Royalton Riviera Cancun, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort & Casino

We spent 7 days at the Royalton and got 5 reservations for à la carte dining. We ate at Taj, Caribbean, zen, zen tapinaki, and Hunters, and every dinner was really good with great service. Armando and Jerardi at zen were so attentive and made that dinner amazing. There was plenty to do between time at the beach and pool. Daytime activities included yoga, volleyball, bingo, beach stretching, and Guacamole classes. The entertainment team kept people having fun, and the evening shows were entertaining too. I loved the silent disco night.

We only stayed a short time, but it was great. The hotel is beautiful, with friendly, helpful staff, lots of food choices, and plenty of activities. It's also very relaxing. Sargassum had started to appear, and the hotel was doing the best it could to keep it away from the shore. The beach staff were amazing. César, Ruben, and Jose took great care of us. We stayed in the hideaway part of the resort and hope to visit again soon.

At the price we paid, $3500USD for a Diamond Club Presidential Suite, I'd happily return. At full price, I don't think I would. This review is based on what I think was a somewhat lower-than-usual rate, and at today's rates I might take off a star. The smooth Diamond Club check-in and checkout took under 25 minutes while we sat in a comfortable lounge. The architecture and landscaping are incredible, with lots of places to walk or sit and watch the sunrise. The resort is sprawling and didn't feel crowded, even at full capacity. Pools were often nearly empty and bar lines short. It was very clean, from the rooms and public bathrooms to the common areas, and every staff member was friendly and helpful. The buffet was varied day to day and much better than I'd expect. The gym was better than many commercial gyms I've been to. Our presidential suite was huge, and the beds, sheets, and pillows were very comfortable. There were some problems. À la carte food was inconsistent, with about 30% of dishes great and 70% disappointing or bland. Mexican dishes were especially good, while American-style beef was quite poor. There was no lunch until noon and no dinner until 6, which was tough with a toddler. The app had wrong restaurant opening and closing times, and staff said it had been that way for quite a while. Room maintenance was poor: missing wall tiles, peeling roof, dented fridge, loose sinks, and other minor issues. The tap water had an odd sulfur smell. I think food reviews vary depending on what cuisine people prefer.

The sushi was sooooo good. The pools were clean and a comfortable temperature, and there were lots of things to do during the day. We tried water volleyball, a guacamole class, sushi-making, origami, a foam party, a fire dance show, pool blackjack, and hydrotherapy/massage. We stayed 6 days in the Hideaway portion. The service staff were excellent, especially Joerge, Francisco, Rodrigo, Rubi, Miguel, and Ezequiel. They made the place feel warm and inviting. Food was about average overall, with nothing spoiled or bad. Room service could take up to 90 minutes during busy hours. Room 5/5. Service 4/5. Food 3/5. Facilities 4/5. Vibe team 5/5. Butler service 3/5.