http://tonygraz0.tripod.com/triptips.html
Each Royal resort will exchange money or travelers checks into pesos at their
lobby desks at about the best rate you can get (they do not change pesos to
dollars). Current rates are posted in the lobby and at the Royals' website.
Beware of the little exchange booths which almost always charge a commission or
short change you.
Another thing you might want to do in preparation is order the Entertainment
Plus 2X1 card for savings on dining. The card website also offers tours at
substantial savings over the Thomas Moore tours. You can check out the details
of this card and the tours at: Entertainment Plus 2 for 1 Card
After picking up your luggage, you head to customs where you will be asked to
press a button. If you get a green light you pass, if you get the red light,
they will check through your luggage
After customs a porter will grab your luggage or you can take it out of the
airport to where all the taxis and vans are. Look for a Thomas Moore sign or
whatever sign it would be for pre-arranged transport. Last I heard cabs were
around $ 40-45 (agree on fee before you get in). Van transport is usually $ 8-10
per person.
When you arrive at the resort a bellman will take your bags. Go into the
lobby and check in. Your luggage will be delivered to your unit (a tip of around
$ 1 per bag is suggested).
The Resorts:
The Royal Islander, Royal Caribbean and Royal Mayan are all together, with
the Royal Caribbean in the middle of this 3 resort complex. Club International
(VCI) is located closer to downtown on the bay, while the Royal Sands is located
in between, about 3-1/2 KM from the tri-Royals. The facilities and amenities of
all 5 Royals are available to members/guests at any of these resorts. The Royal
Solaris and the infamous Royal Sunset are not a part of the Royal Resorts of
Cancun group.
Daily maid service is provided, except on Sunday and some Holidays. A
concierge and assistant will be assigned to your unit, but you should be aware
that one of their duties is selling of resort memberships at the newest resort,
the Royal Sands. They will provide you with invitations to free events- the
orientation (Sunday AM), the welcome party (Sunday PM) and the cocktail party.
They will also provide you with a discount card (10-15% off) at selected Cancun
restaurants. There is a loose leaf book in each side of the unit that details
the rules (which should be read immediately) and other information.
There is at least one restaurant at each Royal resort and they all have an all
you can eat breakfast buffet. The Royal Sands even has a lunch buffet. The Royal
Mayan has a restaurant called El Conquistador which is one of the finest in
Cancun. It is only open for dinner and does have an affordable "sunset special"
menu for early dining. Reservations are required and El Conquistador is next to
the Royal Mayan lobby at pool level. Each of the restaurants also has special
theme nights and information is posted in several common areas about these
nights.
On the other hand, parking is often hard to find in many places, gasoline is
expensive and the public and private transportation is good. The resorts even
offer a free shuttle service between the tri-Royals and the Sands and back every
hour and every two hours between the Sands and VCI (with a stop at the
Pok-Ta-Pok golf course included). The schedules are not in writing yet, so its
best to check on them when you arrive. There is no service on Saturday.
Local buses run about every 5 minutes or less until late at night (less
frequently) and cost 6 pesos per person per trip (no transfers). They run from
Wet and Wild to downtown and beyond. All the buses run to downtown, with R-2s
running to Walmart and beyond. On the way back from downtown be sure to get on a
bus that says "hoteles" or "hotel zone". Tell the driver where you are going to
get off and press the buzzer when you approach your stop. Hang on to the ticket
you get(for the duration of the bus trip) in the event the bus auditors get on
and request it.
Taxis are waiting on call at the resorts and start at 60 pesos per trip for
up to four people. Prices are posted at the resorts fixing the cost to popular
destinations. Tipping is discouraged unless an extra service is provided. The
rates on the street and downtown are much less than at the resorts or mall cab
stands. While it costs 120 pesos to go to Walmart, I have paid as little as 50
pesos to get back. Fares should be established clearly before you get in the
cab. Rates on the street may be quoted in pesos or dollars and I have paid as
little as $ 2 for a trip within the downtown area. Vans can also be obtained for
personally scheduled trips.
Shopping:
Each resort has its own mini-market, but a better selection and price can be
found downtown. Chedraui and Commercial Mexicano are two stores in the downtown
area on Tulum avenue that carry groceries and many department store items as
well. Walmart and Sam's club located just beyond downtown have groceries too.
There is even a Costco and another Commercial Mexicano in a plaza not far from
Walmart. The hotel zone has many plazas and flea markets for souvenirs,
clothing, jewelry and other items. Strong bargaining and price awareness is
suggested when bargaining outside the malls. There is also a place called Market
28 where items for sale are a little more geared towards locals. If you go
there, try the seafood restaurant there called El Cejas.
English is fairly widely spoken in Cancun and US currency is almost as
readily accepted as pesos. When the exchange rate is higher (pesos per dollar)
than the resort is offering, it is better to pay in dollars when the option is
offered.
- Drink the water in the hotel zone and at the resorts. It is purified and safe.
- Trips to Chitzen Itza and other remote areas may expose you a very small risk of
malaria. Insect repellent is advised for such excursions.
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