This is an awesome hotel, and by far, the cleanest hotel we have ever stayed at. (My husband and I went to Sandals in Whitehouse Jamaica last year and felt that this hotel was by far better! ) First of all- use the on-line check-in they offer. We arrived around 2:00 PM and we were escorted to our room immediately, even though check-in is not until 3:00 PM! ROOM: We booked a non- smoking ocean-front junior suite. We were on the 3rd floor and the view was just beautiful. The room was very nice: frameless glass shower, large vanity area, two person in- room jacuzzi, and a very comfortable, plush bed.. Turn down service is romantic- soft music and oil scented, with adorable towel creations! (Swans, bunnies, little girl, etc.) Our concierge, Anna, was helpful. POOL: Lots of fun if you choose to participate in the various activities they offer. The staff is so hard-working and provide you with games, dancing, cooking, and drink making lessons, as well as constant bar service, fruit, even a rolling cart with reading material and sun tan lotion.. Carlos, Angelo, and Rosario are terrific. FOOD: The food is very good- but a bit shy of excellent. Asiana, the Asian restaurant was very good, as was Chef's Table (you need a reservation for this one)! Pelicanos is fine for breakfast, offering a large variety of choices. The Mexican restaurant across the street at their sister property (you have full access to their restaurants) was very good. BEACH: Due to the hurricane of last year, unfortunately there was a lot of beach erosion- but if you just walk about 50 yards down the beach it is fine. LOCATION: Being close to 5th Avenue, the main street in town gives you a convenient way to spend the evening without having to use taxis or buses. FINALLY... My husband and I were able to totally relax and never had even one negative issue. We knew in advance to ignore any offers for soliciting time shares and we were not bothered. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS HOTEL for a terrific experience.

My wife and I stayed at the Royal July 7th-14th for our Honeymoon and had an exceptional time. I booked through a travel agent and originally upgraded to an "ocean view" junior suite. While you could technically see the ocean, it wasn't exactly the view I had imagined, so I asked to be upgraded to a different room. We paid a thousand extra for room 510, and it was 100% worth it. It is located directly in front (2 steps) of the semi private pool. We had a reserved bed on the beach, along with two lounge chairs right in front of the pool. No towel game, two steps to the pool, a 4 second swim to the bar, and 25 yards from the ocean. I would recommend getting a beach front room is possible. Food: Maria Marie was the best on the resort, even better than Chef's Plate. Spice is great for Breakfast, but not so great for dinner. Pelicanos is great for lunch and dinner. Many people think you MUST have long pants for all restaurants. This is NOT the case. There is no dress code for ANY of the restaurants other than Chef's Plate (where you need a reservation). Beach: Beds are extremely close together; not a lot of privacy. You must walk 100-200yards to the left to get in the ocean due to big rocks and lots of seaweed. Not a huge deal though. 5% of people are topless or wearing teenie bikini's! 5th street: Fun to be so close to 5th street in case you want to get off of the resort for an hour or two. BEWARE: you will be hounded by nearly every single "store" (or tent) owner to come see what they have. It's funny at first, but gets annoying after awhile. Excursions: we booked the ATV ride in the hotel lobby. I think it was 55 a person, and well worth it. We swam in a crystal clear cenote in the middle of the jungle and visited the mayan ruins. For the price and quality, I would recommend this. Also went parasailing in front of the resort. $110 for 12 minutes. Not worth it, and my wife was scared to death! We wanted to swim with the dolphins, but that was nearly $200 per person for one hour. I spoke with others who did the zip-line in the jungle and loved it. This is getting a bit lengthy, so i'll end by saying the grounds of the royal are kept in amazing condition. Also, the Royal is the nicest property we saw while in Playa. I would recommend this hotel to anyone.

What a fabulous property!! We were concerned about an "all inclusive" vacation. The property is spectacular, though the beach is not as swimmable as we'd like. The service was impeccable, the people were terrific, and the food was above average. The ocean view (not oceanfront) rooms were beautiful and spacious. The alcohol was okay, though not as great as I would like. Overall, it's wonderful. Great for couples, honeymooners and anyone who needs to get away, with no screaming kids, or splashing in the pool. We really enjoyed!!

This hotel is beautiful, the food is good and the rooms are extremely clean. The location is perfect, you can either walk or take a short taxi ride just about any where you would like. This hotel is perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway. The staff is very nice and courteous. Been to Playa del Carmen on 3 separate ocassion (different hotels) and The Royal is by far the best. I would go back in a heartbeat but husband is tired of going to the same town but I absolutely love Playa del Carmen.