Cancun - Royal Resorts - Opinions please!

[rombar]

To anyone that has been to Cancun and has traded into the Royal Resorts - is there one that is better than the others? Any advise or recommendations would be appreciated - thanks!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by rombar
To anyone that has been to Cancun and has traded into the Royal Resorts - is there one that is better than the others? Any advise or recommendations would be appreciated - thanks!

It depends on your personal preferences. VCI, though very nice, is certainly a step below. The others are all great in one way or another. Some like the Sands because of all the amenties, new and location. Others prefer the other 3 together because of the aggregate amenities. Personally I'd go for what I could get but the Sands would be my first choice. I've stayed at VCI and would again but not for a one to one DVC exchange.

 

[marty]

We own at both the Royal Caribbean and the Royal Mayan. Last year we spent a week at the Royal Sands. The Sands is much newer than the others, but you would be hard-pressed to determine that by the conditions of all of them. They are all fantastic. The Sands has a beautiful Spa and Health Club - as a guest at any of the Royals you have use of it. As the Sands is newer, in my opinion, it has a slightly more "sterile" atmosphere - more concrete and the foliage is not as well-developed. The Caribbean, Mayan and Islander are located side-by-side, so it is easy to walk from one to the other and enjoy the amenities of each. We leave Saturday for 2 weeks at the Caribbean and I am Sooo excited!!
One amenity that we enjoy there and not at OKW - daily maid service. They spend about 2 hours - clean Everything - windows, kitchen, etc. Incredible. While the units themselves are only slightly smaller than OKW, they are still very spacious.
If it sounds like I'm a fan, you're right. If I only ever vacation at OKW and the Royals, I will die a happy woman.

 

[leslieh]

I not sure if i can ask this, but we are DVC members at OKW, and while checking out the boards i noticied cancun. My DD is going for five days for spring break, travel express has them at the Melia Turquesia? any info? She is almost 21 with two others her age. They said its an resort, according to orbitz etc. 3 stars. Thanks

 

[dvc_john]

I agree that VCI (the first Royal built) is a step below the others. The Royal Sands is the newest. The other three are together. If you are getting a 2 BR, all will be fine. But if you're getting a 1 BR or studio, I would prefer Sands, Islander, or Caribbean over Mayan due to the way the balconies are designed at the Mayan.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by dvc_john
I agree that VCI (the first Royal built) is a step below the others. The Royal Sands is the newest. The other three are together. If you are getting a 2 BR, all will be fine. But if you're getting a 1 BR or studio, I would prefer Sands, Islander, or Caribbean over Mayan due to the way the balconies are designed at the Mayan.

I don't believe the Royals have studios, only hotel units without a kitchenette. We stayed at VCI and really enjoyed it, I'd do an uneven exchange there any day.

 

[DaisyDebbie]

LeslieH- I only saw the Turquesa from the outside but it looked really nice. It's not a little dumpy place.

 

[dvcmommy]

We traded into the Royal Caribbean. It was incredible!! Though, we spent a day at the Sands and thought we might have liked that better. Hubby is not a huge disney fan (HATES the Magic Kingdom, but will deal with everything else!!). He would be happy if we traded our points for the Royals every year. But, I think our kids would boycott that idea as we didn't take them along to Cancun. There is a lot of info about the Royals on the TUG site, and a guy named Tony G. that will email you all sorts of info if you have questions. He's like the WebMasterDoc of the Royal Resorts!!

Kim

 

[Nana Sue]

I want to warn you, I think you are really downgrading if you trade your DVC points for a Royal! After hearing all the hype on the Royals on other t/s boards I couldn't wait to stay in one. We traded a bonus week from one of my lesser t/s into the Royal Mayan two years ago. The unit was oceanfront, one of the best units I am told. What a disappointment! The people who own Royals can rant and rave all they want (there are a lot of owners so there is a lot of bias) but the Royals aren't on the same page as DVC.

 

[dvcmommy]

I didn't say it was the wisest use of points - you can go to www.mexicondo.com and rent a 2 bedroom unit for around $1000 for the whole week.

But, as far as not on the level as DVC, we have stayed at all the DVC resorts and my husband believes they were a notch up. I personally found them pretty equal. Of course, if you were to pay cash, a DVC resort would cost you more.

I personally thought the Royal Mayan was not near as nice as the others (we walked the grounds), but I wouldn't call any of them a disappointment.

Kim

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I appreciate this info as we will be scheduling our week there. I think we are hoping to coordinate a trip later in this year. Looking forward to finding out what else is out there.

Is there a better time of year over another to go there?

 

[marty]

Don't know if you'll have the option, but my husband and I prefer not to have ocean front. At the Sands, Islander and Caribbean, most units have ocean view. Ocean view gives you an incredible panorama of the pool area and the ocean. Ocean front, you have a view of the ocean. At the Mayan a few units have "lagoon" view - ok, but not as nice as ocean view.

 

[dvcmommy]

If you are looking to exchange with DVC points, I know May was considered low season, so it cost us fewer points.

Kim