Families Get VIP Treatment With Grand Palladium Kantenah’s New ‘Family Selection’ Product

by Laurie Baratti
Last updated: 8:10 AM ET, Fri June 14, 2024

If, for your next vacation, you’re looking to strike a perfect balance between kid-friendliness and the kind of luxury resort that adults invariably find so alluring, Grand Palladium Kantenah’s new Family Selection product is for you.

Initially pioneered at Palladium Hotel Group’s two other Mexico properties, Family Selection is an indulgent all-inclusive option that allows you to enjoy your ideal Mexican Caribbean escape without worrying about individual expenses.

The hotel-within-a-hotel concept consists of a privileged resort section designed specifically for VIP families, which comes complete with comprehensive access to the dining options, swimming pools and other amenities of the broader Grand Palladium Kantenah, plus three other five-star resorts within Palladium Hotel Group’s Riviera Maya complex: Grand Palladium Colonial, Grand Palladium White Sands and the premium, adults-only TRS Yucatan.

The recently completed renovation that produced the new Family Selection area cost a whopping $40 million, but appears to have been worth every penny. The new premium product saw 169 new suites added under the Family Selection concept, on top of the 95 on offer in Riviera Nayarit and the 180 already open in Cancun-adjacent Costa Mujeres.

Family Selection Swim-up Junior Suite at Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa.

Location

Among its four hotels, the Grand Palladium Rivera Maya resort complex boasts just about everything that virtually any type of traveler could desire from a beach vacation.

This sublimely serene property is nestled along the Caribbean Sea amid the lush Mayan jungle, where tropical birds sing overhead and exotic wildlife can be seen foraging through among the trees and undergrowth. This haven within the increasingly popular Riviera Maya region embraces its glorious natural surroundings, incorporating swaths of tropical forest and the saltwater tributaries that wend among its buildings.

Year-round warmth and sunshine smile over the 300-acre site that encompasses the private stretch of Kantenah beach, recipient of the prestigious Blue Flag certification, which is awarded only to beaches that operate under the highest standards of environmental responsibility, are subject to constant eco-monitoring and are dedicated to the sustainable development of tourism.

Family Selection Swim-up Junior Suite bathroom at Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa

Suites

Family Selection accommodations here are spacious, sleek and supremely comfortable suites with a richly contemporary aesthetic, consisting of two adjoining rooms to cater to the entire family. A stay in this category also comes complete with highly attentive Butler service, so you have a personal attendant who’s dedicated to helping you make the very most of your visit to paradise. They’ll coordinate your luggage service, help you pack or unpack, recommend the activities and venues that will best suit your family, and arrange your shuttle transport around the sprawling resort complex.

Parents’ rooms contain a single king-sized bed and living area with a fold-out couch for extra sleeping space, while kids’ rooms feature two queen-sized beds and another pull-out sofa in case you’ve got an especially big brood that needs places to lay their heads. Select suites offer a swim-up option, with a private pool connecting first-floor suites, while upper-floor suites feature balconies instead. There are even ultra-posh suites situated within steps of the beach and others that boast their own private plunge pools.

Sleek, stylish interiors feature modern touch-panel and automatic motion-sensor lighting, plenty of natural wood and elegant stonework floors and tiling, gleaming fixtures with smart tech and plush beds with crisp linens. You can also look forward to an included customized minibar, and special kid-friendly amenities like mini robes, slippers and towels, and milk-and-cookies turndown service.

The new Family Selection pool at Grand Palladium Kantenah, Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Special Extras

Starting with the private check-in process, you’ll notice unexpected extras that can make all the difference to your experience. Special welcome kits designed to delight children will be waiting in your rooms, with gifts varying based upon the age of your little ones, as well as a basket of toiletries for the beach and swimming pool.

The staff also prides itself on providing parents with home-away-from-home types of amenities and supplies that help streamline your trip, from bottle sanitizers to baby monitors and more. If you have such special requests to help customize your stay, you can let staff members know when reserving or upon check-in at the dedicated new reception room, where kids will find snacks available round-the-clock and a mini play area.

As you might guess, Family Selection guests get access included to the three separate kids’ clubs, all designed for different age groups. There’s a Baby Club for infants aged one through three where trained staff play games and do fun activities with little tykes, such as painting, singing, and arts and crafts. Babysitting service is also available for an additional fee, so parents can enjoy a romantic dinner or some quiet time to themselves in an adults-only setting.

Then, there’s the Mini Club for kids four through 12, with playroom, movie area, outdoor playground and gaming area. Youngsters also make visits to the Splash Pool, part of the resort’s dedicated kids’ Water Park, filled with water slides and splash pad. For teens, there’s the Black & White Junior Club, consisting of lounge areas, a gaming room, a bowling alley, games like air hockey, foosball and ping-pong, a recording studio with professional musical instruments, and a beauty studio with mannequins to style and make up.

The Nest restaurant, exclusive to Family Selection guests at Grand Palladium Kantenah.

Exclusive Amenities

The expansion arrives alongside a new restaurant and dedicated check-in area that are exclusive to Family Selection guests. The brand-new eatery, called The Nest, offers a less crowded atmosphere than the restaurants that are open to all guests and boasts a relaxed boho-chic aesthetic.

Gleaming stone and metallic surfaces mingle with rich wooden elements and softer components that are reminiscent of the outdoor natural surroundings. This premier dining option is available exclusively to Family Selection guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with both buffet and a-la-carte options on offer. Convenient 24-hour room service is also included for Family Selection guests.

Along with the new premium villas comes the introduction of a new swimming pool that’s also reserved exclusively for the use of Family Selection guests, and which comes complete with playground equipment for the little ones to enjoy. Also part of the pool area is Es Niu, the pool bar that offers premium drinks and a food corner that serves lunch and light bites.

Nearby, a stretch of beautiful white-sand beach abutting the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea has been sectioned off specifically for those staying in Family Selection accommodations. Adults and kids alike will find this the perfect setting in which to relax under the swaying palm trees, play in the powdery sand or splash around in the gently lapping waves.

The Zentropia spa at Palladium Group's Riviera Maya Resort complex.

VIP All-Access

With Grand Palladium’s ‘Infinite Indulgence’ products, everything is included in guests’ stays, including access to privileged pools, reserved beach areas and exclusive restaurants. This also extends to the limited-access offerings usually reserved for those discerning guests who choose to stay at the TRS Yucatan property.

That means grown-up Family Selection guests get to enjoy experiences like the exclusive ocean-fed saltwater Las Rocas pool, a Caribbean-facing infinity pool, Beach Club with seaside waiter service, six exclusive restaurants, six bars and the jaw-dropping dinner theatre experience, Chic Cabaret & Restaurant, where more than 20 talented singers, dancers and aerialists perform their hearts out onstage for three hours while audiences savor several courses from a gourmet prix fixe menu.

It also means they can enjoy the supremely relaxing wellness haven known as the Zentropia spa, where a hydrotherapy circuit featuring wet and dry saunas, a steam room, hot and cold whirlpools, waterfalls, and its own outdoor swimming pool and relaxation areas is included. Massages, facials, beauty and other treatments are all on offer for an extra charge, and the Habits Healthy Bar is also onsite to ensure guests keep up their nutrition.

Also located inside Zentropia is the complex’ fitness center, where guests can be sure to keep up with their workouts with state-of-the-art cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights and a variety of fitness classes. Next door sits the on-site sports facility, which boasts with a soccer field, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, and a mini-golf course, where everyone can play together as a family.