Cancún Royalton Splash Recap
For the past 15 years or so, I’ve upheld a tradition of an annual trip to Mexico. I try to stay somewhere different each time so I can experience new adventures. On this round, the boyfriend and I headed to Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun. It’s a family-friendly resort with plenty of activities and on-site restaurants. Does it work for a couples getaway, though? We put it to the test.
I always love an open-air lobby in a tropical setting because it sets the mood. This one has a lookout point with a negative edge pool and pitted seating nooks.
The reception area is on the third floor so it allows for a picturesque photo opp with the water, coastline, main stage, and property signage as your backdrop.
Registration was a breeze. We were given our all-inclusive bracelets along with a warning that if we lose/fail to return it, there will be a $110 USD replacement fee. That’s because it not only identifies which parts of the resort you can access, it also acts as your room key. I’m normally not a fan of all-inclusives for a multitude of reasons, but Royalton Splash had enough offerings to balance out my longstanding opinion.
The campus has 12 restaurants and 24/7 room service so we didn’t run in to the usual “Sorry, we only serve breakfast from 7-9am” or “Our dinner reservations are all booked” issues. Nobody wants to be on a schedule on vacation, and their round-the-clock food access allowed us the freedom to not set alarms for every meal. The downside was that most of the food was the same regardless of which eatery we went to, and there were a lot of buffets keeping in line with the all-inclusive standard.
The cool thing about Royalton Splash is how many activities they have available. In addition to the water park with multiple slides and an interactive kiddie pool, there’s a lazy river, bowling, laser tag, trampoline park, nightly dance parties for adults or movie nights for kiddos, tennis courts, etc. There are also the usual suspects like a gym, spa, cigar bar, wine/tequila tasting room, yoga classes, shopping boutiques, etc.
If you have children or an enthusiastic spirit, you can take advantage of most of these activities. Be prepared to answer direct questions about your weight for ride limits. (We learned that the hard way when the max was 300lbs. and we were denied entry. Lol.) Also, there is at least one slide that lands in the deep end (8-12ft.) It was super fun for the mans and me, but I wasn’t asked if I could swim until I was plunging out of the funnel into the water. Thankfully, I can swim and the next attendant working at the launch point the rest of the time did ask before sending us down the chute.
The reason John, my boyfriend, chose this resort is because it had a swim-up bar. I’ve noticed those are getting more hard to find these days— especially at boutique hotels.
Thankfully, Royalton Splash had three, one of which is a premium upgrade. We were able to find seats nearly every time we looked, and the staff was amazing at refreshing our cocktails.
TIP: Most all-inclusives in Mexico will allow you to bring your own cup (Yeti, Slim, Stanley) which come in handy since drinks usually melt within five minutes or you might need a straw. I always tip the bartender to fill it up since the standard serving size is around 8oz. and they are pouring you around 12oz.
On this particular trip, we didn’t leave the resort. I’m not usually a camper, but we had plenty to do this time around. One morning on the beach, we were approached by a vendor we nicknamed “Big Mama Skillets” who was hawking massages. I took the bait and ended up loving it. She reminded of a kind-hearted Ursula from Little Mermaid with her wild hair and loud makeup, and that’s exactly what I need in a deep tissue treatment.
She was strong just as I had hoped for. Look for the Mexican flag planted on the shore next to the white tent to the left of the hotel as you look toward the ocean. They have multiple therapists if she’s not available, and you leave your swimsuit on during the session.
TIP: Use the hotel restroom before you trek to their set-up or you will end up trudging your way back and forth in the sand.
The natural elements serve as a good exfoliant when combined with their aromatherapeutic oils. You can ask to leave it on if your skin needs extra moisture like mine.
Foodwise, we sampled quite a few of their options: Gourmet Marché (breakfast buffet), Hunter Steakhouse, Taj (Indian), Score Sports (bar food), Caffe Lounge (coffee shop), Nibbles (poolside buffet), Chef to Go (poolside food truck), and room service. Nothing was award-winning, but that’s to be expected at an all-inclusive resort where they are cooking for masses of people who all have different flavor palates and dietary restrictions. Surprisingly, my favorite meals were the food truck (because it was cooked to order) and the steak (because of the chimichurri sauce).
Overall, the hotel is ideal for a vacation with kids. There are options for adults as well, but because it’s such a large resort (1000+ rooms), there will be waits, and it caters to children.
One way to optimize your stay is to tip. Gratuity is not required, but we got prime treatment when we thanked the bar/waitstaff monetarily.
The ocean is beautiful at night. Ask a bartender for an extra beer or two as you slide over some cash, then take it to the shoreline. Bring a beach bag or backpack because they don’t have them. The families are already tucked away so you and your partner can enjoy the moonlight in peace as you listen to the waves crash against the beach.
One thing we realized on the final day was that there was an entire wing of the resort that we never visited.
In addition to the gift shops and convenience stores, there’s a cute boutique called El Corazon that’s filled with cultural keepsakes and related souvenirs.
Overall, if you’re planning a getaway for the entire brood or you’re burning through Marriott Bonvoy points, Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun is an acceptable choice. If you’re wanting something more quaint or secluded, though, you might want to keep searching. Micheladas always help too. ¡Salud!
