Lovely Holiday at Kantenah FS

[Anne]

Kantenah Family Select with babies by Maya Mathias.We got back this week from a 10 night stay in Family Selection Kantenah in a garden view swim up room. We are from the UK and travelled with our 10 month old twins. Thought I’d write my review as this group was so helpful in the run up! Review probably more useful to anyone travelling with little ones.

ROOM – we had a swim up room 5001 garden view. This got all morning sun but none in the afternoon. If you want afternoon sun you need a room on the other side of the blocks – if that’s important to you I’d check the map and mention it on the room requests. Morning sun however worked well for our schedule. Now whether or not a swim up is worth it or not only you can decide – for some it’s probably pointless – but for us with small children who needed a long nap it was an absolute delight to have and we really enjoyed our child free couple of hours late morning out there while they napped. The patio lounge bed was great and the pool was cleaned several times while we were there. Our shared pool I never saw one other person in the whole time!! I think that’s just luck really, appreciate it could be annoying if it was busy/noisy.
We had no issues with any insects or bugs in the room much to my relief.

Being in Family Select we were able to get a bottle steriliser, bottle warmer, baby monitors, nappy bin, bluetooth speaker, and several complimentary bottles of Belvedere vodka! Really happy with the room. The whirlpool bath was great and the queen size bed (I assume was a queen – was huge) really comfy. L’Occotaine products in the bathroom. When we arrived there was only the one crib we’d requested but another was swiftly arranged and there within 30 minutes. Hairdryer was good and having a clothes steamer came in handy. I took a travel kettle as I’d read it can be difficult to get one and we needed boiled water for baby bottles.

HOTEL GROUNDS – absolutely beautiful, we loved seeing all the animals everyday, this was a real novelty and for me is really what makes the hotel stand out. Capybaras, iguanas, flamingos, coatis and we were lucky to see the monkeys aswell. For us this made the holiday really special. Lots of walking but we had no complaints with that. It was fun exploring the first few days and finding where everything was. We’d only use a cart to get to White Sands. Weather was great, sun or some clouds, hot and only two heavy rain downpours less than half hour long.

We spent most of our afternoons at the Family Select pool. It was just wonderful, I’ll have fond memories of our time there. Even though it was a family kids type pool it was never overly noisy or busy. Super chilled. Loads of floats to use. Top shelf alcohol cocktails so Grey Goose etc if you want it. We had sooo many Riviera Mayas!! Being waited on by the wonderful ladies there who again were so kind to my girls talking to them and making them laugh everyday was just lovely, they absolutely loved the attention from them. Having food and drinks bought to you and not having to go up and get them did feel like a real luxury, they’d even bring drinks to us in the pool so we didn’t have to get out. Of course we’d tip for this at the end which was always appreciated. In comparison we did an afternoon at the Colonial pool which although was nice for a change of scenery, personally as we had the babies with us I wasn’t keen on how deep the pool was, how busy it was and the having the normal sun loungers compared with the cushioned ones in Family Select Again though i’ll say if I had older children or none with us we probably wouldn’t have cared about any of that – depends what type of stay you are looking for.

Family Selection beach area was nice with day beds you could use although we didn’t spend much time here as was quite windy there everyday which was a shame as the babies didn’t like that.
FOOD – the main thing I’ll say is I was so worried about getting ill after reading reviews and happy to confirm none of us got ill whatsoever during our entire holiday.

Staying in Family Select we had the option of The Nest for breakfast which we did for atleast half our stay. The staff there were just wonderful with our girls (Maria and I can’t quite remember the other ladies names but they were so kind) and really fussed over them everyday, it’s a lovely chilled place to eat. Only downside buffet food quite cold as the place is so quiet the food doesn’t get changed as often. Also had dinner here a few nights which we enjoyed – nice family atmosphere. We enjoyed La Hacienda some mornings for breakfast for more choice and hotter food although was far more chaotic, but nice to change things up.

Es Nui in our opinion the food here was an absolute step up compared to the rest of the hotel and we ate lunch here several times. My partner couldn’t rate the octopus salad any higher and I have fond memories of the tuna tostada!

Ate lunch once or twice in the Colonial buffets and personally would have been a little disappointed if we’d only have had them but I think that’s only as I have Es Nui to compare them with beach buffet was good to grab a burger or hot dog from. We actually really enjoyed a few lunches in the sports bar too – nice and air conned and quiet albeit a little slower.

I was able to get as many jars of baby food as we needed from the FS reception which was just a great touch not having to worry about what to feed them (along with bottles of water, crisps, sweets, drinks!). The girls loved pancakes and french fries everyday however too!

A LA CARTES – None of them were anything amazing, I would describe them as chain restaurant type food which is just ok but it’s nice to just go somewhere different every night. Had no issues getting into them (the butler sorted the reservations.) Even though the food is hit and miss the staff are all really trying their best I felt – I’ve never been asked so many times if I have any food allergies nothing was an overly long wait either, can’t complain with the speeds. Highchairs always spotlessly clean and bought out quickly for us.
We enjoyed – Thai, Italian, Mexican, Japanese show table, Poseidon
Was just ok – Brazilian
Hated – La Pasciana. No music almost silence which with two babies to keep quiet was not fun, strange atmosphere, didn’t like the food, couldn’t wait to get out!

NEGATIVES – few small mix ups with our butler but I can let that go, nothing is perfect. One of our A la cartes was cancelled (due to wind so understandable as it was outside) but they forgot to tell us, that was annoying, mentioned it at the FS reception next morning and they said they’d come back to us but never did, but honestly on the whole there wasn’t anything overly negative I have to say re the hotel. It ticked off what we needed and wanted from a holiday with babies.
I wasn’t aware of quite how absolutely extortionate taxis in the area are and that there was nothing in walking distance but that’s my fault not the hotels. I think we paid something like £50/£60 for a 20km round trip, 10 mins there and back. With two babies we didn’t feel confident enough to attempt the Collectivo with the logistics of getting them on and off in a rush so we didn’t try but I’d imagine that’s the far better option.
I’m glad we sorted the taxis though the hotel as when we came back from one trip the driver tried to rip us off and charge an extra 300 pesos (mumbled a few ridiculous reasons she’d made up) the hotel bell boy quickly stepped in as he’d agreed the price with them before we left and sided with us. Not a huge amount but is just the principle of it and if we hadn’t have booked it through the hotel we’d have had to pay it. I’d only ever arrange taxis with the hotel for that reason and agree the price before.

One other thing which was slightly disappointing is i’d seen on here treats left in the room such as balloon animals etc, there was no special touches like that for us other than the usual bucket and spade etc when we arrived. They asked the babies ages and genders by email but nothing was personalised to that so felt kind of pointless. Just a small let down, nothing major.
EXCURSIONS – we visited the Tulum ruins – go early!!!! We got there around 8.30am and no queue. When we came out about 10am I couldn’t believe how long the line was! Couldn’t see the end it went on and on.

We also went to Akumal Natura Rescue – a non profit rehabilitation sanctuary in the jungle for a tour around with stops at cenotes. Was brilliant I’d highly recommend, our guide Caesar was great. I’ll admit it was really quite a challenge with the babies in the heat and I did think at some points I’d totally lost my mind bringing them but I’m so glad we did it. It’s next to the other monkey sanctuary that I’ve heard is more like a zoo and wasn’t keen on the look it.
Overall we had a lovely holiday, I wouldn’t say we’d go back as I like to try new places when it comes to all inclusive but I’d happily recommend Family Selection and I’d go back to Mexico one day when the girls are older so we can explore more. Any questions, ask away

 

 

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