The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai

The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a luxurious and sophisticated escape in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, blending modern design with the natural beauty and ancient culture of the Yucatan Peninsula. Opened in February 2024, it aims to provide a distinctive lifestyle experience within a 620-acre nature reserve.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as an "exceptional experience" and a "stunning resort." Marriott's internal ratings show an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with high scores for cleanliness (4.8), location (4.7), service (4.6), and amenities (4.6). Many guests are eager to return, praising its aesthetic, impeccable service, and exceptional food.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the resort:

• Design & Architecture: The hotel's architecture pays homage to the region's history, particularly cenotes, with water features and a wave-like canopy over the yoga deck. The design is described as sleek, modern, and chic, utilizing a palette of white, wood, stone, and green, creating a luxury jungle resort feel. Elevated boardwalks traverse the mangrove forest, connecting the three wings of the resort.
• Service & Hospitality: While some early reviews mentioned service inconsistencies during the soft opening, recent feedback highlights highly personalized and top-notch service, with staff often knowing guests by name. Staff are described as fun, attentive, and going "above and beyond" for guests.
• Wellness & Amenities: The cenote-inspired spa offers hydrotherapy pools, a Turkish Hammam, steam rooms, and indoor-outdoor treatment rooms. There's also a well-equipped 24/7 fitness center with a spin studio, yoga and Pilates classes, and a LUX Tennis Club. The resort features two outdoor pools, including a large lagoon-style main pool and a trendier adults-only beach club pool at SO'OL. "Bird's nest" lounges and overwater hammocks on a private pier provide unique relaxation spots.
• Beach & Pools: The resort boasts a private beach area with pristine white sand, kept immaculately clean by staff. The beach club offers attentive service with food and drinks.

3. Room Quality

The 182 guest rooms and suites are celebrated for their luxurious and spacious accommodations. Each room features sand-colored limestone floors, a king-size four-poster bed, a freestanding bathtub, and a walk-in rainforest shower. Rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows, natural materials, and private balconies or terraces with panoramic views of lush mangroves or the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Select rooms and suites include private plunge pools. The decor maintains EDITION's signature neutral palette and light, airy materials, with touches of local embroidery. Guests appreciate the comfortable beds, strong AC, and well-designed bathrooms. The Sky Rooftop Villa is North America's largest penthouse suite, spanning 27,000 square feet with five bedrooms and a semi-Olympic infinity pool.

4. Dining Experience

The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai offers five distinct dining venues, partnering with world-class chefs.

• Ki'is: This upscale dining option, helmed by internationally acclaimed Chef Francisco "Paco" Ruano, offers an innovative modern Mexican tasting menu with bespoke drink pairings.
• Kitchen at EDITION: An all-day dining option providing a breakfast-into-brunch and dinner menu focused on local Mexican cuisine, culture, and textures. Guest feedback on breakfast is generally positive, with one reviewer noting excellent service and custom dietary accommodations.
• SO'OL Beach Club: Named after the Mayan word for "oyster," this beachfront restaurant and bar alongside the infinity pool offers Mediterranean-Mexican fusion dishes in a lively atmosphere. It's a popular spot for lunch, snacks, and dinner, with excellent fish and attentive service.
• Pool Bar: A relaxed spot for drinks and light bites near the lagoon-sized pool.
• Lobby Bar: Features soaring ceilings and a sophisticated ambiance, offering an array of agave distillates, regional wines, and inventive cocktails.

Overall, the food is described as delicious, beautifully presented, and better than typical all-inclusive offerings. Room service, however, received a mixed review, with one guest finding it "mid."

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback on service is largely positive, with many highlighting the attentive and personalized nature of the staff. Some early reviews from the "soft opening" period noted that service "needs a lot of work" with delays in requests. However, more recent reports indicate a significant improvement, with staff described as incredibly kind, gracious, and efficient. The property is known for its "famous recruiting efforts" that staff go above and beyond for guests.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort is situated on a 620-acre nature reserve in Kanai, Playa del Carmen, offering a secluded and natural vibe with two miles of pristine white-sand beaches. It's approximately a half-hour drive from Cancun International Airport (CUN). While providing a tranquil escape, its secluded location means it's not ideal for guests looking for easy access to local dining and off-resort options. Guests can, however, take advantage of shared signing privileges and golf cart service with the neighboring St. Regis Kanai, expanding dining and wellness options to a total of 13 restaurants and bars, 3 beach clubs, and 2 wellness centers. The resort's design has a minimal environmental footprint, preserving the surrounding mangrove reserve. Nearby attractions include Maroma Beach (0.1 mi), Tres Rios Ecopark, and El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course. Playa del Carmen Main Beach is about 11.6 miles away.

7. Value & Pricing

The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai is positioned as a luxury property, and pricing reflects this. Nightly room rates are on the higher end, with some guests noting that food and spa services are "far from cheap." Typical prices for a room booked on KAYAK have ranged from $927 to $1,920, with users often booking for 3 days. While some reviews indicate a "Value for the Money" rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars (Marriott's internal average), suggesting some guests feel the cost is high, many still consider the experience worth the price for the level of luxury, service, and design. Some promotions may include resort credits.

8. Common Complaints

While the overall sentiment is highly positive, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted by guests:

• Pricing: The high cost of food, drinks, and spa services is a common point of feedback.
• Service Inconsistencies (Early Stages): During its "soft opening" phase, some guests reported slow service, needing to call multiple times for requests, and minor issues with in-room dining and drink service. However, more recent reviews suggest significant improvements in service.
• Smell in Plunge Pool Rooms: A few guests in ground-floor rooms with plunge pools reported an "unpleasant smell" due to proximity to the mangroves. There have also been mentions of a "funky smell" from outside and mosquitos.
• Power/Water Outages: One guest experienced power and water outages on their last day, with no offer for showering in the spa or apology.
• "Party Vibe" Concerns for Families: While some appreciate the energetic beach club, one family felt the resort had a "Cancun party scene" vibe with constant techno music and emphasis on drinking, making it less family-friendly.
• Spa Prices: The cost of spa treatments was considered astronomical by some, leading them to opt out of services.

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