The Royal Haciendas All Suites Resort & Spa

The kid-friendly Royal Haciendas All Suites Resort & Spa was originally conceived in the mid-aughts as a timeshare property. Since then, it has converted to a partial all-inclusive model, allowing hotel guests to book the unoccupied rooms at all-inclusive rates (wristband required). Most guests stay for three to seven nights, though those from Europe tend to stay up to two weeks. When owners (who are mostly American, Canadian, and Mexican) stay, they can opt to add an all-inclusive package or not. All hotel guests pay all-inclusive rates, which cover food and drinks consumed on-site. But there are a few quirks in the all-inclusive price structure, like the up-charging for certain premium items (like lobster and Champagne), the add-on for tipping, and the requirement that guests sign a receipt for all purchases. The property appeals primarily to families, with its kitchen-equipped condos and activities program for all ages, which covers everything from yoga, bingo, and karaoke to pool basketball and movies on the sundeck.Modeled on a Yucatan hacienda, the hotel consists of marigold-colored, three- and four-story buildings forming two giant horseshoes. The two U-shaped buildings encircle two massive central gardens, each one containing pools designated for kids, for relaxing, and for daytime activities. Fountains, whirlpools, and gazebos with hammocks are scattered around the two lawns and there is more vegetation on the south lawn, but it's important to note that there isn't very much shade in these main outdoor areas and the property feels quite divorced from its natural surroundings. While some Playa del Carmen resorts were built around mangroves and maintain lush vegetation, The Royal Haciendas feels like it paved over its natural habitat. The hotel closes for one week every year to perform renovations and improvements.

The Royal Haciendas Playa del Carmen is set a bit apart from the other resorts in the area. The hotel runs a daytime and early evening shuttle into Playa del Carmen, where some guests say they prefer to shop for groceries, because prices are lower than at the resort's convenience store. The airport is about a 45-minute drive away.

The first thing to understand about Royal Haciendas' rooms is that there are 250 total "villas" (i.e. condos). Each one of these 250 condos has two sections: Section A is the Master Suite, which has a separate living room, a bedroom with a king bed, and a full kitchen. Section B is the Junior Suite, which is more like a traditional hotel room. Both sections have private, ocean-facing balconies; section A balconies are larger and feature outdoor hot tubs. In total, there are 500 units. The 250 condos can be booked as a whole (parties have access to the connecting Junior and Master Suites) or separately.From a decor point of view, all Master and Junior suites are similar. All have earthy tile flooring and oversized beach-condo furniture that looks like it hasn't been swapped out since the property opened. Bedrooms contain wood-and-wicker furniture: beds, closets, armoires-slash-television stands. In the larger suites, living rooms feature neutral-printed sofa beds, large wicker armchairs, and wood-and-rattan entertainment systems with flat-screen TVs and speakers. Murphy beds fold down from armoires on either side of the entertainment system. Section A units (the Master Suites) have full kitchens with granite countertops and new appliances, including toasters, blenders, coffeemakers, microwaves, and full fridges. Section B units (the Junior Suites) don't have full kitchens, but they do have minibar areas connecting foyers and the bedrooms; these have toasters, coffeemakers, microwaves, mini-fridges, and small sinks. Coffee is free in all of the rooms. Because Section A/Master Suite units have outdoor tubs on the balconies, their bathrooms only have walk-in showers (with standard showerheads). The bathrooms in Section B/Junior Suites have separate showers and tubs. Parties occupying both sections of the unit have two showers, an indoor tub, and an outdoor tub. Generic bath products are provided. All rooms have central air-conditioning plus ceiling fans, as well as free Wi-Fi. Some have noted that “ocean view” rooms do not always provide the views promised, and that kitchen supplies run short.

The Royal Haciendas' greatest asset is its stretch of beautiful beach, patrolled by lifeguards during the day. First-come, first-serve fabric loungers are arranged under palapa umbrellas, and there are two special-access palapas for guests with limited mobility (these can be reserved for the length of the stay). Food and drink service is provided on the beach and by the pools. Free kayaks and snorkel equipment are available for exploring the offshore reef, which is one of the biggest on the continent. There is also a PADI desk for those who want to scuba dive, and bike, snorkeling, and kayak tours can be arranged. The hotel has a large system of outdoor pools in both of its two main courtyards, which also have lily-dotted fountains, towel desks, outdoor ping pong, and gazebos strung with colorful hammocks. In both the north and south gardens, there are designated kids' pools, quiet lap pools, two large whirlpools (for a total of four), and larger activity pools next to the sea. By the north lawn's lap pool, there is an indoor game room for teens that provides XBox, Wii, ping-pong, and relief from the sun. The two main activity pools both have swim-up bars and grills (Luna Grill and Sol Grill) serving tacos, burgers, and drinks. Both poolside grills have afternoon happy hours daily.The main restaurant, La Palapa del Sol, is at the very center of the resort's beach. It serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, as well as a la carte options. Nightly dinner themes at the buffet include seafood, barbecue, Caribbean, and Italian. On Mexican and Brazilian nights, dinner is accompanied by a local mariachi band and a live duet, respectively. Los Murales is the resort's one specialty restaurant. (Reservations are a must.) Part of the all-inclusive plan, Los Murales serves lobster, seafood, steaks, and pasta for dinner, and often features live music. Twenty-four-hour room service is also free for all-inclusive guests. The Rotonda Bar near the lobby is the main bar; it features flat-screens beaming sports events and a pool table, as well as live music and karaoke and DJ nights.The kids' club offers supervised activities all day, everyday. Most -- beach soccer, pool games, pinata-decorating -- are free, though a few requiring materials, like cookie-making and backpack-painting, cost a small fee. Night activities also have a small entrance fee. These include pizza movie nights and pajama parties. Teens and adults have their own separate activities programs, which include things like bingo, yoga, pool and beach volleyball, and shuffleboard.The Spa at Royal Haciendas mirrors the rest of the resort with its earth tones and mosaic tile art. Services include a range of body wraps, facials, and massages, including hot stone and Thai. Of the spa's six treatment rooms, four are for couples. The spa has an adjacent salon handling nail services, waxing, hair care, and bridal-party makeup and hair. A special-events terrace overlooking the ocean is a popular venue for weddings. The modest fitness center at Royal Haciendas is equipped with a handful of exercise machines and free weights, but it costs a daily or weekly fee to access. Three tennis courts are free to use, though private classes and clinics cost extra.There is an on-site laundry room for guest use, and car rentals can be arranged in the lobby. Free shuttle service runs between the resort and Playa del Carmen several times a day; reservations are required. A large convenience store sells groceries, alcohol, medicine, sunscreen, and souvenirs. Parking and resort-wide Wi-Fi are both free.