Royal Sands - Resort & SPA

I’ve been visiting the Royal Resorts for over 30 years, and The Royal Sands for 25 of those years. It has always held a special place in my heart. We even celebrated our honeymoon here and have returned at least twice a year ever since. What’s always made it so special is the resort itself—clean, well cared for, and staffed by people who feel more like family than employees. Over the years, we’ve introduced many friends and family members to The Royal Sands, and without exception, they’ve loved it just as much as we have.||Unfortunately, since the resort was sold, it just hasn’t been the same. The staff and the beautiful grounds are still wonderful, but the dining experience has gone downhill. The quality of the food and the limited dinner options simply don’t measure up to what you’d expect from an all-inclusive resort. Over the past two years, when bringing friends along, we’ve all come away with the same impression: we love the resort and we love the people, but the dining is a real disappointment.||For the first time in decades, we’ve decided to try another resort on our next trip. It’s not a decision we made lightly, but everyone we’ve brought with us feels the same way—The Royal Sands still has the heart and the people we love, but the food and dining variety no longer live up to the experience.||We truly hope management takes these concerns seriously and improves the dining options and quality. If they do, we would be thrilled to return and continue the tradition we’ve cherished for so many years.

Positive: The staff is the BEST part of the sands! They are like family to us and keep us coming back all year. We also love the location of the resort, close to some amazing restaurants, shopping and only 20 minutes from the airport. Negative: The breakfast, lunch and drinks are great!! We don't love eating dinner on the resort, but the food certainly isn't bad. There are just so many great restaurants nearby that we prefer.

Amazing service, excellent food and quality drinks. Mario from club membership, |Pedro from concierge, Jonathan and Matias from the pool bar these were the most notable friendly and helpful employees that made our stay and experience go the extra mile. Me and my wife will never forget the family treatment that we received from these employees that make us want to come back asap. This was an experience me and my wife will never forget

When we purchase this property it was considered a luxury resort, oh my how it has fallen. Our timeshare was recently purchased by Holiday Inn, that says it all. The level of service and quality has really fallen. We purchase the all inclusive package which is not inclusive, you are nickeled and dimed for any upgrades. You get house liquor and it is just a splash of alcohol. I would rather pay twice the amount and not have to worry whether something is included or not. Customer service here is so dismissive, always expecting a tip. There are a two plus sides. The Mexican restaurant “Sisal” was very good, I do recommend it, and the resort location, right on the beach. You cannot beat that.

The rooms were great. My family and I rented the 2 bedroom suite. We stayed Thu-Mon and had to be moved to a different room on Saturday morning. Not an issue, but a minor inconvenience. My 3 star review comes from the time share presentation. Granted, it isn't required but they do give you a discount on excursions if you attend. Very high pressure sales pitch. This was not the first time I have been pitched a time share and was overall better than the last 2 times. However, it was scheduled for the morning after we arrived. We had very little time to experience the resort. I asked if we could think about it for a day and they refused. I am glad I did not take the final "one year trial" offer because the resort facilities were average. The fitness center was crowded with outdated machines. The restaurants were okay, not great (I would avoid the sushi bar). The water activities (i.e boogie boards) were an extra charge. I have stayed in other hotels in Cancun where they are not. The hot tubs were "warm" at best.

Located right on Hotel Zone next to the Luxury Mall. Here are my pros and cons: Our beachfront room was on the ground level and easy access to the beach and the pool. Our room was on the middle building. The only complaint I have is the smell once you enter the room. It has the muggy, moldy smell. It's like I went down to my basement during the summer month. The service. On our first day during lunch. The server Eduardo (baldy old guy) made a comment that we ordered too much. And asked if we could finish our food. We have the all inclusive package so it's our right to order soup, salad and appetizer which is just chips and guacamole shared between us and of course the entree. That's why we prefer buffet at lunch (which they don't have). The only time they serve buffet style is during breakfast. Dinner was always good, but we made sure to avoid the same server who ruined our first day. Are we going back to this resort? Probably not. We have stayed in other resort and thoroughly enjoyed everything. Again the only reason I booked this, is because of the proximity to the Luxury Mall which I think deteriorated over the years.

The change in ownership is been affecting the standards Royal sands was maintaining for years...the pool was not maintained and it was dirty...early mornings you could see cups and garbage by pool not being collected from previous night... obvious cut of costs reduction in staff ...restaurant offers buffet only for breakfast, still not busy as we are used to... hospitality preserved- but that's something staff brings up so issue us obviously in change of ownership and new management. |Must mention girls from kids club who made this visit joyful to us and our 7yr old as well as Wendy and Christina our housekeeping staff.

Very nice, clean and guest friendly service provided. Relaxing or partying options. Enjoyed watching huge sea turtles coming ashore at night to lay and bury their eggs. Would highly recommend.

The buffet was awful, the only thing I enjoyed there was the omelettes made at the omelette counter and the fruit. The best place to dine was the sports bar only for their mozzarella sticks and Caesar salad. The resort has two sides the left side with the tiki hut had awful service, it took 30 min to an hour for us to even get asked if we needed anything and sometimes had to waive down the waiter. After waiting 30 to an hour to get our order in it's another 30 min to an hour wait to get our food/drinks. The side withought the tiki hut had amazing service, Moses was our waiter and he did an amazing job making sure we were taken care of !! Very nice guy We enjoyed our room, it was clean and AC worked. The elevators stopped working half of our trip which was unfortunate. The mexican restraint hacienda seines was not good, the worst food I've ever had. The hotel itself was beautiful and some of the staff seemed miserable and gave the cold shoulder.

Day two and it's been a great experience. When we arrived checkin was so easy. Dylan walked us to our room and gave us a tour. He sat us down and made it so easy to plan our week. By far best experience I have had. We set up a presentation for the timeshare and we bought in. Impressed with how this timeshare is run. Eden was so great, she perfectly walked us through it and it was great.

