The Royal Haciendas by Holiday Inn Club Vacations
The Royal Haciendas is one of those Playa del Carmen properties that gets quietly strong reviews from guests who have done the Cancun mega-resort circuit and want something different. It trades as The Royal Haciendas by Holiday Inn Club Vacations, the vacation-ownership company that took over from Royal Resorts in May 2023, so on booking sites you will also see it listed under the Holiday Inn Club Vacations name; it is the same resort. Every unit is a suite, starting with a 451 sq ft junior suite and running up to a 1,445 sq ft two-bedroom that sleeps six, and the resort sits on its own white-sand beach just north of downtown Playa del Carmen.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Every unit is a suite: the entry-level Deluxe Junior Suite is 451 sq ft with two double beds, and the one-bedroom runs to 1,047 sq ft
- +The one- and two-bedroom suites come with a fully equipped kitchen and a private terrace whirlpool tub, so you can shop for groceries and run your own breakfasts
- +The Deluxe Two-bedroom Master Suite (1,445 sq ft, sleeps six adults) works for multi-generational trips or two families sharing one unit
- +Five restaurants with real range for a resort this size: Kinoko for Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean, Los Murales for Mediterranean, Sol and Luna Grill for seafood, La Palapa del Sol and Pizza Luna, plus 24-hour room service
- +Six pools, a supervised kids club from 9am to 6pm for ages 4 to 12, and an Aqua Park with water games for ages 3 to 12
- +On-site diving center for trips out to the Mesoamerican reef, plus a sports desk lending snorkeling gear and non-motorized water sports
- +Close to the main sights: Fifth Avenue is about 11 minutes by car, Xcaret 15 minutes and Cancun airport 30 minutes
- +Quieter, more relaxed atmosphere than the big Cancun hotel zone resorts, and it reviews consistently well with families who come back year after year
Cons
- −The all-inclusive has a long surcharge list: lobster, fine cuts, prime fish fillets, tableside dishes, flambéed desserts, specialty coffees, premium and imported drinks, and every canned or bottled drink including soda and beer cost extra
- −Minimum check-in age is 25, and everyone 13 and older is charged the adult all-inclusive rate
- −No extra beds or rollaways at all, so occupancy is capped by the beds already in the suite; the junior suite takes 2 adults and 1 child
- −Vacation-ownership resort run by Holiday Inn Club Vacations, so expect timeshare presentation invitations, and guests staying over a Saturday night may be asked to change units
- −Can feel too quiet for travelers who want a big nightly entertainment roster or a party pool
- −Not walkable to Fifth Avenue; downtown Playa del Carmen is a taxi ride, and Cancun nightlife is the better part of an hour away
- −A USD 500 credit-card deposit per stay is taken at check-in for incidentals
The practical experience is a comfortable home base. The one- and two-bedroom suites have full kitchens and terrace whirlpool tubs, while the junior suite has a kitchenette. Five restaurants cover more ground than you would expect: Kinoko does Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean (reservations required, and it is open to the public), alongside Los Murales, Sol and Luna Grill, La Palapa del Sol and Pizza Luna, with La Rotonda Sports Bar and room service around the clock. There are six pools, a full-service spa, a gym, tennis courts, a diving center and a kids club for ages 4 to 12. Read the plan carefully, though: it covers meals and house drinks, but premium dishes, specialty coffees, imported brands and even canned or bottled soda and beer carry a surcharge. Gratuities and taxes are included.
Royal Haciendas fits families and groups who need real suite space and want to explore Playa del Carmen, Xcaret and the cenotes rather than stay on property every night. Fifth Avenue is about 11 minutes by car and Xcaret about 15. The policies are worth knowing before booking: minimum check-in age 25, everyone 13 and over pays adult rates, no extra beds, and a USD 500 deposit. As of the resort's own rate card for late September to late December 2026, junior suites started around $240 to $275 per room per night all-inclusive, which puts it in the mid-range for the Riviera Maya and well below the luxury Playa resorts it is often compared with.
Common Questions
Which suites have a kitchen and a jacuzzi?
What is not included in the all-inclusive plan?
Can I walk to Fifth Avenue from Royal Haciendas?
Are there age rules I should know about?
Is there timeshare sales pressure, and who runs the resort now?
What is there for kids?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | La Palapa del Sol |
| Italian | Pizza Luna |
| Asian | Kinokó |
| Seafood | Sol and Luna Grill Restaurants |
| Mediterranean & Spanish | Los Murales |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
25 min drive · 9.3 mi
15 min drive · 4.2 mi
Playa Mamitas14 min drive · 3.2 mi
20 min drive · 8.4 mi
Xcalacoco Beach12 min drive · 3.7 mi
Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue13 min drive · 3.6 mi
More things to do (15)
- Xenses · adventure park20 min drive · 8.5 mi
- Playa 88 · beach9 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach13 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum12 min drive · 3.3 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum13 min drive · 3.6 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature14 min drive · 4.4 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site14 min drive · 4.0 mi
- El Camaleón Golf Course · golf15 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Xplor · adventure park20 min drive · 8.8 mi
- Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote25 min drive · 7.0 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach25 min drive · 10 mi
- Delphinus Riviera Maya · adventure park25 min drive · 9.6 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 12 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature35 min drive · 18 mi
- Puerto Aventuras Golf Course · golf35 min drive · 18 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Playa del Carmen gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 3,651 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...”
