Fourteenth trip to Royal Sands Date Of Visit - Feb 02, 2013 Date Of Review - Mar 09, 2013 This was our fourteenth consecutive trip to the Royal Sands. We stayed for three weeks this year for the first time. Each week we take a different couple with us to share the villa. Plenty of room for four adults to be very comfortable and private. I would only recommend using the Murphy beds for children. Restaurants in Cancun are fabulous with lots of choices. I would not recommend doing a trade with II because one then is required to do the all-inclusive. Better to rent directly from an owner so one has a choice. With the bus service, resort shuttle service and readily available cabs getting around is so easy and makes for a much more enjoyable vacation than staying on property for all ones meals. And it is so nice to eat breakfast on the balcony instead of in a restaurant. Switching villas this year on Saturdays took awhile and was more cumbersome than it has been in the past. It was another great trip to the Royal Sands. Wish we were still there. boutelle2 - owner 1

This Place Is A Jewel Date Of Visit - Sep 08, 2012 Date Of Review - Jan 18, 2013 This is my second 7 ni stay at the Sands and it is still a wonderful and beautiful resort, truly Gold Crown. Every unit has an awesome view of both the ocean and very large, pretty pool. Our spacious 2BR 2Bath (marble vanities) villa included a huge nicely furnished balcony. Furniture was in new condition including three flat screen tv's. The kitchen was very clean, like new with adequate utensils. We loved the daily maid service keeping everything so spotless and in perfect order. No worrying about walking barefoot at the Sands because they scrub the pool deck chairs and all around this place every day. They are amazing! We particularly enjoyed morning water aerobics, but there is much more to do. The beautiful poolside restaurant served great food at fair prices.The in house grocery store is well stocked and includes fresh veggies. We purchased all our groceries there. The fabulous Spa is not to miss and offers reasonable fees. We loved the wonderful dinner show and great talent at the Hacienda Sisal restaurant just across the parking lot! This resort is very professionally operated and the friendly staff are well trained to assist guests. The city bus stops right out front and carries you all over the city for less than a dollar, but truly, everything we needed was right on the resort. Spa, swimming, beautiful beach, sunsets to die for, sailing, nightly activities and more are provided. We booked our round trip airport transportation through Royal's website at a bargain price. They sent help to our unit door at 5am to assist with our luggage for departure. We truly wanted to stay another week and it was sad to leave. Since November 2012 this resort has become mandatory all inclusive, so I doubt I will ever return. My concept of time sharing is to save by eating in as much as possible. npkw 2

Miami Beach South - Very close to the action Date Of Visit - Dec 15, 2012 Date Of Review - Dec 28, 2012 We had two villas for week 50. The II exchange showed oceanfront and I got that unit even after II and Royal Resorts said unit assigned at check-in. I rented Ocean-front for my uncle to join us. I chose the Sands because it is adjacent to Kikulkan Mall and 5 blocks from La Isla Mall. This gave us access to many restaurants and shops. The city bus stop is just in font of the resort and it is very cobvenient to go up and down the hotel zone for 8.5 pesos (70 cents) The units are two bedroom two bath with lock-off option, Full kitchen with granite counters and high end appliances. The on-site market is good enough for basics in the villa. They have a deluxe coffee bar with gelato. The lobby gift shop and souvenier are the nicest of the Royal Resorts. The beachfront balcony is WOW. The ground floor units are 1/2 floor above the sand for privacy and have 30 foot front grass lawns which the little kids love. The welcome party is a cruise on the lagoon Sunday sunset and was just ok as a party, cruise was nice...get to the front of the crowd for good sets on top outdoor deck. They have kid's pottery painting, exercise claa, water arobics. Happy hour for 1/2 price drinks 3-5:30...the large Pina Colada for $5 or $3.60 virgin. Thr pool area is beautiful and has an open view out to the light blue Caribbean Sea. White soft sand beach very pleasant, a little hard to walk my mile in the morning. We did a private tour of Mayan Ruins at Ek Balam and Coba with lunch in Viodalid. Last year we did four days of Mayan ruins with overnights in Merida, Uxmal, and Chichin Itza. I did not likee the crowds and flea market at Chichen Itza The new Mayan Museum by the Royal Mayan/Islander is very good The Royals are great family resorts with very friendly staff and are impecably clean. All the giant resorts have clean and and safe water. We chose the Royal Sands for convenience to shopping and clubs for my college age daughter. I think this is a great location and a fantastic resort. Tired of cold rainy days in Orlando at Christmas, Go South. It was 80 degrees every day. Only complaint...new all inclusive policy for II exchanges. The restaurants are not what I want for every meal. Recommend you rent from an owner on TUG or Redweek and AI is optional. We spent week 51 at Royal Haciendas and can help with a comparison 4reliefnow 3

