The Royal Haciendas All Suites Resort & Spa
Family-friendly resort in Playa del Carmen. Green, Family.
Atmosphere
Room Upgrades
Amenities
Traveler Insights(36 discussions)
The Royal Haciendas is one of those Playa del Carmen properties that gets quietly strong reviews from guests who've done the Cancun mega-resort circuit and want something fundamentally different. The all-suites format means the floor plan starts at a size that most Cancun resorts charge a significant premium for, and the Playacar Beach location puts you on one of the most beautiful and protected stretches of coastline in the region - without the rip currents and red flag days that plague the hotel zone.
The appeal is largely about what Royal Haciendas isn't: it's not loud, it's not overwhelming, it's not competing to be the buzziest resort on TripAdvisor. Families with travelers timeshare owners specifically mention the ability to get a full kitchen in a suite, visit Walmart on their own, and then have access to beach and pool facilities - essentially a home base for an active Playa del Carmen vacation rather than a self-contained entertainment island. That framing explains both its fans and its critics: if you want to explore PDC's 5th Avenue and use the resort as a comfortable home base, it's excellent. If you want curated resort entertainment every night without leaving the property, it leaves you wanting more.
In the Playa del Carmen / Playacar competitive set, Royal Haciendas sits alongside properties like Grand Residences Riviera Cancun and The Fives Beach Hotel as the 'grown-up, spacious suite' option. Finest Playa Mujeres often gets recommended over it for pure family amenities, and Paradisus Playa del Carmen competes on luxury polish. But for families or groups who need real suite space, a great beach, and the option to leave the resort easily, Royal Haciendas is one of the cleaner choices in the market.
Pros
- +All-suite property means every guest gets significantly more space than standard hotel rooms - even the entry-level rooms are full suites
- +In-suite jacuzzi options available in 1 and 2 bedroom configurations - not just top-tier rooms
- +Playa del Carmen location puts you within range of 5th Avenue dining, shopping, and nightlife by a short cab ride
- +Playacar Beach access - one of the most beautiful and protected beach stretches in the Playa del Carmen area
- +Family suites provide a genuine living room and separate sleeping areas that actually work for multi-generational travel
- +Quieter and more relaxed atmosphere than Cancun hotel zone properties - Playacar is deliberately low-key
- +Three-bedroom suite configurations for large families or groups wanting shared but private accommodation
- +Consistently rated above 90 across user platforms, making it one of the higher-rated family all-inclusives in the area
Cons
- −Can feel too quiet or low-energy for travelers who want organized nightly entertainment and a bustling resort atmosphere
- −Limited on-property restaurant variety compared to Barcelo Maya Palace or Iberostar Paraiso Maya mega-resorts
- −Playa del Carmen location means getting to Cancun nightlife or the big theme parks requires a car or paid transfers
- −Timeshare sales pressure - the property has a timeshare component that some guests find intrudes on their stay
- −Smaller property means the pool scene is more subdued - not a party pool destination
- −Not ideal for guests who want the large-scale entertainment roster of a 2,000-room resort
- −travelers discussion volume is lower than nearby competitors, making it harder to find recent detailed reviews
- −Junior suites don't have the jacuzzi that 1 and 2 bedroom configurations offer, which can feel like a meaningful omission
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“We had an amazing time. We like the size of the room; providing 2 extra Murphy beds in the living room area and the master has a king size bed. We had a room (G351A) that was facing the ocean located right in the center of the resort . We had all in...”