Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa

Laura A

We visited the Grand Palladium prior to the pandemic and it was one big resort, now the different areas have been divided into separate resorts. You may or may not have access to all amenities at each one depending on where you are staying. Overall though the resort was very lovely, very well maintained, the staff so helpful and gracious. Our room was very nice and very clean. The food in the main buffet at the Colonial resort was very good, and the service always excellent. There was a huge variety of everything there and all well prepared. Henry at the El Dorado was excellent, he was very helpful in providing us with a description of the menu items and was very attentive, the food was well prepared and very tasty. On our second visit to the El Dorado Jorge was very helpful and provided us with great service, he was friendly and warm. The steaks were all excellent, the sides were all great, the soups were too but the salmon was very dry. The Argentinian restaurant was exceptional, and the Japanese restaurant was quite good. I regret that we didn’t note the waiters names. We were disappointed with the Mexican restaurant as the lamb was in fact beef and so dry it was inedible, the chicken mole sauce was tasty, but again the chicken was very dry. The waiter dismissed our comments and tried to sell us very aggressively on buying a bottle of wine for the table. Unfortunately during most of our stay the weather was quite cool with a chilly wind. The ocean at the time was quite cool as well but ok for a quick dip. What was in the resorts control though were the pools, the main pool wasn’t heated and so cold no one was going in. While the weather warmed up a bit near the end of our stay, other guests who were leaving before us told us they were disappointed that they couldn’t at least enjoy the pool.

Maisie Starbuck

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at this hotel in Mexico. The location is truly breathtaking — surrounded by stunning scenery that made every moment feel relaxing and special. The food was incredible throughout our stay, but the Mexican restaurant was a standout. Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. A special thank you to our server, Asuncion, who was fantastic. She was warm, attentive, and made our dining experience even more enjoyable with her excellent service and friendly personality. We highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for amazing food, a gorgeous setting, and outstanding hospitality. We can’t wait to come back!

Maryam Safe

We had an amazing stay at this resort in Mexico. Everything was well organized, clean, and relaxing, but what truly made our experience unforgettable was the outstanding service from the staff. All the staff members ( Angel and Geremias) were incredibly kind, respectful, and always willing to help with a smile. From housekeeping to the restaurant team and front desk, everyone went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and comfortable. Their positive attitude and attention to detail made a big difference in our stay. The resort atmosphere was peaceful and enjoyable, and thanks to the hardworking and friendly staff, we felt truly cared for throughout our visit. We highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a relaxing vacation with excellent service. We would definitely love to come back!

Nora Lindner

The rooms are dated, the service everywhere wasn't great and the pool was a huge disappointment. Its 5'3" throughout the whole pool. You can't relax in this pool. Its very cold, its deep and you can't just lounge in it. Its shockingly bad. My kid could only hang onto the ledge as you have to swim end to end and can't just stop in the middle unless your 6ft tall. I was sick and had to spend a day in our room after just one meal. We had no choice but to upgrade to the family selection (which we loved and recommend for anyone going here with kids) but would never, ever return to the regular area of this resort. No ala carte times available except very late (until we upgraded and then suddenly could get all regular meal times in all the restaurants). We felt very ripped off after what we spent. We paid more to upgrade but it was waaay more value for money. The beach for this area is all rocky and you really can't safely get into the water unless you brought/bought water shoes. The white sand beach and family section beach are pristine. Its like they dont bother to clear this area. It was a world of difference from the other section. Unless you are going with kids and stay in the family selection area, this place is not worth the money.

Chris Logan

We stayed 10 days at Grand Palladium Colonial in Riviera Maya as part of a large wedding group (70+ guests across Colonial and White Sands). We booked over a year in advance and requested to be placed in the same villa as friends. This wasn’t accommodated until three days later when we were finally moved into the king room we originally booked. Check-in & Room Issues Check-in was stressful because we weren’t initially in their system, which made the process slow after a long travel day. We were also placed in a room with two double beds instead of the king bed and garden view we paid for. Room service and maintenance were inconsistent: some days the minibar and coffee weren’t restocked, the shower drain was plugged, and we experienced a strong sewer gas smell from the bathroom that became unbearable. Despite multiple calls to the front desk, no one ever came to address it. Our room door also malfunctioned when the battery died on the locking system, which shouldn’t happen at a resort of this caliber. Friends in our group found blood-stained pillowcases in their room on arrival, which was concerning. Dining & Reservations The resort app was hard to navigate and QR codes often didn’t work. Booking à la carte restaurants showed “no availability,” and concierge didn’t offer much better access — yet when we attended reservations, there were clearly empty tables. We even heard from other guests that people were paying around 200 pesos to get into à la cartes, which, if true, makes the system feel unfair and poorly managed. Breakfast at La Hacienda had long lineups, so we switched to the open-air Hacienda. Staff there were sometimes excellent, but service was inconsistent, the buffet food was often lukewarm, and even basics like the toaster barely worked. The sports bar had similarly inconsistent service. Spa & Resort Credits The spa was a highlight. We booked a romance package (massage, exfoliation, facial), and it was genuinely excellent. Unfortunately, the “up to $600 USD in resort credits” advertised with our booking felt misleading. We were given coupon books, but later told the coupons had to be presented at the time of service and couldn’t be used with promotions — which made them practically unusable. It felt deceptive and left a bad impression. Pools, Towels & Layout The pools were nice but often overcrowded; we preferred the quieter “secret pool.” Pool towels were frequently unavailable until late afternoon, which was frustrating. The resort is massive. We knew about the shuttle system, but we weren’t told there was a cenote on the property and only discovered it later on our own. Better orientation at check-in would have helped us enjoy more of what the resort offers. Wildlife & Cleanliness Concerns Wildlife was a constant issue. Coatis (local raccoon-like animals) regularly took sugar packets and food scraps right off tables at the open-air buffet. Friends in our group also had coatis enter their room by opening the patio door after getting past the screen, where the animals opened the fridge and ate snacks. While wildlife is part of the area, there should be better prevention and management in dining areas and guest rooms. Staff Highlight Nestor stood out as exceptional — the best drinks on the resort and genuinely outstanding customer service. He was the highlight of our service experience. Overall The resort is beautiful and has great potential, but the experience felt disorganized and inconsistent. Between room issues, booking frustrations, misleading resort credits, hygiene concerns, and uneven service, this did not feel like a 5-star resort. With better organization, communication, maintenance, and wildlife management, this could be much better than what we experienced.