Beautiful Paradise! Date Of Visit - Jul 07, 2012 Date Of Review - Jul 11, 2012 The Royal Sands resort offered a picturesque setting of the beach and pool to relax in. The resort was a very pleasant surprise with its cleanliness and superior staff. Upon check-in we were introduced to our “personal concierge” named Jonathon and let me tell you… he was fantastic. He helped with all of our dinner reservations and offered his assistance throughout the week. We felt no pressure to participate in any sales presentations. I loved that we had maid service every day, but Sunday. Overall, this resort offered everything a family needs for any pace. The Thomas More travel agency was conveniently located in the resort and they handled our transportation to and from the airport and our excursions. I found them to be very professional. We headed to Chichen Itza one day and our tour guide was knowledgeable, interesting, and had a great personality. People of all ages will enjoy Xcaret. It has everything including an aquarium, animals, butterfly garden, swimming in the underground rivers through caves, shows, etc. It was a long and rewarding day since we ended the evening with a dinner show of Mayan traditions, but well worth it! The Royal Sands is in a convenient location in the Hotel Zone so there is no need to rent a car. There’s a bus stop directly out front that can take you right up and down the main hotel zone with endless restaurant choices and shopping for less than $1 each ride. We ate at The Veranda’s Restaurant, Hacienda Sistal, La Habichuela, and Captain’s Cove – all very good. My favorite restaurant of the week was Casa Rolandi. I found Cancun to be a bit overpriced but definitely a lovely location. The only feedback I would give the resort is that the décor in the villas needs updating and unfortunately there are no three bedrooms available. However, the service, location, and amenities are fantastic so I highly recommend the Royal Sands. sierra2516 4

Great Resort But Highly Intrusive Sales Efforts Date Of Visit - Mar 17, 2012 Date Of Review - Mar 29, 2012 We would have given this resort a 9 except for two unusually intrusive selling tactics: #1. About an hour after checking in, a man knocks on our door, introduces himself as our “personal concierge” and invites himself into our room. He gives us some information and tries to interest us in signing up for a presentation time. We decline, but every day he runs into us he asks us again. On the days when he doesn’t see us, he calls our room. #2. On Sunday morning we walk out the main door of the resort headed for the sidewalk where you can catch a bus. A woman in a white resort uniform stops us and demands to know where we are going and if we are meeting anyone. She wants to make certain we are not going to a presentation at some other resort! Our exchange only got us a lock-off, so I cannot comment on the larger rooms. The lock-off was fine except it lacked the small sink we have seen in other lock-offs. They give you two drinking glasses and a few dishes but the only option for washing them is the bathroom sink. Yuk. They have daily maid service except Sundays and Mexican holidays. But the maid normally does not do any kitchen work. We at least wanted our drinking glasses cleaned or replaced and after we made a request to housekeeping that was done daily. GOOD THINGS: We arrived at 11:00 in the morning and they got us into a room right away instead of forcing us to wait for 4:00 check-in. They gave us an oceanfront room. Most units are recessed into one of two courtyards overlooking the pool areas and farther back from the beach. The Marketplace was well stocked and some of the prices were actually quite reasonable. The LaVeranda restaurant had good food, great service, and reasonable prices. Two other restaurants associated with the Royal Resorts: Hacienda Sisal and Captain’s Cove, were both excellent choices for dinner. The resort was well designed and well maintained. The staff was friendly but many of them only knew enough English to answer expected questions. The woman who assisted everyone in the laundry room was especially helpful. This was our first trip to Cancun. We still prefer Hawaii in many ways, but this was both closer and less expensive. So we thought it was a good value. atrax 5

