June at Royal Resorts in Cancun

I just like to swim at the beach and pools and relax at the resort. The water is so blue and clear, and usually warm. The sand is white and never hot underfoot. It's pleasant to hang out and sip a cool drink.

Quick Tips:

Go on TUG (tug2.net) to try to get a rental at a timeshare, like the Royal Resorts - you'll get a one- to two-bedroom condo instead of just a hotel room.

Best Way To Get Around:

Buses are plentiful and inexpensive. Taxis are good, too, but be sure to agree on the price before you get in!

Best Things Nearby:
Everything's close - nightlife, shopping malls, and even Wal-Mart!

Best Things About the Resort:
There is a friendly staff, it is very clean, and everything you need is there. The pools are gorgeous! There is daily maid service, too.

Resort Experience:
The Royal Resorts (all of them) have two-bedroom condos with full kitchens and large terraces. The Royal Mayan, Caribbean, and Islander are all in a row, so just wander among them to decide which pool area or restaurant to go to that day.

The staff is friendly and responsive. Everything is well maintained and clean. The on-site restaurants are good (the palapa at the Mayan is the most casual and least expensive). You can order anything to go and also get good ribs, roast chicken, salads, etc., at the Tradewinds Express in the Royal Caribbean.

There are lots of low-key activities, like lotteria (Mexican bingo), blackjack, painting, crafts, and dance lessons, or you can tour ruins, snorkel, or just relax and hang out. It is great for families, couples, groups… anyone. All of my ratings are excellent.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

The Royal Mayan Palapa is our favorite - open-air but undercover and very relaxed, with good prices. The pineapple chicken salad ($8) is big and comes in a carved-out pineapple decorated like a bird. The strip steak ($14) has great flavor and comes with rice and a small taco. The chicken enchiladas verde ($7) are not hot, and it's a large portion. The fajitas, ribs, and grouper are all very good, too. All the salads and soups are excellent. There are theme nights Monday, Thursday, and Friday, and you can't order from the menu those nights.

Cancun beaches have gentle-to-moderate waves and very clear water. You can go out waist-deep for quite a distance, far enough that the lifeguards will whistle you back. It's lots of fun to just jump the waves or use boogie boards, and you can still see your toes. There is none of that murky green Atlantic water here!

The Wet 'n' Wild water park, also known as Park Nizuk, is a 10- to 30-minute bus or taxi ride from most hotels or resorts. It's got a Lazy River, about four to five slide/spinning-type activities, a big wave pool, and other activities. The Swim with Dolphins program is good. It’s not cheap, but you get about 30 to 40 minutes with the dolphins. The park does not have much shade, so use lots of sunscreen and redo it several times. Wearing a T-shirt is also a good idea. The food is pretty expensive, and you are not allowed to bring any in (they will check your bags!). You can bring your own deflated inner tube if you want to for the Lazy River. (It's not necessary to have one, but if you rent theirs, it's expensive, and then you have to watch them.)