight. In fact, we liked it so much that we visited this restaurant twice.

The restaurant has a salad bar where you can choose your starters and side dishes whilst waiting for the main event.

The main part was the selection of meats – lamb, beef, pork, sausages, chicken, and pineapple (vegetarian option). All were beautifully cooked, succulent and served with a smile.

Everything was so delicious! They would usually come once to offer you a piece of each cut but we asked for a repeat of some of the beef cuts, the chicken and the pineapple as they were delicious.

6.1.7. La Paisana – Taste Authentic Argentinian Flavours

We liked this restaurant a lot. It shares the same bar with the Brazillian place and even the bartender recognised us and made us some nice drinks whilst waiting for our table to be ready.

For starters we had the Argentinian empanadas and grilled provolone cheese. The cheese was a real highlight and Paul was even considering ordering another portion of this!

For our mains, we chose the skirt steak and the flank steak served with a selection of side dishes and a sauce. The steaks were cooked very well and we enjoyed them. We found the selection of steaks (in particular T-bone steak) at the American restaurant better.

We had some Argentinian desserts as well – Argentinian alphajor and gypsy’s arm cake. They were OK but nothing too special.

6.1.8. Sumptuori – Watch Teppanyaki & Japanese Delights

We were really looking forward to this restaurant as we have been to some great teppanyaki places and generally enjoy the food and the show. This is the only restaurant that we couldn’t book through the app and had to book in person.

For starters we had sushi and for desserts we had the battered banana with ice-cream.

The main was cooked in front of us at the teppanyaki and included beef, chicken and prawns with egg fried rice and mixed vegetables. The food was tasty and I loved the prawns and the beef.

Unfortunately the chef wasn’t very engaging and there was limited entertainment element during the cooking process which was a let down. If you have been to teppanyaki places before, this might feel disappointing but if you haven’t been to one before, definitely make a booking.

6.1.9. Poseidon – Relish Seafood by the Shore

We liked this restaurant as it is situated on the beach with beautiful views towards the sea. Unfortunately the views during our stay weren’t as impressive due to the seaweed.

The food was fresh and tasty but perhaps the service was a bit too slow. We had the octopus ceviche followed by clam chowder soup to start our meal.

For my main course I chose the octoput with potatoes and vegetables, which was delicious and perfectly cooked. Paul decided to try the fish stew with Mexican gulf fish and absolutely loved it.

Desserts were easy, as soon as Paul saw Catalan cream on the menu. He ordered 3 of those! You can see his happy face on the photo 🙂

6.2. Bars – Sip & Unwind

There are a number of bars to choose from including the 24/7 Sports Bar. By each of the a la carte restaurants there is a bar to get a drink before dinner.

There are lots of soft and alcoholic drinks to choose from and a great selection of cocktails and mocktails. Branded alcohol are served but you have to specify what you want, otherwise they will use the local alcohol.

Our favourites include pina colada, margarita and cuba libre. Paul discovered a new rum called Flor de Caña and tequila called Hornitos that he really enjoyed. We took advantage of most of the bars but here are our highlights:

6.2.1. Kantenah Lobby Bar – Start the Evening with a Cocktail

This is the place is opened all day however, most people go for a drink in the evenings. It’s located in the lobby and offers comfortable seating and relaxing atmosphere.

In the evening this place can get really busy, especially if there is live entertainment.

6.2.2. Colonial Lobby Bar – Relax in a Classic Setting

This is perhaps the busiest bar as most of the evening entertainment happens at Colonial and after the show, everyone chills at the bar and enjoys the live music.

Even though it was really busy, we never struggled to find a table as there is plenty of seating available.

6.2.3. El Gran Azul Pool Bar – Cool Off with Poolside Drinks

This is located in the main pool and it is a swim-up bar. You can enjoy a drink whilst in the pool and it has a nice atmosphere.

We came here most days for a cocktail in the late afternoon whilst chilling and cooling off. Sadly no photos at the bar during opening hours but here is a photo of me on the paddleboard towards the bar.

6.2.4. Las Olas – Sip by the Sea

We went to the beach bar on a daily basis and enjoyed coffee and cocktails here.

The beach parties are also taking place by the beach bar, so we did visit some evenings as well.

6.2.5. Xtra Time Sports Bar – Catch the Game with a Cold Beer

This bar is opened 24/7 and is located at the Colonial lobby. It is airconditioned so if you want to cool off, this is the place to be.

As the name suggests, you can watch sports (there are so many plasma screens all around!) and enjoy some refreshinig drinks.

This bar is opened 24/7, so if you are feeling peckish, you can grab some snacks made to order. We tried the buffalo wings, crispy chicken strips and the nachos. You can also grab popcorn from here too.

7. Beach

The beach was amazing and just as beautiful as the photos promised. A wide stretch of beautiful sandy beach in Mexico, soft white sand, swaying palms and plenty of beachfront sun loungers to choose from.

Walking along this palm-fringed beach in the Riviera Maya really felt like stepping into paradise, and we were so impressed by how fine and soft the sand was, exactly as we had imagined it … except for the seaweed.

During our visit there was unfortunately a lot of seaweed. The hotel worked hard to clear it, with staff and tractors cleaning the shore daily and even nets placed in the water, but despite these efforts the seaweed was a constant part of the holiday scenery.

At times it also brought an unpleasant smell, which made swimming in the otherwise stunning turquoise Caribbean waters a little less enjoyable than we had hoped.

