The Royalton Riviera Cancun is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week.
The 1200 room resort offers a multitude of dining options, a wide range of bars and even more activities to keep the whole family entertained.
To be honest, as you drive up the very long drive, it’s unimpressive and actually looks penitentiary-like.
However, as you get closer, you get the full view and as soon as you set foot into the lobby, the stunning view of the ocean takes over.
The hotel is quite modern, but still retains a tropical feel, with the use of lots of wood and warm colors.
I recently stayed here (hard life!) so here is my Royalton Riviera Cancun Review and the full scoop 🙂
Beware of Timeshare
Or vacation club, or members club, or privileged membership, or whatever garbage line they are using now to make it not sound so bad.
This was by far my biggest beef with the hotel.
The FIRST person that came up and introduced themselves and accompanied us to the reception was a ‘concierge’. The man said that the front desk would check us in, and that afterward, he would sit down with us to explain the activities and services available at the hotel. THIS IS ONLY CODE FOR HE WILL TRY TO ROPE YOU INTO A SALES PRESENTATION.
Do yourself a favor and head straight back the bellman so they can bring you to your room. The television gives you all the information you need on the resort, as does a binder in the room. It is also posted hotel-wide on boards and TV screens.
If you really want the help of a real, live person that will not try to manipulate you, there are actual concierges there onsite to help. The way to tell the difference is the stripes. The uniform is exactly the same except the time share pushers have a beige shirt with one thick blue stripe and the actual concierges that will help you with any issues have two thinner blue stripes.
The time share pushers will also befriend as you walk around the resort. Just look for the stripes – one mean runs (away fast). You’re welcome 🙂
Ok – that was the bad news first.
Now for the good news and a few more icks (but more good than bad).
The Royalton really is a fabulous resort. It is separated into 4 horseshoe shaped buildings, each with its own unique set of services.
The thing to remember is that the rooms, regardless of the section they are in, are the same. It’s the services that vary.
The Layout of the Royalton
3 Sections to the Royalton
1) The one furthest to the south is the HIDEAWAY.
This is an adult’s only section within the larger hotel. It has its own restaurant, bar, pools and is in a child-free zone. If you stay at the Hideaway, you do have access to the rest of the resort, but not the other way around.
2) Next is the DIAMOND CLUB.
If you want a little extra pampering, this is the way to go. Private check-in and check-out, exclusive lounge, 24 hour concierge service, upgraded bar and room service menu, and more. Sometimes the price difference is minimal but the difference in service is huge.
The diamond club section also has its own exclusive pools and restaurant / bar.
3) The next 2 U’s, are the ‘REGULAR’ section.
Regular is where we were. The first has an enormous swimming pool in the center as well as the chapel area, used for weddings. Interested in a wedding? See prices on our Rivierea Maya Weddings Packages post.
This is part of the main plaza, where many of the a-la-carte, specialty restaurants can be found, as well as the buffet restaurant. It also features an outdoor bar and lounge where live music and entertainment happens nightly.
We had what the hotel calls a luxury junior suite. This is the ‘lowest’ room category available and we also had the ‘lowest’ view available, which is a view of the mangroves.
In all fairness, the room was spacious. It has two queen beds and a full sized pull out couch.
The bath and shower area are open to the rest of the room, which could be a little strange if traveling with friends, but otherwise, the size and layout of the room was great.
The mangrove view was pleasant enough, we really didn’t want to spend any extra on a view, as we spend very little time in the room. The room did have a mini-bar included with the basics and room service.
They do have ocean-view rooms (from the balcony) and ocean-front rooms (full frontal – not the rude kind) available when booking if you do want a room with a view.
This hotel allows for families of 6 to share the same room which can help save big time on a family vacation.
Maid service was spotty. Some days they knocked really early, before 9am, wanting to clean and some days we had to chase them down to ask for cleaning. Turn down service happened 3 nights on 6.
Food
On your way in every restaurant hostess asks if you have any food allergies and if you have any restrictions.
In this day and age with more and more food intolerances, this is important. They have vegetarian options and gluten-free options in every restaurant!
The buffet has to be one of the most extensive buffets I have seen (and doing what I do, I have seen my share!).
There are stations for every type of food you would want as well as a separate kids section.
The kid’s section generally means junky food (hot dogs, fries, chicken nuggets etc.), so if you want your kids to have anything healthy, they’d better get food in the regular buffet.
There are LOTS of options for meat lovers, with separate sections for poultry, beef, pork, seafood and chicken.
The vegetarians also have a lot of choice – I loved the salad bar, with a great variety of fresh options.
There was Mexican food, a bread station, a dessert bar – you name it, they had it.
In addition to the buffet that is open breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are quite a few specialty restaurants to choose from.
You do not need to make any reservations, you can choose from the following options and just show up for whatever you are craving. Mexican, a Steakhouse, Asian (with Tepanyaki show cooking tables), Italian, Mediterranean, and even a Sports Bar featuring ‘pub grub’.
Once all that is said and done, you also have a café on site and a gelato bar. Hungry, yet?
I am a lover of buffets, I love the idea of having all these choices available and being able to put together my ‘perfect’ meal. They had so many veggies in the salad bar I was one happy girl!
Again, service was touch and go. It really depended on the waiter you got at any given time. Shift change is at 3 (when the buffet closes after lunch) so if you go past 2:30 seems like everyone is just itching to get going.
A weird thing was that there were no spoons on the table. Not to stir coffee, not for dessert. It was hard to get spoons (1st world problem!). You could get gelato as dessert but if you ask for a spoon there, they refer you to the waiter, and then it takes a while to get a spoon.
On our last day, I was chatting with the hostess at the main desk and saw that they have a very deep drawer and someone delivered at least a hundred spoons. I should have asked why, but got distracted (Squirrel!).
We did head to the Mexican restaurant one night and I have to say, the food was amazing. The décor was beautiful, Authentic Mexican that was also tourist-friendly.
The service in the a la carte restaurants was MUCH better in general, but then again the staff there are not nearly as rushed as in the buffet.
Activities
There is an extensive list of activities, sports, games, and entertainment.
Activities for Babies and Toddlers
The water slide area does have smaller slides that are appropriate for toddlers.
Activities for Kids
The kids club accommodates for kids 4-12 and is available daily from 9am to 9 pm. If you need a break, you can sign the kids in. They have a variety of activities.
My 9 year old ASKED to go on a daily basis. If you want to have fun with your kids head to the waterslide area. There are ones for bigger ones as well as the little ones.
Activities for Teens
If the teens need a break from the adults, the 13-17-year-old lounge may the right escape.
Pool tables, ping-pong, foosball, air hockey and more. For the more tech savvy, there’s Wi-Fi in the room as well as the variety of video games for endless entertain.
Activities for Adults
Every section, (Hideaway, Diamond Club and regular Royalton) has a list of activities that vary per day. If you want to keep active, there is always something to do.
Activities for the Drinkers
Well, swim-up bars, sports bar, mini-bar, beach bars AND they have wine tasting and tequila tasting. Cheers!
Nightlife
Ok, so nightlife for me is anything that happens around 9pm, but in all fairness, the hotel has live music of some sorts almost every night as well as a show that changes every night.
The nightclub on-site is open daily, but the ambiance of the nightclub will really depend on who is there on any given night.
Other Things You Need to Know
Location
You are in the middle of nowhere.Ok, well maybe
Ok, well maybe not nowhere, but if you are the type of tourist that likes to head into town a few times during your stay, you may find the location difficult.
The hotel is only 20 minutes from the airport, but a 40-minute drive from Playa del Carmen town and also 40 minutes from Cancun.Most tours will pick up here, but there is nothing around the resort.
Most tours will pick up here, but there is nothing around the resort.
Spa
They have an incredible spa. Just the hydrotherapy circuit alone makes it worth a visit. Ask for discounts as there are often specials that are not necessarily advertised. Diamond Club guests have an included discount.
The Gym
The gym has a variety of new equipment and extended opening hours. It is located right next to the spa. Now you can’t say you couldn’t find out (no excuses!)
Shortage of Loungers / Shade / Towels
There are a lot of loungers in all areas. There are also a lot of tourists that stop by the pool and/or beach on their way to breakfast to reserve their spots. I won’t get into how wrong this is here – please read post ‘how not to be an #AssOnVacation’.
Nexus – The Tour Company
They are owned by the same company that owns the Royalton hotel (and a few other companies including the Canadian tour operator, Sunwing). SO – they will push tours on you.
There are staff in the lobby, by the pool, at the beach and all of them sell tours.
I would, however, suggest that you research your tours well and read reviews as the ones being ‘pushed’ may not necessarily be the best tours, but rather pay the best commission to the seller.
If you want some honest feedback and discounts on the many tours in Playa del Carmen, you can contact us at PlayaDelCarmen.com.
2 Tours You SHOULD Book on Site
1) Snorkeling trip
They have this tour DAILY, 3 times per day. The cost is $40 for adults and $20 for kids (at the time I am writing this) and this is for a 1.5-hour trip. The pick up at the beach.
2) Catamaran trip
They also have this trip on a regular basis and it also leaves from the beach. A 3-hour tour with drinks runs at $65 for adults and $40 for kids. This is very inexpensive for a catamaran tour.
Water sports that are included
If you head to the beach, there are certain sports that are included. Stand-up paddle boards (Yes, for real), kayaks, and a small catamaran for 2-3 people.
You DO have to pay a reef conservation fee of $3 per person for these activities or the water tours lists above, BUT the bracelet you get for $3 is valid for your entire stay, providing it doesn’t fall off. The included catamaran is a quick 20-minute jaunt and you get a guide. Well worth it.
Casino
They have a casino. This is one of the only hotels in the Riviera Maya that has one. It is open daily from 6pm to 2am and offers 50 slot machines, roulette, and blackjack.
Shisha
You can smoke shisha here! Right outside the sports bar located near the lobby area. It does have a nominal cost but check it out!
Destination Weddings
Want to have a destination wedding? Well, this may be the spot for you.
If you want your guests to have a lot of choice in terms of rooms, services, and pricing, the Royalton does allow you to accommodate a range of guests with their adult’s only section, family section, and the Diamond Club VIP section.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7sBWQ7IAIc&t=1s
Now that the guests are taken care of, here is the info for your wedding! They have a contemporary chapel near the beach, the choice of a beach venue or a rooftop venue for a sky wedding.
Wedding packages are quite reasonably priced which is always a good thing! A wedding here can cost you anywhere from FREE (yup, you read that right!) to $13,199.
Plus, we can help you organize your destination wedding with incredible group pricing 😉
Beach
The beach is long, wide and the sand is fine and beautiful. The water is turquoise, except right off the shore, where it is darker and brownish.
The thing with all these new hotels popping up in the Riviera Maya is that they are removing jungle, mangrove and natural eco-systems in order to build.
If you look around the Royalton (outside the compound), all you can see is mangroves which is nice.
Well, the area the hotel was built on, as well as the area near the beach had mangroves. And one of the results of removing mangroves is that the water in that area will remain murky and darker (especially after rainfall). It is still turquoise, it is still beautiful and it did not seem to stop any of the tourists from swimming as far as I could see. But, if your brain is programmed to expect crystal clear water, change it now to avoid disappointment and we can help with that.
Conclusion
The Royalton is a great hotel for those seeking a quality 4.5* hotel for a reasonable price.
It is a fabulous hotel for people wanting a large resort (1200 rooms) with a wide variety of activities, dining and drinking options.
The Royalton accommodates families of 5 or 6. It would be my recommendation for a family getaway or reunion.
Although there were a few hiccups and not-so-stable levels of service, I can honestly say that this hotel is one of my favorites in the area.
Have You Booked Yet?
You’re in Luck! We can SAVE you a ton on the Royalton.
Our team at PlayaDelCarmen.com get preferred rates at this hotel!
