St. Regis Kanai Review: The Best Riviera Maya Resort for Families (Honest Take)
St. Regis Kanai may be the best Riviera Maya luxury resort for families, with beautiful pools, a shallow beach that actually works for little kids, and a warm, social energy that makes luxury travel with children feel easier.
The arrival
You know within about thirty seconds of arriving at St. Regis Kanai that it wants to make an entrance.
There is a real arrival moment. You are greeted immediately, a welcome drink materializes before you have fully processed the lobby, and then you hear the fountains. Plural. They are dramatic, gorgeous, and loud in a way that says: hello, you are on vacation and we would like credit for that.
If Etéreo whispers, St. Regis Kanai speaks up. Confidently.
And honestly, after Etéreo's very intentional hush, it was refreshing. This place feels warm, social, and genuinely happy. Families were everywhere and, even more telling, they looked relaxed.
Some luxury resorts tolerate children the way a boutique hotel tolerates a bachelorette party. St. Regis Kanai seems like it actually likes families.
A quick note before we start
This review reflects my firsthand stay. Beach conditions and resort energy can vary by season, occupancy, and room category.
The Rooms
The rooms are beautiful. Luxurious finishes, calm design, and my location was perfect: one quick flight of stairs from the lobby and breakfast, with the pool and beach path right there, plus an elevator if needed.
If you are traveling with a kid, you know this matters more than thread count. Convenience is the real luxury when you are hauling snacks, sunscreen, and a child who has suddenly decided they can no longer walk.
And there is a lot to love in the design. The green marble in the bathroom is truly beautiful. I loved our view of the mangroves and the beach in the distance, and the clear glass balcony railing is gorgeous. How they keep that glass so spotless at the beach is a mystery I deeply respect.
The bathroom layout is where the architects got a little creative. The double sinks sit in the middle of the room with mirrors facing each other, which looks striking and makes a big impression. In real life, it felt a little tight, mostly because you have to access all sides of your sink like you are circling an island at an open house, and the closet has doors on both sides, which sounds chic until you forget which one leads to your clothes and which one just leads to more confusion.
Still, it is a gorgeous room and a lovely stay overall. The suites have more spacious bathroom layouts as well. If you want help choosing the right room category, message me.
Pool
The pool setup is gorgeous, with views out to the beach, and it is one of the strongest features of the property for families.
There are four pools in the family area, plus a large hot tub kept warm like bathwater, so even in the evening or early morning it still feels roomy and comfortable, but not too hot for kids. Four separate pools is also kind of genius for a family pool area. If someone has an accident, the pool day is not over for the entire resort.
They also have a beautiful adults-only pool.
My son cut his foot playing in the pool one afternoon, and the hotel lifeguard came over immediately, cleaned it, bandaged it with a waterproof bandage, and was genuinely kind about the whole thing.
Former ER nurse note: you learn a lot about a property by how staff responds to small emergencies. This was calm, competent, and exactly what you want when your kid is bleeding on vacation.
Beach
The beach is one of the nicer stretches of sand in this corridor.
And here is the practical detail you deserve before you book: the water is extremely shallow. If you are picturing a deep turquoise swim, recalibrate. This is not that beach.
But if you have young kids, shallow water is not a disappointment. It is a gift. You can sit on the sand and watch them splash around without that constant low-grade ocean panic.
We also loved the big beach games. My son and I played giant Jenga on the sand, which sounds silly until you realize it becomes one of the memories you actually keep.
Not every resort needs a waterpark. Sometimes you just need oversized games, four pools, a good beach, and time to relax in a beautiful place.
The restaurants
Toro, the asian fusion restaurant, has food as delicious as the restaurant is beautiful
Food-wise, the Italian restaurant on our first night was lovely, with live music that added energy without hijacking the meal. But Toro was the standout.
I have to be careful with superlatives because I have eaten in a lot of places, but Toro is genuinely one of the most beautiful restaurant settings I have been in. The outdoor room itself is part of the experience before the food even shows up, and then the food arrives and actually holds up.
