Overview
Located along the Yucatan Peninsula, the Royal Sands Resort and Spa All-Inclusive Cancun offers the convenience and relaxation of beachfront access. There are 680 spacious and well-appointed suites and villas with kitchenettes or full kitchens.
I always enjoy a mini fridge in my hotel room. A kitchenette is like winning the lottery for me.
Families with young children and nature lovers will appreciate the kids center, pools and watersports options. This is a great choice for those who like to stay in a resort area and soak up the sun by the water.
Royal Sands Cancun reviews boast about the scenery, amenities and friendly staff. However, if your family is more into action and live entertainment than beachfront activities, this may not be your best option. It’s a bit of a distance to downtown Cancun and sites like Chichen Itza, Tulum and other popular Mexican sites.
Additionally, the Royal Sands is a timeshare property. This means that you’re likely to be asked to participate in a presentation. This is by no means a requirement. It’s perfectly fine to say you’re not interested in the timeshare. Unless you’re into that, then by all means go for it.
What We Love
- Extremely Spacious Suites
- Beautiful Stretch of Beach
- Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Hacienda Sisal
What We Don’t Like
- All-Inclusive packages sometimes translate to overtaxed staff
- Far from the center of town
- Lack of nightlife on-site
- Timeshare presentations can be tedious
- Room changes can occur mid-stay
Location and Layout
Address: Kukulcan Boulevard KM 13.5, 77500, Cancun Hotel Zone, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Phone Number: 1-888-387-4755
Website: The Royal Sands Resort and Spa All-Inclusive
Things to Consider Before Booking
Budget
Even though you’re going with an all-inclusive package, be sure to budget appropriately. Restrictions and exceptions do apply. For example, premium dishes, alcohol and some beverages are not included in the all-inclusive package.
Packages
Purchasing an all-inclusive package makes planning easier. You’ll be able to pay for everything at once. When you’re on -site, you won’t have to worry about pulling out your wallet for every little thing.
Family Interests
The Royal Sands offers all sorts of activities and amenities designed for families. Kitchenettes are such a blessing when you have kids who demand late-night, and early-morning, snacks.
Check-In Time:
Guests can begin the check-in process at 4:00 pm. If you arrive early, it doesn’t hurt to ask if your room is ready.
Features and Benefits
Amenities
- Pool
- Beach
- Golf
- Babysitting
- Children Programs
- Cribs
- DVD
- Family Room 5+
- Free Wi-Fi
- Kids’ Pool
- Kids’ Theme Meals
- Kitchenettes
- Laundry
- Meal Plan
- Onsite Dining
- Refrigerator
Family Activities
- Museum/Cultural
- Sailing
- Water Sports
- Game Room
Pool
There are three pools to keep you and your crew splashing about all day long. One of the pools is an infinity pool, and there’s lots of lounging space to dry off and soak up the sun.
Beach
Beachfront is the best. Step right off of the property onto the soft white sand of the Caribbean.
Golf
Pack your golf clubs or leave them at home and borrow some from the resort’s Sports Desk. There’s also a tennis court.
Babysitting
Need a grown-up night out? You can contact the front desk for babysitting services. The resort uses independent babysitting services, which may or may not be what you’re looking for. But the option is there. 24-hour notice is required.
Children programs
There’s an Activity Center and a Kids Club that hosts activities for kids ages four to 12.
Cribs
Cribs are available upon request.
DVD
A DVD player is a great amenity for winding down after a day of fun and adventure.
Family Room 5+
Families with more than five people are often left having to book two adjoining rooms. The Royal Sands eliminates that problem with its two-bedroom master suite. It has a king-size bed, two Murphy beds, two double beds and two bathrooms.
Free Wi-Fi
If you have teens and tweens (or even if you don’t), free Wi-Fi is a blessing. It’s by far my favorite hotel amenity (after all the free ice, of course). The youngsters can check out their favorite videos, and you can post all of those pics from your sailing and watersports excursions.
Kids’ Pool
Most kids can’t get enough of the pool. They can splash to their heart’s content.
Kids’ Theme Meals
Even if you have picky eaters, there’s bound to be something to suit their tastes at the resort’s many dining options.
Kitchenettes
I love the option of booking a room with a kitchenette. If you don’t feel like walking to a restaurant or snack bar, you can whip up a small meal right in the room. This is nice even with an all-inclusive package as you never can tell when the kids are going to want a snack.
Laundry
A guest laundry makes it easy to clean up those inevitable spills. It also means you don’t have to pack (quite) as much because you can throw in a load of laundry mid-way through your week. I always stock up on those small packets of liquid detergent. They’re smaller than three ounces (TSA will thank you) and fit right in your luggage. The resort store also sells laundry detergent.