Contact us directly at 888-537-9797 or customercare@playadelcarmen.com for details.
Have YOU stayed at the Royalton? What did you think?
Share your comment below.
Comments (223)
Sarah Lemleysays:
May 15, 2016 at 11:30 amWe had a great time until our last full day when my cell phone and all of my daughter’s spending money was stolen from our room. My phone needed to be charged before our next excursion, so I didn’t place it in the safe this time. At first I hoped we had simply lost them. I didn’t want to think after so many great interactions with staff that someone would do this. After no help from guest services, I called my cell carrier for help. They confirmed the phone was at the resort and had been turned on and used after it went missing. Despite a beautiful resort, good food, and friendly staff I can’t recommend this place due to the theft from our room. The safe is handy, but you can’t lock up everything every time.
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 17, 2016 at 1:46 pmHi Sarah,
What a shame! That is terrible and I am very sorry that happened to you and your daughter. I am also just back from a stay at the Royalton and I was really happy to see that they had plugs installed inside the safe to charge the phone, I had to leave it charging a few times and would not have felt comfortable leaving it out.
The reality of the situation is rather sad and based on numbers. The minimum wage in Mexico is really very low. This makes good people be tempted at times, to do things that are dishonest and wrong. The hotel employs 2 staff for every client (reception, waiters, gardeners, security, cleaners, kitchen staff etc.) so if you figure that the client numbers can be around 2500, you are looking at about 5000 staff. In any 5000 sample people, surely there are a few with questionable morals. This is not only at The Royalton, but the reality in many Caribbean destinations where wages are minimal.
I am in no way excusing theft, it is unacceptable and should NOT happen. However, I would use the above info to encourage people to be as diligent as possible when they go to a hotel and use the safe whenever possible.
Thank you very much, Sarah, for taking the time to share this important feedback. People need to be aware that these things do sometimes happen.
Sarah
Steven Mullinssays:
October 6, 2019 at 1:46 pmRecently back from you Royalton Punta Cana had a grate experience Eva and Jose hide away management was excellent and helped a a lot on our trip hideaway pool bar staff excellent service from:dolores,Juan,Francisco.pool concertgorge:Gabriel and Raphael were also great Danny was great deserving and helping us all day also shout out to Edwin marria embalia Elouise Charlie also vibeteen alturo cresco tuti fruity was the best thanks to all the staff that helped us hope we see you all again. Hope to see you all again .
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 7, 2019 at 4:31 amHey Steven, so happy to you had a great trip. We hope you made memories that last a lifetime. 🙂
Scottsays:
May 8, 2022 at 12:18 pmI’m here now. The buffet is horrible. The food quality is like 3rd world. Hopefully the other restaurants are better.
Samanthasays:
May 10, 2022 at 12:09 pmThe food quality and service for most resorts have dropped in post-COVID. Many workers moved away and re-building teams take time. I suspect/hope this is temporary.
jamie souliotissays:
August 29, 2016 at 11:33 amWe will staying at the Royalton in Feb 2017 with a 3, 7, 9, and 11 year old. We are currently booked as diamond Club but am reconsidering based on the location of the DC area and lack of amenities that it provides. I am wondering if I am better off in the “regular” area to be closer to all of the action. What are your thoughts? I could either downgrade to the basic room or for the same price get a swim out room. I would appreciate any input you have! What about tipping?? I have read in several reviews to be prepared to tip to get better service
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 30, 2016 at 11:27 amHi Jamie,
You booked the Royalton and not with me?!? You know i could have saved you a bundle!! LOL 😀
Regardless, you and the family will LOVE it!
You are right, the Diamond Club area is further away from the kid’s area. Diamond Club amenities that I wouldn’t want to go without are the personalized check-in (I LOVE this hotel, but check in is always a challenge) and a few extra perks. Honestly, if it was me and I could get the swim out in the kids area for the same price, I would consider it. It is fabulous to be able to lounge on the balcony while the kids splash about. Once you get to the hotel, take a minute and get a drink to help you through the check-in process 🙂
As for tips, considering how hard the staff work, $1 every now and then is very appreciated. Like anywhere, you will get a range of attitudes and some staff will be extra motivated by tips. If I was making $7 a day, I would be too!
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Tristen Crosiersays:
August 30, 2016 at 12:28 pmThis review is SO HELPFUL – thank you! I have a few questions if you don’t mind! Do people bring their own floats and toys for the pool/beach and are they allowed? I had also read the suggestion to bring your own insulated cup as the cups by the pool and beach are flimsy plastic. This doesn’t seem to be the case in the pictures I have seen – can you verify? Also – are there opportunities to buy souveniers from vendors? That was one thing we will miss about staying on a public beach. Thanks again! We are going to the Royalton Riveria with our three girls over Thanksgiving this year so am preparing!
Sarah Barlowsays:
September 1, 2016 at 10:23 amHi Tristen,
Thanks for reaching out. YES, I have seen people bring their own floats for the pool / beach. Insulated cups are always a great idea, but the Royalton does have thick plastic cups (versus the disposable ones).
There are a few shops in the lobby area for souvenirs and make sure you take a few hours to visit Playa del Carmen!
Hope this helps – have a lovely vacation and next time let us know before booking – we have amazing rates at the Royalton!
Sarah
Tristen Crosiersays:
August 30, 2016 at 12:30 pmOh one more question! We have a room with a Jacuzzi on the terrace reserved. Would you recommend a swim out room instead? Our hesitation is having to share the swim out pool with your neighbors and whether or not it is really worth the money. Our girls are 17, 15, and 9. Thanks.
Sarah Barlowsays:
September 1, 2016 at 10:25 amHi again,
It really depends how much time you are planning on spending in the room. I LOVE the swim out rooms as you can also lounge on your terrace and enjoy a drink / book / just chill out while the kids can swim. However, you may want to spend that extra money you would save elsewhere like an excursion or souvenirs.
mike clarkesays:
September 7, 2016 at 8:35 amhi im travelling to the hideaway royalton later this month and am getting increasingly concerned about the mangrove rooms as it is my wife and i’s 25th anniversary,(didnt realise at the time of booking this was a problem until i read some reviews). Was wondering if people are just over reacting about them, would be nice to have your opinion as you have stayed in one.
many thanks
mike
Sarah Barlowsays:
September 7, 2016 at 11:55 amHi Mike,
Thanks for reaching out. I did not see any issue with the mangrove view room. If anything, I felt it was private and enjoyed sitting on the quiet balcony. We were on the north side of the family building, on an upper floor. Maybe the lower floors feel more enclosed? I am not too sure what the complaints were about as I have just read three pages of trip advisor and did not find one…. Sometimes the expectations are the problem.
Have a lovely anniversary trip and feel free to comment again once you have stayed there. We love feedback!!
Sarah
Mikesays:
September 8, 2016 at 2:35 amThank you Sarah youve put my mind at rest, we english like to worry too much lol,
Ill post how I got on.
Manon Hermanssays:
September 9, 2016 at 11:14 pmHi Sarah,
My boyfriend and I are going on a holiday to Royalton in October next month. Now we’ve booked the ‘plain’ luxury junior suite. You’ve mentioned that the balcony is with the mangrove view. But in our reservation it says we have a side/ocean view. So now I’m a little confused because we really wanted to have the ocean view… could you give me some information about the luxury junior suite?
Oh by the way, I love your blog, it makes me even more exited to go to Royalton.
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Manon
Sarah Barlowsays:
September 11, 2016 at 3:55 pmHi Manon,
Thanks for reaching out and I am pleased you like the blog! 😀
There are about 16 room categories at the Royalton, so you could have booked a Luxury Junior Suite Ocean View. The Luxury Junior Suite is what is called the “lead-in” category, the most basic, and that is with the mangrove view. Then you can also have a Luxury Junior Suite Ocean View, Luxury Junior Suite with Terrace Jacuzzi, etc etc etc. The ocean view rooms means you will be on the inside part of the complex, versus facing the back or side mangroves. Imagine a horseshoe or letter U, the top being the ocean. The ocean view rooms are on the inside part. So you will likely have to step out onto your balcony to see the ocean, but these are the rooms considered ocean view.
As for mosquitos at the Royalton, I do not remember them being an issue, but if you are concerned, bring bug spray, wear lighter colored clothes and avoid being outside at dawn and dusk.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Manon Hermanssays:
September 9, 2016 at 11:17 pmOh before I forget, I’ve got another question. Could you tell me if there are many musquitos around there? I’m asking because of the Zika Virus.. I’m a bit nervous about that…
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Manon
Manon Hermanssays:
September 12, 2016 at 9:31 amHi Sarah,
Thanks for your quick reply.
It’s all clear to me now. We’re really looking forward to it!
Have a nice day!!!
mike clarkesays:
October 18, 2016 at 3:01 pmhi Sarah just returned from our anniversary trip. Was in the hideaway section lovely hotel, lovely food and drink weather fantstic. I must say if you want a balcony in your room do not face the mangroves. It is unusable as a balcony the smell is absolutely over powering , you couldnt even go out there for five minutes. Sorry to be a moaner but if you get the mangroves they are unusable and upgrading is very expensive. if the balcony is not a problem to you , you wont be dissapointed the hotel is fantastic , I like to sit on the balcony for some quiet time reading smoking, last rays of sunshine etc lol. So we did feel a little let down by our uk tour operater for not giving full details.
Must stress the rest of the hotel as it should be, deserves its premiere rating.
thanks
mike
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 26, 2016 at 1:56 pmHi Mike,
Thank you so much for the feedback!
Sarah
Shanicesays:
January 2, 2017 at 6:06 pmHi Mike,
I’ve booked to go to the Royalton this summer of 2017. I read you’re from England, like myself, & I was wondering if you could inform me (if you don’t mind) as to how much more money the upgrade was to Diamond Club as the holiday provider I’m booked with are unable to tell me. Thanks in advance 🙂
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 4, 2017 at 10:50 amHi there!
Thanks for reaching out. I can’t upgrade a package that was booked with another provider. Your best option if you want to upgrade to Diamond Club is either directly with the tour operator where you purchased the package, OR directly with the resort. So sorry I am unable to help.
Sarah
Lindasays:
October 31, 2016 at 11:28 amDear Sarah,
I’m looking into selecting our room prior to our arrival and paying 70$ USD. Is it worth it?
I suffer from anxiety and wanted to avoid having a room facing the mangrove. We are beach peoples, so by your experience which building would you recommend.
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 31, 2016 at 12:39 pmHi Linda,
Thanks for getting in touch. We did not have the option to preselect the room so I am unsure how that works. Where your room will be, is based on the type of room you purchased. If is is a luxury junior suite, then you will have a mangrove facing room as this is what you paid for. If you purchased an ocean view, then you will be on the inside part of the U facing the pools / ocean. Check with your point of purchase (where you bought your package) and they will be able to tell you what kind of room you paid for.
Have a lovely vacation
Sarah
Darrensays:
December 1, 2016 at 3:04 amHi Sarah
Thank you for your detailed, comprehensive and very engrossing blog.
We are considering booking the hideaway section in 2017. The travel agent states that we can access all areas at the Royalton side of the hotel, does this include the diamond club section?
Butler service is not something that matters to us but we do not wish to have areas excluded to us.
I’d appreciate your advice.
Regards
Darren
Sarah Barlowsays:
December 1, 2016 at 8:57 amHi Darren,
Thanks for getting in touch!
With a room at the Hideaway section you CAN access the Royalton areas but unless you book a Diamond Club room, you cannot have access to the Diamond Club section (even if you are Hideaway).
Please give me a chance to beat your price 😀 Send me what you have to lisaATplayadelcarmenDOTcom and I will get you a better deal and offer extra perks!
Have a great vacation and let me know if you have any other doubts.