If you stay here, book Toro for night one. Do not save it for the end. You will want a second round.
Spa and gym
The spa is also very pretty, with multiple pools and well-designed treatment rooms. It is not selling the spiritual wellness journey that Etéreo leans into. It is more classic luxury spa, done well.
The gym is solid too, and there is a café nearby where I ordered a smoothie with protein and creatine that cost more than some people's lunches, but was exactly what I wanted. I appreciated that they even had it.
Pricing and butler service
The music at the pool leaned a little clubby at times, which honestly adds to the lively, social energy. If you love that, you will love it. If you are more of a waves-and-quiet person, just know the vibe is more upbeat than zen. Personal taste, not a flaw, and I suspect most guests will not care at all.
One thing I really appreciated: the pricing felt fair and relatively transparent. You still know you are at a luxury resort and not everything is included, but there was not a constant sense of reaching for your wallet every time you turned around.
Butler service was helpful too. Ours handled restaurant reservations and was responsive without hovering. Classic St. Regis in that way.
Who should book St. Regis Kanai
This is the family resort, and I mean that as a huge compliment.
Finding a property that is genuinely luxurious, genuinely beautiful, and genuinely welcoming to families is harder than it should be at this level. St. Regis Kanai is firmly on that short list.
The shallow beach is a feature if you have little kids. The energy is social and happy without feeling chaotic. The staff is warm and capable. The restaurants are excellent. The rooms are lovely, the sinks have main character energy, and the whole place just works.
If a client asked me St. Regis Kanai or Etéreo, I would ask one question first: are you bringing kids? If yes, St. Regis, no hesitation.
If it is a couples trip focused on quiet and wellness, Etéreo. If it is a couples trip focused on great food, a beautiful pool, and a livelier atmosphere, St. Regis might still win.
It is big, confident, and a little loud, just like those entrance fountains. And yes, I mean that as a compliment.Common questions about St. Regis Kanai
Is St. Regis Kanai good for families? It's the best family resort in this corridor, although I haven’t stayed at Edition yet. The staff genuinely likes having kids around, the shallow beach is a gift for parents of young children, and the overall energy is warm and social without feeling chaotic. If you're traveling with kids and want real luxury, this is the one.
Is the beach at St. Regis Kanai swimmable? The beach is one of the nicer stretches of sand in the area, but the water is extremely shallow. If you're picturing a deep turquoise swim, recalibrate. For families with young kids, though, shallow water is actually a feature. You can relax while they splash without the constant ocean anxiety.
How is the food at St. Regis Kanai? Excellent across the board. Toro is the standout and one of the most beautiful restaurant settings I've been in. Book it on your first night so you have time to go back. The Italian restaurant is also lovely, with live music that adds energy without overwhelming the meal.
How does St. Regis Kanai compare to The Edition Riviera Maya? Both are great for families, but they have different personalities. St. Regis is more polished, with butler service and a grander feel. The Edition is more relaxed and fun, with a stronger suite option for families who want space. St. Regis has better dining. The Edition is often a better value. Neither is a wrong choice.
Is butler service at St. Regis Kanai worth it? It's helpful without being intrusive, which is the sweet spot. Ours handled restaurant reservations and logistics and was responsive without hovering. Classic St. Regis. It's a nice perk, especially if you're juggling kids and don't want to manage every detail yourself.
Read the full Riviera Maya series
Still deciding? Read my honest comparison of all four Riviera Maya luxury hotels, or check out the individual reviews: Etéreo (the wellness retreat), The Edition (the fun one), and Nizuc (book the right room). If you love the "which resort is right for my family" format, you might also like my Ritz-Carlton vs. Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman and Four Seasons vs. Nekajui in Costa Rica comparisons.
Figuring out when and where to go with kids? My luxury school break guide covers the full year. Ready to book? I can secure Riviera Maya with preferred partner perks including upgrades, property credits, and breakfast. Let's plan your trip.