The Royal Sands is a great vacation resort. It's a very large property. The staff is friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. Our all inclusive package was well worth it. My only 'complaint' is that we didn't know that we'd have to attend a membership sales presentation. But even that was done in a friendly no pressure manner.

The drinks are watered down, the food is AWFUL, we were feeling ill and could not make it to an all day excursion so even though we told them that morning we were still charged for canceling as well as what we paid for it initially, they call and leave you a message the day before your check out day to settle your balance for any extras you got and then when you do that as requested all of a sudden your key card will not work so you can not even get a towel to swim or any food or drink the last day and a half you are here and nobody tells you. We had dinner and the waiter came running after us because once you pay that balance you can no longer use the all inclusive benefits. It's also a bit run down. Unfortunately, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS RESORT BY ANY MEANS.

Resort itself is nice and clean. Amazing view as soon as you walk in those doors! Pool areas are fun for all ages!! Pool side drinks are better than restaurant drinks... The air freshener through out the resort will drive some crazy!!! It's very strong! All inclusive..... sike! Surcharges on all the "good drinks and food" and I am exaggerating on the good part. ROOM SERVICE is trash!!!! Do not recommend!!! I liked the Veranda's lunch Buffett and the sister hotel Royal Cancun's Italian restaurant. Loved that you have the option to hang out at either hotel and eat there. The Royal Cancun beach area is smaller but more accommodating to children that want to swim in the ocean. Royal Sands waters are rougher and kinda scary for the little ones. Try not all inclusive and go out of the resort to eat! No cash resort.... We brought a lot of pesos to use and couldn't use them there! Everything is close by!!! Walking distance to LA ISLA 1 and 2... and lots of restaurants. Unfortunately we didn't try any... except for the one at the aquarium at ISLA 1. 3 stars is mainly for the staff! They are amazing hard working and super nice!!! Everyone we encountered was amazing!

Nice place... The views of the beach from the beachfront condos were amazing. Felt like I was living in a Corona commercial...brilliant! The rooms were nice and clean, with plenty of amenities. Actually our "room" was basically a one bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a bathroom. Just about everything you could think off was available; Refrigerator, Coffee Maker, Stove, Utensils, Dishes, Dishwasher etc. We even had two Murphy beds in the spacious living room! Brilliant! Interaction with the staff was always pleasant and helpful...no complaints. With several massive pools and hot tubs available, there was plenty of aquatic activities for everybody. Can't forget to mention the beach and the Ocean as the backyard. Plenty of The upkeep and cleanliness of the entire venue was impressive. Lovely place to stay...

Used to be a great resort. We have stayed here many years it has consistently declined year after year. Especially with the take over by Holiday Inn. They have converted the resort to an all inclusive resort in doing so they have reduced the quality of everything. Because in all inclusive they get your money up front. Beach service is horrible again because of the all inclusive. Maintenance has gone to heck as well, rusted tubs, broken elevator's... They are trying to run out all the timeshare owners gradually. ITS A SHAME IT WAS A GREAT REDORT. TERI R

We visited this hotel on Sunday, because it is one of the three Royal Resorts in the Cancun area. Food: We decided to grab a light lunch after a few hours in the sun. The food came out very fast and hot. Of course I had to add my own salt and pepper, but overall everything we ordered was delicious.  Customer Service: Our waiter at the restaurant was very patient, friendly, and helpful. He was very attentive and kept coming back to our table and checking to see see if we needed anything. We really enjoyed everything we ordered, and there was no issues with paying our bill even though we were staying at another Royal Resorts hotel.  Staff: Everyone from the shuttle bus driver, front desk, pool towels, and the restaurant was very professional. It's very apparent that their staff really goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone's  experiences are excellent.  Beach & pools: This resort is alot more lively and there seemed to be more younger guests than older. So there seemed to be more pool events going on, as well as it was much more crowded than the other two resorts. The beach is an easy and short walk from the pools, if you desire to swim in the ocean or just walk the beach. The sand was soft but we noticed that there was more sharp shells, so I'd recommend wearing flip flops on the beach. TIPS: There is a free resort shuttle that runs between the three hotels, so their guests can ride comfortable in an air conditioned bus.

The staff is very helpful, and no issues communicating in English. The beach the resort is on is beautiful, white sand, blue water. Plenty of beach chairs and a 1 hour reserve limit so people can't just put their stuff on chairs and leave it for hours. First night there we ate at Sidelines, the onsite bar/restaurant. I got food poisoning and my entire night was spent on the toilet. IMHO, the all-inclusive isn't worth it. The food is just okay at best, food poisoning at worst. The drinks included aren't good, ordered a mojito from sidelines and neither of us could stomach it. Dos XX is an included beer and it always tasted soapy, no matter which restaurant it came from. We ordered room service a couple of times and it always came quit faster than quoted times. The room was clean, far from luxury. Sheets were very itchy and uncomfortable pillows. The toaster in the room was broken. Shower is small and dated. I'll be looking for a different hotel if I go back to Cancun.

If you need to relax, recharge and unwind this is the place for you. Doing nothing never felt so good. Staff of wonderful and kind. Clean resort and the food is fabulous

I whet to there for 5 days and here is why I rate it 3 . The ice cream machine was broken . I almost whent out of the big green slide, and I stubbed my to on the blue. And the room was ok but needed to have pop in the fridge when you just came. And the buffet sucked. And room service was to long. the kids club sucked.and finally why do you need a kitchen In the room? if you're going to the whole family, I would the dreams in the area.