Meal Plan
All-inclusive packages allow you to plan your meals around your schedule.
On-Site Dining
Three on-site restaurants, and several snack bars, make meal time easy. After a day of activity, it’s nice to be able to just walk to lunch or dinner. You don’t have to worry about getting the whole gang into a car or shuttle to make your reservation on time.
Refrigerator
Guests rooms at the Royal Sands have refrigerators, which makes it easy to keep drinks on hand. You can also check out the mini market for small snacks.
Museum/Cultural
If you can tear the kids away from the pool and beach, there’s lots of fun stuff for families to do offsite. You can discover local art and culture at the Mexican Folk Art Museum. Another interesting site is the Museo Maya de Cancun, which has artifacts discovered in the region.
Divers will enjoy the many sculptures found beneath the surface at the Cancun Underwater Museum.
The resort’s concierge service can offer suggestions and help you plan your day.
Sailing
Spend the day sailing around the mangroves of nearby Nichupte Lagoon. You can even navigate all by yourself.
Water Sports
Given the location of the Royal Sands, you’ll be able to take part in a variety of water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding and jet skiing.
Game Room
Pay a visit to the Activity Center to plan your day. You can sign out tennis rackets, beach towels, snorkeling gear, golf clubs and more at the Sports Desk. Board games are also available.
For Mom and Dad
Sometimes it’s nice to let the kids do their thing. The Kids Club has all sorts of activities for kids ages four to 12. This is the perfect time for you to relax or enjoy grown-up activities.
Spa
Book a massage or spa treatment.
Bars
Catch some rays and a sip a frosty drink at the poolside bar. Sidelines Sports Bar & Karaoke has pool tables.
Shopping
La Paloma Boutique is a great spot for shopping and unexpected necessities. It’s also a blessing when you have a child who never fails to lose a flip flop. Trust me on that one.
Dining Options
From coffee and snacks to sushi, seafood and traditional Mexican cuisine, the Royal Sands Cancun offers a variety of dining choices for families with adventurous and not-so-adventurous eaters. Stop by the Royal Market for basic groceries and other items.
Room Information
There are two-bedroom master suites, one-bedroom suites and junior suites with ocean views, terraces or balconies. One of the great things about the Royal Sands is that it offers suites for larger families of five and up. The junior suite is perfect for a family with one child.
Related: Top All Inclusive Cancun Resorts
Wheelchair Accessibility
The Royal Sands is wheelchair accessible.
Booking.comCustomer Reviews
I’ve sifted through the web to find actual reviews from actual guests. Here are a few reviews I found.
Alternatives
Looking for some alternative choices for your Cancun vacation? Choices are always good. Check out some of these Cancun resorts for comparison.
Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa
The Grand Palladium is for those who enjoy the grandness and entertainment options of a luxury resort. Located further north on the peninsula, it’s closer to Isla Mujeres, which is convenient if you enjoy day trips and boat excursions to see the lighthouse and Mayan ruins.
Luxury amenities include swim-up room access, private lounges, gourmet dining and rooftop cocktails.
- More upscale and luxury-minded than the Royal Sands
- Closer to Isla Mujeres for day trips and boat excursions
- Live music and entertainment
Check out the Grand Palladium to learn more.
GR Caribe
If your crew enjoys snorkeling and watersports over pool time, consider the GR Caribe. Located further south on the peninsula, it’s closer to the coral reefs and gorgeous waters of Punta Nizuc.
- Closer to the coral reef of Punta Nizuc
- Two restaurants, a café, a bar and poolside snacks
- Private marina with non-motorized water sports
Check out the GR Caribe to learn more.
The Royal Cancun
From the same Royal family, the Royal Cancun offers the same features and amenities as its sister property. It’s located closer to the mainland, which is nice if you want to get away from the resort and explore the region.
- Closer to the mainland than the Royal Sands
- Same all-Inclusive packages
- No junior suite
Check out the Royal Cancun to learn more.
Conclusion
The company who owns Royal Resorts has won awards for excellence in hospitality, sustainability and cuisine. With on-site dining, beachfront access and spacious rooms, the Royal Sands Cancun gets plenty of votes for an all-inclusive family retreat within Cancun’s Hotel Zone.
Though the Royal Sands doesn’t have live entertainment, the Hotel Zone has been compared to somewhat of an Americanized “Vegas-style” scene. If you’re seeking traditional Mexican culture, you may not be happy with this choice.
Additionally, you’ll need transportation to get to sites and attractions in downtown Cancun and other inland areas. Then there’s that pesky timeshare issue.
If you’re a fan of lounging by the pool, taking in some beachfront watersports and relaxing with the family, then you’ve found the right place.
Click here to check out the Royal Sands resort for yourself.
