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Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI

Munster, Indiana
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604 posts
9 reviews
5 helpful votes
Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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My family of 4 will be staying at The Royal Cancun for the 1st time in early November. I have the option to go with the AI for $79 for adults and $49 for the kids (kids are 11 & 10). The property has recently offered the AI. I've read countless posts regarding the food for the Royal Cancun and for the most part it's been positive. I've also read the area around the Royal Cancun is littered with multiple bars and restaurants. I'm leaning toward not doing the AI. We plan on spending a day at Isla Mujeres and a good portion of another day at Selvatica. If it was just my wife and I, I'd most likely do the AI (I do like my drinking?) :-) They'd probably lose money on me!!

Insight to this would be greatly appreciated. Also, I do plan on picking up groceries and some liquor. What's the closest supermarket to the Royal Cancun? Cost to get there and back? Also, recommendations for good restaurants close to the RC would also be great. We are so looking forward to our 1st trip the Cancun. And again, thanks for any feedback.

Poughkeepsie, NY
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527 posts
165 reviews
193 helpful votes
1. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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We belong to the Royal Resorts, of which the RC is one of the resorts. We frequent the RC many times. It is in a more "mellow" part of the 7, as the Caribbean Sea is mucho calmer there, as well as the nightlife. The RC just put in a 2nd restaurant, so their food offerings are limited. I am NOT an AI person at all. With a full kitchen and 2 BR's, the RC was built over 35 years ago as a non AI resort. BTW, do you also like AI watered down drinks? The more prestigious restaurants of the RR's are Captain's Cove, and the El Con, now located at the Royal Islander. If you want to travel over an hour for more RR luxurious restaurants under the AI plan, that's your thing. We often stray at the Royal Sands, where a great liquor store ( La Europea ) has great booze prices. The RC has their own mini mart for food, and there's always Wally mart downtown ( not my choice ). Again, JMHO.

Munster, Indiana
Level Contributor
604 posts
9 reviews
5 helpful votes
2. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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Thanks for the reply Ed.

Louisville
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3,115 posts
40 reviews
60 helpful votes
3. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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You are not to far from Walmart. Take the bus there and then get a taxi back.

We aren't big breakfast eaters and just like some toast, jelly, breakfast bar, cereal. And for lunch we are good with some deli meat, hot dogs and even PP&J. We never cook unless you consider putting something in the microwave cooking??? So we go non all inclusive. We purchase our breakfast and food items at Walmart when in Cancun, and Mega Mart while in Playa Del Carmen. We also purchase our beer, liquor and drink mix. If we need something we forgot at the Walmart we purchase that at the RR grocery. We make our own mixed drinks, but also purchase drinks from the resort during happy hour. We also will have some thing from the grill for lunch (The grouper sandwich at the Royal Resorts is the best). We always stay 7 nights and for dinner we eat at the resort, dine out a few nights at nice restaurants (Recommend Peters, Harrys, El Conquistador, Puerto Madero, La Palapa Belga) and also will order pizza. Our cost per day per person/adult is $50 to $55 (Children would be a lot less). I have tracked it for the past 3 years and it has never been over $55 /day/adult.

So going AI will cost you about $27 more / day per adult. AI isn't that bad a deal if you want to eat a hot breakfast and lunch everyday, drink A LOT, and then top it off with a very nice dinner every night. We just don't eat that quantity of food everyday. The big savings in the AI vs Non AI (IMO) is the cost of breakfast and lunch. Also you will save a lot of money purchasing your own alcohol and beer. Going Non All Incl and purchasing drinks from the bar at $12 a drink will add up. But, if you don't mind mixing our own drinks you can save some money. Basically our eating habits don't change much from what we do when at home. We do tend to drink more, but nothing over the top. Hope this helps you make the right decision for you and your family.

Fort Worth, Texas
Destination Expert
for Cancun
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8,213 posts
12 reviews
32 helpful votes
4. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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AI easily

Munster, Indiana
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604 posts
9 reviews
5 helpful votes
5. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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Thanks Cancun Crew

U.S.
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4,539 posts
18 reviews
31 helpful votes
6. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI
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We did AI (at the Sands). Enjoyed anything we wanted. Did not pay anywhere near $27.00 more than it would have cost otherwise. And man it was just SO much better than Rice Chex, and PB&J sandwiches.

Especially with kids, who can be walking bottomless pits....

NO-brainer.

7. Re: Staying at the Royal Cancun & In a quandary? To AI, not AI

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