$580~ for a week's stay is AMAZING. So many amenities, truly not enough time. I stayed with a group of 20+ friends and acquaintances that booked rooms in bulk, which might have contributed to the incredible price. For COVID safety purposes, staff wear masks and hand sanitizer is provided throughout the resort. Masks are encouraged but not required. I split a suite with three friends-- the suite consisted of: two rooms (2 pulldown beds, 1 master bed), a kitchenette, a walk-in closet, 1 cramped bathroom w/shower, and a balcony view to the ocean. PROS: - Easy to book shuttle to/from airport (with Thomas More Travel) - 24/7 staff available + room service, staff are incredibly friendly though I'm sure that they face 100 million Karens a day - Impeccably clean rooms and amenities, including spa, tourist center, multiple pools with swim up bars and hot tubs - Literally bars everywhere (all inclusive!), including beachside service - AYCE buffet for every meal, with different themes each night (LOL @ "Oriental Night") - Daily recreational activities at the pool and community area - Close to (or a short bus ride away) from shopping centers and restaurants - Free airport-approved COVID testing at the time we were there (I believe they now charge $100+ for quick turnaround testing) CONS: - Room service will take hours to arrive - Definitely an older building (apparently used to be a timeshare) with the occasional cracks and rusting - Low water pressure, at least in our shower and toilet - Beaches can have a lot of scratchy seaweed close to shore, but depends on the time of day Still, not much to complain about while we were here. Perfect weather in April, with just enough sea breeze to cool you down. The food was great (a lot of healthy options!) and the facilities were lovely. My only regret is not bringing enough cash to tip throughout the entire trip. So many of our kind and attentive local staff members worked so hard to keep us tourists happy, I wish I could've had more cash to express my appreciation. NOTE: Everything is on paper receipts (and in Spanish), and additional costs (like specialty drinks during meals) will be charged on the card presented at check-in. Not much is digitized, so hang into those sheets and take notes when it comes to Venmo requesting your friends.

We Stay in this incredible place from May 21 to 31 because my sister is a member so yes is a time share but is an awesome one, however u can book if u are not a member but then options are linited in the all inclusive. The location is great. Right on the beach, right across the street from the shops of La Isla (the island). The staff was magnificent in all aspects. We got lucky and were upgraded to a PentHouse corner suite. Spacious and the view of the Caribbean as you would expect was tremendous. One of the main eye catching features of this hotel is its expansive 2 family pool with swim up bar. Huge and beautiful. There's also an adjoining Olympic length lap pool (recall it being 3 lane). There's also a separate adult pool area. All the pools had plenty of chairs. Lastly a larger than normal jacuzzi (and one right next to it under construction). And of course you can't forget the largest water feature steps away with plenty of beach, chairs, palapas, and umbrellas. This is an all inclusive resort, so food and drink are never far away. We did a couple of breaks in the weather so got to enjoy the poolside cafe which was excellent. (Great margaritas and everyone should try the cranberry mojito if you are into that sort of thing. Delicious. And dangerous. Hard to stop at one) For the most part the food is filling and plentiful. One does not choose all inclusive because you want to excite a discerning palate. One does benefit from options. Options on property and a number restaurants off property as well. The resorts offers complimentary shuttles. The restaurant staff were welcoming, attentive, and efficient. Great service all around. On the beach the palapas are awesome but the beach is dirty in some areas because the sargasum and they only mix it up with the sand but they don't removed it so when u try to swim some areas are cover and hurst ur body specially if you are sunburn. Not sure if the hotel has the responsibility to removed it or is the government. Though we were hunkered down in our room a couple of days because a storm was near by, the resort still providing a relaxing few days to unwind. Face it. It's hard not to have a good time in Cancun.

Staff is amazing, beach is amazing. Food is sadly the downfall & so is the selection available, the taste. Walk 1/2 mile in either direction off property to some fabulous restaurants. La Madelina (look at their instagram /tik tok), don't miss this place, try Fish Fritanga - go to the the shopping mall mecca by the Cancun Aquarium 3/4 mile (easy walk) & try La Parilla back at the dock. Just because the food is included for the non owners staying here doesn't mean you shouldn't go off site! Pack your kiddos some food for the waterpark area which is just the perfect size for those 4-12 yrs of age. Food isn't available until 1230pm so the kids are hungry after playing for a hour - it opens promptly at 1030am. Breakfast buffet closes at 11:30am and lunch isn't available at the only buffet on site until 12:15pm The kiddies need a snack! **Again the staff is amazing!

We had an amazing experience from bell boys, lobby, staff and the food. All were nice and accommodating - everyone is just easy to approach and try best to communicate what was needed. The rockstar employee Viktor and Jennifer was super awesome! Everyone was working hard to ensure that their guest's stay will be amazing. The room was neat and all of the facilities and activities they are offering for free was on point. The free bus shuttle drivers were all nice. They also have a lot more restaurant options aside from the one inside the hotel which is included in your All Inclusive package - most of them need to have smart casual wear and reservation so take note of that. The only reason I give 4 stars is because of what happened after a room service. My beauty blender foam had a permanent marker written on it, not a big deal since I can buy a new one but I am more paranoid what else has been touched or used in our stuff. Since then we didn't ask for room service. The lobby manager just told us that the staff only move my stuff and that's it. We do not have permanent marker or thick pens like that so it is only common sense who did that unless someone else whom we don't know get in our room without anyone of us knowing. I can attach here the photo.

Came here in October on the tail end of our trip. The hotel is older but in very good condition. Because it is older, its located on an amazing stretch of beach. The views from our room were to die for. The swim up bar bartenders were awesome! The only downfall is that the servers at the main restaurant weren't that great and all about the tips. The breakfast buffet had good choices but if we stayed longer than a couple of nights, we may have gotten tired of the choices. We enjoyed our time here overall and would return as long as we could mix in this hotel with other stays at different hotels nearby.

