Fabulous First in Cancun

Sunrise Travel met me promptly at Cancun airport for easy transfer to Royal Sunset.

My room was fabulous except the floor needed a bath. The big tub was great to relax. They supplied me with a "free" hair-dryer for the entire week.

The outdoor grill is open til 1am for delicious hamburgers, etc.

I left a suggestion of extending outdoor pool hours from 7pm to about 10pm.

If you like Italian food, a reminder to get same day dinner reservations (6-10pm I think). Chiquita Banana is a must eat at on premises of Royal Sunset (two feet from ocean). If you love loud soloists, no need for ear plugs at nightly lobby bar performances; a chance to dance if you like though.

If a spa or marina is what you need, the Sunset Lagoon by boat or shuttle is the twin hotel from Royal Sunset (which is in the Cancun Hotel sector). I was treated to two certificates for use at their spa and got two massages, a hair cut, and a pedicure -- but be warned that it's a tiny spa!

Quick Tips:

There are lots of padded chaise lounges and umbrellas at no extra charge at poolside and a few down on oceanfront beach.

There a guy will try to sell you sterling silver bracelets, necklaces, etc. -- not quite as pressured as at the market down the street though! I've been told to settle for half or less for purchases.

Best Way To Get Around:

Free boat to the Sunset Lagoon and shuttle. One can walk down to market and mall (two blocks) and still within the hotel sector. Concierge desk can be helpful. Car rental service at entrance of Royal Sunset.

If you don't speak Spanish, bring a dictionary.

Food was good, plentiful but not great. For a lobster buffet, GO TO THE CONCIERGE DESK FOR YOUR LOBSTER VOUCHER. Outdoor theatre can be entertaining most nights. They have a disco night out that costs above the all-inclusive fee -- can't say if it's worth it, I didn't go. Xcaret costs extra to do extra things like swim with dolphins (US for 15 minutes and 92 pesos for photo taken with them).

Best Things Nearby:
ocean
free boat across to Sunset Lagoon
restaurants
pool

Best Things About the Resort:
Having a shuttle van pick me up at the airport upon arrival--would have left a better taste in my mouth if they'd included the transfer back to the airport instead of telling me I'd have to pay extra--they misinformed me when I phoned them!

The big 1 bedrm.

Getting a burger at midnight on premises, room service, a big tub to relax in bedrm, nice well padded chaise lounges, umbrellas, towels available at poolside, attentive waiters that most often remember what drink you had for refills.

Resort Experience:
My exchanged timeshare, despite the fact that I own 2 bedrm units was very spacious for a 1 bedrm! The partial kitchen was perfect. It would have been nice to have an ocean front view. But it was nice to have a big bed! This one faced the lagoon side overlooking the outdoor theatre & front entrance. If the maid hadn't kept turning my airconditioner up full and the fan off in my absence I would have been happier. I'm sensitive to a/c's so I have to have them on warmer. Remember if you open a sliding balcony door, the a/c will automatically stop; it restarts when you close the door. Once they washed my floor.

It was very pleasant, and VERY spacious for a 1 bedrm! I was on the 4th floor--elevators were on occasion a bit slow (a couple of mins.)

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Poor
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Very Good

Thursday night I recall they had a special Seafood night that required reservations for the Chiquita Banana (beachfront-2'from it!)--not many got them; it's small. I wasn't impressed with the head waiter personally, but my waiter was great and except for being rather tight with the no. of shrimp served and a bit overcooked the meal was good.

When you spend over $66.USD/day for all-inclusive and don't guzzle booze it means you judge the food more critically. Only once for the wk did I ask for an alcoholic drink (wine with the latter meal)--they said it would cost extra! That really annoyed me as I'd had virgins the whole week!

Generally it was easy eating; the restaurant off the main lobby was buffet style but prompt waiters would bring you alcoholic/virgin drinks. The desserts were more than OK but not fabulous (well a couple were pretty good).