El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

17704 reviews

• 

  Exceeded our expectations!

  Where to begin - El Dorado Royale exceeded my expectations at every turn. I do a lot of research before I commit, so I knew going in that the beach at this resort is not really a swimming beach, and that was perfectly fine. We were able to see and hear the ocean, walked up close to the ocean, and had a Beachfront Junior Suite, so we were more than good. If the need to actually swim in the ocean is a dealbreaker for you, then this is not the place for you, but for us, it was perfect! The moment we walked up to the front desk to check-in, we were greeted with someone asking us what we’d like to drink - moments later we were sipping Proseccos. As others have said, the grounds are simply magnificent! Palm trees, flowers and streams are everywhere - they are lush and impeccably cared for, kudos to the groundskeepers. There are a couple of main (larger) pools, but there are also many small ones all over the grounds where you can relax in the sun in a quieter space. The resort is quite large, but we liked it so we could get our steps in, but they also have golf carts that will pick you up and take you wherever you need to go if walking longer distances is an issue. The employees are the BEST! Every single one we passed anywhere had a smile and an “Hola!” We never really had an issue with pool deck chairs – yes, everyone gets up early with their towel clips and fastens them to the chairs, but we always managed to find a spot at the larger pool. FOOD - You are able to eat at any of the restaurants within El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas , and Generations – they’re all part of the same company. We enjoyed eating at La Isla as they offer an array of food (buffet style), and it’s open-air eating next to the pool. We wish it were open every day for breakfast, but that’s usually only on the weekends. But we had lunch there several times and it was delicious. Mauricio at La Isla was delightful, he made a point to remember my name - bonus points for sure! Cocotal is where they have breakfast everyday, very good, but it’s larger so it’s noisier and mostly indoors. They also have a pizza place on the other side of the pool, that was also good, we ate there once. For dinner you have to make reservations on their “app” (it’s not really an app that you download, it loads in your phones browser). That was okay, we mostly got in everywhere we wanted to eat. Pro-Tip = if you attempt to make a reservation for 2 and it says no availability, change the number of people to 3 and you will likely be able to get a reservation. Habb – the Indian restaurant was great, just be aware that restaurant is all the way down at the Generations Resort, one of the farthest – which was fine, just be aware. We also loved Kampai, the sushi/Asian restaurant – they have other food if you don’t eat sushi. Raul, our waiter on our last night was wonderful. We also ate at the Mediterranean D'Italia Villas, also very good. ENTERTAINMENT – Every night we headed over to the Guacamayas Bar where they have some sort of entertainment. We saw the band “Black Cow Band” three of the nights we were there, and another “Cygnus” – both very good – keep booking them!! We only wish they could have gotten longer sets than just 1 hour – let them play for 2 hours! Also, the aerial and cabaret acts they had which went on after the bands were also very good. I thoroughly enjoyed the water aerobics at La Isla Pool – kudos to Maurice (name, sp??) who led the women and a few men of all ages for some needed and fun exercise. He also did a fantastic job leading the foam party, which I’ll admit is not my thing, but he did a great job and everyone loved it. ROOMS – The rooms were lovely and comfortable and the balcony overlooking the beach was divine! The only thing was we were two sisters traveling together and I emailed three times requesting 2 beds (2 double, twin or full, whatever), but no, we had to share a king bed. Management – please be aware not everyone coming to your resort are couples, some are just friends, family and the like, and would like separate beds – please make this happen in the future. The beds and pillows were comfortable and there were plenty of towels – just nowhere to hang them, despite having plenty of empty wall space where they could install several towel bars. There were a few ants here and there, but you have to expect that a bit when you come to a tropical location. They weren’t anything we couldn’t manage. I didn’t like that the door to the shower is completely clear – please frost those like the bathroom door, a bit more privacy would be good. Same goes for the open (and clear) window/panel between the bedroom and the bathroom. We used two of the beach towels to throw over this divider as I am always awake before my sister and the light (and noise) pollution that spills into the bedroom is kind of annoying. They also fully and regularly stock the fridge with soft drinks, cerveza, and water – they do provide plenty of bottled water. Also, all of the public rest rooms were impeccably cared for, clean and well attended to. Just one other thing to take note of – the balcony doors lock behind you when you close them. There should be a sticker on the door or a note on the table or something as a warning. We ended up getting locked out on the balcony for about 30 minutes before we were able to force the door open with its broken handle. We notified three employees (we shouted for help and each said they would have security come right away), before we “broke” back into the room, at which time someone from security came in at the very same time. They did send someone to fix the broken handle on the balcony door very quickly and all was well. That would be the only thing was truly a negative. Please put notices somewhere in the room or on the sliding door mentioning that it locks behind you, and that you shouldn’t shut it all the way unless you keep part of the curtain between it. We also called the concierge to have a golf cart pick us up at our room with our luggage the day of our departure. No one came and we had to walk to the lobby. It was a lovely morning and we like to walk, but with all of our luggage it was an inconvenience. All of this said – I LOVED my time at El Dorado Royale and can’t wait to come back!! I fan-girled the entire time I was there and we are planning to come back next year, but plan to stay longer! Thank you again to everyone at El Dorado Royale for one of my favorite, most relaxing vacations ever!

