The Royal Sands Resort and Spa All Inclusive

Location was great. Pool and bar staff excellent. Room decent a few improvements can be made. Sink in kitchen area, a real garbage can, bring utensils with room service. They provide 2 spoons and 2 forks, if they accidentally get taken with a room service tray, then your SOL. BUT overall we had a great time.

Holiday Inn acquired the Royal Cancun (formerly Vacation Club International) several years ago and happily there have been few changes to this charming property which shares amenities with the Royal Sands (a much larger resort on the more dramatic waters of the Caribbean Sea). At time it is delightful to see the lit-up dinner cruise pirate ships sail out into the bay and finish with fireworks. The reason the resort fails to get a five-star rating is because Holiday Inn did not correct the long-standing problem with the Royal Resorts in having guests stakeout chaise lounges by the pool with towels and then wander off for hours on end while other guests look for shaded spots, that would otherwise be available. Fortunately, the lounge chairs by the beach are almost always available. There used to be a policy that if a guest did not occupy a towe draped chair for an hour the towels would be neatly folded and put to the side, but management rarely chose to to follow there own policy

We have come here every year...forever. The beach is beautiful, the villas are great!! However it is the staff that keeps us coming back. They have become our second family!!

Staff at the front desk doesn't get a lot of recognition. Let me tell you about Amanda. Husband Tom had an injured foot and couldn't walk well. Amanda spent at least an hour finding the perfect room for us....close to the elevator and close to the stairs. She was so kind and always smiling. She also helped me with a few things (like a lost card) during the week. If you get her for check in, you will have hit the jackpot!!

Veranda wait staff. They have only one speed....fast!! They are efficient and so friendly. Ricardo and David were my special guys! I had so much fun getting to know them even though they were always busy. Mario, Fernando(Fer), and really all of the others deserve a special shout out. We love Saulo over at Sissel. We remember him from Captain's Cove. The managers at both the Veranda and Sissel are everywhere and pitch in wherever needed...truly great guys!

Bar Staff. Manuel and Pedro. I have known them for years! Malandin is just starting out. He tries so hard and always tries to do a perfect job! German and Cesar are great. I know that I have forgotten someone. Please know that every single one of them always has a smile and a friendly hello!! Eder is a bartender at the Trattoria restaurant. He makes the best Cosmos ever!!! Daniel who is a waiter there is also a wonderful part of the staff as is manager Luis.

Pool Staff. I have also known many of these great guys for years. Tomas always goes out of his way, work wise and friendly wise. He teases me about always losing at pool Bingo. We always laugh about my lack of skill! Auturo, Moises, Damien, Eduardo, so hard working and so friendly!!

Hospitality Staff. Marisbel is a ray of sunshine. She has only worked at the hotel for a few months but it seems like she has been there for years. Sairy, Rodrigo (an Elvis Presely guy) , Walter, Kara, just everyone tries every single day to give the guest a fun time at whatever is going on!

Robert and Felipe are the two best porters ! Felipe wants to continue working at the Royal Sands even though he has worked so diligently to just get his law degree.

I can't possibly name every wonderful person on staff at Royal Sands! Please go and discover these wonderful people so that you can give them a shout out next year!!