Firstly i would not have enjoyed this trip if not with a timeshare owner. Best dinner options need reservations and owners get preferences. So if you arent with an owner id look elsewhere. Secondly we thought there were several Royals we could visit. . Justvthe Royal Cancun. owners need to make reservations first thing becausethey book up. Timeshare visits are Saturday to Saturday. The staff really are fantastic. The whole place is clean and smells fabulous love the balcony and our view of sunrise. Beds are super firm. But i slept ok. Cleaning staff are top notch . In fact all of the staff are excellent. Havent ran across any staff who were negative or anything negative. When we arrived the ocean was calm and gorgeous touquoise and blue. There was vegetarian floating but none growing in the ocean. But a hurricane churned it up so the waves are frisky now. We can walk next door to the other sands. The older one is loader. Personally i wouldnt recommend the buffet for dinner at all. Breakfast is good and lunch buffet were good. Pool menu was ok but the stuff they cook outside was really good. Alot has a surcharge both for food and drinks which is disappointing. Like tittos and grand Marnier both surcharge ect. It says on the menu or they mention there will be a surcharge. Anyway i was told there was a free shuttle that ran every hour. The shuttle runs every 2 hours so we have been having to do a taxi home which i dont like for safety and monetary reasons. I usually stay at adult only resorts atelier, sadals, secrets. Iberostar grand. Frankly they are much better But they are much more money. Im giving 5 stars as it was alot of fun for great price. Excellent staff Eduardo spoiled us at pool and beach. Cecilia kept our pool spotless.

Avoid at all costs..this was a disaster of a trip for our family from the minute we arrived. Forced to change rooms midway through the stay, horrible customer service, concierge service from Omar was a nightmare, in rainy weather when my kids were bored they were told not to use the activity room because an adult card game was scheduled (one individual showed up..)I can think of many ways to spend money more effectively than coming here.

We were guests of a owner who has a membership. We absolutely loved this resort. Activities run from 8AM to 3PM, some activities we did were Yoga, Aqua fit, Bingo and Lotteria. Love the pool bar, however it closes around 6 or 7PM. The servers at the pool and beach are wonderful! The rooms were stocked with water and beverages. We had a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean, followed by beautiful sunrises and the waves crashing below our room. If you have special nutrition I would no recommend the buffet. We tried Sisal Restaurant next door! The tacos, tequila and churros were all amazing! We also received pedicures at the SPA. My Nail Technician Pamela (is also a certified masseuse) was fun and had a great sense of humor.

This location should be completely avoided due to numerous problems in every aspect. Front desk experience was disappointing. Guests are required to check out on Saturdays and then check back into a new room, despite all rooms having identical views and layouts. We had to vacate our room by 11 a.m. on Saturday. When I went to the front desk to inform them, the line was extremely long. After waiting for 30 minutes and with three groups still ahead of me, I decided to call while standing in line. They informed me that my new room was prepared and asked me to return to my initial room, where a bellman would assist me in relocating. Since we were attending a wedding and many guests HAD to check out on Saturday because this RESORT made them since this is a timeshare resort, some guests didn't access their rooms until 3:40 p.m., just 20 minutes before the wedding started at 4 p.m. Consequently, they had neither their luggage nor their room until then. A few guests resorted to entering their former rooms and were repeatedly asked to leave, despite their new rooms still being unprepared. Food - horrible. The food is the same no matter which restaurant you go on the resort. I contacted room service, and they informed me that their system showed me in a different room (my old room). They told me I should have NOT changed rooms. I said I agree I DIDN'T want to change rooms. I explained that the HOTEL MADE ME, the staff member told me they had verify with the front desk before they will place and deliver my food. It's puzzling why this information doesn't update in their system. Regardless of the day or time, room service consistently took over an hour to arrive. Food was either cold or undercooked. Drinks - horrible. The drinks were diluted. I drank all day but didn't feel any effects. When we visited the pool bar, we were informed that it was closed, yet they were clearly serving others without the all-inclusive wristband. There is no alcohol in the rooms other than 2 beers. They tell you that you have your own personal concierges but once you tell them you are not interested in a timeshare they no longer assist you. When you are put on hold the wait recording even says you have a concierges but you really don't. Everything closes early. There is no late night food unless you chose from 3 items from room service which again takes almost 2 hours and when you do get it the food is either raw or frozen. A LOT of items are not part of the all-inclusive but are 50% the full price. You need to physically give them your key card and not just your room number. In summary, I advise to steer clear of this establishment as it does not meet expectations and is not a worthwhile investment of time or money.

I am currently sitting at the pool wishing I had booked a better hotel. We chose this location on Priceline for our family because it looked great for the family and was all inclusive. I prefer a place with no hidden charges. I booked airfair and the hotel. I put in number of people, kids ages and booked. You can see in the photo, 4 people flights and hotel. I arrive at the hotel and they say the reservation is for 2 adults no kids. I show them my reservation and they say that's a Priceline error. Priceline sent a reservation to them for two adults. Priceline is saying they never knew it was for 4 at the hotel and there is nothing I can do. I ended up having to pay $69/child 13-18! The desk staff call the manager and reservations and didn't seem surprised or willing to help (it's like it happens often)! Hungry, tired and angry I pay the stupid charges (what other choi do I have) and head to our room. We get led to our room by the concierge who makes us all sit at the table for 30 minutes listening to her speech about things to do (prices she quoted weee way over retail) and then the pitch to become timeshare members. I tell her no, I get up and ask her to leave. First restraint and we find out all inclusive is anything but. Expect to pay more for good food and expect to tip. Next time I'm staying somewhere else.