Saludos,
Sarah
Lizsays:
December 17, 2016 at 5:50 pmHi Sarah,
Great Blog btw! My family and I are heading to the Royalton in June 2017. Would you recommend planning excursions outside of the hotel (for example the ruins) before we get there, or is that something we can do when we are already there? Thank you
Sarah Barlowsays:
December 19, 2016 at 11:35 amHey Liz,
Thanks for reaching out! You will love the resort! Generally, I would recommmend booking in advance (better discounts and some tours do have limited availability) but there are several tour desks at the resort if you prefer to book when you arrive. Please feel free to let us know the what tours you are interested in and we can get you the all the info you will need as well as discounts 🙂
Sarah
Jessiesays:
January 2, 2017 at 10:43 pmJust came across your blog here and found it very helpful! My boyfriend and I are heading there in a few days! I was hoping you’d be able to answer and/or clarify a couple things for me? First off we did our first all inclusive last year with air canada vacations and they had pre packaged excursions available for purchase (Mayan ruins/dolphins etc ). So I was wondering, with this resort do they offer similar things. We like to relax and take in the resort but also love having a little adventure.
My second thing is that I know we are pretty far from playa del Carmen… If we wanted to do a shopping type trip or something like that, how easy is it to get there and back? From things I’ve read it seems quite costly and hard because you have to do it on your own?
Thanks for any help you can provide!
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 4, 2017 at 10:57 amHey Jessie,
Thanks for getting in touch. YES, your tour operator will offer excursions and there are several tour offices at the hotel that also offer tours. The one that is totally worth buying there are the catamaran tour. NEXUS, one of the tour operators does offer a shopping tour. It does include a mandatory stop to an overpriced jewelry factory but you may want to look into it as it will save you the taxi to and from town.
We also have discounted tours available online, you can see a full list here.
If you like adventure and adrenaline, Selvatica park is close to your hotel and offers discount and includes transportation! You may want to check it out.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any other questions at all.
Sarah
Paulasays:
January 7, 2017 at 5:52 amHi Sarah. My husband and I have our holiday booked for the 10th June 2017. Although we didn’t book with you, would it be possible to upgrade to the diamond Club with you and if so have you a rough idea of the cost please? TIA.
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 9, 2017 at 9:44 amHi Paula,
I wish I could help. There is no way for me to upgrade a package booked through another Tour Operator. You need to contact your point of purchase, OR you can contact the hotel directly.
If you need help with tours or airport transportation, I will be happy to assist.
Have a great vacation
Sarah
Nancy Austinsays:
January 14, 2017 at 7:18 pmWe will be going to the Royalton in May and booked the swim out room. Will that be facing the ocean? We will be with our two daughters as we are celebrating our 50 wedding anniversary. Can we ask for rooms to be near each other? Approximately how much is it to go to hotel row in Cancun and also would it be better to book an excursion to Xcaret prior to leaving for our trip? Would appreciate any help you van give us.
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 26, 2017 at 2:08 pmHey Nancy,
You will love the Royalton resort! Great choice!!
The swim out rooms face the interior of the complex, but you will likely have a partial ocean view depending on where your room is located. If you want to request certain rooms, your best bet is with your point of booking and/or the hotel directly.
The hotel has a sign out front next to the Bellboys with the official taxi rates not only to Cancun but the entire area.
Xcaret is available daily and you can get discounts by booking in advance that you do not get when booking last minute.
I will have a travel guru contact you with the pricing for Xcaret with transportation from the Royalton.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.
Abbeysays:
February 14, 2017 at 1:41 pmHi Sarah:
Thank you for your blog. Sorry I didn’t see it sooner; we are headed to the Royalton tomorrow morning. I will write back and let you know about our experience
Sarah Barlowsays:
February 16, 2017 at 8:57 pmHi Abbey,
I would love to hear your feedback! Feel free to reach out once you are back 🙂
Sarah
Sarahsays:
March 2, 2017 at 2:43 pmHi Sarah, Thank you for your detailed description. We are leaving next week and my daughter wants to go parasailing. Do have a recommendation? I looks like Cancun parasailing is the best.
Thanks!
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 6, 2017 at 8:51 amHi Sarah,
Happy you enjoyed the blog. Yes, you can parasail in Cancun. There is no parasailing off the coast in front of the Royalton. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Sarah
Tally Starksays:
March 8, 2017 at 9:17 pmHi Sarah, my husband and I are traveling your way at the end of March. What are your favorite tours?
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 9, 2017 at 9:08 amHi!
You will love the Royalton! If you are out that way, I would definately check out the catamaran tour to Isla Mujeres. Really relaxing day and Isla Mujeres is beautiful. If you want something with more adrenaline, I would try the Selvatica Gimme All. If you want something that includes ruins, my favorite is this one: Tulum, Turtles and Snorkel Explorer.
If you have any questions at all, let me know and if you book more than one tour, get in touch so we can get you extra discounts.
Have a fabulous vacation!
Sarah
Rebeccasays:
March 13, 2017 at 11:28 pmHi Sarah!
I love your blog and all the info you are providing. My family and I are considering the 2 bedroom presidential suite Diamond Club. Do you know if these rooms are all at the top of the “U” section? We want to be sure for the money the room costs that we are fully facing the ocean, not the pool area. Thank you so much in advance for your response!
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 15, 2017 at 12:55 pmHi Rebecca,
Thanks for the feedback! YES, the 2 bedroom suites are all at the beachfront of the U buildings, ocean front. If you want me to price it out for you to see if I can beat the price and perks, please let me know 🙂
Sarah
Jackie Psays:
March 14, 2017 at 11:04 pmHi Sarah,
We booked the royalton with diamond club access. Will we have access to the Hideaway? Our friends are all staying there but there weren’t any rooms left at Hideaway, so we had to do Royalton.
Thanks!
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 15, 2017 at 1:06 pmHi Jackie,
Thanks for getting in touch. If you are on the Royalton side, you do not get access to the Hideaway section, even if you have Diamond Club. You may want to speak with concierge once you arrive to the hotel to see if they can make an exception and change your bracelet or if there is a small supplement to pay in order to access the Hideaway.
Let me know if you have any other questions and have a great vacation!
Sarah
Annasays:
March 15, 2017 at 1:28 amHi, just curious about the Babysitting services. I would be getting a sitter when my 3yrs old is asleep… do the sitter stay in the dark room? I simply can’t picture how they do it. Do you know anything about it? Thank you 🙂
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 15, 2017 at 1:05 pmHi Anna,
Thanks for reaching out. Normally the babysitting service is arranged with the team in the kids club. I cannot say if they would sit in a completely dark room, but the lights can be dimmed for sleeping and they can stay as long as you need them.
Hope this helps – please let me know if you have any other questions.
Sarah
Alexsays:
March 19, 2017 at 5:05 pmAmazing blog. We will be at the Royalton with our 3 kids (14, 12, 8) over Spring Break next month. We mostly want to chill, but hope to take the kids on a couple adventures. We’re leaning towards Xel-Ha, Tulum and Xcaret. Are those good destinations for kids or would you recommend something else?
Also, I’m not used to busy resorts. You’ve made it clear that it isn’t good practice to reserve beach spots. What’s the most tactful way to get a spot on the beach for a family that sleeps in ;-)?
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 24, 2017 at 3:17 pmHi Alex,
Thanks! All those options are great for the family.
There is a lot of adventure going on in the area, from zip-lining at Xplor park or Selvatica which is in the middle of the jungle, to swimming with turtles and snorkeling with colorful tropical fish in the amazing reefs.
I personally love Selvatica. Let me know if this helps or if you have any more questions regarding tours, we have A LOT!
Regarding the spots on the beach it is always depending on each resort. The Royalton has plenty of loungers everywhere, so I don’t think you will have a problem finding spots on the beach at any time of the day, it is also a very wide beach so even with a full resort, you won’t feel crowded.
I guess you will see once you are here and do a test the first day. Worse comes to worse, there will be empty loungers somewhere and maybe you could ask someone to help you move them to the beach?
Have a wonderful trip and let me know if you have any more questions we can help with!
Sarah
Colleensays:
March 22, 2017 at 10:57 pmHi Sarah! I loved this blog, it was so informative. I have never stayed at a Royalton property before and am a little apprehensive. I do know that this is not a full adults only all inclusive resort. I have stayed at many properties in the area and wondering if you can pinpoint Royalton for me – is it a budget hotel? I have stayed at Excellence Playa Mujeres and Excellence Riviera Cancun, Secrets Maroma, Paradisus, Playacar Palace, Beach Palace, Moon Palace, Dreams, Breathless, Hyatt Zilara. Each had their own plus and minuses. I reserved a Presidential 1BR Swim Ou Ocean Viewt Diamond Club suite in the Hideaway section. Did you have a chance to view this room? I am wondering what this room location will be like and how to diamond club and hideaway intertwine for location if Royalton has a Diamond Club service does that mean there will be kids in our swim up area? i had a dynamite ocean front swim out suite at Breathless last year but looking to try someplace new. The variety of restaurants and bars on property drew me in. We will also do our usual PDC visit to Blue Lobster and shopping etc during this trip. Any thoughts are appreciated! Thanks Much!
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 24, 2017 at 3:00 pmThanks for the feedback Colleen!
Wow, you sure know this area very well! That is great that you keep coming back and trying new things.
The Hideaway at the Royalton is definitely along the line of all of the hotels you have mentioned. The Presidential 1BR Swim Out OV, is a fabulous room located in the Hideaway section, which means there will not be kids running around your swim up pool. The hotel has one separate section for Diamond Club, which yes, will be mixed between kids and adults that are all staying in Diamond Club rooms in their respective hotel, but that is separate from the adults only area. Your room is Ocean View, which means you will be able to see the ocean from your swim out by turning left or right, depending on which building you are. This hotel is great, it feels still new as it is roughly 2 years old. It is far from any other hotel, so you feel the exclusivity, you will have access to the lobster restaurant in the Hideaway and you can tell us how it is compared to Blue Lobster.
Prepare to be spoiled! Let me know if this makes sense and have a lovely time!
Colleensays:
March 23, 2017 at 3:01 pmThanks so much for your reply! We are very excited for the upcoming stay and I know we will be happy with the hotel choice now. Way back in 1991, I chose Mexico for a “sweet sixteen” present instead of a big party. So my very first stay was at The Camino Real in Cancun. I stayed there several times thru out those years and then again when it was Dreams. Have not yet been since the takeover of Hyatt Ziva. In any case, that was the beginning of my love for this corridor of the Yucatan. Although the seaweed has been a total disappointment the past few years- the image of that aqua blue water is forever implanted in my memories. I hope one day the whole coastline is restored to that beautiful blue inviting water. The hospitality and warmth of the people keep us coming back. The service and value is unmatched, in my opinion. I leave a piece of my heart in Mexico, every time I leave there. After navigating your site, I believe you are an agent for the area. I happened to reserve this trip on a “big name” website which I have never done. I always book direct myself but this deal on the PH 1BDRM OV SW, was difficult to pass up. I hope the room is honored at Royalton or I will be bummed. Since I am a frequent visitor to this area and also helping my future sister in law trying to plan her wedding “ somewhere” there next year, I would love to have your contact information.
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 24, 2017 at 2:51 pmHi Colleen,
WOW – that is amazing! I wish more people were willing to travel and discover new places.
The seaweed issue was a freak occurrence that lasted about 6 months. We have been seaweed-free for well over a year now, so the water is back to normal.
The hotel will have to honor the room category you booked. I would also suggest contacting them directly to reiterate your requests. I am also happy to do this for you if you send me your booking information. My email is sarah@playadelcarmen.com and I would be happy to help you and would love to help with the wedding planning as well.
Please let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Sarah
Larrysays:
March 25, 2017 at 12:26 pmI’m planning a trip here in August 2017, and my only concern is the ocean. My wife wants white sand and clear water. Will this be a good spot?
