Guest reviews for Cancun Hotels: El Dorado Royale & Spa Riviera Maya

Guest Reviews: 17 comments found for this hotel: 17 :: 0

We stayed at the El Dorado Royale in Dec of 2005. It was a very nice hotel with great service. I agree with another visitor that the Mexican food was not the best, nor was the Oriental. The Italian and Jo JO's was excellent. The drinks were excellent too. Many of the bars and pools were not open due to the hurricane, but there still was plenty to do. Entertainment was ok but could have been better. If you are short, avoid this hotel, everything is made for tall people, the tubs and beds are very high and difficult to get into. The beach was rocky which was disappointing. I had a great time but doubt I would return.
Sue Woo, e-mail withheld, 2006-02-23

Very nice facilities at El Dorado Royale. We stayed at the Casita and loved it. I DO NOT recommend you purchase the Exotic Travel Plan, we somehow got swayed over to it and ended up with a timeshare but no free weeks, only 30% discount. I'm still very upset about this bad investment we made.
Norma, normagarciasalas@jacobs.com, 2005-08-23

Thank you for courtesies extended. Nothing but wonderful, relaxful, excellent food, accomodations and the most caring people. Julio and Daero at the Casita Suites were unusually great and very personable. Cannot say anything but good things for them. Can't wait to get back soon to El Dorado Royale. Many thanks.
Shirley Nuss, SNuss@amstate.com, 2005-04-20

We visited El Dorado Royal in April for our anniversary. Our first time on vacation. I have read many bad reviews but until you actually bite the bullet and experience it yourself, you will be very happy you came. I ran into many people on their 3rd and 4th visits as well as many recommendations by travel agents. I'm glad that I took the time to search for a hotel that accomadated adults and the service was excellent. The setting is like a "Corona Commercial". I came home with a snapshot of the lounge chairs under the palapas as I took the shot from one of the palapas beds by the casitas and when I developed it someone had asked if it was a postcard. This resort is recommended to all. We are making reservs to go back next year, might even look into timeshare.
Marea, e-mail withheld, 2005-04-19

El Dorado Royale is absolutely amazing!!! Cannot wait to go back. Excellent accommodations. Beautiful beach. Very pleasant staff. Gorgeous pools, landscaping, scenery...and the food was pretty good. Never felt over populated or crowded (great for couples). Close to several attractions (ruins, water / echo parks). Paradise.
Laura, e-mail withheld, 2004-12-02

I went to El Dorado Royale on my honeymoon in Sept 2004, we found it to be a wonderful hotel, the staff are excellent and the food outstanding. The rooms were large and spacious and the Jacuzzi was fantastic. Our particular places to eat were the Italian and Cocotel restaurants and the Martini Lounge for drinking. We got really friendly with Pamela in the cocotel restaurant, Teresa in the Martini lounge and then of course there was Arturo in the swing bar and Alfredo in JoJo's by the beach, all these members of staff made us feel very welcome and special every time we saw them. Bedding and towels are changed daily as well as your room being cleaned out daily, for the price we paid we could not get service in America for that amount. Rating out of 10 is 20 Excellent.
Tracy Curtis, tracy.curtis@pinnacle.co.uk, 2004-10-08

We visited El Dorado Royale from Apr. 11-18. Many reviews were negative, but let me tell you this resort was truly a 5 star. The food (5 course meals including lobster and steak), service (24 hr room service with quick delivery), pools/beach/grounds (extremely clean) were all excellent. Take advantage of the bikes and tour the beautiful resort. Don't worry about the reservations, the first day we made reservations for the next four nights. There was a great variety of food with lots of choices at each restaurant. Our room was beautiful just as stunning as the rebuilt lobby. We stayed in an Oceanfront view and it was remarkable. The indoor Jacuzzi, and hammock added a special touch. A lot of people didn't know that there's a pool table in the Martini bar, it's hidden just ask. Take advantage of the snorkeling especially by the pier, I haven't seen so many fish in one location. To ensure you get one of the beautiful huts on the beach, wake up early and place your towels to reserve it. Don't worry about the rocks in the ocean there are many areas, which are free of rocks...don't bother with the rock shoes as stated in many other reviews. The free shuttle bus service to Playa del Carmen, and Cancun is an excellent idea if you want to explore during the day (between lunch and dinner so you can still eat at the resort without spending more money). We also visited the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza, which I highly recommend if you are into sightseeing. Climbing the ruins was an experience in itself however, this trip does take a whole day, but you are back for dinner. We will definitely being going back in the near future.
Alan, e-mail withheld, 2004-05-04