We hadn't been on vacation since Covid ruined everything. We had a couple of places planned last year out of the country but ended up staying close by and safe. We wanted to take a vacation but also a place where we can get back ASAP in case some sh*t went down lol. Here is the 411, Food: I took a star off because I felt the food could have been better. I am from LA so we are spoiled when it comes to restaurants and food options. We paid for the all inclusive package. With everything I am going to mention regarding food and drinks ALL FREE. The food here was not that great! Especially lunch and dinner. I lost a little weight lol instead of putting on any. The only buffet that was good was the breakfast at the Veranda which had a lot of food to choose from. Waffles, pancakes and hash browns were staler than stale. The sushi here was gross ( you get a big piece of plain cream cheese right smack in the middle). Captains cove dinner was ok. Their brunch was way better and they were generous with their mimosas. Hacienda Sisal had really good food but you have to make reservations in advance. The vibes inside Sisal made it worthwhile plus the service. The restaurant is beautiful with live music and nice decor. It is located on the premises. The drinks were all stiff and strong. No complaints in that regard but we made friends with all the servers (be nice and tip don't be a cheap mfer.) Fitness Center: Very clean! They check your temp, you have to wear a mask and you dip your shoes in sanitizer as you walk in. Plenty of cardio machines. Plenty of free weights and kettle bells ranging all sizes. Lots of resistance machines plus two smith machines. Water and towel service to guests. This is how I began my mornings. Tips: Tip your people and they will take care of you. During our stay the bartenders and waiters knew our group by name. Be kind! Views: GORGEOUS! We had an front Ocean view suite. BEAUTIFUL we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and watched the sunset! Aww que romantic. The room was also very beautiful and the bed super comfy!! They had a small market with a coffee shop inside the resort with all kinds of goodies, groceries, toiletries and even some souvenirs if you do that. The stay here was relaxing and very enjoyable! If you don't mind the food part it is definitely a place to stay.

Absolutely beautiful resort. The family and I had 4 rooms and the service we received was amazing and had no issues over the 11 day stay. The wife and I renewed our vows on the beach here and it is such a beautiful location.

The buffet here was really good for both breakfast and lunch. There was chefs on hand to cook you "eggs your way". There was all the typical stuff you see at a breakfast buffet, oatmeal, cereal, breakfast potatoes, & fruit. There was also tamales and sweet fried bananas...yummy! For lunch we went to the smaller of the two buffets and it has the best fajitas I have ever had. You chose the kind of meat you want (chicken, pork, beef) which has been marinating for hours. The pool had a sunken wet bar. The pool was huge! There was music and pool games, games outside of the pool as well like Jenga. The beach had little cabanas for shade but it was a bit of a walk to the actual beach shore. We went during Spring break. There was only certain parts of the beach that were safe to swim in because of how powerful the waves are. They have a color coded flag system to show where it is safe versus dangerous. Red being the danger zone. I never felt nervous with my children ages 8-13 playing in the water because they also had a life guard right in front of the shore watching everyone.

We stayed at the sister resort, the Royal Islander, and guests there do not have a gym or spa, but the Royal Resorts allow guests to use the facilities at The Royal Sands. We used the gym every day and it was quite adequate for somebody on vacation. My wife took advantage of their spa and she also enjoyed it. There is free bus service between the 2 hotels provided to hotel guests. My main complaint about the Sands is the same complaint I had about the Royal Islander: whenever I asked for information from an employee, chances were 50/50 that it was right. I experienced this at the Sands' front desk, from the hostess at restaurant Hacienda Sisal and even from the parking attendant. The hotel grounds seem very nice and the beach in front is beautiful. I suppose for the price, it's not a bad choice.

It's beautiful and clean with great views and friendly service, the poolside food isn't bad, room service isn't very good, it takes a long time to get a drink.

My parents own time shares there and it is such a great experience. The employees are amazing- especially love Paulina Real- she's so committed to always bettering herself as a yoga instructor and overall activities leader! Juan is great at the docks- and we love sailing and kayaking on the lagoon. The beach is always so wonderful as well. It's such a great place to relax!

TIMESHARE - NOT MEANT TO BE AI HOTEL Posted by DEBRA OLIVER 2024-04-18 23:10:58 I don't usually like to get on a soapbox on FB or other sites \ The Trip Advisor and Yelp reviews are suffering because the folks renting from HIVC don't understand why they have to change units on Saturday - they don't seem to realize that the Royals started as a Timeshare model and owners can and will be coming to use their designated units. There are very few restaurants on site (Veranda - buffet all day ); Hacienda Sisal (dinner); Bistro (back half of Veranda separated by a curtain??? - (dinner), Char Hut poolside grill for lunch, Sushi bar on a terrace outside of the sports bar, Sidelines (late lunches/dinner). They will tell you that you can go their "sister" site The Royal Cancun on a shuttle with limited hours and a distance down the road - however, the restaurants there are an open air veranda and a small Italian restaurant. THE AI OPTION IS EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT IS AVAILABLE - there are so many nice restaurants with much better food at local restaurants and a full supermarket in the mall next door to stock up on soda, snacks, breakfast items. AS SUCH, I WOULD RECOMMEND RENTING FROM AN OWNER - there are Facebook sites for the Royal Resorts which have many rental options. You do not need to purchase the AI if renting from an owner of this TIMESHARE. You will also be made to change room if renting through most of the vacation sites for short trips. Owner weeks are Saturday to Saturday. The Royals will place you in a unit for two or three days and then move you as the owner is arriving on Saturday - as an owner, we are guaranteed our designed unit which we purchased and pay maintenance fees for yearly. I can promise you that most of Saturday will be lost to packing up, waiting for the next room to be cleaned and unpacking when you get there. HOLIDAY INN IS TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS AS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTEL - IT IS NOT!!! THEY WILL TELL YOU TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH THEM WITH A PROMISE OF UPGRADES AND/OR SERVICES - IT IS A HIGH PRESSURE SALES MEETING TO JOIN HOLIDAY INN CLUB VACATIONS AND A TIMEWASTER FOR MOST VACATIONERS. LOOK ELSEWHERE, YOU CAN DO BETTER!!!

