The Royal Sands Resort & Spa

Pretty Property, Decent food, WEAK DRINKS

• What did you like most?
  We’ve been coming here for ten years (but are not owners/members). It’s very clean and has very nice pools, but never enough lounge chairs. The property overall is very beautiful and well maintained for the most part. There’s a nice grocery store on site with a small Starbucks, and a doctor (which we actually went to once for an unexpected illness). There are several restaurants (some good, some very so so) to choose from. The staff are nice but really push you to go to their presentation for membership (similar to a time share).
• Was there anything you didn't like?
  People come down to the pool in the morning and stake out loungers with their towels and sometimes never return. There is no place to sit and we visit early in the year (typically Feb) when it’s much less crowded. If you can’t find a place to sit either at the beach or by the pool what’s the point? You shouldn’t have to get up at 6am just to get a lounger by the pool. We’ve also seen a huge increase in prices (room rates, items in the grocery store) and up charges for menu items (these are “above and beyond “ the all inclusive offerings). We noticed a big decline in quality and choices at the La Veranda buffet/main restaurant this year. And worst of all… The alcohol DRINKS ARE SO WEAK IT’S NOT WITH ORDERING THEM…the waiters then try to sell you an extra shot in the side (we actually complained to management about it (! We thought we’d see improvement once Holiday Inn bought the property but it’s gotten worse. The beds are hard so ask for a foam topper for your mattress. It helps a lot!

• What did you like most?
  The location and the pool kids aqua park was the mostly positive part of the stay.
• Was there anything you didn't like?
  I travel frequently and usually stay in 5-star hotels. However, in this specific case, I don't consider the hotel to live up to that rating. The rooms are acceptable, but would be more in line with a 4-star standard. The bathrooms, while quite clean, have facilities that suggest a 3-star standard and clearly need renovation to reach the advertised level. The bedding also left something to be desired, as it doesn't appear to be 100% quality cotton, and the pillows are small. The towels aren't bad, but they are small and of medium thickness. The bathroom amenities are of very low quality. The hairdryer is useless, with no drying power, no cotton swabs, no sewing kit, and the toilet paper is rough. There's no laundry room, just a space where you can wash your clothes yourself. Nothing is in keeping with a 5-star rating. I booked the all-inclusive plan, but the hotel operates on a hybrid system. Basic things like a Corona beer are not included and require extra payment, and soft drinks are diluted. Even using the all-inclusive identification bracelet, it is necessary to sign receipts for each drink or snack consumed. In the women's restroom of the main restaurant, there is a storage area for hotel products, which causes male employees to enter the women's restroom. Having this storage area in the women's restroom is poor hotel management, as men should not enter women's restrooms. In theory, there is a concierge, but in practice, most of the time was spent selling packages and excursions instead of providing useful information about how the hotel works. I consider the cost-benefit ratio unfavorable for what was actually offered. One piece of information that I consider important is to have in the Booking.com advertisement that this hotel is part of the Holiday Inn group.