Being in the industry for nearly 12 years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit many different islands and resorts throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. However, it didn’t take much time for me to pick my favorite – the Lomas Resorts! This brand has both adults-only resorts (El Dorado) and family-friendly properties (Generations & Nickelodeon).
I am lucky enough to get to stay at one of the Lomas resorts at least once a year and am NEVER disappointed… along with NEVER wanting to leave! These resorts are also considered “gourmet inclusive” instead of just “all-inclusive”. This means they take a lot of pride in their food, and I can tell you, that everything I’ve ever eaten here has been OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD delicious! Not to mention, the service is IMPECCABLE! The staff truly cares about your experience and making it one to last a lifetime – I find myself rarely opening a door for myself when visiting one of these properties.
Of them all, my heart remains a part of El Dorado Royale/Casitas Royale! The El Dorado Royale/Casitas Royale was the very first resort I visited as a travel advisor, which also happened to be on my very first trip out of the country. Turns out, this property would be where I married my hubby six years later in August of 2016! (And a few years later we took our first trip as a family of three with our son at the neighboring, family-friendly Generations property!)
El Dorado Royale/Casitas Royale is in the Riviera Maya, just a short 20-minute ride from the Cancun Airport, making it close enough to be able to experience the hustle and bustle of Cancun, yet far enough to feel like you are in a secluded, Mexican paradise! On property, guests will find world-class restaurants, an array of bars, multiple pools, two fitness centers and even two full-service spas!
I feel nothing short of spoiled when I stay here and I make sure to recommend this property to anyone looking for a relaxing, romantic Mexican vacation!
Want to know more? Here are our Destination Wedding Experts El Dorado Royale Top 5 Need-to-Know Tips for your next visit!
1. Still Hungry? Order More!
There has never been a restaurant I did not like at this resort! And with 14 different dining options, your taste buds will never get bored. You’ll be able to tickle your palate with cuisines from Italian to Mexican, American to Asian, and Caribbean to International. Most of these restaurants are a la carte, but there are a few food displays (buffets) on site as well.
One thing to remember - some of the a la carte restaurants do serve smaller portions, but don’t forget that you are at an all-inclusive resort! Order a second time… or take advantage of the complimentary 24-hour room service that is available to you! (They have amazing guacamole!!) Your mini bar is also complimentary, so enjoy it, as it is restocked daily.
The dress code on property is Resort Casual for breakfast & lunch and Resort Elegant for dinner. Woman can essentially wear whatever they would like in the restaurants (just no swimsuits). For men, t-shirts are required for breakfast, and a collared shirt (polo or button up) and closed toe shoes for dinner. Reservations are not required but you can make them if you would like.
2. Can I drink the water?
The resort has an incredible filtration system, so you really don’t need to worry about the water. While I wouldn’t put my head under the faucet and drink from there, I’ve used the faucet water to wet my toothbrush and rinse my mouth out and have never had any issues, so you don’t have to worry about that. You also don’t have to worry about the water they use to rinse the food or the ice cubes you’ll find floating in your margarita (if you ordered it on the rocks, that is!). In your room will always be between 6-10 bottles of water at one time, so you’ll never run out of it! Stay hydrated, folks!
3. Daily & Night Entertainment
One of the items you will receive upon check in will be an activity sheet. You can also find this on your in-room flat screen TV! These are all FREE activities for you to do, so I HIGHLY recommend you take advantage of them! There are activities such as kayaking tours, snorkeling, touring the greenhouse, cooking demonstrations, dance lessons, coconut painting, trivia games, bingo, bicycles to use, tequila tastings, and more! And at night, you’ll be able to enjoy live music from local musicians, work up a sweat by dancing the night away to heart-pumping DJ’s, be entertained by fire dancers, and enjoy nightly theme parties (like casino nights!), just to name a few! You also have full use of the fitness center at no extra cost, so you can burn off a few of those calories you are sure to eat (and drink) up!
4. Looking for something extra special?
While the resort is all inclusive, there are some things that do cost additional, such as: the gift shop, laundry service, the Starbucks coffee shop, & some telephone and fax services. You can also make your trip extra special with some unique add-ons like a private dinner on the beach, tennis lessons, beauty salon services, a couples massage next to the ocean, a wine pairing at a Culinary Theatre and tours/excursions. Spa treatments and tours/excursions can be purchased ahead of time, or you can do this upon arrival.
5. Immerse yourself in the culture!
The resort offers a complimentary shuttle into Cancun and Playa del Carmen where you can go shopping, eat some local cuisine, have a drink at a bar, or go dancing at night! Cancun is a 35-minute ride, while Playa del Carmen is a quicker 20-minute ride from the hotel. Reservations are required and you can make these at the front desk.
By Emily Bertsch, Office Manager at VIP Vacations
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