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For my thirtieth birthday, Tom and I spent ten nights at El Dorado Royale Spa Resort by Karisma in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It was my second time in Mexico and we have been totally impressed by the beachfront resort, so I couldn’t wait to share my overview!
We selected the resort as a result of it’s adults-only, it’s on the Caribbean coast of Mexico so we have been assured heat throughout what can solely be described as probably the most miserable month of the 12 months within the UK, and since there are ten eating places within the resort.
Meals is a giant a part of journey for me, in case you haven’t guessed from my earlier posts!
The factor that clinched it for me, although? El Dorado Royale was as soon as voted one of many Prime 100 Lodges within the World by Condé Nast Traveller. Determination made.
I’ve additionally stayed at one other El Dorado resort nearer to Tulum. You possibly can learn my overview of El Dorado Seaside Suites if you happen to’re caught attempting to decide on between the 2 resorts.
My overview of El Dorado Royale Spa Resort by Karisma
The very first thing to learn about El Dorado Royale is that it’s on a web site neighboured by two extra resorts, which collectively kind one massive, extremely enjoyable resort.
Watch my full-length video tour on YouTube
As you stroll alongside the seashore, you’ll come to El Dorado Casitas Royale. This can be a barely extra swanky lodging possibility with personal swimming pools or swim-ups however so far as I do know, you continue to get the identical entry to resort services as you do at El Dorado Royale.
Past Casitas lies Generations. This resort is child-friendly and though we might use their eating places and many others, they couldn’t use ours.
Travelling to the resort
The switch from Cancun Airport to El Dorado Royale was a straightforward one – it took round 30 minutes and the drive is principally one lengthy straight highway.
We travelled with TUI however I like to recommend reserving a non-public switch to doubtlessly save hours ready round for different travellers in your first day. Verify costs for Cancun Airport transfers right here.
Verify-in was fast and pleasant. We got welcome drinks, then a bell boy took us to our room through golf cart so we didn’t have to pull our baggage across the resort.
The room at El Dorado Royale Mexico
We stayed in a Luxurious Junior Suite, which we have been very proud of. It was on the second flooring of a two-storey constructing however there have been ground-floor choices.
The room itself was spacious, there was loads of space for storing and the mattress was huge and comfy.
Essentially the most spectacular factor in regards to the rooms are the massive jacuzzi baths, that are separate from the toilet. Sadly I didn’t get nice footage as a result of it was darkish after we arrived and we instantly made a large number!
There are numerous upgrades out there for rooms – you’ll be able to select from beachfront rooms, which personally I wouldn’t trouble paying additional for, for causes I’ll clarify quickly, and swim-up suites.
Tom and I benefit from the ambiance across the pool so we by no means go for a swim-up.
The swimming pools at El Dorado Royale
There aren’t any fewer than six swimming pools within the well-tended grounds of El Dorado Royale and nearly all of them have swim-up bars.
We spent most of our time on the primary pool, which is lined with luxurious bali beds and common solar loungers.
On Saturdays, there’s a foam celebration on the primary pool which is lots of enjoyable!
Behind the primary pool’s swim-up bar, you’ll discover a smaller pool which is way quieter. It gave the impression to be the place individuals would go to learn and chill out.
After all, you may also sit on the swimming pools within the Casitas a part of the resort. They’ve extra of an unique really feel, so you’ll be able to nearly fake you’re at a boutique retreat…
The swimming swimming pools have been all fairly chilly. Although I’ve only a few qualms about this resort, the water temperature is one among them! Nonetheless, it’s… refreshing on a sizzling day.
The seashore at El Dorado Royale
Had the resort not been so superb elsewhere, I may need been somewhat postpone by the seashore. It’s nicely sorted and there are bali beds and loungers lining your entire stretch, however the view is considerably obscured by concrete boulders within the shallows.
That is a part of an ongoing reef challenge, so the great it’s doing for the pure atmosphere makes it exhausting to complain in regards to the spoiled view.
To compensate, there are some very Instagram-friendly instalments alongside the shore.
I used to be thrilled to seek out that there was a ‘pure pool’ at one finish of the resort, so even on days when the ocean was tough, I used to be capable of have a saltwater swim. Nothing prefer it!
Resort bars at El Dorado Royale
Okay, now on to the essential stuff. The bar employees are nice at this resort. There’s an honest cocktail menu on show at all the swim-up bars, however you’ll be able to go off-piste and order your personal favourites or ask the bartender to whip you up their signature concoction.
