Remember, We are in our early 50s. We have been to this area several times, and love it, completely!
This is our take on the Catalonia Royal Tulum in Mexico. Were there minor problems? Sure. But, for this price-point, beautiful beach and jungle-like setting – WITHOUT the kiddos (yours or theirs!), this is one resort that is hard to pass up.
For context in the past we have stayed at:
Hard Rock Riviera Maya – Adults only
Xpu-Ha Palace – closed down, and I am soooo sad! This resort was one-of-a-kind, amazing!
Hilton Playa Del Carmen – Adults only
We have also stayed in Cancun at several resorts, located on the strip locations, but we are not big partiers, even though the clubs there are a MUST DO, right-of-passage, when you stay in Cancun. The strip is so busy and commercialized we like the Tulum, Playa Del Carmen area a bit better, for our vibe.
Rooms: smaller than anywhere else we have stayed. And yes we upgraded. Bed is VERY creaky and harder than we are used to. Seriously , you roll over and it’s SO LOUD! We have laughed so hard about the crazy creaky bed non-stop though – and what our neighbors probably hear. 
They make little towel animals and are in your room about twice a day.
There’s also a nice balcony which I used (secret smokes, remember? :), every day. In building 6 you can hear the ocean and catch some of the tropical animals. It’s super relaxing. Important note: There are NO ocean view rooms at this property, if this is important to you when booking. Look at the picture above – all buildings are in the middle of the scenic jungle, with a walk to get to the water.
Food: It’s just ok. With that being said, you will find something to like because it’s plentiful – if you don’t like it, order something else or go somewhere else to eat. We have managed to find something we like at every meal. The only thing that I really hated was the pot eggs at Bloved. NO ONE likes salsa verde that much! 🙁 We even liked the Mexican restaurant and Italian restaurant here. I mention those in particular, because sometimes those are hit-or-miss at all-inclusive resorts.
Also drinks are weak but delicious. If you’re wanting a nice little vacation buzz, I would recommend wine. (HA! Go figure)
Beach: The best beach in this area. It’s perfect! White soft sand, clear water, good waves to play in. Beach chairs are plentiful and were never a problem. They bring drinks starting at 10am. If you want something earlier (like a mimosa) you will have to go to Bloved. Note: You will need a Privileged Suite (Gah! I hate that term! They should rethink that) to get access to Bloved and the private beach.
Walkways: These were so much more than what we were expecting! I really thought it was just one little bridge, based on google searches and reviews! They are long, beautiful walks! You WILL see wildlife! These walking paths remind me of Xpu-Ha Palace (no longer there) and Occidental at Xcaret. You are right in the middle of the wild, natural Mayan Riviera.
Dinner Show: Rauxa (a sexy, fun, risque, dinner show on the property) – This show was fantastic and fun! You will need reservations! Make them when you arrive. Food was really good! Unfortunately I couldn’t really eat on this night. Not for any reason other than too much sun and booze. Lol. I loved how they served the meal in between the acts. Very, very cool.
Spa: – I had an 80 minute massage (upgraded from the free one that was included in our purchase)
Husband had a free 30 minute massage and a mani pedi spa treatment.
I ADORED the massage! We went early to enjoy the wet areas. This is a shared space, and we were there alone for most of the time. It cost me $60 for an 80 minute (remember, I had a 30 minute free one) husbands was $80. He wasn’t super impressed with mani pedi BUT his nails and skin looked amazing.
Dinner on the beach: – This was also included part of our original package, and was our favorite! It was delicious and the BEST BEACH we have ever done a dinner on! I cannot say loudly enough how much we loved it! Do yourself a favor too and get the pictures. If I hadn’t talked my hard-headed-one into it I would have regretted it. They take soo many, you will find at least one you like! Totally worth it.
Mornings: – I’m an early riser. I highly recommend waking up and going down early at least one morning and catching a sunrise. It’s breathtaking.
New Year’s Eve: – This was a blast. We ate at an Italian restaurant and they had a special menu that night. Pretty good. And the party at the pool was crazy fun! We went home a bit hungover, but we made it, and it was an unforgettable experience.
Final review:
Rooms: 6.5 (smaller and squeaky bed)
Food: 7.5 (some we loved, some hated, some just ok)
Grounds: 8 (smaller but long walking paths)
Pool: 8
Beach: 10
Spa: 9.5
Staff/service: 8.0
Adults Only: 10
Overall: Would we return for price? Yes.