We LOVE the Royal Sands! we have been owners for the past several years and are never disappointed! Every room has an ocean view and a very large balcony. The staff is amazing, friendly and attentive. We love to eat at the resort and some of the surrounding restaurants. Two years ago we brought friends who loved it so much they also purchased. There is a shuttle that runs to and from the other resorts and if you prefer they will get you a taxi . The pools are great and the beach is beautiful. There is seaweed at times but they work tirelessly to keep it cleaned up. Can't wait to head back this year and enjoy our time in paradise.

Royal Sands was very clean and makes you feel safe. This was such a family-friendly resort with delicious foods/restaurants and beautiful all around. Unfortunately, my worst nightmare came true when my lab results came back as positive and I had to quarantine alone. I actually got Covid the weekend before from a wedding, but symptoms didn't show up until 4 days later when I had already arrived to Cancun. Employeees went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable. I specifically wanted to thank both Juan and Dr. Hernandez. Juan and Dr. Hernandez are such a blessing! I could not be more appreciate and thankful for these 2 individuals. Juan made sure to check up on me almost everyday during my Covid quarantine to make sure I was comfortable. He was the one that made sure I was able to book a room, grab a shuttle, and provided all the information that I needed. He even introduced himself to say goodbye when I checked out. Dr. Hernandez was able to squeeze me into her busy schedule and help me at my worst with Covid. She made sure that I got all the information that I needed and had access to my prescription meds that same day to start. She checked up every other day since I first became positive and ensure that she's always available 247 if I needed her. I would like to thank Wendy as well for providing my sister all the Covid Protocols information so that I can get a head jump on planning. Though I was not able to enjoy Cancun as much as I would like, I cannot wait to come here again knowing that they have perfect Covid Protocols for their guests. Thank you so much again Royal Sands, Juan, Dr. Hernandez, and Wendy! You all are missed! -Kunnida Atlanta, GA 05/11/2022-05/22/2022

I came to this resort for an all inclusive experience. For the most part, the staff was kind. Our suite was beautiful with a direst view of the ocean. At night, you can go to sleep to the sounds of the ocean waves. The buffet and associate restaurants were outstanding . The waiters were busy, but composed and kind. The buffet was delicious. They had theme nights, such as Mexican food night or Italian. If you would like to order from the menu, that available, as well. The overall atmosphere of the resort was peaceful. There were many families, couples, and friends who came for relaxation. The spa was tranquil, with excellent massages, a steam room, sauna and hot tub. Of course, there was a Starbucks on site, adjacent to a supermarket. Representatives were available for those who wanted to venture out on various tours. I have no complaints and would definitely recommend this resort!

How can you write a bad review with paradise sitting right in front of view? Only thing I could say about the hotel is there security should improve because I had people walking in all the time. We didn't do all inclusive because we used an old time share week, never the less still a great experience and friendly staff. Felix & Carlos went above and beyond for us!

One of my yelp friends just checked in here and I just had to write a review as I had previously stayed here three years ago. The resort is outdated and could use some serious updating. Our room was spacious and had an amazing balcony with a great view. One of the best things about this resort is they have about 7 restaurants off the property that are part of their all inclusive package. Service was always great! Also, Plenty of beach chairs w/ umbrellas. I will always remember this resort as amazing! As after drinking for hours, my boyfriend and I stupidly decided to get in water! The water was rough that evening, earlier in the day not at all. Very scary experience which if it wasn't for their lifeguards being on duty I wouldn't be able to write this review. They saved my life and I will forever be grateful to the two lifeguards who jumped in and the staff who immediately came to check on me. I look forward to coming back here although since this incident I stick to swimming pools lol!

We were here for a week. Everything was great and everyone was amazing and so very friendly. Super clean, the maintenance team were constantly cleaning.. The restaurant was really good. We'll definitely be back..

This hotel is great. Spent 6 nights here and we loved it. Very clean rooms and and the friendliest clerks you can find. Awesome pool area to relax and swim in definitely recommend. Can't wait to go back again.

I'm giving the Royal Sands 5 stars! I made the mistake of booking my airline ticket for the wrong week along with booking my vacation week off from work! I'm checking in in Cancun to find out the my schedule week just passed! I was shocked! The management team Arturo and his Boss came to my rescue! Yes I had to pay a small fee but it was worth it! I've been a member for over ten years, Royal Sands take can of their members . Thank you!

This place is absolutely amazing! Stunning views, great staff and exceptional service! Can't wait till our next trip

Had an amazing time here- ocean views are beautiful!!! Service was amazing - swim up bar bartenders were so awesome. We had an 8 year old and 13 year old And they loved it - there are lots of activities for Kids. The food was ok nothing amazing but definitely not terrible. Beach views and easy beach access from pool. We would definitely go back

I stayed here for a few days with my friend. At first, there was a hiccup with room assignment. We received a room with a king bed instead of double beds. We also were told we had to move the next day because the hotel is also a time share -- and apparently all guests do this. Thankfully, the front desk sorted it out. We got our room and we didn't have to move at all during our stay. Our view was also beautiful. Yay! There were always lots of food options. I could make a reservation for any restaurant a few hours before with no problem. I wish they had a Japanese restaurant though! That's the one thing they seem to be missing. My favorite restaurant was the Hacienda -- the lime shrimp was amazing! I also had the lobster at Captain's Cove (for a surcharge paid when checking out of hotel) and it was just OK. My friend said she had the best risotto ever at La Trattoria. The spa is a little pricey for massages so I skipped that. I did the fish pedicure, which was reasonably priced! However, after I was done, they did not lotion my legs and the water definitely dried out my skin. I didn't bother reserving chairs on the beach with the name tag they provided at check in. We did so the first day and then realized that it was easy to find chairs everyday and any time of the day. Phew! One less thing to worry about! My favorite part about the hotel though... was the 24 hour room service! I will miss that the most!!! Overall 4/5 stars. I would definitely return in the future.

