Hospitality, kids’ laughter, beach days, and the small moments that made it special
1. Arrival in Cancun & First
Impressions
Our journey started in Toronto Pearson,
flying with Flair Airlines. We reached the airport early enough to spend
some relaxed time at the Plaza Lounge, which turned out to be a nice way
to begin the trip. Good food, calmer surroundings, and one last pause before
vacation mode truly kicked in.
Our flight departed from Gate 39 around 3 PM.
Like most trips, coffee was non-negotiable, so a quick stop at Starbucks
happened before boarding.
We had paid a little extra for the first-row
seats, and that made a noticeable difference in comfort, especially when
traveling as a family. One thing to know about Flair, though—they don’t serve anything
for free on board, not even water. So come prepared.
The most stressful part, honestly, was the personal
item sizing. Flair is very strict about fitting your bag into the
measurement box at the gate. It took a bit of rearranging, but somehow, we
managed to fit everything in and move on.
Once airborne, the flight itself was smooth and
comfortable—and the excitement of Cancun ahead made everything else fade
quickly.
2. Getting There: Airport to
Resort Transfer
We landed in Cancun around 8 PM, and this
arrival felt extra special. It was my wife’s first time traveling
internationally as a Canadian citizen, making this our first full “Canadian
family” trip together.
Immigration was straightforward and efficient.
After clearing formalities, we waited for our checked-in luggage, which took a
little time but was fairly standard.
Airport transfers are not included in the
resort package, so we arranged ours separately through Nexus Travels,
Royalton’s partner organization for local transfers. We booked a private
transfer at a reasonable price, and the experience was smooth and well
organized.
The drive to the resort was calm and
comfortable—and the moment we stepped out into the warm Cancun air, it finally
felt like vacation had begun.
3. What Hospitality Really Means
at Royalton
From the moment we arrived at Royalton Cancun,
it became clear that hospitality here isn’t just a word—it’s a practice.
Check-in was smooth, and there was an immediate sense that the staff genuinely
wanted guests to feel comfortable and taken care of.
One thing that turned out to be surprisingly
helpful was the Royalton App. It made it easy to see what activities
were happening across the resort—daytime games, fitness sessions, kids’
activities, evening shows—all in one place. We found ourselves checking it
every morning to loosely plan the day, even though most days eventually
unfolded on their own.
What truly stood out, though, was the attitude of
the staff. Every interaction felt warm and unforced. While we always tipped,
there was never any expectation or subtle hint for it, which we really
appreciated. Whether it was help with drinks, directions, or small requests,
everyone showed the same level of care.
A special thank-you to Gonzalo, who went out
of his way to decorate our room for our engagement—a gesture that meant a lot
to us. Irma and many others took great care of us with drinks and
service throughout the stay. We wish we could remember every name, because
honestly, everyone contributed to making the experience what it was.
4. Why the Kids Club Made This
Trip Special
If there’s one place that truly won our daughter’s
heart, it was the Kids Club. From day one, she was excited to go
back—and that alone says everything.
The activities were thoughtfully planned and kept
the kids genuinely engaged. Bracelet making, coloring, face painting, clay
painting, origami—there was always something creative happening. It wasn’t just
about keeping kids busy; it felt like they were being cared for, listened to,
and encouraged.
Andrea, Yazmin, Tamara, Cindy, Sheila, Fatima, and the rest of the Kids Club
team were exceptional. They took incredible care of our daughter, and over the
days, she formed real bonds with them. As parents, that sense of trust and
peace of mind is priceless.
The hardest moment came at the end. When it was
time to say goodbye, both the Kids Club team and our daughter were genuinely
emotional. They even gave her a small gift—a simple gesture, but one that meant
the world to her and left a lasting impression on us.
5. The Vibe Team: Energy That
Defines the Resort
The Vibe team is the heartbeat of Royalton
Cancun. Their energy shapes the mood of the resort, from morning to late
evening.
Angel, Edson, Carmelino, Lucero, Alex, Dany, and
Jorge brought a
level of enthusiasm that never felt forced—just contagious.
