The Royal Sands Resort & Spa Cancún, Mexico

Julie Register, Your Guide to Spas, visited this spa in Cancun in 2002 

Photo Index The Royal Sands Resort & Spa Cancun from the air Parasailing beyond The Royal Sands Pool

It was my first time in Cancún. In the back of my mind, I had some pretty big reservations. This was the place they had MTV's Spring Break 2000, I was staying in a timeshare resort, and it was hurricane season. None of those facts appealed to me. I had visions of drunken teenagers roaming the streets, having to endure a lengthy high-pressure timeshare sales pitch, and having to be evacuated from the resort. I am delighted to say that none of these nightmares materialized. I found Cancún to be family-oriented and, since it didn't exist 30 years ago, everything was new and modern. I did not have to have any conversations with timeshare sales people. And I enjoyed beautiful, however hot and humid, weather.

The Royal Sands is part of the Royal Resorts properties which are timeshares. What makes this company different is that they also rent their unsold inventory of timeshare Flexivillas (rooms, suites, and villas) and they do it as a service for members who will not be using their time. I had never considered renting a timeshare before. We have rented houses and condos and stayed at suite hotels. Staying at a timeshare, this timeshare anyway, has lots of advantages over the other options. Here are some of them: reduced greens fees for golf, free sports equipment usage, kids activities, various lessons, access to any resort property and restaurant, the spa,  free shuttle between properties, etc. Renters get every amenity that members do. The resort hopes that some day renters will want to become members and wants them to know what it will be like. That's the sales pitch. The end. If you want to talk to the sales people, they will be glad to accommodate you. But you don't have to. 75% of their timeshare sales are from member referrals.

Weekly rental rates depend on location and time of year. Beachfront costs more than Ocean View. High season is Dec 23 - Jan 6. Low season is April 29 - Dec 23. I stayed in an Ocean View Suite and thought it was great. I wasn't in the room very much, though. Too many things to do - like relaxing in the spa, on the beach, or at the pool, sightseeing, or shopping.

By the way, I didn't run into any of the MTV crowd in Cancún. You would be more likely to find them in Playa del Carmen. 

For resort bookings, call toll free 888/373-5959

Return to The Spa at the Royal Sands Article

  Photos copyright 2002, Julie Register
Licensed to About.com 
graphics courtesy of Royal Resorts and MCM International

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