The Royal Cancun All Suites Resorts

As its name suggests, The Royal Cancun has only suites, all of which have two bedrooms and sleep five or six guests. It also offers plenty of amenities for children and, as such, primarily attracts vacationing families looking for a beachfront getaway where everything they could dream of doing is available on the premises. As such, couples may find the resort feels a bit too saturated with kiddos. Still, the overall vibe is welcoming, and beautifully landscaped grounds are a standout with red-stone walkways and lots of tropical trees and shrubbery. Rooms and common facilities are spread out among a series of connected whitewashed Mission-style structures with terra-cotta-tiled roofs, giving the large beachfront property an elegant and quintessentially Mexican look. 

The Royal Cancun is located along the water in Cancun's Hotel Zone, a 25-minute drive from the airport and just over 20 minutes from the city center. It is a great spot for visitors that want to be in the center of it all, close to restaurants and nightlife as well as shops at La Isla -- a modern shopping center that's a 15-minute drive away. It's about a 40-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, which has quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots. Playa del Carmen -- a laid-back but bustling town with great shopping and a well-heeled crowd -- takes about an hour to reach by car, while chilled-out Tulum, best known for its Mayan ruins, is about an hour and 40 minutes away by car. 

The Royal Cancun offers Two-Bedroom Suites with either one or two bathrooms, and either resort or ocean views. Both types have separate living rooms with dining areas plus kitchens and furnished tile-lined terraces or balconies. The smaller one-bathroom units measure around 867 square feet (264 square meters), while the larger units are spread over two floors, with about 866 square feet (264 square meters) on the ground floors plus an additional 398 square feet (121 square meters) upstairs. All units have similar decor consisting of neutral and earthy hues throughout, including light-beige floors, lots of medium-to-dark wooden furniture, and orange accents on drapes and throw cushions. Large still-life oil paintings add color and vibrancy in the living areas. 

Kitchens are functional, if not particularly sleek, with ovens, electric stoves, microwaves, and huge fridges. Crockery, plates, and cutlery are provided. Amenities include flat-screen TVs in the bedrooms and living rooms, safes, and DVD players. Living rooms come equipped with Murphy beds and cribs are available on request. Bathrooms are large, with shower/tub combos and separate vanity areas equipped with magnifying mirrors and hairdryers. Organic toiletries by local brand Yucatan Herbal are provided. Housekeeping comes daily, which isn't always the case with condo-style lodgings in the area.

The Royal Cancun offers a huge selection of amenities, the most notable being its gorgeous white-sand beach, where there are plenty of shaded lounge chairs along with a large dock area and generally calm water for swimming in the lagoon. The resort also offers two large pools: a main pool with a palapa-shaded swim-up bar and a second smaller pool where group activities such as water aerobics are held. A small splash pool for kids is available, as are a supervised kids' club, a small outdoor playground, and plenty of activities, plus babysitting is available on request. Guests can also borrow snorkeling and golfing gear, bicycles, stand-up paddleboards, and even sailboats. Non-motorized sports and other activities, plus use of the kids' club, Wi-Fi, and tips are all included in the Refine All-Inclusive package. 

The Villa Spa offers facials as well as massages, with the option of indoor or outdoor treatment rooms. A large fitness center has all sorts of weight-training and cardio equipment plus three large outdoor tennis courts, one of which can double as a basketball half court. There's also a game room with table tennis and all sorts of daily activities, including arts and crafts, beach volleyball, and yoga. The resort also has a large supermarket with all sorts of supplies for self-catering guests as well as a smaller boutique selling beachwear and jewelry. 

Restaurants include Captain's Cove, a seafood and steak eatery with a bar next door. Hacienda Sisal serves traditional Mexican food and has folk music performances on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For something a bit more sophisticated, El Conquistador is the resort's main fine-dining option, with seafood, steak, and European fare. Room service is also available. Note that past guests have complained that the food here is not up to spec.