This is our first trip to Cancun and I'm so happy we picked this resort! First off let me thank Luis & Tomas for being the best pool servers out there! Always on top of the game. They deserve more credit. We stayed for 10 days arriving the day after Christmas and celebrated New Years here. When we arrived the check in process was smooth, the room was clean and had everything we needed. We chose to upgrade to the junior suite which included two queen beds, a small kitchenette, and a full bath area with a walk in closet. **I don't think you need the larger suite with the full kitchen since the all inclusive packages include 24/7 room service, multiple restaurants, and the buffet. The maid comes twice a day one to clean and once for turn down service - it's so nice! Even little chocolates on your pillow. There's also extra blankets if you want more then a sheet to sleep with. The pool area is HUGE and has scheduled activities and games going on every day. The walk to the beach is nice with little shaded hut areas available (people fight for these first). They have a weird chair flag system but it seems to work. They'll explain when you check in. This resort is FULL of families probably because of the time shares. We're a couple in our mid 20's and we kind of wish there was more going on for our age group but that was okay and made us venture out more from the resort. My only note (which seems to be one I keep reading in other reviews) GET A HOT TUB. There isn't one and for the life of me I can't figure out why. I still recommend this resort to all families, travelers, groups etc. *TIP: we paid significantly cheaper rates by booking on Agoda (sister site Priceline).

Place is nice but just to stay, all-inclusive is not worth it. Food is not good and they only want to offer their cheapest liquor or beer. Very high priced for such cheap quality of product they offer.

This place is for senior citizens. 100%. This is a time share resort. Do your research before you come here.

This is a very nice place, very clean and al the service is excellent! I loved the every night show. The dancers are so professional and beautiful! I highly recommend to spend your vacations here.

The worse Hotel I've ever stayed , the toilet was broken , the shower sings, the TV has no volume :( One small 4 person elevator that takes forever ... One restaurant and a bar that opens at 4 pm the food is disgusting I cannot stress that enough Bottled water smells as bad as it tastes, no one speaks proper English and they overcharge for everything. One pool and no Jacuzzi Small gym and no activities

The Royal Sands is a wonderful resort!!! Staff are very friendly, helpful and professional. Rooms were clean and the full kitchen is well-stocked. But read below about the practice for reserving a palapa for the day. However....to secure a palapa, especially in front of I Building, you need to be on the beach no later than 6:30 AM to claim a palapa (place flags on chairs). Why so early? Because some guests pay the Royal Cancun staff to save a palapa for them so they don't have to go down to the beach early. I strongly recommend staying on the beach until other members of your party show up. The reason for this recommendation is that if guests want the resort staff to reserve a certain palapa and someone else get that palapa first, the resort staff will remove the flags and replace them with the flags of the guests who paid them. The first week we were there, I actually saw this happen. In the second week, we were the victim of this practice. We placed our flags on chairs at 6:30 AM. We didn't stay down at the beach but returned at 9 AM. Other guests were at the space that we saved at 6:30 AM. We explained that we had placed our flags there at 6:30 AM. They shrugged their shoulders and said, "You need to pay the resort staff like we do." I complained to resort management and they claim this practice is not allowed. NOT TRUE!!! It's very unfair that resort staff are allowed to reserve palapas for guests. All guests should have to get their palapas the same way - get down to the beach early!! Overall, it's a great resort, stunning beach, wonderful views from each room and good service. Food is so-so but for some reason the food we ordered through room service was great. The pizzas are very good.

I'm wondering when people give a property 5 stars what they are considering??? We stayed in this resort for my Birthday...Overall I stayed in their Pent which it means i had breath taking view in 8th floor...There were many things that I didn't like about this property. 1- As a resort, it's supposed to have hot tube (jaccuzi), specially when in January they are facing mild weather. 2- they had Buffet bar but you weren't able to find the foods for all tastes...(they were all mexican foods & not too much variety on taste) 3- waiters were friendly, but they have the worst management ever... 4- on their shops, they are not accepting $. If you don't have peso they will charge your room card... 5- every Saturday, doesnt matter when u arrived they are changing your room...I arrived Friday and they gave me a room and the next day they changed it... 6- We had to wear a wrist band as well as giving them the room number & key at the same time...it was pain in the but just to get water...if we are wearing this wrist band & using all inclusive services what is the reason to ask us every time about room number and key? 7- they offered us the restaurants out of property...what was the reason to stay at resort? P.S: In reception, I asked for Management...Manager on duty Erika Osorio didnt give her hard time to walk to front to talk to me...even i asked her to come and she answered me by phone...She had the worst customer service that You can ask for...She didnt answer my questions and keep telling me that for every extra hours they will charge me 100 bucks... Dude, I paid thousands to stay in this resort couple bucks not gonna do anything...This people need to be well trained & understand they cant treat all guests as same as they are treating their same level people around... im disappointed...

