Royal Islander Cancun

[Tucsonadventurer]

It is truly personal preference. We stayed at Royal Islander, Royal Cancun and Lagunamar. I am a huge Lagunamar fan for many many reasons but most people love the Royals and own multiple weeks.Cancun itself is amazing

 

[Kenrabs]

I've traded into the royal resorts on 4 occasions, once at was the Royal Mayan, The Royal Islander, Royal Hacienda and Royal Caribbean. While the resorts are well maintained the rooms are dated so if use to updated amenities it can be a minor disappointment. With most the guest being older at the Islander and Caribbean the pool scene is kind of dead and to quiet. The sands has a better vibe but found pool service to be poor. Not enough servers for the crowd and think this is do to switching to all inclusive model to slow service down. Not good if your not there on all inclusive plan. Had to go and get my food which was sitting at the bar for an extended period and went and bought beers at the market since getting a server to take an order was on the same schedule as Haily's Commet. I think the uncertainty about the older resorts has filtered down to the employees. Was not as friendly and homie feeling as my first 3 visit. In the future the only one I would stay at is the Royal Hacienda since it's not as crowded as the Sands and most updated amenities. The employees at the Hacienda were top notch but that was right before they switch to the AI option so hope it has not affected service like at the Sands.

 

[dioxide45]

I've traded into the royal resorts on 4 occasions, once at was the Royal Mayan, The Royal Islander, Royal Hacienda and Royal Caribbean. While the resorts are well maintained the rooms are dated so if use to updated amenities it can be a minor disappointment. With most the guest being older at the Islander and Caribbean the pool scene is kind of dead and to quiet. The sands has a better vibe but found pool service to be poor. Not enough servers for the crowd and think this is do to switching to all inclusive model to slow service down. Not good if your not there on all inclusive plan. Had to go and get my food witch was sitting at the bar for an extended period and went and bought beers at the market since getting a server to take an order was on the same schedule as Haily's Commet. I think the uncertainty about the older resorts has filtered down to the employees. Was not as friendly and homie feeling as my first 3 visit. In the future the only one I would stay at is the Royal Hacienda since it's not as crowded as the Sands and most updated amenities. The employees at the Hacienda were top notch but that was right before they switch to the AI option so hope it has not affected service like at the Sands.

This is something I think was mentioned about AI back shortly after the switch. The issue being that the Sands and Haciendas weren't really built and designed to handle AI. It would seem that onsite food and beverage options are somewhat lacking for a true AI experience? At least when compared to other purpose built AI resorts in Mexico.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

I've got a request in for any day in 2018 for Westin Lagunamer and II has called me 4 times already wanting me to offer me an exchange into one of the Royals. I keep turning them down as I just want to exchange one Vistana for another Vistana to keep the cost down

 

[dioxide45]

I've got a request in for any day in 2018 for Westin Lagunamer and II has called me 4 times already wanting me to offer me an exchange into one of the Royals. I keep turning them down as I just want to exchange one Vistana for another Vistana to keep the cost down

You can tell II that you don't want to get phone calls for alternate exchange options.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

You can tell II that you don't want to get phone calls for alternate exchange options.

Thanks, I didn't know I could do that

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

If you are up for traveling resort to resort the AI option is fine but it is less relaxing to restaurant hop. The off site restaurant Captain's Cove
was quite good. Our first visit was from a short stay interval and we were charged a daily use fee of $20 to use the gym. That and no hot tub plus
chewed gum stuck all over the extra blanket were on my con list. I wouldn't mind trying the Royal Hacienda one day. I have heard good things.

 

[ilene13]

in response to a few of the comments I have just read.
1. The gym fee at the RS is $8 a day not $20.
2. Interesting about the pool service at the RS. Last week at Lagunamar the beach service was almost non existent and the service at the restaurant next to the pool was terrible. Lunch ended up being a 1.5 hour experience everyday. The one thing I can say about the RS is that the staff is abundant and they are like family. We have had the same maid for our villa since the resort opened. The waiters, bellman, front desk staff, etc know us by name.
3. I agree the RS villas are dated. They are currently undergoing renovations and the completed units are beautiful. The ones are the Lagunamar were nice but not exceptionally beautiful and modern.
4. Be careful of wishing for hot tubs on properties. My husband contracted eColi at the Grand Luxxe from the hot tub. He was very ill. A family was dipping their naked infant into it. Last week there were many toddlers and very young children using them as "pools" at Lagunamar. It always amazes me how parents let their children go into them and how resorts don't monitor them.

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

You are correct, I apologize. It was $8 per day. I am confusing it with another resort. And I guess in the scheme of things $ 56 for a week to use the gym is not a deal breaker.
We were trading Hyatt into interval and were not used to having a gym fee, more of a principal thing. The Royal classes were a lot of fun especially zumba. The villas at both Royals we stayed at were not an issue at all. They were clean and had everything you need for a comfortable stay. So again, luckily everyone has different taste which is good, more opening for us at Lagunamar lol. ilene that is horrible about the hot tub at the Grand Luxxe. So sorry to hear that. What a horrible experience to have to go through.

 

[LisaRex]

Do any of the Royal resorts have washers/dryers and grills? Both are pretty essential to me.

 

[ilene13]

They do not have washers and dryers in the units. They have a laundry room where a lady does your laundry for a minimal fee. She does a great job. No grills.