I'm writing this review very belatedly, but I'm sure my comments still apply. My wife and I spent a week at the Royal for our honeymoon, and couldn't have been happier with our experience. No resort is perfect, but the Royal did a great job in making our stay special.

Check-in was fairly easy after a short wait in line. We reserved our specific room online prior to our flight, which is a convenient and easy way to do it. You can choose your room on an interactive map on the Royal's web site, so you know exactly what you're getting when you arrive. We booked an oceanfront junior suite for the week.

Our room was spacious and clean, with comfortable king-size bed and a whirlpool tub. We only used the tub once as it was kind of a hassle to fill it, but it had a little window nearby so you could lounge and look at the stars. The bathroom was small, but large enough for the two of us. A feature we enjoyed was the stereo system with pre-loaded iPod (available from the concierge at no charge). It had a good variety of music, and a LOT of Tom Jones.....haha. My wife loved the hammock on the balcony, and the view of the ocean was spectacular. Expect room service to take about an hour.

Staff was very friendly and helpful, though their honeymoon treat for us turned into a small disaster. When we were out, the staff placed a small cake in our room. By the time we got back, though, tiny ants were all over the area where the cake lay. We called the front desk, and later returned to the smell of bug spray, and a can of Raid left on the dresser. We took it in stride as I played Mr. Exterminator and sprayed all the possible entrances. We never had a problem with ants again, and the smell of the spray quickly faded.

The beach was pretty, always beach chairs avaliable, if not the beach beds. It is a little rocky toward the South near the pier, but if you move a little bit north, it's much more swimable. The service of the beach waiters was pretty spotty. I often just walked up to the bar to get us drinks.

The pool area got very busy during the day, so go out early to get chairs. Pool bar was great, though the drinks were never all that strong. We didn't participate in activities, though the staff worked hard and people seemed to have fun. We met some very nice people around the resort, and most patrons seemed respectful and relaxed. Of course, the group of people from New Jersey were the loudest ones, but not too annoying :)

As far as all-inclusives go, I'd have to say that the food was pretty good. Buffet always had decent food to grab on the run, and the sit-down restaurants generally did not require reservations. I enjoyed the Asian restaurant the most as the food was good Japanese steakhouse fare (the sushi was just OK) and the ambiance was the best. Pelicanos was good for lunch, and the Chef's Plate was excellent on the night we went. My wife even ate the grouper, and she doesn't even like fish! We tried the Mexican restaurant at the resort next door, but it was pretty disappointing. Overall, though, we both enjoyed the food well enough.

The entertainment at the resort was nothing special, but we had a great time shopping on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen. Just make sure you go South from the Royal, where most of the action is. The street has designer boutiques situated next to local trinket stands, so it's an interesting contrast. It's an exciting vibe, though, and there's lots of interesting items to browse. Never take the first price!!!

Overall, we would definitely return to the Royal. Our speedboat and snorkeling excursion we booked in the hotel was a lot of fun, even though it was the only cloudy day of our week in Mexico. The staff is friendly and helpful, and very deserving of the tips you can spare. It's Mexico, so expect a few annoyances (like the ants near our room or the stray cats in Pelicanos), but keep an open mind and enjoy the beauty. Remember...you're there to relax, so don't get stressed out by the small stuff. Have fun!