Days were filled with activities like beach
volleyball, aqua aerobics, and water polo, while evenings transformed into
full-fledged events. The Michael Jackson show, White Night Party,
professional singing performances, and dance events were all thoughtfully
executed and genuinely entertaining.
Every night felt different, yet consistently
engaging. You could tell the team put real effort into making each event
special—not just for show, but for the people attending.
Wifey loved dancing so, that was the highlight for
her. We also went to the Night club twice that started 11 PM. Though, it was
not something great to talk about.
One moment that truly stood out was when they chose
our daughter as the guest of honor to light the Royalton Christmas tree.
It was a big moment for her—and honestly, for us too. These are the kinds of
thoughtful gestures that turn a good vacation into a memorable one.
6. Beach, Property &
Everyday Moments
Sometimes, it’s the simple moments that define a
trip.
The white sand beach was beautiful and
impressively clean, clearly well maintained. We spent hours swimming, sipping
mocktails and cocktails, clicking pictures, and just being present.
There was no pressure to constantly “do” something.
Whether it was lounging by the water, walking around the property, or simply
sitting together and talking, the resort made it easy to slow down and enjoy
everyday moments.
7. Food at Royalton: A
Vegetarian Family’s Perspective
Food was the one area where our experience came
with some caveats—specifically from a strict vegetarian (no egg, meat, fish,
or beef) perspective.
Gourmet Marche Buffet
This became our go-to restaurant for most
meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Breakfast usually started with a
fruit platter, followed by juice, yogurt with granola, nuts, seeds, and
dried berries.
- Lunch options we enjoyed
included quinoa, salsa, and chips, along with other vegetarian-friendly
items.
While the chefs and waitstaff were always eager to
help, we felt that structurally, Gourmet Marche could improve. With an
increasing number of vegetarian and vegan travelers, having a separate
vegetarian section instead of mixing vegetarian dishes with meat would be
helpful. This is our family’s personal preference, and we understand that
management may or may not choose to act on it.
Taj – Indian Restaurant
As a family with Indian tastes, we had mixed
feelings here.
All the starters—samosa, aloo tikki, onion
pakora, etc.—were good, though very small in portion size. The naans
were memorable for being possibly the world’s smallest 😄. Dishes like aloo jeera
and biryani were good overall.
The food quality was fine, but the ambience felt
a bit dull. We felt the restaurant could benefit from a makeover that
reflects the vibrancy and colors of India, which many patrons might expect.
Agave – Mexican Restaurant
We tried Agave once, but the food wasn’t really
suited to our palate, so we didn’t return.
Coffee Shop
A definite highlight—the coffee shop served
excellent coffees and ice creams, and we found ourselves stopping by often.
8. Costs, Inclusions &
Practical Observations
Royalton’s all-inclusive package covers
almost everything, with the exception of spa services and excursions. However,
anything not included is priced in USD, which can feel a bit surprising.
A few examples:
- Souvenir
magnets cost around USD $9 per piece
- Professional
photos can cost USD $20 per photo
Between the pricing and currency, there were
moments when it felt like being in the USA—without actually being there.
9. Language, Culture & Small
Joys
Most of our conversations with staff were in
English. That said, we genuinely enjoyed picking up Spanish during the trip.
The staff were more than happy to teach us whenever we showed interest.
Even after returning home, we’re still using
phrases like:
Hola, Buenos dÃas, Buenas tardes, Buenas noches,
Cómo estás, Muy bien gracias, Por favor, Gracias, Muchas gracias, De nada,
Disculpa, Perdón, Poquito, Adiós—and many more.
The funniest part? Once we started speaking
Spanish, responses often came back in Spanish too—which we couldn’t fully
understand—so we had to switch back to English 😊.
Next time, we’ll definitely practice more in advance. It really helps break the
ice and makes people smile.
10. Final Thoughts: Why This
Trip Will Stay With Us
Royalton Cancun delivered an amazing family
vacation. What truly made the difference were the people—especially the Kids
Club team and the Vibe team—who brought warmth, energy, and genuine
care into every day of our stay.
We left feeling grateful, relaxed, and already
nostalgic.
We would absolutely recommend Royalton Cancun to
families, especially those traveling with kids.