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 27, 2017 at 7:30 pmHi Larry,
Thanks for getting in touch. The sand is white, however, the water is not as clear in this area as it would be further south in the Riviera Maya, or in Cancun. The photos in the post are accurate as to the way the beach / ocean are on a regular day.
Please let me know if you have any other questions at all. If you would like assistance finding hotels with white sand /clear water, I am more than happy to help, please get in touch!
Sarah
Barbiesays:
March 31, 2017 at 11:26 amWe are going tomorrow for a week. How’s the cell service for both calls and texting? I have Verizon and it’s usually good in most places.
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 31, 2017 at 1:29 pmHi Barbie,
I only have a Mexican cell phone so I really can’t comment on Verizon service, sorry!
Have a great vacation,
Sarah
Davidsays:
April 4, 2017 at 7:15 amHi Sarah
Great blog
Going to the Royalton next week
Please comment on the following:
Drinking water-is it safe to drink?
Mosquito situation
Beach quality
Thanks!
Sarah Barlowsays:
April 5, 2017 at 5:11 pmHi David,
The Royalton is a fabulous resort. Book with me next time and not only do we offer free private transfers but can often save you quite a bit on the package as well 😉
The rooms are provided with bottled water so that you do not drink from the tap. All water served on site will also be filtered, as will the water used to make, coffee, wash vegetables etc. The hotel does fumigate regularly for mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies, so we never had any issues when there. Right now, it is pretty dry as well, we tend to have a lot more mosquitoes during rainy season. The beach is long, the sand is fine and I consider it to be quite a nice beach. The water is not quite as turquoise as it can be in other areas. There has been seaweed lately (we have had a lot of wind) but the hotel has a team in place for quick removal.
Hope this helps! Have a great vacation and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need more help or want to book any tours while you are here!
Sarah
Madilynnsays:
April 13, 2017 at 4:04 pmHi Sarah, planning a trip in June:July 2017, with my daughter, Granddaughter and me. We are celebrating my Granddaughter’s college graduation . We have thought about tha Royalton Riviera Cancun. We would like a nice beach, spa, shopping one day entertainment, and all inclusive. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.
Warren Allansays:
April 17, 2017 at 4:48 pmHi Madilynn,
Thanks for getting in touch!
First of all, congratulations to your granddaughter!
The Royalton is a great option!
This is a family oriented hotel, it has a great spa, super luxurious with some excellent restaurants.
We have reached out to you through your email to provide you with further information on availability and rates. You and your family will love this hotel!
Let us know any more questions you may have or anything else you need!
Yelena Gavrilovasays:
April 20, 2017 at 10:11 pmWorst experience ever!!! Went on the trip at the end of July for our friends wedding with two kids! Booked DC and guess what ? We were facing a smelly other side of the building! Stuff didn’t want to change our room . We stayed in that room for 3 days before they changed it for us for $400. People that was on the other side were ok. No place to eat for 40 people group. Everything was booked except the buffet. What can I tell you never again !
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 22, 2017 at 5:24 pmHi Yelena,
Sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the resort! Did you speak to the concierge on site or give them any feedback in regards to your stay?
Sarah
Lauren Kreppssays:
May 10, 2017 at 2:10 pmSarah,
We are travelling to the Royalton Riviera next week and it will be our first time to do an all-inclusive. I know that things such as spa services are not included. I guess my question is: is there an uncharge for foods and drinks in the restaurants? Is everything included or do you have a limited menu included and then the option to pay more for other items? I just want to know what to expect to have to pay for when we get there. Thanks!
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 22, 2017 at 5:08 pmhi!
So sorry for the delay. Yes, you are right, any spa service is over and above the all inclusive plan. As for food and beverage, you do have the option to purchase wine but they also have house wines available. The food in the restaurants is included, unless you want a lobster or something really over the top (the’ill be clear on what is extra), I wouldn’t budget more for food.
Hope you have an excellent vacation!
Sarah
Weslee Houstonsays:
May 19, 2017 at 8:09 pmHi Sarah!
We are planning a family vacay this summer and are considering the royal ton! My kids are 3 and 5, would you recommend this hotel for them and if not do you have any others you would recommend!?!? Thanks
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 22, 2017 at 5:15 pmHi Weslee,
Thanks for getting in touch! I do love the Royalton and it does have a slew of great activities on site to keep the kids busy. I would ask if you want a kids club that can accommodate your 3-year-old as well? The Royalton kids club is only available for kids 4-12. I will have one of our travel specialists reach out to see if they can help you with any further queries and help you find the perfect hotel for your family vacation.
Sarah
Marlysays:
May 24, 2017 at 9:45 pmHi Sarah,
I’m going to the Royalton for a wedding in June/July and I’ve already booked with another travel agent. However, she is not given me all of the options available and I’m totally not happy with her service. I’m been doing some online research on my own and my husband and I along with our 7 and 9 years old want to have a great time. I was thinking of canceling with my current travel agent and re-book with you.
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 25, 2017 at 10:55 amHi Marly,
Thanks for getting in touch. I am sorry to hear you are having trouble. I will reach out ASAP to see if we can be of any help and answer your questions / concerns.
Sarah
phil pagesays:
June 7, 2017 at 12:37 pmHi have booked this hotel for family vacation july 2018. Realised we have mangrove view which ive read is not good. Are these views really that bad and do you have any idea of what cost would be direct through hotel to upgrade as they tell me 2018 prices arent yet released.
regards phil
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 10, 2017 at 9:38 amHi Phil,
Thanks for getting in touch. I don’t think the mangrove views are that bad…. Ask for a higher floor if you are worried. We cannot arrange upgrades unless the package was booked through us and the hotel has not released pricing yet for 2018 upgrades.
Please let us know if you have any other questions and have a fabulous vacation!
Sarah
Michael Garveysays:
June 7, 2017 at 2:14 pmHello Sarah thanks for all the tips been very helpful. Going the royalton in late September. 8 adults want to go Isla mujeres cheapest way as pos don’t want to be tied to an excursion boat etc thinking of going to the non tourist port not as expensive. Is there a shuttle to and from the royalton via the port many thanks
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 10, 2017 at 9:39 amHi!
Thanks for getting in touch. The Royalton does not offer any sort of shuttle service. The cheapest way would be to hire a transport van (as taking two taxis will run you over $200US) to and from the hotel to the ferry port. We can help price the transport van, I will have one of our travel specialists send you an email.
Hope this helps!
Sarah
Brandisays:
June 9, 2017 at 9:25 pmHi Sarah,
We’re considering this hotel for a vacation next July 2018. There will be three families. Our kids range from 7-13. I am a big snorkeler and love the ocean/beach. I really want to stay at a resort that has pristine water and beaches. I read in your blog about the seaweed. Would you recommend a different resort area in Mexico? We are also considering Cancun but aren’t sure about how busy the hotel zone is. We are looking for a resort that caters to families, not spring breakers. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 10, 2017 at 10:03 amHi Brandi,
Thanks for reaching out. We had issues with seaweed last year, but now not so much. The Royalton is a fabulous hotel, but not the best if you want to be able to snorkel right off shore or if you want crystal clear water. I will have one of our travel specialists get in touch to help point you in the right direction for your family vacation.
Sarah
Judesays:
June 23, 2017 at 9:58 pmHi Sarah,
Great site, awesome information. We are thinking about a vacation Oct 2017 to the Royalton. We have a 2 year old and a 1 year old and have some concerns if this hotel is suited of kids our age. Could you let us know your thoughts on going with kids to the Royalton.
Thank you.
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 24, 2017 at 2:51 pmHey Jude,
Thank you!
I think it is a great hotel and the kiddie pool area will have options for your little ones. Really depends on whether or not you are looking for a kids club that can accommodate kids that age (there are a couple of hotels that can accommodate). I will have one of our travel specialists reach out to see if we can help guide you and your family 🙂
Sarah
Ale Eglisays:
June 25, 2017 at 6:35 pmHi Sarah,
I will be staying at the Royalton on September and I am looking to have the rest of my family join me.
I found an amazing deal with an European Agency in Switzerland, But the rest of my Family is in the USA. Could you have someone reach out to me, to see what kind of packages your agency has?
Thanks
oh, and would you recommend upgrading to Diamond with a 1 year old baby?
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 28, 2017 at 6:32 pmHi Ale!
YES, of course, I will have someone reach out to make sure we get your family the best deal. The diamond club section is wonderful, but if you are with a baby, it is the furthest section from the kids pool…. Something to consider. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Sarah
Lindseysays:
June 27, 2017 at 12:06 pmHi Sarah!
Thanks so much for this review!! My fiancé and I are getting married at Royalton Riviera in 2 weeks and this made me even more excited!! I will be sure to pass along the info about the dreaded concierge who want to suck you into long timeshare meetings (been there, done that at another resort). Thanks again!!
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 28, 2017 at 6:35 pmhi Lindsey,
CONGRATS! The Royalton is a fabulous resort and I am sure your wedding will be amazing! Let us know if your group needs any tours as we can offer additional discounts for groups 🙂
Have a great time!
Sarah
Christinasays:
June 28, 2017 at 4:46 pmHello I’m a bit confused.. I was told the Royalton Riviera Cancun is in cancun but from what I’m reading in comments it is Riviera Maya… I asked my booking company and they said it is Cancun… Also we booked the luxury suite ocean view with jacuzzi terrace… I can’t seem to find images of that room, I can only find junior luxury suite.
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 28, 2017 at 6:37 pmHi Christina,
Thanks for reaching out. The hotel is located south of Cancun airport, along the highway that connects Cancun, Riviera Maya and Tulum. The area is officially called Riviera Cancun, but it is not at all in the Cancun hotel zone. The room category you booked is very similar to the Luxury Junior Suite. The main difference is the location of the tub within the room and of course, your category will be in the area that is towards the ocean and have a large jacuzzi tub on the terrace. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Sarah
Rosemary Oseguerasays:
June 28, 2017 at 8:54 pmI am at the Royalton Riviera and am leaving tomorrow. We stayed seven nights. I don’t know how you can say there are no mosquitos. Even with repellent we were bitten up at every restaurant we went to, even inside the restaurants. It is beautiful and food was excellent along with staff service but mosquitoes are a huge problem
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 2, 2017 at 8:10 amHi Rosemary,
Happy you enjoyed your stay despite the mosquitoes. We have been there several times (November, December & May) and were lucky that there weren’t any. It is rainy season now, so there tend to be more mosquitoes in general during the rainier months.
Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Sarah
paulsays:
July 7, 2017 at 6:11 pmSarah, so you book? and upgrade and answer my questions.? please email for phone number
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 9, 2017 at 11:52 amHi Paul,
Yes, we can book and help you with upgrades and questions 🙂 I will have a travel guru reach out via email today.
Michellesays:
July 8, 2017 at 9:09 amHi there – fabulous blog on this resort. Quick question – do you know what the closest Dolphin Swim is to this resort. We would like to do a dolphin swim with our 12 and 10 year old daughters, but don’t want to travel very far. Thanks
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 9, 2017 at 11:54 amHi Michelle,
Thank you for the kind comment 🙂
We do not promote or sell dolphin swims, so I am unable to help you with that question. We do have a lot of other options for tours from the Royalton Riviera Cancun if you are interested in anything else.
Have a fabulous vacation!
Sarah
lorisays:
July 18, 2017 at 3:22 pmMichelle, we will be traveling there very soon with our kids who are the same ages, and we are also looking to swim with dolphins. Have you found where to go?
Tinasays:
July 14, 2017 at 8:54 pmCan you beat a price I have been quoted?
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 15, 2017 at 7:45 amHola Tina!
YES – we can normally price match deals for the Royalton as long as we get a screen shot with a current date and that the package is equal (same room category, same dates etc.). If you want to send it in to customercare@playadelcarmen.com we can give it a shot and if it works, we can throw upgrade the shared transfers to private round-trip transportation from Cancun airport. If you prefer that someone contacts you, just let me know!