Great Choice! Date Of Visit - Feb 04, 2012 Date Of Review - Mar 06, 2012 The 2 bedroom, 2 bath units feature an extensive balcony with beautiful ocean views, plus a smaller balcony off the 2nd bedroom. (The 2nd bedroom can be a lockoff. It has a microwave, coffee maker, small frig, and dishes for 2.) Everything is immaculate and beautifully maintained. Everyone on the staff is friendly and helpful. There is a full schedule of activities for both children & adults. Amenities include the pools (including a lap pool), tennis courts, spa & gym (fees to use these), sailboats, golf discounts, a sports bar, pool bars, restaurants and a delivery service (pizza, roast chicken, salads, desserts, etc.), and a free shuttle service to the other Royal Resorts and their restaurants. You can check out snorkling equipment, tennis racquets & balls, and sailboats for no charge. Even sailing lessons & snorkling lessons are free. There is a charge for renting golf clubs. Of course, the beach is the main attraction -- beautiful & wide, with soft white sand and the ocean in every shade of turquoise. Across the street from the resort is the big lagoon, where the sailboats are. While all the units face the ocean, in Building E there are also lovely places to sit (open to anyone) that overlook the lagoon -- a great spot for watching the sunsets. The 2 on-site restaurants, the Veranda and Hacienda Sisal,are very good. You can take the free shuttle to the other Royals to sample their restaurants. Conquistador in The Mayan is one of the nicest. I was disappointed in Captain's Cove this year. The setting by the water is still wonderful, but the menu is much shorter. Right across the street from The Sands is a new waterfront restaurant, Cenacolo Mar. It's easy to miss the entrance; Casa Rolandi seems to overpower it. Do take a look at it. It's a lovely spot, right by the water, with a very attentive & hslpful staff and good food. They don't have a children's menu, but were very accomodating for our grandchildren. The large mall next to The Sands also has a number of restaurants, including the original Cenacolo. The Sands is a great choice for couples or families, old or young, -- you'll have a great time!. - owner 6

Classy Cancun Date Of Visit - Oct 31, 2011 Date Of Review - Nov 12, 2011 The accommodations were clean and attractive. We had a lovely view of the pool and beach. The small screen TV’s are being replaced for wide screens.. The grounds were beautiful and spotless. You got the impression that if you dropped a piece on paper (not on purpose, of course), walked 2 steps and turned around, it would have been removed. The activity staff was terrific, Michelle had enough enthusiasm for everyone and was adept at organizing games and getting people involved. The staff greeted you everywhere with Ola and soon we were saying it to fellow vacationers. This friendly atmosphere fostered by the staff and fellow vacationers enhanced our experience. Prices were New York prices. The Veranda’s Buffet Breakfast was excellent, other meals were just okay. The Express Take out was pretty good,, but aside from Pizza (tasty) if you had many family members it was definitely pricier than cooking in the room. The best lunches were out on the patio overlooking the beach. The drinks were terrible, so it was a sobering vacation. If you have difficulty getting around, the Royal Sands is very large. The Marketplace shop was adequate for basic foods. A gallon of milk was about $5 (American). This was our first time here so we didn’t know outside sources. TUG II members recommended Walmart and we did go there. The fruits and vegetables were fresh and more flavorful than you get In a supermarket or Farmer’s Markets in NY & Maryland, respectively. The on-premises tour company offered a number of tours, we went to the Pyramids and the guide was excellent. But if you wanted to get out and about on your own there wasn't any information available. We met a couple who had visited Isla Mujeres who took a tour, but said they could have gone on their own if they had known. Marija 7