Just about every little thing is roofed within the all-inclusive bundle alcohol-wise, aside from the tequila cream cart and the cocktail cart they roll out sporadically to serve drinks in pineapples.
You can too pay 8 USD at Coco by the primary pool for a coconut, after which you’ll be able to maintain going again for limitless refills. The Coconut Mojito is heavenly!
I assumed the home wine was drinkable, which makes a change from my expertise at most resorts. The glowing wine could be very candy, so you could wrestle with that if it’s your traditional tipple.
The Martini Bar within the foyer is good for pre- or apres- dinner drinks they usually have the very best collection of premium spirits.
There was additionally a stunning bar on the beachfront at Casitas that we loved for sundowners.
Typically we loved it a lot that we didn’t make it to dinner…
TIP: At a lot of the bars, they’ll provide the low-cost stuff except you ask for the model of alcohol you need particularly. Be vocal about your preferences.
Eating at El Dorado Royale
There are ten gourmand eating places at El Dorado Royale, which blew my thoughts.
One of many many issues I don’t love about all-inclusive holidays is the buffet meals, so I used to be eager to expertise a la carte each evening.
#Though there may be one buffet restaurant at this resort, we didn’t set foot inside it till our final day – and that was simply out of curiosity.
I used to be a bit disenchanted to seek out that the Fish Market which takes place some days on the seashore comes at an additional cost. We’d have fortunately paid additional to get pleasure from a slap-up seafood dinner with our toes within the sand, but it surely didn’t appear price it at lunchtime.
Breakfast
We ate breakfast at La Isla just about daily. The menu is predominantly Mexican so it was enjoyable to strive new dishes, however you may also go for lighter choices like yoghurt with fruit or pancakes.
We additionally tried Santa Fe at breakfast time however we didn’t love sitting indoors when the climate was so good, and we popped into the buffet on our final morning.
The breakfast buffet had lots of selection however, most likely for well being causes, the employees should serve you the new meals. I felt prefer it took some time so it wasn’t excellent.
Lunch
There’s an informal eatery subsequent to the primary pool that serves yummy pizzas and tacos daily, so we normally wound up there.
Typically I went to Kampai for sushi or there can be a pop-up burger stand the place you might seize a chunk to eat in your solar lounger.
It isn’t potential to order meals to eat by the pool at this resort and I heard a couple of individuals complaining about that. The pop-up avenue meals stands are the simplest workaround if that’s one thing you need to do.
Personally, I favored that the shortage of soiled plates across the pool saved the place clear and hygienic.
The perfect lunch we had was truly on our final day at La Isla. The fish tacos have been the tastiest I’ve ever had, and Tom ordered a melt-in-the-mouth beef quick rib that we each tucked in to.
We tried the Tiki Bar over within the ‘unique’ aspect of the resort however solely as soon as – the choices are burgers, sizzling canines and many others.
There’s additionally a Well being Bar that serves smoothies, shakes and juices which is fab for fitness center bunnies. I didn’t set foot within the fitness center however Tom went a couple of times whereas I used to be on the yoga class and he thought it was well-equipped.
They serve wholesome gentle meals between 12 and 6 on the Well being Bar. This got here in helpful after we got here again from our horse driving journey at 4pm and couldn’t discover wherever else that was nonetheless serving. I had a scrumptious salad and Tom had a wrap which he loved.
Dinner
TIP: Go to your concierge in your first morning and guide your night meals. It’s usually troublesome to get a desk with no reservation on the resort’s eating places and you must guide forward, though it didn’t impression our keep an excessive amount of.
We truly went to the Italian twice with no reserving. The lasagne is superb!
Kampai is the Pacific restaurant. It affords Asian soups, sushi, noodle and rice dishes plus Thai curries. It was one among our favourites and my solely criticism is that they serve the identical menu at lunch as they do at dinner. I hoped for extra selection.
Our standout eating expertise at El Dorado was Fuentes.
You pay 15 USD per head for this ‘culinary theatre’ expertise, plus 5 USD for the wine pairing. They don’t let you know in regards to the wine pairing payment if you guide, so I assumed it was price mentioning.
Nonetheless, I do completely advocate paying it, as a result of the wine was lovely. We have been additionally served a beer that had been uncovered to Mozart’s music! Fancy.