Hope this helps!
Sarah
Joshsays:
July 16, 2017 at 3:52 pmHi Sarah,
I was wondering whether you could help with a couple of things.
I have just selected my room using the online room selector and chose Room 1418 do you know if the view is good from this room?
Do you by any chance know the cost of an upgrade to a room with a tub on the balcony I arrive on my birthday so would be a good treat?
Also would be great to organise some excursions if you can help with that?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Josh
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 19, 2017 at 10:35 amHi Josh,
I am not familiar with the room numbers, I am sorry I cannot help. You should contact the hotel prior to arrival (1-888-774-0040) and mention it is your birthday and ask for an upgrade. It can’t hurt. You can also do this through your point of booking and they will put a note on your reservation. The front desk can help with an upgrade, and they will also be able to let you know about any costs involved.
We can definitely help with excursions, you can see our list of tours available here, or get in touch with our travel specialists 🙂
Hope this helps, happy birthday and have a fabulous vacation!
Sarah
Lori hallersays:
July 21, 2017 at 9:53 pmWe had a group of girls & parents stay for 4 night & they all came home sick!
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 25, 2017 at 6:21 amHi Lori,
Sorry to hear about this. Thanks for taking time to write in with your feedback. If you can take the time to advise the hotel with as much detail as possible as to what the illness was and when it occurred, this feedback is really important for the resort.
Sarah
Terrysays:
July 29, 2017 at 9:57 pmDo you know if the resort can provide a crib? We are thinking of traveling with a 4 month old baby.
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 30, 2017 at 9:51 amHi Terry,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, the resort is able to provide a crib, there must be a request in the reservation at the time of booking. I will have one of our travel specialists reach out to make sure you are getting the best price / package for the Royalton for your family vacation. Please let me know if you have any other questions at all.
Sarah
Darrellsays:
August 1, 2017 at 5:09 pmHi Sarah,
my fiancee and I are staying at the Royalton for 10 days. We are wondering how much spending money you recommend taking? we want to have dinner away from the all inclusive some nights and go on some excursions.
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 2, 2017 at 6:08 pmHi Darrell,
Thanks for getting in touch. You can purchase your tours online at a discount, pay using PayPal or credit card and avoid having to carry so much cash. We have many available and they provide pick up at the Royalton. Due to the hotel’s location, eating out may be a little difficult as you are at least 30 minutes away from Cancun and about 45 minutes from Playa del Carmen. Most restaurants will also take credit card. If you really do want to pay for everything in cash, count on about $100US per person per tour that you wish to participate in (average, some are less, some are more) and another $80 for taxis. Eating out will really depend on the restaurant you wish to eat at, you can eat for as little as $20US for two or much more depending on where you eat and whether or not you want to have drinks with your meal.
Hope this helps! Have a fabulous holiday.
Sarah
Lorraine Davissays:
August 13, 2017 at 5:26 amHi Sarah
Can you tell me if there is a visit to Chichen Itza available from the hotel. I’ve read through all the comments and replies but not noticed anything, although I may have missed it. We are looking at coming in July next year.
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 16, 2017 at 12:53 pmGood Morning Lorraine!
Thanks for getting in touch, and please excuse the delay!
One of our fabulous Travel Specialists will be getting in touch with you shortly.
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 16, 2017 at 12:57 pmHi Lorraine!
Thanks for getting in touch!
One of our fabulous Travel Specialists will be in touch with you, shortly.
Have a fantastic day!
K Steinsays:
August 14, 2017 at 11:26 amHi Sarah. I’ve heard the casino at Royalton Riviera Cancun is closed and has been for a couple years. Is that true? Also was this hotel a complete new build hotel, or was it a remodeling of another one?
Was the Hideaway section a new build?
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 16, 2017 at 1:04 pmHello K! Thanks for reaching out! The casino in the hotel was a franchise and has been closed for 6 months now. The hotel has plans of remodeling into a sports bar, disco and an Asian restaurant… so no more casino. And yes, both hotels were built from scratch, so the overall vibe does have the ‘new’ feel to it. Let us know if we can help with quotes or any more info!
Franksays:
August 22, 2017 at 11:18 amHi Sarah,
Great blog…very informative. We’ll be travelling mid November in a group of 17 (8 adults 9 kids). Hope the mosquito situation will die down a bit in November. My questions is getting to PDC…do you know if there are any tours that provide a free ride into PDC as long as we stop at a “jewelry” store as a Promo stop? Or do we literally have to buy a tour to get there? Or take a taxi to the ADO and travel on our own. As well, do we have to pay a fee at the gate coming back if we’re in a taxi?
Thanks for all your input.
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 22, 2017 at 12:25 pmHi Frank!
Thanks for getting in touch!
You are right, the mosquitos are certainly more prevalent in the Rainy Season (July-October.) When the temperature drops in the wintertime ( November-spring) they go somewhere else. Where they go, I don’t know but we are ok with that! We recommend an eco-friendly bug spray while you are here.
In regards to transfers: We provide private transfers, no worries! One of our awesome Travel Specialists will be in touch with you shortly, with more details on how to get around town 🙂
Elisabeth Nymansays:
August 29, 2017 at 6:31 amHi! We are going to travel to this resort next years January. We just booked the junior suite but I wonder if it is possible to upgrade to diamond club at the hotel? And if possible; what’s the price for that? 🙂 thankful for answer
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 29, 2017 at 1:02 pmHi Elisabeth,
Thanks for getting in touch! I loved my visit to The Royalton a few months ago. Good choice!
Let me reach out to the hotel and see if I can get an answer for you on how much an upgrade would be.
I would need a couple of details from you first. One of your awesome Travel Specialists will contact you shortly 🙂
Ronsays:
September 17, 2017 at 10:24 amHi Sarah,
Great Blog and such a useful resource. Thank you for posting it. My family is thinking of going to the Royalton the week of October 9th for our 10th anniversary. I looked at the weather and noticed that it says it is supposed to rain every day pretty much in October. That doesn’t sound like much fun at all. Does it just rain non stop in October or is it just brief showers with most of the day being sunny. I was wondering if it would be better to wait until November to go? Also you mentioned that the casino is closed; are there any other amenities that are currently unavailable. I am looking forward to your thoughts.
Thank you in advance,
Ron
Sarah Barlowsays:
September 18, 2017 at 2:51 pmHey Ron,
October is rainy season, so yes, expect the forecast to say rain every day. That being said, unless we get a leftover tropical storm it is very likely a little bit of rain fairly versus all day rain. Check the amount of precipitation (anything under 20mm is likely just a shower) and check closer to the actual travel dates, things can change quite quickly….
As far as the amenities, I have not heard of any others being closed. Have a fabulous vacation and don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to book some discounted tours for your family.
Sarah
Anthony Cooksays:
September 27, 2017 at 5:03 amHi Sarah,
Firstly thank you for your blog it was so informative. I have booked the hideaway for 1 week from 9th November in a swim up room. It is a surprise for my wife for our anniversary and her birthday whilst we are there. However more importantly it is a celebration of life as she has been through a terrible time with lifesaving surgery but now thankfully recovering. I have however tried to email the hotel on numerous occasions and different email address with no reply. I just wanted some advice and also a request regarding the room. As my wife can still get very tired there may be times she will not want to leave the room so I wanted a room where the sun would be on the terrace so she can still relax in the sun which she has missed over the years and loves! Could you help? We are travelling from the UK so we don’t get the best weather hence the trip lol. Many Thanks in advance.
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 2, 2017 at 12:31 pmHi Anthony,
Thanks for getting in touch. One of our awesome Travel Specialists will get in touch with you shortly.
KAIYYAsays:
October 2, 2017 at 8:39 amHi anyone know the best rooms. It facing the mangroves please
Near to the lifts Amd near the adult only pools thank you!
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 2, 2017 at 8:40 amHi Kaiyya,
Great question!
The Hideaway at Royalton has rooms that are mangrove view along with ocean view and swim-outs. One of our Travel Specialists will get in touch with you shortly, with a description of each room category.
Let’s help you find EXACTLY what you are looking for!
Hang tight!
KAIYYAsays:
October 2, 2017 at 8:41 amHello anyone know the best room numbers to choose near the lifts and near the pools in the hideaway adult section please ? NOT Near the mangroves thank you!
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 2, 2017 at 8:42 amHi Kaiyya,
Thanks for getting in touch again!
One of our awesome Travel Specialists will contact you shortly, with a description of the room categories available at The Hideaway at Royalton. Let’s find a room, just right for you…away from the Mangroves ?
Kati Bairsays:
October 5, 2017 at 9:57 amHi Sarah, We are going to the adult side next week. Is there a price range for the Diamond Club?
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 5, 2017 at 12:50 pmHi Kati!
Thanks for getting in touch. One of our awesome Travel Specialists will contact you shortly to answer any questions you have on The Royalton.
Tobysays:
October 10, 2017 at 4:48 pmHi there! Thanks for your super informative blog! We are booked there from Nov. 29 – Dec 6 for my wedding. Kind of scared about seaweed on the beach.. Has anyone been there lately and seen the beach? We were also looking at excursions as well and was wondering what you would recommend that is under $100. How much would it be to taxi to/from Cancun or Playa Del Carmen? Also, would you suggest exchanging currency here or at the Resort, or in the City in Mexico? Looking forward to hearing from you!
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 12, 2017 at 12:00 pmHi Toby,
Thanks for getting in touch!
The seaweed comes and goes with the storms. I go to the beach often. We have no seaweed on our beaches as of now because we have had no big storms this week. All of the hotels incredible staff make an effort to remove the seaweed after a storm. In regards to tours:One of our awesome Travel Specialists will get in touch with you shortly with some suggestions on excursions for less than 100$. We offer an awesome discount on our tours as well, check it out! If you have any questions on a specific tour, feel free to ask. I have been on most of them… I know, tough life! In regards to transfers and taxis: A taxi from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen/The Royalton would cast around 100 dollars one way. A more economical option would be a private transfer in a van which would cost much less and can fit up to 9 people. We’ll send over some info on the rates and how to book a private transfer from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen. Last but not least, in regards to exchanging currency: It’s recommended to do so either in your bank before you leave to Mexico OR in your hotel. Hasta Luego!
Annesays:
October 23, 2017 at 2:52 pmHey!
I travel to the hotel Royalton for two weeks at Christmas time with my daughter (16 year) The hotel looks lovely and I think we spend a lot of time there. We would like to make some excursions within two weeks. I am interested in visit to the Mayan pyramids of Tulum and Chichen Itza. We also want to make a couple of snorkeling trips and see some cenotes too. What kind of excursions would you recommend?
We also want to shop in Cancun too. Can you tell me more a private transfer in a van which would cost much less than taxi.
Thank you very much in advance!
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 23, 2017 at 3:16 pmHi Anne,
Thank you for getting in touch! The Royalton is a fabulous hotel, great choice! One of our Travel Specialists will contact you shortly with some information on tours and transfers.We offer every single tour you mentioned with an awesome discount on each one.
Max Montegutsays:
October 25, 2017 at 12:27 pmMy wife and I have been empty nesters for almost 12 years and are very familiar with the area. We do take family vacations with our grown children and grand children. However, when we are on our own we typically do Secrets, Excellence, Iberostar Grand or Zoetry and almost exclusively book the Preferred, or Excellence club rooms.
We are looking at the Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun – Adults Only.
We love our kids and grandkids but we are looking for a true ADULTS ONLY PROPERTY.
We have been disappointed when an “Adults Only” resort shares restaurants with a family resort and do not tell you that until you are there. Looking at the 2 resorts, the Hideaway (Adult) and the Royalton, we noticed the restaurant listing is almost exactly the same.
Do they share restaurants or amenities where children are allowed at the resort?
