royal hideaway resort and spa

i'm considering for my honeymoon-any reviews and/or pics?thanks!

Re: royal hideaway resort and spa

I went there on vacation a few years ago. It's AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best tropical vacation to date! The service, the food and the physical resort are out of this world.

Re: royal hideaway resort and spa

We went there for our HM and had an unbelievable time. Link to my review!

Link to searches for the words 'Royal Hideaway' on LIW

Re: royal hideaway resort and spa

I'm going to Royal Hideaway as well!

SOOOO excited!

I'll bump the HM thread for you to look at the pictures.

Re: royal hideaway resort and spa

FI & I went last year for his brithday and it was AWESOME. I also went with a good friend in 2002.

There are some pics in my community album from both trips

My trip advisor review from 2002:

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My good friend and I spent about 10 days at the Royal Hideaway Playacar in early April 2002. The trip was a much needed break from law firm life in a big NYC firm. The trip could not have been more perfect. The check-in was swift and relaxing. After a relaxing, direct flight from Newark, and the drive to the resort from Cancun, we were greeted with champagne and cool towels. We purchased our trip through continental vacations so our airport transfer was included. I do think that the hotel has an in house carrier or a company that they recommend if you require an airport transfer.

We were assigned villa 26, room 2624 on the second floor. They have third floor rooms as well and no elevators but we did not have a need for an elevator. Ladies, that means you can bring as much as you like without worrying about how to get it up and down the stairs. LOL The room was fabulous and spacious enough for two women and all of our clothes & shoes for a 10 day trip. LOL LOL The bathroom was beautiful - marble everywhere. Our luggage was delivered a short time later and we went to make dinner reservations and tour the grounds - which are impeccable.

I cannot recall the name of our concierge, but it was over 2 years ago so I'm sure she would forgive me. However, she helped us make dinner reservations for the entire trip and suggested tours. We were always made to feel special.

The beach was beautiful, and we had no problem finding beach chairs and cabanas. The drink service was great - and the waiters come to your beach chair to take your order. Even at the pool, a waiter comes around frequently with fresh cut fruit. I do not know his name but I do have a photo of him

The staff at Royal Hideaway were all awesome. In fact, everything at Royal Hideaway was wonderful (although the internet connection was a bit sluggish). During our stay, we had dinner at Las Ventanas, Azia, Spices and Palazzo. The food was excellent. Even the breakfast buffet at Spices was fabulous. It was a real treat to have the luxury of a 2 hour dinner. That just does not happen in NYC.....even at the finer restaurants in Manhattan. We never felt rushed. I loved Ventanas for breakfast and am torn between Azia and Palazzo as my favorite of the restaurants for dinner. Although, the steak dinner at Ventanas was also excellent. I do not think we tried the Grill since we went on several tours during the day - including Xel-Ha/Tulum and the ATV tour.

We were picked up for tours just across the street from the hotel in the shopping center. Jorge 'George' was a great guide on the Xel Ha/Tulum trip. I cannot swim but I did go snorkeling at Xel Ha. A total stranger was kind enough to take me out to see the fish as I gripped onto her shoulders. LOL After that tour, my good friend left her CD player on the tour bus and Jorge made a special trip to our hotel to drop it off.

The ATV tour is really fun too. Although I ran my ATV into a tree and my friend hit me in the back right after that (some of the turns are a little scary) we still had a great time. If you take the ATV tour, remember to take tons of sun screen. Although you are in the woods and covered by trees for much of the time the sun can be torture once you hit the open areas. Also there is a beach pit stop during the ATV tour where drinks are available for purchase. Be sure to bring a few dollars.

My friend and I took bike rides (bike rental is included at RH) to town and we walked to town at least once. One of my pedals came off during the ride but a RH employee who happened to be close by (off campus) fixed it for me. The bike trip to town was fairly short and we felt totally safe for two women traveling together.

The one complaint about going to town is the prices. Tourist are given the run around and the prices change from day to day. Mexico is known for its silver so be sure to pick up at least once piece. However, be sure to shop around for the best price. I looked at a silverware set (nothing fancy at all and not even an attractive pattern) that was like $1,000 one day and $2,500 the next. Needless to say, I did not purchase it. My friend and I joked that the price changed because on day one we were alone and on day two (the $2500 switch) we had brought along a man from our hotel to help him pick out a birthday gift for his wife. We did meet wonderful shop owners who were up front about the prices and I even got a deal on some silver jewelry I purchased - likely because the shop owner had lived in Queens, NY for a while. New Yorkers are everywhere!

We also watched Gigi - a movie I had never seen but my friend loves. It took us a few days to finish watching it since we were so beat at the end of each night. However, movies rentals are included in the package. The selection is pretty good too although we only watched Gigi.

Oh, I must not forget my gorgeous vase and ceramic frog. There is a young girl (if she is still there) who brings in ceramic goods to be painted near the pool. You purchase and paint your item and the next day it is brought back to the resort after she 'fixes' your paint job, glazes and fires the item. My vase turned out so well that my girlfriend painted one too. We both purchased and painted two items during our trip. I still can't believe I painted it. I have my vase on my desk at work right now! It is brightly colored and covered with tropical birds and flowers.

I do have to say that my friend was not at all pleased with her pedicure at the spa. She came back to the pool with no color since she had the nail technician take the polish off because it looked so horrible. I did not see anything except the resulting leftover fringe of red color on her toes so I cannot comment more than that about the pedicure. I was at the beach during that time. However, we both had massages and loved them.

I had a wonderful time and I am planning to take my boyfriend away to Royal Hideaway for July 4th weekend this year.

Be sure to tip the staff. We got amazing service without tipping but tipped everyone anyway.