Well we decided to book this resort because we were offered an "All Inclusive" vacation, "IF" we gave them 90 minutes of our time for a vacation ownership presentation. After we booked I eventually received a call from Cassandra, and I wasn't able to speak at any length, so I asked her to call my wife and gave her the number, to which she agreed she would. Well she never did, but just sent an email and a text message. So not being able to follow a simple request such as that should have been my first clue. A couple of weeks later (2 weeks before the vacation) she eventually contacted my wife, Now we arrived and was told to look for Thomas Moore for transportation to the resort. Well Thomas Moore is made to look like a separate company, but they are ALL OVER the Royal resorts, and their shuttles, so I have no doubt that they are in the same pockets. Well you are only given transportation for 1 way for this "All Inclusive" package. As if you're going to coMe to Cancun and just stay. Like you don't need to go back to the airport? Like that doesn't even make sense. So we were told to go to Thomas Moore to get transportation set up back to the airport. When we went there we met Christian. While speaking to him I had voiced to him my displeasure of being nickeled and dined to pay for transportation back. I asked how much, and he tried to push the "private" transportation which was like $30 per person, and I asked for the shares to which he told me in pesos, and I asked him what that was in US dollars, to which he replied about $13.50 each. Then he said I could take a taxi, so I asked him if the taxi was more or less than Thomas Moore, then he quotes me the price in pesos. I asked him why when I'm asking about US dollars, why he keeps quoting me pesos? Then his answer was, "Do you want to book it or not, there are other people waiting!" He was EXTREMELY RUDE! I just walked away. I then went back to find our concierge "Cassandra" and she was busy but they assured me she would call in 10 minutes. Over 2 hours later, still no call. I went back to the main concierge desk, and they said Cassandra had jus walked around the corner and they would call her and have her call me. Again, this didn't happen. Another hour and a half later, I stopped. Y a third time, left my information, for her to call me, and about 20 minutes later I get a text message from Cassandra. I left 3 messages asking for a phone call, and finally she reaches out with a text. (My theory is because we didn't buy their program that morning, that they didn't give a dam about us at that point). Cassandra had made us reservations for El Conquistador, for 5:30, which is included but at a different resort that's 20 minutes away, when the shuttle leaves at 5:30? Now what sense does that make? And she's supposed to be a concierge??? These people DON'T care about you unless you buy their vacation club, or if you haven't had the presentation yet. Do you get a place to stay? Yes. Do you get all inclusive? Yes. Are the drinks subpar at best? Yes. Does the attitude of the staff change after your presentation and you don't buy? Yes. Does Thomas Moore treat you like absolute garbage? Yes. Does the so called "Concierge" know how to be a good concierge? NO. With all the vacation ownership programs out there, and in Cancun to pick from, try another one, because this one isn't what it's promised to be. I'm sure there's one that will treat you right, because this one doesn't. All I can say to you is good luck if you stay here, but Congratulations if you head my word and try somewhere else.

Giving this resort 5 stars!! My boyfriend and I visited The Royal Sands Resort and Spa in December of 2019, and we were extremely happy with our experience. I booked our vacation with Erik Alejandro on the phone. He was extremely accommodating with helping me. He answered all my questions and made the booking process very easy!! This resort has time share members and also allows outside guests. We were outside guests who were not associated with a member. Once we arrived we were greeted by the friendly staff and were assigned Rafa as our personal concierge. Rafa was amazing!! He helped us so much by answering all our questions and helping us book excursions and a spa appointment. Rafa and I were able to communicate via WhatsApp which made it easy for us to get a hold of each other (even outside his work hours). We could not have asked for anyone better, Rafa rocks! The resort itself was beautiful! We even got to visit Royal's other locations in Cancun. All were very nice but the Sands was definitely may favorite as it had the best pools and atmosphere. There are two pools, one that is more quiet and one that is more lively. Each have pool side bars with great staff and service! The ocean views are also amazing at the resort. There are plenty of cabanas that guests can sit at and still receive food and drink service. My only recommendation would be to not allow smoking on the beach or by the pools. I am guessing Mexico law permits this but as a non-smoker I wasn't a fan. The smoking wasn't overwhelming but I was just not a fan of it. Our room was off the quiet pool and it was great! What an amazing view! The rooms were spacious and came fully equipped with everything you'd need. Glendy was our housekeeper, and was very efficient! The housekeeping staff comes by again at night to see if guests need anything extra (like more towels). I thought that was a very useful service! The spa is also amazing, if you have the time I would also recommend getting a massage or facial. I even did the fish therapy on my feet, very cool experience!! The restaurants associated with the resorts were great, and I highly recommend you take advantage of them. They each have a variety of food options. I saw some reviews where people complained about the shuttles if you go to offsite restaurants, but we never had any issues with them. There was always enough room and they came and left at their designated times. Overall, we loved the Royal Sands and will definitely be back! If you are looking for a fun, clean, safe, and beautiful resort in Cancun, I highly recommend staying at the Royal Sands.

My partner and I stayed at this hotel August 28- September 1st in suite 5512A we had such a beautiful view from the balcony and when we opened the door. First day we arrived everyone was so kind but one person Damian stood out and was always very attentive and funny and his vibe and energy was just very welcoming he made our stay great. Sunday was great Monday was amazing we went parasailing and jet skiing at their sister hotel we bought our tickets there at the hotel pricing was very great I think it was like $150 for 2 adults for both activities. Mexican night at the hotel monday was great and then Tuesday came along and that's were things took a turn. My partner got food poisoning Monday night from the hotel buffet. Tuesday he was worse fever, chills, diarrhea, vomiting! It was so bad I had to look for a doctor luckily the hotel had one. I ran down at least 3-5 times a day to go to the store to buy Gatorade, electrolytes, and anything to help him get better. We spent the rest of our trip in the room and not once! Did a manager come up to me to ask if something was wrong, or if someone was sick because we requested a doctor. Even though they saw me going back and forth carrying multiple things. Would I come back? Maybe. Would my partner? Definetely not staying there again. And on the last day that we were leaving as I entered the elevator the doors closed on me! As I was in the middle! And not only was it painful but embarrassing and bruised my arm. But other than that the stay could have been better. And the doctor there was great gave him injections and oral medication took a while to kick in but it was something. Overall this was an experience as I say. Would of been 5 stars if the hotel just was a bit more considerate and asked how my partner was doing. Not only was he sick but we saw tons of ppl walking around with pepto bismo and electrolyte bottles in their hands. The buffets manager/cook was suppose to come out and speak to us because I complained and we waited and he never came out. Disappointing.