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 25, 2017 at 12:56 pmHi Max,
Thank you for getting in touch!
At the Hideaway section there is only one restaurant that is strictly adult only. This means that you are sharing the other restaurants with families staying at The Royalton. The other common areas, like the beach and pool are adult only and not a common area for the family section of the hotel.
One of our Travel Specialists will contact you shortly with information on all inclusives that are 100 percent adult only with no family sections within the hotel, such The Royal.
Check out this video as well to get an idea on this fabulous adult only resort.
Hollysays:
November 9, 2017 at 5:33 amHi Sarah,
The blog is great, very informative, thx!
So we just booked a 7 day stay at the hideaway. Really looking forward to it.
A couple of questions though, please.
Is there a free shuttle from the airport to the resort and if not how far away and much is the ride?
Second, you say the water isn’t as clear as other beaches, what is the reason for that? I was dreaming of a very blue and clear sea:(
Also, do we need to worry about sharks in this region?
Sarah Barlowsays:
November 10, 2017 at 12:43 pmHi Holly,
Wonderful, we love the Royalton!
We offer round trip transportation private, in a van for up to 9 people for 155 USD and 80 USD one way.
The odds of getting attacked and killed by a shark are 1 in 3,748,067. In a lifetime, you are more likely to die from fireworks (1 in 340,733), light- ning (1 in 79,746) 🙂
No, you don’t have to worry about sharks.
The beach at the Royalton has darker water. You can take a fabulous catamaran tour in heavenly waters like Isla Mujeres for example. One of our awesome Travel Specialists will contact you shortly with information on tours and airport transfers:)
Pooja Singhsays:
November 10, 2017 at 4:20 pmHi Sarah,
Thanks for the informative blog!
We have booked Room Type- Luxury Presidentil 1 Bedroom Suite Ocean View Roof Top Oversized Jacuzzi. We have a 13 year old and a 7 years old kids. Now I am wondering if there will be enough sleeping space for 4 of us? How many beds? Please advise. Thanks.
Sarah Barlowsays:
November 12, 2017 at 1:10 pmHi Pooja.
Thanks for writing. 🙂
Normally the 1 bedroom suite offers a king bed and a double sofa sleeper, however, to be sure contact your booking source, and they can give you a definitive answer. Not having booked the reservation, I don’t have access to your reservation.
If you would like to book any excursions let us know, we have a lot of great ones.
Minazsays:
November 19, 2017 at 9:46 pmLove your blog!!
We booked seven-days over New years in the Diamond Club section could you advise as to how busy the hotel will be during this time? and the difference between a Jr. Luxury Suite and a Luxury Suite? also, for our future trips, could you provide me with your contact. Thx!! Minaz
Sarah Barlowsays:
November 20, 2017 at 11:00 amHi Minaz,
Thanks for getting in touch 🙂 The hotel will most likely be full occupancy, since the highest season of the year is Christmas and New Years 🙂
Click on this link to see a detailed description of each room you mentioned. At a quick glance it looks like the LUXURY SUITE is a higher room category with the option of having a rooftop with a jacuzzi and pool view. For future bookings, simple contact us via phone 🙂 1-88-537-9797
or email: customercare@playadelcarmen.com Don’t forget we also arrange awesome tours and airport transportation 🙂
Greg Gunnellsays:
December 20, 2017 at 3:26 pmHi Sarah, do you know if the a la carte restaurants require long pants for men for dinner or are nice dress shorts acceptable?
Thanks,
Greg
Sarah Barlowsays:
December 24, 2017 at 12:53 pmHi Greg.
Thanks for the inquiry.
The restaurants require “evening casual” wear, so what that means is a collared shirt for men, pants (I think jeans would be okay, but take a pair of khakis just in case) and closed toed shoes. They might let you get away with a nice pair of shorts.
Hope this helps. 🙂
bobsays:
December 26, 2017 at 1:33 amI am staying at Royalton from Jan 3rd with my teenage kids. I forgot to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A (more concerned about kids) and with holiday season, probably there is no clinic available… Should I be worried or even cancel the trip and reschedule after getting shots? Thanks for your input.
p.s. tour company said it was 5 star resorts, but your article says 4.5. Have I been duped by the tour operator?
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 8, 2018 at 11:51 amHello Bob, there are no vaccinations required for entering Mexico, however, it is ‘recommended’. I do not think you should be worried, but to ease your concerns make sure you have the correct insurance to cover you and your family should you need any medical assistance while out there and use bottled water. The Royalton is a 5-star resort 🙂 we hope you’re having a great vacation.
Mehdisays:
January 9, 2018 at 4:13 amIs it true that mangrove view rooms need to avoided. I heared that the swamp is very noisy and smells bad
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 9, 2018 at 10:27 amHey there Mehdi, the only time I ever experience noise is when I stayed right next to the service area, other times the room has been totally quiet. If you are visiting in the rainy season there is a slight chance the mangroves may smell a little. However, I don’t remember this being an issue, but I was always in the room with doors closed and AC on. If you are extremely worried about this issue, I would recommend paying the upgrade to the ocean view rooms. I hope this helps. 🙂
Lisasays:
January 16, 2018 at 3:46 pmI will soon be staying at the Royalton for the first time and am concerned about the reports of tourists getting “bad” liquor. Do you know if there have there been any reports of Royalton guests getting sick from alcohol or feeling drugged?
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 17, 2018 at 6:50 amHey Sarah, The Royalton is one of our most popular hotels with clients and you’ll soon see why. We have never had anyone complaining or heard of anything like this happening at this hotel. You’re going to have an amazing trip! 🙂
Ericasays:
January 17, 2018 at 2:41 pmHi Sarah
I have enjoyed reading the Q & A here and have a question or two of my own. We stayed at Now Saphire last year and walked to town, I am realizing we will not be able to do that from here. We have abooked a diamond club ocean view swim out room, will we be happy with this? It is our 25th wedding anniversary and I had dreamed of looking out over the ocean, now I seem to understand that I will have to look to the right or left… is this so?
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 18, 2018 at 8:13 amHey Erica, WOW congratulations on your anniversary! That’s incredible. We are so happy to hear you will be celebrating in paradise with us. The diamond club with ocean view swim out is one the BEST rooms you can get at the Royalton so it’s an extremely good choice from you. It really depends on which room they allocate you, you will definitely have an ocean view, but whether or not you will have to turn your head slightly to the left or right is uncertain. I’d advise you contact the hotel directly to ask them (if possible) if they can position you in a room best suited to your wants and needs. 🙂
Eminasays:
January 21, 2018 at 8:45 pmHi . i am planing to go to Royalton Rivera Cancun Presidential 1 Bedroom Suite Diamond Club , my question is do they have oceanfront rooms ? Thank you
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 22, 2018 at 7:21 amHello Emina, I know the Diamond Club option does offer up the BEST oceanfront rooms at this resort. However, one of our expert Travel Specialists will be in touch with you shortly to discuss this booking further with you. If you haven’t already booked, they can assist you with the whole process free of charge to ensure you get the exact room you desire. They will also be there to answer any questions may have about tours and the surrounding areas. We look forward to helping you plan a trip of a lifetime. Remember if you need anything whatsoever contact us via customercare@playadelcarmen.com
Lynn G.says:
February 4, 2018 at 11:31 amHello Sarah,
I did not find your article until after I booked our trip, which I just did today. We’ve reserved: LUXURY PRESIDENTIAL 1 BEDROOM SUITE OCEAN VIEW, but it does not appear to be in the Diamond Section. Do you know if it would be possible to upgrade to the same type of room in the Diamond section?
Sarah Barlowsays:
February 6, 2018 at 9:59 amHola Lynn! Yes, they have the same category in the diamond club but you need to contact your source of booking or wait until the time of check-in. If you didn’t book with us, sorry I’m afraid this is something we cannot help with.
Mariasays:
February 17, 2018 at 11:51 amHi! Great article and I think you solidified my debate about where to book! Any tips on getting the best deal? I’m flying from Toronto so it always tends to be a bit more expensive 🙁
Sarah Barlowsays:
February 18, 2018 at 6:52 amHola Maria! Of course, as a local travel agency, we are your best bet. I will have one of our expert Travel Specialists get in touch via email to sen you a quote. We may even be able to package the hotel and flight. If you have any other questions in the meantime please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 🙂
Conniesays:
February 22, 2018 at 10:20 pmDelighted to discover your blog. We have already booked and will be at the Royalton end of March. Looking for some excursions options.
Sarah Barlowsays:
February 23, 2018 at 5:46 amHola Connie, so glad you find the blog useful. I will have one of our expert Travel Specialists reach out to you to give you some honest insight into the best tours for your time of visit. If you have any questions in the meantime feel free to get in touch via customercare@playadelcarmen.com
Samantha Krupasays:
March 2, 2018 at 6:21 pmHello Sarah!
Your review was very helpful! My family and I are leaving in a couple of days and my mother had a few questions that you may be able to answer.
(1) Are the safes in the rooms large enough to fit a laptop
(2) Do we need an adapter for outlets?
Thank you!
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 4, 2018 at 7:34 amHello Samantha! Great questions yes the safes are roomy enough to accommodate a laptop and when we visited they did have USB outlets but not many so if there are a few of you are wanting to charge at the same time I would recommend bringing one or two adapters to be on the safe side. Have an amazing trip, don’t forget if you would like to book some tours with a local agency at a real discount, get back in touch via customercare@playadelcarmen.com or comment back to me on here. 🙂
Dlinda Raysays:
April 5, 2018 at 4:05 pmHello Sarah! My daughter is getting married at the Royalton in late July! My husband and I would like to take the wedding party on a private catamaran tour. A half-day would be great w/open bar for roughly 20 people…most of them being in their early twenties. Do you have any suggestions?
Sarah Barlowsays:
April 6, 2018 at 8:03 amHey Dlinda, I know just the thing for you and your group, and what an excellent idea! 🙂 I will have one of the team reach out to you via email with more information. In the meantime, if there is absolutely anything else please let me know I’d be happy to assist you.
Davesays:
April 6, 2018 at 1:36 pmHi Sarah,
My sister has already booked her wedding here. Do you know if it is possible to be added to her wedding party? (We live in different countries from each other).
Sarah Barlowsays:
April 9, 2018 at 7:56 amHi Dave, do you know if she booked the wedding directly through the hotel or with us? It definitely is possible to add you to the group if the hotel has availability. However, as this hotel is very popular I would try to contact them ASAP and figure this out with whoever booked the wedding. I hope that helps. 🙂
Elizabethsays:
April 15, 2018 at 6:24 pmHey Sarah,
My husband and I leave next week to stay at the hideaway and are nervous about our trip due to all the drug trafficking and recent murders in Cancun. Is that happening near this resort? And if so what is your advice to us to stay safe and travel to resort from airport?
Thanks!
Sarah Barlowsays:
April 16, 2018 at 7:13 amHey Elizabeth, I understand your concerns. Generally, I believe you will have no issues when staying at such a high-end resort such as the Royalton. However, I have put some top tips together for people who want to fee EXTRA safe during their visit. This includes:
Essential Safety Tips:
– Drink Responsibly.
– Don’t walk around quiet side streets alone at night.
Extra Precautions:
-For transport (if you are really worried about navigating your trip), you can always book private from a trusted provider.
-Rather than roaming the region by yourselves, book as part of a tour / small group. Your expert tour guide will take care of all the logistics and will be on hand should you need anything else.
If you would like help booking any of these things Elizabeth please contact me at sarah@playadelcarmen.com and I can help you get organized, keep you safe, and save you some money along the way. 🙂 If not, have a wonderful trip, paradise awaits you. 🙂
Gloriasays:
May 17, 2018 at 3:09 pmThe best review!!!
Do you know if the pools are deep? We will be at the D.C but will enjoy the entire site and my sister don’t know how to swim she is about 5’5″!
