Royalton Riviera Cancun
The Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Mexico is a large, all-inclusive resort situated on the beach amidst tropical flora and fauna. It is a 20-minute drive from Cancun International Airport (CUN map) and a 45-minute drive from downtown Cancun and the Hotel Zone. The Puerto Morelos area where the resort is located is less crowded than the Hotel Zone, but the beaches are not as impressive. The resort is part of the Blue Diamond Resorts Collection and has 840 rooms, opening in 2014.
If you prefer a small and intimate setting for your vacation, the Royalton Hotel Cancun may not be the best choice for you. However, if you are romantic a couple or a single person looking for a peaceful and laid-back vacation, you may want to consider the Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun section, which has 340 adults-only rooms.
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On the other hand, if you do enjoy a wide variety of resort activities such as entertainment, pools, and waterparks, then the Royalton Hotel Cancun is perfect for you. If you are interested in reading Royalton Riviera Cancun reviews and getting tips for planning a family vacation, please continue reading.
Although reservations are not a must, the restaurants tend to have long waits for dinner, which could be positive or negative depending on individual preferences.
Theiera Cancun Resort offers various facilities including a fitness center, a casino, a full-service spa with a hair salon, and 11 pools with swim-up bars. They also have a kiddie splash park and an outdoor theater for evening performances. Additionally, the resort has over 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space that includes a ballroom with a stage and room for 1,000 guests, a chapel, and a terrace available for weddings.
The resort offers two clubs for kids: the Kids Club for ages 4-12 with movies, air hockey tables, and visits from Max and Ruby and Mike the Knight, and the Teen Club with game tables, PlayStation games, and space to relax. Babysitting is available for a fee. Shuttles to and from the airport are available but not free.
The Hideaway section, which is only for adults, includes a pool, one restaurant, and five bars. Additionally, Hideaway guests are allowed to use the amenities at the Royalton Riviera, which is open to families.
The resort provides plenty of amenities for families to enjoy without leaving, such as pools, kids’ clubs, and scheduled activities. However, if they choose to do so, off-site tours and excursions are also an option. Beach activities like kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding are available, but the resort does not offer motorized watersports to protect the nearby coral reef. While the water is calm and shallow for swimming, there may be seaweed present.
At Royalton Riviera Cancun, there are plenty of activities for kids that should allow parents to have some alone time. Parents can enjoy activities such as relaxing by the pool, using the fitness center equipment, or joining a Zumba, yoga, or aqua aerobics class. The Royal Spa offers body treatments, massages, facials, and pedicures/manicures that parents can book. Diamond Club members can even have their butler make spa reservations for them.
At Royalton Riviera Cancun, there are nine restaurants and round-the-clock room service. The food at this all-inclusive resort is exceptional according to guest reviews. Gourmet Marche offers a diverse buffet, while Japanese Zen has a teppanyaki show. The Beach Club Grill, SCORE Sports Bar and Lounge, Gourmet Marche, and Grazie Italian Trattoria are open for both lunch and dinner, and all showcase a Caribbean-style cuisine.
Hunter Steakhouse and Zen are highly praised and favored dining options. Other restaurants are also good choices. The Tex-Mex Armadillo restaurant serves lunch and dinner but is only available to Diamond Club members. You can visit the café for coffee, ice cream, and other desserts. Most restaurants have a dress code for dinner, so remember to bring a few resort casual outfits.
Room service is available 24/7, but most restaurants close at 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. If you need more late-night food options, SCORE Sports Bar is open until 6:00 a.m.
The Royalton Riviera Cancun offers rooms with several amenities, including jetted tubs and either terraces or balconies. The rooms also have USB charging stations, Bluetooth audio devices, stocked minibars, 24-hour concierge service, free Wi-Fi, and luxurious DreamBed mattresses exclusive to Royalton Luxury Resorts. There are different views to choose from, such as mangroves, the ocean, or gardens. Some guests have mentioned a potential odor issue with the mangrove-view rooms.
The Royalton Riviera has three sections for rooms: Resort, Diamond Club, and Hideaway. If you have Diamond Club status, you can enjoy additional perks such as robes and slippers, a better room service menu, and butler service. However, the size of the regular Resort room and the Diamond Club room is similar, and the main distinction is the extra amenities.
For those staying at the adults-only Hideaway section, it is recommended to request Building 3 if you prefer a sunny location. Also, be aware that swim-out rooms may have cold water if they are shaded. Both Royalton Riviera and the adults-only Hideaway section offer ocean view rooms. Keep in mind that guest rooms at Royalton Riviera Cancun are non-smoking, but there are designated smoking areas on balconies, by the pool, and on the beach.
The Luxury Junior Suite is a room that can fit up to five people with either one king-size or two queen-size beds. There is also a sitting area with a pull-out couch. This room is available in a swim-out location.
The Luxury Presidential Suite can hold up to four guests and offers more space and extra amenities. The room has a king-size bed, a kitchenette and a seating area with a double sofa bed. This room is available with an ocean view and a rooftop Jacuzzi.
If you are traveling with a big group or a family that spans multiple generations, you might want to consider the Presidential Two-Bedroom Suite. This suite can hold up to eight people with two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and the other with two queen-size beds. You can choose between a swim-out suite and one with an ocean view.
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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