  Apr 15, 2025
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  Great Resort, Amazing Staff

  We have visited El Dorado Royale a number of times now, and it is still quite good - one of our favorites. I actually never write reviews, for anything, but I felt compelled to write one this time. The resort itself, as mentioned, is still great. Food, staff, etc - all great. This time, however, we met an amazing Concierge named Angie - and I just wanted to give her a specific shoutout. Not only did Angie help us expertly plan our week on site, she went above and beyond after our vacation, tracking down a document that we needed - all of which was outside of her scope of work. After having little success trying to contact the resort from abroad when we got home, I took a chance and asked Angie. Not only was she willing to help, but was instrumental in gathering the document that we needed. It would not have happened without her. If you are visiting El Dorado Royale, count yourself as lucky, if your concierge is Angie from behind building 54!

  Apr 09, 2025
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  Great Resort Great Staff!!

  Second visit to this expansive resort, first visit was in November 2024 @Casitas. Staff are some of the best I have came across, attentive and knowledgeable and extremely friendly. Food was top notch in November but it seems to have fallen in standards since November, second visit food was not as good thus the 4 instead of 5 star rating. Simple things like hash browns still ice cold in the center and general buffet food was lukewarm and cold. All dinners were very good with Casitas Italian the standout. The entertainment crew. Mauricio, Luis, Eduardo, Dana and Hugo are amazing and should be commended for their efforts. Rooms are spacious and very clean with daily cleaning with everything refreshed. You can see also they are constantly fixing and maintaining the property which is a great sign going forward.

  Apr 06, 2025
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  A Beautiful, Relaxing Getaway with Great Food but a Few Service Hiccups.

  We had a very good experience at El Dorado Royale and would most likely return. The resort itself is beautiful, with lush, well-kept grounds and a relaxing atmosphere. A fun surprise was seeing iguanas roaming the property. There’s no shortage of things to do — from daily activities to multiple pools to choose from, we were never bored. Overall, we felt the trip offered excellent value for the money. Dining Highlights: The food across all the restaurants we tried was very good. A few experiences really stood out: Kampai Restaurant: Ezekiel and Eli took care of us here, and both were lovely. Eli, in particular, was especially funny and welcoming — a real highlight of the evening. D’Italia Casitas: This was a standout meal. The food was absolutely delicious. The cacao cacao dessert is a must for chocolate lovers, and my husband really enjoyed the cannolis. Our server Miguel was outstanding — professional, warm, and gave great recommendations. Cocotal (Breakfast Buffet): Joel was wonderful and made our mornings enjoyable. The buffet had an excellent variety, with lots of Mexican touches that made it feel special. The host (whose name I didn’t catch, but he also worked at the Kick Bar) was also very friendly and attentive. We also tried the Culinary Experience at Fuentes, which was a fun one-time experience. The dinner itself was fine — not something we’d rush to do again, but we’re glad we tried it. The highlight of the evening was the guitarist Pablo, who was truly amazing and made the experience memorable. I also want to mention Ramses at the Spa, who was a lovely young man — welcoming, kind, and professional. A Few Drawbacks: Unfortunately, not every service experience matched the rest. Vladimir at the Kick Bar was incredibly unwelcoming — he never said hello or acknowledged us at all, even when taking our order. It was noticeably unpleasant. The Santa Fe Grill was also disappointing — we waited over 10 minutes after being seated without anyone coming over to greet us, offer drinks, or take our order. We ended up leaving and were fortunately welcomed again at D’Italia Casitas. Other Notes: The oceanfront has large concrete blocks used as a wave break and artificial reef, which aren't the most attractive to look at. Also, the beach itself is rocky and not really suitable for swimming — something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a swimmable beach. Overall: Despite a few bumps in service, the majority of our experience at El Dorado Royale was wonderful. Friendly staff (with a few exceptions), great food, beautiful grounds, and plenty to do — all made for a relaxing and memorable stay. Would recommend!

  Apr 06, 2025
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  Exceeded expectations

  We wanted a resort with extensive, beautifully landscaped grounds and fresh, healthy food. That’s exactly what we got. Service was excellent from check-in to check-out and everything in between. There are kilometres of paths for walking or running. There are a variety of colorful birds, especially near the lobby building. From the front of the lobby all the way to the beach there are a series of reflective pools and pretty bridges surrounded by mature palm trees that are artistically lit at night. Dinner Restaurants It was easy to book dinner for 2 with the web app. We tried several restaurants. D’Italia Villas was our favourite. The appetizers, soups, mains, and desserts each arrived with small gaps between the courses. None of these were large but together made up an enjoyable meal. The Rishta Lentil Soup was so good. Lunch Health Bar: seating is outside where you can see and hear the waves. The day we arrived we were settled into our room at 5 pm and realized that they were still open until 6. I ordered a salad and a sandwich. Both are fresh and so big that it was almost too much for me. We went back there often. Spot: seating is on a covered patio overlooking a large pool. Food is buffet-style with different choices each day. A very good selection of desserts. Beach In front of Kick bar there is a beach with loungers. Many are shaded by large palapas over round wooden tables. Being right at the southern end of the resort, by facing south, you can enjoy a view that is unimpeded by artificial reefs. That’s also where you can find a small stretch of sandy waterfront for swimming.

  Mar 30, 2025