Thanks you very much .
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 18, 2018 at 5:03 amHey Gloria, so glad you enjoyed the review. No the pools aren’t too deep even in the deep end so you don’t have to worry. I hope that helps. 🙂
Daniel Devinesays:
May 28, 2018 at 4:50 pmHi, Sarah how are you? My name and daniel and I’m making a trip there in Aug so, I want to know is, how is the night life and where would u recomend I go?
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 29, 2018 at 6:44 amI am very well Daniel thank you for asking 🙂 Hope you’re too! How exciting paradise awaits you! Well, if you’re in Cancun staying at this wonderful hotel then you simply HAVE to experience Coco Bongos we can also help you to book this if you’re interested. Just let me know via email. Other top recommendations include…The City Night Club, Mandala Beach Club, and Dady O.
Conniesays:
January 26, 2020 at 6:31 amHi Sara,
I am booked for the Royalton riviera Cancun for a family trip in March (9-14). My husband and I will be bringing our 16yo twin sons. Initially, I thought spring break for colleges was end of March but I’m being told it runs end of February through all of March. This has me very concerned for several reasons (crowds, loud parties, drunk college kids, exposing my kids to an out of control partying atmosphere, etc). Would you have any idea what the Royalton is like during that time?? We are spending a lot of money and I don’t want our family time to be ruined by this. I’m completely stressed about whether I should cancel our trip or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 27, 2020 at 9:14 pmHey Connie, we totally understand your worry. Yes on the dates you’ve chosen the average Spring Break visitors to Cancun is 2.1 million. I would advise rebooking if possible. I would also recommend rebooking with us at PlayaDelCarmen.Com because you know you will get honest advice and the best deal from us. 🙂 Let me know if you have any further questions I’ll be here to help.
Daniel Devinesays:
May 28, 2018 at 4:57 pmAnd also I want to know how should we go about booking excursions and what’s the average pirces?
Sarah Barlowsays:
May 29, 2018 at 6:35 amHey Daniel in terms of tours and excursions we are privileged to offer the best rates as we are an established local agency. The providers you meet in the street of in smaller shops will often try to make as much money as possible and this is how many people get ripped off. Also, with the same providers selling the same tour the quality of the experience differs greatly. Here at PlayaDelCarmen.Com our team try and tests everything we put on our site and if it doesn’t meet our standards it won’t be uploaded. You can check out everything we sell here. https://playadelcarmen.com/activities However, if you would like top recommendations or 10% discount be sure to email me at sarah@playadelcarmen.com I’d be happy to help.
Daniel Devinesays:
June 12, 2018 at 1:45 amThank you so much I sure will be in touch you can email me at danieldevine22@gmail.com and thanks again ttyl
Emilysays:
June 6, 2018 at 12:25 amHi Sarah, my family and I be going to the royalton in 3 weeks and I know you should close your mouth when showering because your the unclean water which is fine but we have a 1 yr old baby who love her bath and yes she tend to want to drink some of the water while playing with her bath toys. So my question is should I boil water to bath her? And can I asked the hotel for a kennel to boil water in?
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 6, 2018 at 12:02 pmHi, Emily, I shower every day in the water here and have never had an issue. However, as your child is very young and tends to drink it in the bath I think to be on the safe side this would be a great idea. The hotel will be more than happy to accommodate you. Have a great trip! 🙂
Rachelsays:
June 6, 2018 at 10:14 amHi Sarah,
We are heading to the Royalton in a week and a half with my two kids (5.5 and 1.5 and my inlaws. Any tips or advice?) And also is the water safe to drink? I believe I heard it was filtered but can’t remember where and want to make sure. Thanks
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 6, 2018 at 11:59 amHey Rachel! How exciting! I would stick to drinking the bottled water anywhere in Mexico, and there will be an abundance of it included at your hotel so I wouldn’t worry about that. My top tips would be to enjoy yourself and make the most of the hotels luxury amenities and activities. 🙂 If you’re interested in any tours that will be suitable for ALL ages including your little one contact us as customercare@playadelcarmen.com for more information. Have a great trip!
Rachelsays:
June 7, 2018 at 10:50 amThanks..we are planning to pretty much stay at the resort for the most part. If we want to go to the beach do they have any beach toys or should we bring?? I heard to bring pool floats and toys. Are the mosquitos bad this time of year?? We will stick to bottled water. Do they have kids cups with tops at restaurants or should I pack a few sippy cups for my younger son? Also do you think he will be ok if he drinks a little of his bath water? He tends to do that. Lastly do you think the restaurants will have waits on the earlier side..we will probably have dinner between 5-6.
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 8, 2018 at 5:49 amI would recommend bringing some toys and a few sippy cups just in case. Mosquitos are apparent all year around but in the jungle especially during rainy season, you will be fine staying in your hotel. If would be a little worried about a baby swallowing the bathwater here, but if you boil it first there should be no issue. Yes, most restaurants open around that time. 😀 Have a wonderful trip.
LMsays:
June 12, 2018 at 12:23 pmHi Sarah,
I’m planning on visiting Royalton Riviera in Mid-August and have a few questions since I have never been to an all inclusive resort. We’re planning on booking the Luxury Junior Suite Swim Out – Diamond Club and were wondering if 1) Having the Swim Out is actually worth it compared to the 11 larger pools around and how frequently would you say its shared with your neighbors? 2) Is Diamond club really worth it? I understand there’s a butler but outside of actually booking your dinner reservations for you what else can they do? Also, what specific amenities are provided in the Diamond club pool section which are not included in the regular section?
In terms of the room itself, is this too large for 2 people? We we’re considering the one with the terrace jacuzzi, but after reading review it seems you might as well pay the small extra fee to get the swim out. I also read with the Diamond club swim out room there is a bottle of premium liquor provide daily in the room. Is this true? In regards to alcohol, what is the policy for having this delivered to your room as I’ve read multiple trains of thought on trip advisor.
Look forward to your reply.
Thank you!
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 13, 2018 at 5:10 amHey Louie, I am going to pass your email on to one of our agents who can give you a call or reply to your email in great detail. 🙂 Speak soon.
Sheila Butlersays:
July 26, 2018 at 11:25 pmHello
Can you tell me the dress code for dinner?
Thank you
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 27, 2018 at 5:26 amIt depends on where you choose to dine. I would say smart/casual. Nice flowy dresses and shorts for me. Hope that helps.
Kim Parkssays:
August 13, 2018 at 10:11 pmHi Sarah, My husband and I are planning to book a trip to the Royalton is May for our 30th anniversary. Reading this blog is awesome such great info. We have not booked yet so I would love to see what you can do for us…. 🙂
Sarah Barlowsays:
August 14, 2018 at 6:07 amHey Kim, we are so happy you found this article useful. One of our expert trip planners will be in touch with you very shortly to discuss your booking and ensure you get the best price along with any other perks that the hotel may be offering. Feel free to ask us any questions when we contact you via email, also if you prefer to talk over the phone this can be arranged too. Talk soon :). Have a great day.
bill hepburnsays:
September 30, 2018 at 5:18 pmHi Sara, There are 6 of us looking into booking the Royalton in Feb/18. I know it is a big Resort, there is one person that can not walk far, do you think this would be an issue? I have been to many resorts that there are problems getting into the room doors at night, Have heard of any problems there? We are looking for a night life outdoors at night, open bars by the beach or pools. Also i have read on your blog many times thast you say you can save people money on this resort, we are from Canada and want All Inclusive on Feb 22/18 .. do you do plane from toronto ( All Inclusive) or just resort?
bill hepburnsays:
September 30, 2018 at 5:18 pmHi Sara, There are 6 of us looking into booking the Royalton in Feb/18. I know it is a big Resort, there is one person that can not walk far, do you think this would be an issue? I have been to many resorts that there are problems getting into the room doors at night, Have heard of any problems there? We are looking for a night life outdoors at night, open bars by the beach or pools. Also i have read on your blog many times thast you say you can save people money on this resort, we are from Canada and want All Inclusive on Feb 22/18 .. do you do plane from toronto ( All Inclusive) or just resort?
Christinesays:
February 1, 2019 at 10:38 amHi Sara, I am looking to book at the Royalton in early March (myself, husband and two sons 16 and 14 year olds). We stayed at The Grand Moon Palace last year around the same time and we were deeply disappointed with the beach and water park (closed due to safety reasons). I have been travelling with my family for the last 10 years and this trip was the first time we could not be at the beach or go into the ocean due to the massive amounts of seaweed. As the Royalton is approximately 16 minutes from The Grand, I was wondering if the beach at this location is also covered with seaweed (this is a deal breaker for me) Also wondering what room type would be best for my family, should we book Diamond Club? We have stayed at the Royalton in Punta Cana and it was beautiful there so hoping the Royalton in Mexico compares. Any information would be appreciated.
Thank you
Sarah Barlowsays:
February 4, 2019 at 5:53 amHey there Christine, thank you for reaching out and for taking the time to read our blog. What I am going to do is get one of our expert travel planners to reach out to you. 🙂 Because the seaweed is subject to change ALOT you need a team like us that live locally to give you the best advice and get you the best deal on an incredible hotel where you can create memories that last a lifetime. This region of Mexico is simply stunning so we want you to experience the very best of it. I am going to hazard a guess and say that they will suggest hotels a little further down the coastline in Puerto Morelos or Playa del Carmen as these places typically do get less seaweed if it DOES occur (hopefully it won’t during your next visit). You may even want to consider visiting Isla Mujeres or Cozumel, due to their geographical positioning these places pretty much avoid the whole seaweed situation altogether. If you have any questions in the meantime feel free to contact us at customercare@playadelcarmen.com and we will be happy to assist you.
Briansays:
March 3, 2019 at 6:37 pmHI SARA a quick question the two bedroom luxury presidential swim out is that an ocean view and what sections are they in and how are the room set ups tnx
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 4, 2019 at 3:38 amHi Brian, thank you for reaching out and for the interest in this hotel! It’s a very good choice. You’re about to learn why. 😉 I’m going to pass you on to our hotel team here at PlayaDelCarmen.Com because room categories are always subject to change since our last stay so I want to make sure that the information you get is up to date and correct. Our travel specialists will be able to tell you more about the swim outs and which ones are ocean view etc. We will be able to make sure that when booking this hotel you also receive the best prices with perks and discounts included. In the meantime, if you have any pressing questions be sure to get in touch with us via customercare@playadelcarmen.com…we will be in touch. Paradise awaits you!
Ninasays:
March 8, 2019 at 12:45 amThanks for your post and helpful and honest replies to the many Q&A!
If I understand there is still an ongoing problem of seaweed at The Royalton and you suggest going further down the coastline ? Is the same problem also in the Cancun Hotel Zone area? Is the casino closed for good at the Royalton? Last question …lol If we wish to be in an adult area we would have to stay at the Hideaway which will give us access to the whole Royalton family resorts?
Best regards
Nina
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 8, 2019 at 1:04 pmHey Nina, it’s my pleasure that’s what I am here for. 🙂 There is a seaweed problem up and down the coastline from Cancun to Tulum and further. Unfortunately, there is no real way to predict when and where the seaweed will come. The casino at the hotel is now open. If you wish to stay in an adults-only area, then yes, the hideaway is the place for you although you will have access to all of the resort. I hope that helps. If you have any further questions regarding this hotel or would like to get the best deal, perks, and discounts for The Royalton Riviera Cancun, please reach out to me via customercare@playadelcarmen.com
Claire Kinchinsays:
January 26, 2020 at 6:49 pmHello Sarah, I am going to be booking 7 days in the Hideaway at Royalton for my OH’s birthday in Feb 2020… can you get me a deal on the price TUI has given me at all please?
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 27, 2020 at 9:16 pmHey Claire, we sure can. 🙂 It’s what we do best! You will be visiting during Spring Break so prices will be a tad inflamed but let’s see what we can do. Please can you email customercare@playadelcarmen.com with your request and I will get our amazing team of savvy savers on it for you?