One of my favorites so far! Date Of Visit - Mar 24, 2011 Date Of Review - Jun 08, 2011 We recently spent a week in unit F5316. This two bed/two bath unit had access to the large extended balconies available to some units on the third floor. We had a wonderful ocean view which also looks out over the pool area. We didn't do much cooking except light breakfasts and snacks, so I can't really comment on the suitability of the kitchen for food preparation. The unit as a whole was very comfortable (especially the beds) and we had plenty of room for four adults. The entire resort is so clean, as is the beach area out front. We enjoyed spending our days relaxing by the pool(s). The swim up bars had some good prices during happy hour (a little expensive during other times). We ate at the poolside restaurant and ordered pizza to our room. All meals on the property were very good. I really liked that every member in our group had their own charge card. It was easy to split up the bill on check-out. The welcome party on Sunday was so much fun!! I've been to some other resorts where the welcome party was really just a sales promotion in disguise. This was an actual party with free drinks and BBQ (for a price). The recreation staff had contests, dancing, and games for all ages. I have to compliment the recreation staff for the excellent job they did all week. Members in our group attended yoga and zumba classes, beach volleyball, and casino night. The staff are so energetic and fun. We took the city bus downtown many nights. It only costs 65 pesos each way and they actually flag you down and offer you a ride when you are walking. The bus stop is not too far away, but after dark the bus drivers always stopped across the street from the Sands for us. People everywhere in Cancun are so friendly and accomodating. We can't wait to go back. RandRseeker 8

BEACH PARADISE WITH AN AMAZING SPA TO BOOT Date Of Visit - May 06, 2011 Date Of Review - Jun 03, 2011 I have to say that this resort has something for everyone. The layout offers views of the pools and the beach from every room except those rooms that are right on the beachfront. The layout of the resort is open and everything is extremely well maintained. No signs of rust, rot or damage anywhere during my stay. The staff is very friendly and they prove that smiles do not cost anything. The resort even had a Mother’s Day celebration for employees which shows ownerships’ devotion to quality and to their employees. The villa was comfortably anointed albeit it looked a little dated by today’s standards. All electronics worked. There were 3 TV’s in the villa, a DVD player in each room and reading material. Having breakfast on the big balcony was a pleasure. The kitchen was well stocked. At night, the grounds were subtly but elegantly lit up providing us with just the escape ambiance that we needed. The restaurants were attractive with good meal choices. The poolside BBQ on Friday was a treat. The pool bar had food and Happy Hour specials. The sports bar was traditional and we even got to see a big Ticket fight for free. The market was nicely stocked and even had a Starbucks knock-off (I forgot the name) inside. You do not need any cash as all items are charged to the villa to each key card-carrying guest. Thomas More Travel provided tours, travel options, shuttles, etc. at reasonable prices. I rented a car so I opted to explore the strip, downtown Cancun, Tulum, Isla Mujeres and Playa on my own. The resort however does provide access to all activities in and around the region. The beach was immaculate and the water was exactly how we want water to be when we travel to beach resort destination. (PRISTINE N WARM !!) We used the spa and the fitness center for several treatments. I must say that the gym was very well equipped for a ‘hotel’ gym. The spa was one of the best that I have ever been in and I highly recommend at least one treatment to anyone who is reading this. You will not be disappointed, it is a wonderful experience and you will feel so rejuvenated that you will think you are a millionaire. We even attended a sales presentation and found the sales staff to be pleasant, not pressure driven, honest and they actually had a printed price sheet as opposed to quoting prices at the top of their head like other timeshare salespeople do. I may buy one in the future but will do more research first. All in all, this is a fantastic resort and I will return to it after I visit some of their other resorts. 9

Fantasic resort and employees BEST BEACH! Date Of Visit - Apr 09, 2011 Date Of Review - Apr 28, 2011 THE BEACH IS THE BEST. THEY HAD IS "PLOWED" EVERY OTHER NIGHT AND PICKED UP ALL DEBRIS AND SEEWEED DAILY- IT IS PRISTINE. EMPLOYEES FANTASTIC AND STAFF. ENJOYED OURSELVES (WITH A 2 YEAR OLD) IMMENSLY! Gabby91899@aol.com - owner 10

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