If you are looking for a cookie-cutter resort that can be plopped down in Mexco, Jamacia or Costa Rica, than this is not your place. This is not a resort but a mexician hotel on the ocean. No buffets, entertainment, or selection of restaurants...but beautiful rooms, beautiful views, excellent food and individual attention from the staff because it is so small. This hotel is right in the heart of the golden zone and so it is within walking distance to many places worth seeing. There is one restaurant but the food is amazing. The service was always excellent in the restaurant and by the beach. We ordered huge shrimp cocktails and shrimp with avocado at least twice a day.....the red wine..yum. The food was worth the stay. The pool was heated which was wonderful in the early morning and the late evening. Even during the hot day, the pool was still inviting. The hot tub, on the otherhand, no. Think of the hot tubs people have in their back yard only with green water. This place was not perfect as resorts go, but was perfect as a relaxing vacation. There was never any stress trying to get a spot under a palm overlooking the ocean. There was never any stress ordering food, no reservations needed as it was quite empty. The beds were comfortable and the rooms very clean and attractive. I guess it all depends on what is important to you. I would take the relaxation and good food over the business of the typical resort; maybe not always, but this trip was an experience of the true feel of Mexico. Terrifico!

My wife and I vacationed at the Royal Villas from December 8 to 15.
The rooms were of 4 star quality..clean, comfortable beds and well appointed. The 4 stars ended there.
The hotel is small with only one bar (at the pool) and one à la carte restaurant (no buffet except at breakfast for the first 3 days).
The restaurant was supposed to be open for lunch and dinner but most days there was no one available to serve you. We ate most lunches at the poolside restaurant (open to the outside and therefore not smoking free)
The breakfast was also served poolside and the selection was limited. We had, for the first three days, an egg/omelette station to make your eggs to order (thank-you Rosa). From the 4th. day on it was order from a menu and not as good.
The service at lunch and dinner was VERY slow and not always what you ordered arrived at your table. Some days we would wait a good 15 minutes between courses and other days the second course would be plopped on the table before the first course was finished.
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday we ordered the filet mignon only to be told "is not available today". On Tuesday at breakfast I cornered the food and beverage manager 'Franco' and complained and said we wanted the filet mignon that evening. We got one each at dinner and they were excellent. IF you are still thinking of going there, don't order the 'garlic mushrooms'. They consisted of a soup bowl full of TINNED mushrooms floating in son kind of garlic gravy.
The "activities area" consisted of a ping pong table, a small pool table and an air hockey table game. When we enquired about a game of pool we were told we had to put coins in to operate it (all inclusive?). Also the Hobie Cat ride was $40.00 most other all inclusives it is included.
Everything we had from bottled water to rum and cokes, food and snacks was written on a bill which you were required to sign. Then at the end of the bartenders shift we had to sign another "summary tape" of all we had consumed on his shift.This practice also extended to the food service, a real pain.
For those who order a pizza at dinner, it was served in an enormous pizza box at your table with side plates to eat from.Talk about cramped eating it was worse than eating on an aircraft in 'cattle class'.
A couple we met there had ordered a pizza for lunch at the pool. After about 45 minutes the called over the waiter and ordered again. The waiter said 'you just had a pizza' and the guy said '"no! we ordered one and it never came". They waited about 30 minutes and a rather "well cooked" pizza arrived.
The bar was supposed to close at 11 p.m. but on our last night they had disappeared by 10:30 this after being served my red wine in a plastic cup. The live entertainment also disappeared at the same time leaving us surprised and disappointed.

We have stayed at dozens of resorts in Mexico and Cuba and this was by far the worst.

Arrived at Royal Villas December 6th...for a weeks stay all-inclusive. Was a very nice looking property. The room we were given was room 322...front of the hotel. Very large with 2 large balconies/patios....only problem was the noise from Gus Gus across the street until 3 am....
Also the fridge with snacks, beer and waters was empty.
The morning of the second day, we complained to the front desk. Lupita I believe her name was - was more than helpful. She quickly called a bellboy to come and show us a variety of different rooms and let us choose which one we wanted.
Food was more than adequate. Breakfast buffet all week - was great. Omelletes and eggs made to order. Lunch and dinner we ordered of the menu from the bar ..and found the food to be great. Never a bad meal.
Bar service was good..fairly fast. Raphael a waiter for the lounge and pool was great...he took very good care of us.
Beach vendors were quite annoying. I had read here but how annoying the time-share people were at the hotel...and can say that they never did bother us at all. So was not an issue.
Rooms were large. Comfortable beds...nice shower. Very clean. No complaints.
I would definetely return to this property.
Great location on the beach...easy walking.
Only complaint would be the bar closed very early 11 pm. The entertainment ended at 10:30. But Gus Gus across the street , had live music and great food..until the early hours.

Spent a week at this resort not being sure what to expect as we have only mainly stayed at Sandals resorts in the past. Sandals this resort is not but it was pretty nice. The food was very good every day, and the beer was cold. We had a junior suite on the south side after we changed rooms because of the bar Gus Gus being too loud. I had heard it was loud but didn't think it would be that loud. The room was huge, not that we spent much time in it. Our fridge had only been filled twice and only with pop, no beer as was indicated. Not a big deal as we would just drink downstairs anyway. We had lots of fun buying things on the beach and would bring the vendors the pop from the room. If you don't like the salesmen on the beach a polite no thank you and they were on their way. The timeshare people on the street were a different story, you had to be much more firm with them. We chose not to take any tours but did take taxis to old Mazatlan and make our own tour. We had blast doing that, in fact we should have done that earlier in the week so we could have done it more. All in all it was a very good trip and we would recommend the resort if you easy going and like a small and quaint setting. The staff was friendly and we had the most fun with Fernando and Jesus. I'm sure we will be back, it was well worth the money we paid for the trip.