On July 2003 my husband and I went with another couple to El Dorado Royale. I loved it!!! The service was excellent very friendly staff. We plan to go back sometime this year.
Lourdes, e-mail withheld, 2004-04-15

My wife took me to El Dorado Royale for my 40th birthday in January '04. The place was great! We upgraded to a casita on the first floor with a patio that opened onto one of the many smaller pools (complete with your own bartender). The room had a fantastic King sized bed with mosquito netting, a large Jacuzzi, and outdoor shower, plus a large indoor shower/tub with another Jacuzzi. The service was excellent (bring a wad of $1 bills) the food was fabulous and the place was completely immaculate. There are about 5 pools each a little bit different - the Main pool is where the action is - their is a pool in the gardens that serves champagne all day (whish we found this one earlier) and is very quiet, each of the casita pools has it's own bar and can be more of a private setting. Along the beach there are several thatch huts that you can "claim" for reading, relaxing or sleeping. Water sports include kayaking and snorkeling but the water isn't really appropriate for anything else due to the waves. Make sure you go to the spa and get a full body message from Leticia - she has very strong hands. We'll definitely go again. Make sure you don't confuse the "Royale" with the El Dorado Resort - these are two totally different resorts.
Scotty, steast@bellsouth.net, 2004-03-24

Just returned Feb 1, 2004 with a group of six, and we all had a marvelous time at the El Dorado Royale. Great food, good drinks, nice beach, great rooms. People have to be a bit careful where their rooms are located because the north side row of rooms about halfway to the ocean are overpowered at times with a sewer/swamp smell that is quite bad. We resided in the 1100 block of rooms and had a wonderful stay. Plan on going back again.
Dave, wnlass@charter.net, 2004-03-03

One of the best vacations I have ever taken. Room was nice and service was great at the El Dorado Royale.
Ronnie, e-mail withheld, 2004-01-01

Me and my husband had spent 1 week iat the El Dorado Royale, a wonderful, quiet, relaxing place. The beach is beautiful, however there are wave breakers in the water, which make the view less enjoyable. The food was most of the time very tasteful especially in the oriental restaurant. Italian restaurant could have been more original and in the whole resort there was no proper coffee (cappuccino, espresso, etc) only American long coffee. Good coffee is essential for European tourists. The evening entertainment was very boring; every evening the same band was playing the same songs. We found it very old-fashioned. Even though the resort targets young couples, the daily entertainment such like painting did not excite us too much. We thought animators could have had organized more sport entertainments. The best thing is to take a diving course, which is very well organized.
Kri, kvattay@hotmail.com, 2003-09-10

What a great hotel!!! Unlike other hotels in the area that have a small beach, the El Dorado Royale stretches for about half a mile on beautiful white sand and clear water. The hotel does not feel like it is crowded with people. There are seven pools with swim up bars and most of them are just a couple of steps from the water. The food and service were mostly OK and the same goes for the evening entrainment. We spent seven days over there in May 2003 and had a wonderful relaxing time. TIP: Get aqua shoes and snorkeling gear. Some parts of the beach are a little rocky but that is where you will be able to see most of the fish.
Shai & Lucy, e-mail withheld, 2003-06-02

Absolutely out of this world. Would go back in a heartbeat to El Dorado Royale. Friendly, accommodating staff. Casitas are huge with double sinks, outdoor shower - you have to see it to believe it! Cant wait to go back.
Jen, e-mail withheld, 2003-05-08

El Dorado Royale is a great place to stay!!! Very relaxing and the staff was very courteous. The pictures on the internet do not do justice to the resort! I plan on returning as often as possible.
Neil Meints, e-mail withheld, 2003-03-18

El Dorado Royale is a nice hotel. I was excited to eat at the Mexican restaurant but after the meal I was not excited anymore. I guess I am use to the American version of Mexican food or at least the Mexican food in Salt Lake City, Utah. But the Italian restaurant was great. So my joke is...those Mexicans sure know how to make good Italian food but they dont know anything about Mexican food.
Mat Carter, Mattc@pcski.com, 2003-02-09

I cant imagine a more perfect honeymoon. We fell in love with the El Dorado Royale... beautiful stretches of beach, and the genuine warmth of the staff. Meals were delicious. Rooms, exquisite. I do hope that we will get to return one day!
Molly DeKruif, mollydekruif@pknet.org, 2002-08-07

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