That said, the water itself was warm, refreshing and lively with gentle waves, which added some fun for swimming and playing around.

We also brought our paddleboard, and afternoons spent gliding over the water turned into some of our favourite memories.

And of course, being able to relax afterwards with a cocktail at the beach bar in the Riviera Maya made up for it all as nothing beats sipping a drink with your toes in the sand and the sea breeze in the air.

There is a beach bar from where we would get some drinks and sometimes we would even get beach service. The beach service was a bit of hit and miss but in all fairness there weren’t many people at the beach.

I was really happy when I found a coconut and asked one of the gardeners to cut it for me 🙂 That was the beach drink at the beach.

At the beach, there is a water sports activity station from where you can get a kayak or paddle board. Motorised water sports are also available for an extra charge as well as scuba diving lessons.

8. Swimming Pools

There is one main swimming pool, a kids area and secret pool which we never visited.

The main swimming pool of the hotel is where the pool bar is, by the beach. This is where the animation team organises lots of activities during the day as well, so if you like going to the pool, this is the place to be.

We came super early to the swimming pool (around 7:30-8am every morning) to practice paddle boarding whilst there weren’t many people. It was really enjoyable and definitely worth the early wake up.

By the pool, there is also a towel station, so if you didn’t bring your own towel, you can get a beach/pool towel from the hotel when you present the beach card.

9. Entertainment and Activities

We absolutely loved the entertainment at this hotel, especially the evening shows.

During the day we participated in riffle shooting and archery and I tried paddle yoga for the first time. The entertainment team organised a lot of day activities by the pool and at the sports centre, so if you want an active holiday, you can definitely achieve this.

In the main pool there were a lot of games for adults and kids including water polo and aqua aerobics. We felt during the day the animation team was good and organised lots of activities.

One of the things we loved most about our stay was the incredible variety of evening entertainment as every night felt different, with something new to experience.

Mexican Night was a real highlight, with local food stalls serving up tacos, nachos, hearty stews, and freshly made marquesitas (a sweet Yucatecan treat we couldn’t get enough of), paired perfectly with tequila and other traditional drinks.

The atmosphere came alive with colourful folk dancers, mariachi music, and something we’d never seen before:a lasso show performed on horseback right at the resort. It was such a unique and impressive experience that really made the night unforgettable.

We also had a blast at Casino Night, where everyone was given fake money to play games like blackjack, roulette and poker.

What made it extra fun was that your winnings could be used later in an auction for prizes. We stuck to blackjack, and Paul did particularly well!

The beach parties were another highlight, and during our stay we went to three. The most memorable was the 4th of July celebration, where the hotel went all out with food, drinks, a live band, dancers, and an incredible party atmosphere.

You could really tell how much effort (and investment) went into making it feel special.

The professional dance shows were consistently high quality, with the Latino Night being our personal favourite. Still, the Mexican dancers brought so much colour and energy to the stage that we couldn’t help but be swept up in it.

For something more relaxed, there was always live music in the lobby bars each evening. We often ended our nights here, listening to talented live bands with a drink in hand, soaking up the amazing atmosphere.

The perfect way to wind down after a busy day in paradise.

In terms of sports, there are plenty to choose from e.g. tennis, paddle, mini golf, football, archery, gym and so on. The sports centre is vast and the staff are friendly and helpful.

10. Hotel Facilities

The hotel offers a range of services and facilities including a spa centre, kids club and teens club, conferences and events facilities.

By the reception, you can also find a commercial area with a boutique, gift shop and mini market. To be honest, the prices were rather high in the shop and if you want to get any gifts; it’s best to go out of the resort or wait for the Mexican market which takes place at the hotel once a week. There you can negotiate the prices with the local sellers.

There is also a church on site, especially for the destination weddings. We saw a number of people getting married whilst we were there.

11. Our Experience at Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa

Our stay at the Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa in the Riviera Maya was everything we could have wished for in an unforgettable all-inclusive holiday.

From the spacious hotel rooms and well-maintained tropical gardens to the palm-fringed sandy beach, every detail was designed to make our time here special.

We left with memories of lingering over gourmet dining in elegant a la carte restaurants, sipping cocktails under the palm trees, and making the most of the resort’s incredible range of activities and lively evening shows.

The exceptional service and genuine warmth of the staff truly set this 5-star beachfront resort apart, making it a place we would return to again, whether for another romantic escape or a fun-filled family holiday in Mexico.

Internet was available everywhere and even at the beach you get Wi-Fi signal. There were some intermittent internet issues but nothing major and the speed was definitely better than expected.

If you do need better internet, you could check Airalo and the options they offer.

12. Final Thoughts

Looking back on our time at the Hotel Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa, we can honestly say it exceeded our expectations. We were particularly impressed with the variety and quality of the a la carte restaurants and the gourmet dining options available throughout our stay where every meal felt like a special occasion.

With wide range of bars, restaurants and amenities, the hotel is designed to satisfy every type of traveller. We believe hotel Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa is suitable for couples, families and solo travellers. It is a also a great destination for a honeymoon or special celebration.

The evening shows were nothing short of spectacular, offering performances and experiences we had never seen before, adding an exciting and unique touch to our Riviera Maya holiday. It’s rare to find a resort that delivers such consistently high standards in every aspect, from food and entertainment to service and setting.

Thank you, Grand Palladium, for making our trip so memorable, we’ll definitely be back for another luxury all-inclusive getaway in Mexico.

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