We booked Santa Fe for my birthday meal and paid additional for Argentinian steak and a lobster tail. Our expectations have been excessive and it was good however not beautiful, so we left feeling a bit deflated.
The Indian restaurant over in Generations is a must-try, in addition to La Isla for an genuine Mexican meal – though I do assume their lunch menu is stronger than their night providing.
Leisure and actions at El Dorado Royale
El Dorado boasts probably the most scheduled nighttime leisure that I’ve seen at any resort. That they had every little thing from rock exhibits to DJs, acrobats to Mexican fiesta themed nights.
Sadly, it took us a lot of the vacation to regulate to the time distinction so we have been in mattress early as a rule!
Fortunately, there was greater than sufficient happening on the resort in the course of the daytime to maintain us occupied. My favorite exercise was the (nearly) each day 8am yoga class, whereas Tom performed about 56 video games of seashore volleyball.
The leisure group on the resort are incredible – particularly Fernando, Victor, Miguel and Isobel.
You could possibly select from bike excursions, interval coaching on the seashore (I swerved that one), water polo, dance lessons, tequila and mezcal tasting periods, water aerobics, cooking lessons, Spanish lessons, ping pong… I might go on.
The simplest method to discover out what’s on and when is to obtain the El Dorado app. It’s a bit clunky but it surely does the job.
TIP as a result of it took us some time to seek out the pool desk: it’s tucked away together with the Martini Bar!
Different causes to go to El Dorado Royale
One of many issues that made me eager to return to Mexico was the truth that the native individuals are so receptive to my makes an attempt to talk Spanish. I’m nowhere close to fluent, however I can get by, and the resort employees at El Dorado have been very happy to let me follow on them.
We’ve stayed at luxurious resorts within the Caribbean earlier than and felt that – notably at The Royalton in Saint Lucia – we might have been wherever on the earth.
El Dorado Royale, regardless of its simple indulgence of your each whim, feels decidedly Mexican.
We did a free ranch tour of the adjoining ‘Bonanza Ranch’ to see the rescued animals, cenote and greenhouse one morning and our information defined why the resort employees put on vibrant badges. They replicate the motels’ dedication to the 17 SDGs, which I feel is incredible.
He had somewhat booklet and I needed to quiz him extra in regards to the sustainability initiatives however I might inform the opposite two {couples} on the tour weren’t .
I discovered although that the on-site greenhouse produces a mind-boggling quantity of recent fruit, greens and herbs each week. I didn’t spot any single-use plastic on the resort and I imagine additionally they deal with their very own water.
It has change into more and more essential to me over the previous few years to be a accountable traveller and the sheer luxurious on the resorts we’ve visited usually makes me really feel a bit responsible, however I felt we’d made a sensible choice with El Dorado.
Issues to do close to El Dorado Royale
I travelled to Mexico Metropolis and Riviera Maya on a digital nomad journey a couple of years again, so I felt much less stress to discover the native space on this vacation. It was pure bliss simply to lie in a hammock studying my guide!
Nonetheless, Mexico is an unimaginable nation with a wealthy tradition, so I do advocate you get out of the resort and discover.
For those who like snorkelling, take a day journey to Cozumel. You possibly can take a look at the totally different choices for getting there right here.
One of the crucial distinctive experiences I had in Mexico was my day trip at Xochimilco. It’s a cruise-style attraction the place locals are likely to go to have a good time birthdays and it’s a lot enjoyable. Learn my weblog publish about visiting Xochimilco and get tickets on-line right here.
When you’re in Riviera Maya, take the chance to find out about Mayan tradition. It’s completely fascinating! Your first port of name ought to be Chichén Itzá.
A taxi into Playa del Carmen ought to value round 30 USD (agree a worth with a driver beforehand). Get out at Fifth Avenue and stroll the ‘strip’, the place there are a great deal of outlets the place you’ll be able to decide up souvenirs plus some cute boutiques. There are additionally a lot of bars and locations to eat there.
That was a mammoth weblog publish, so nicely accomplished if you happen to acquired this far! For those who’d prefer to see extra of my journey, check out my ‘Mexico’ spotlight on Instagram – my username is @danniellelily.
For those who’ve discovered my overview of El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas helpful and it has enticed you to guide, I’d be ever so grateful if you happen to used my reserving.com affiliate hyperlink. It doesn’t value you something additional.
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