Karensays:
June 26, 2019 at 3:49 pmHi. I was curious if you could tell
me a live update on the seaweed situation right now. We are arriving next Friday, and would love to be able to enjoy the beach. If it is not clear at the Royalton, can we walk to an area that is clear, or can we shuttle to the Royalton Cancun and use the facilities there?
Sarah Barlowsays:
June 28, 2019 at 9:22 amHey Karen, thank you so much for reaching out and for reading out blog it means the world. I recently wrote two articles on the subject to help people like you. One discussed things to do instead of the beach https://playadelcarmen.com/blog/activities-seaweed/ and one of them discusses how to predict and preempt seaweed arriving on the Mexican shores. https://playadelcarmen.com/blog/seaweed-playa-del-carmen/ I hope you find them useful.
Andysays:
December 23, 2021 at 9:32 amI am planning to go with my family of 6 in summer of 2022. Can we all stay in one room? It doesn’t seem to let me do that online. Also I have read reviews that the resort is not good as in the past. Is this true? Thanks!
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 6, 2022 at 10:22 amHi Andy, no max is 4 people per room I believe. Unfortunately, we have heard similar complaints. Please reach out to us ASAP to discuss getting you the best deal on the best options for you and your group.
Sarahsays:
September 12, 2019 at 9:14 amHi Sarah,
Is there two Royalton hotels in Mexico? I can see a Royalton Suites and a Royalton Riviera Cancun? Is your review on the RRC hotel? And do you have any info on the RS hotel at all? looking to book a family holiday for Feb 2020.
Thanks, Sarah
Jason Wrightsays:
September 12, 2019 at 2:43 pmHi Sarah,
Sarah’s on vacation but I’ll have someone from our team reach out to you.
Most of our travel specialists have visited both of these first hand so they’ll be equipped to help you.
Mariasays:
January 8, 2021 at 2:11 pmHi Sarah,
I just wanted to ask about the all inclusive, which usually means food and alcohol included….is there any food or alcohol at the resort that is NOT included and i should prepare myself for having to pay?
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 11, 2021 at 4:25 amHi Maria, no as far as I’m aware it’s all included. 🙂 Unless you wanted something like a very expensive bottle of champagne or something like that. 🙂 I hope that helps.
Victoriasays:
March 23, 2021 at 10:09 pmHi Sarah,
Thank you for all the information you provide here. I just booked the Hideaway at Royalton ocean view room. From your notes here I understand now that there is only one restaurant at the adult section. What about morning buffet and coffee/ice cream shop? What are breakfast/lunch options at the Hideaway? Also, how far are other restaurants? Unfortunately website doesn’t have this info and there is no resort map. I am just trying to understand how much I gain by staying at the adult only section. I am traveling with my 23yo daughter. TripAdvisor comments suggest that right now DC service is not as it was before due to Covid, so I booked adult section.
Thank you for your help.
Katesays:
March 28, 2021 at 7:25 pmHi Sarah,
Thank you for this article, it’s really helpful! One thing I’m struggling to find are the restaurant menus. I’m vegan and wanted to know what food they would have available for me. Are the menus published anywhere?
Thank you 🙂
Sarah Barlowsays:
March 29, 2021 at 5:25 amHi Kate, my pleasure. I don’t think they are as they are subject to change. However, I will look into this for you today and get back to you.
Janice Edenssays:
July 20, 2021 at 11:57 pmHi Sarah, love your blog. Like Kate, I’m vegan and concerned about vegan friendly food. I don’t mind a awesome salad, but I would like to know if they have more options. Finding out this info. would help many vegans around the world coming there. Thanks. 🙂
Sarah Barlowsays:
July 22, 2021 at 12:31 pmI’ll be honest we recently just visited the Royalton and felt it has become somewhat overrated so I’m in the process of revising this blog. I am also vegan myself so here are all the hotels catering to vegans that I recommend. https://playadelcarmen.com/blog/vegan-friendly-resorts/ I hope you find it useful.
Carol A Driehorstsays:
October 11, 2021 at 1:08 pmI stayed there for a week recently and it’s the best resort I’ve been in. They are so accommodating that you feel like you’re royalty. Restaurant servers ate excellent especially Gerardo in the buffet restaurant, he was excellent , at the club Cesar was excellent to me, and Jose is a wonderful entertainment. Don’t waste your time looking for a resort to stay in, Royalyon Chic is the best. I 🌴🌴🍹🍹
Sarah Barlowsays:
October 12, 2021 at 10:37 amHi Carol thank you so much for your input! We love hearing about your experiences.
Jeff Marchsays:
February 14, 2022 at 9:34 amOur family recently stayed at the Royalton Riviera and we found everyone there very accommodating.
We must say that Jose Manuel at the poolside took care of us above and beyond our expectations. From towels to drinks, local knowledge, coconut juice he turned out a fabulous performance and we now have a friend for life.
You have a great employee in Jose and he has a natural way of making people feel relaxed and even spoiled.
Many thanks to Jose!!!!! Jeff
Andoversays:
April 12, 2022 at 11:33 amHey, Nice info thanks. FYI the image that labels the layout Regular / Diamond / Hideaway is actually reversed. Hideaway is far left and regular right when looking at the resort from the beach.
Vashti Boochaysays:
July 23, 2022 at 12:32 amI’m at the Royalton now. Hideaway guest, with access to Diamond Club. Was told no reservations required at restaurants, but could not get a sitting without a reservation in Zen, Armadillo or Taj. The only assistance received from the concierge was that he made the bookings for us. 🤷🏼♀️ Apparently you can get deck loungers reserved by the pool by tipping the staff…discovered that when we made our way down at 7am to get seats-most had towels on then reserved for guests 🤷🏼♀️
Ordered a cauliflower risotto at Grazie. It was made with rice, and the waiter and manager insisted that all risottos are made with rice. The salmon dish that was supposed to have orzo as the side, came with mashed potato. I was told orzo was meat. 🤷🏼♀️ I have to say it is a very disappointing trip. No real service except at Dorado. Won’t be back. Nor will I recommend.
Giana Korthsays:
January 7, 2023 at 2:56 pmHi Sarah, your blogs are so helpful, thank you! We are planning our wedding at Jardin Del Mar which is just north of Royalton. We are choosing between the Royalton and Dreams for all of our guests and would love your opinion of which resort is better??
We care about intimacy and ambience, quality of food and drinks, cleanliness of pools and beach.
Which would you recommend for November 2023??
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 19, 2023 at 7:29 amDreams 🙂 without a doubt in my mind. However, please feel free to call us on our toll-free number to discuss the pros and cons of each. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words – it means the world!
Garysays:
January 10, 2023 at 6:51 pmWe recently spent a week at Hideaway Diamond Club and absolutely loved it. The location is great as you are away from the busyness of the city and a very quick drive to the airport.
I could have eaten at the buffet every meal, the variety and quality was incredible. We did try every restaurant and never made reservations, but did experience some small with times for a table.
Our room was exactly as the pictures showed and exceeded expectations. The service was impeccable and the staff were so friendly. Housekeeping was beyond 5 star service.
I have worked in hospitality for over 15 years and with high quality resorts/hotels. I really struggle to find any warranted criticism. We will definitely go back!
Sarah Barlowsays:
January 19, 2023 at 7:27 amHi Gary, I want to thank you so much for your feedback and for taking the time to let other travellers know of your experience. 🙂
Jonsays:
January 18, 2023 at 12:13 pmHi there,
We are going in March. Can anybody provide any insight into safety at the resort, pushy vendors on the beach, or others we need to steer clear of. Going with kids, and don’t want to have to constantly worry about their safety.
Thank you.
Nicholas Ksays:
February 23, 2023 at 2:08 pmHello, looking at recommendations for April. We visited Royalton Blue Waters in Montego Bay (Diamond Club) in September of 2021 and absolutely loved it. We then visited Nickelodeon in Punta Cana last year.
We thinking of staying at Royalton in Maya Rivera for April but unsure. We have a 9 and 3 yr old so kids activities are a must. Right now I’m torn between Royalton, Hard Rock (because of water park)and Barcelo Palace.
Marshallsays:
April 23, 2023 at 9:42 pmThis is a great review, HOWEVER, your map is wrong. Regular is on the right, and hideaway is on the left (2 horseshoes)
Marshallsays:
April 23, 2023 at 9:46 pmI meant the regular area is the two big horseshoes followed by the two little horseshoes (Diamond then Hideaway).
cherrysays:
June 27, 2023 at 12:19 amI recently had the pleasure of staying at the Royalton Riviera Cancun, and I must say it was an incredible experience. From the moment I set foot in the lobby, I was captivated by the stunning view of the ocean. The resort’s modern design blended seamlessly with a tropical ambiance, thanks to the clever use of wood and warm colors.
What truly impressed me about the Royalton Riviera Cancun was the abundance of options available. With a multitude of dining options, a wide range of bars, and a variety of activities, there was something for everyone in my family. Whether it was indulging in delicious meals or enjoying the vibrant entertainment, we were constantly entertained and had a fantastic time.
While I understand that the initial impression of the resort from the drive might be underwhelming, I can assure you that the beauty and allure of the Royalton Riviera Cancun truly shine as you get closer. The resort surpassed my expectations and provided a memorable vacation experience.
Thank you for sharing your Royalton Riviera Cancun review and providing the full scoop. It’s always helpful to hear about personal experiences, and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to visit this remarkable resort. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a luxurious and enjoyable getaway.
Nelly Blancosays:
August 22, 2023 at 9:29 pmSo the resort was very beautiful every part of it. But the stay was horrible I didn’t feel welcome at all. They made me feel very uncomfortable here while we was there, they treated us like we didn’t belong there that at all. When we got there too check in that took for ever they didn’t care if we had a room or not then our room smelled like sewer water every day when housekeeping came to clean up they didn’t give us everything that we needed Like towels rags tissue I just really felt like they took our money but didn’t care if they kept us happy or even tried to satisfy us especially the birthday girl they told us before we got there. They was going to decorate her room for her birthday on the day of that they didn’t do anything but told her she could go by her own Decorations that was $250. But told us that it was free and she still had to come out of her pocket so our experience here wasn’t a good one and wouldn’t ever refer anybody to go there? The question is no I will never go back ever. We spent 3,000 to get treated like shit the only good part bout it all we meant great people there and oh the food wasn’t great either I only like the sushi restaurant we went to there was no AC no where but in our rooms and certain parts of the resort but wait while we was on our excursion, we was on the bus singing a song, and they tried to call police on us over a song so the big question I will never go back.
Whitneysays:
September 28, 2023 at 3:33 amHello! Love this blog! We are thinking we will take our 2 teen sons during the week of March 11 and do the Diamond Club option. 2 questions- we need a closed off bathroom. I saw someone say the shower and tub are not. Can anyone advise? Also, Can you please advise if there are any off shore fishing experiences you’d recommend? Thank you!
Missysays:
November 20, 2023 at 11:09 pmHello – Can you guide me to the type of swimout room? There seems to be some on the lower level and upper level and cannot figure out the differences. We will be booking a diamond club with 2 kids. Want ocean view and swim out. Pros/cons to options?
Ericasays:
February 5, 2024 at 11:08 amHello! I just wanted to know what time the pools closed. They say 11pm, but do they really close at that time?
Agnessays:
June 5, 2024 at 9:42 pmMy husband and I just stayed there for a week. I wouldn’t recommend it. The smell was too much of a challenge to overcome and enjoy our stay. I am surprised you didn’t mention it! We were at the hideaway adult only section. Which is also a bit misleading because they sell this as though there are absolutely no kids in the resort when any place you want to go eat or get entertained is full of kids. We saved so much money and we’re so excited foe this trip. I was so disappointed.