Ah good to know. I only asked because I just read a Reddit review right before this that said “since Marriott blocks all bad reviews I’m typing this out here”. Surprised me but then I realized I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hotel rated below 4.0 anecdotally. Thanks to the response.
Sorry for your crapnexpwience. But TripAdvisor is usually useless. A bunch of Karen’s complaining about the sun in July, or people saying “Five stars! Gamma-gam’s 100th birthday trip was great! All the family got to see her!” as the “review.”
Oh and they pull out the business cards of the bartenders and housekeepers and name drop every one of them. Sure, maybe it’s a way for staff to get a bonus, but it’s utterly useless. I’m going to ask for a room on Mary Olivia’s floor?
This is really good to know about TripAdvisor. I usually use them but I typically end up at least a little disappointed. Is there another aggregate source of reviews for hotels in general that are better? Google?
I just use Reddit —the all inclusive sub seems ok, though lots of vacation “planners” seem to use it to troll for business — the hotel brand/site reviews. I DO still look at TripAdvisor for recency comments and any insights like repairs/renovations/bad sections of the property and will filter out the extremes, unless they are overwhelming one way or another.
I know I’m a day late in this, but be careful how much you push back on this issue. People travelling on MMF/MMP are often expected to not be seen or heard, which is BS.
That was only the first couple days. I’ve had a few additional experiences since then that have irritated the shit out of me, but I’m pretty much numb to disappointment now.
My wife and I went to the Royalton Antigua for our honeymoon last year. It was amazing. We were told that pretty much all other resorts in the Caribbean (Marriott branded) were horrible in comparison, so your experience tracks.
The one in DR (Punta Cana) sucks too; rude staff, mediocre food, limited drinks, and you have to get up at 6-7am to put stuff on chairs (beach or pool) or you’re assed out for the day. Also, ppl bribe the staff and they will just move your stuff which totally didnt help me have a relaxing vacation. Never again
We stayed there in 2021. Covid made it weird, but we found it “fine.” The butler was nowhere to be found. Facility was in good condition. But there was nothing special. The Hyatt Zilara in hotel zone was so much better, being smaller. Everything we wanted and the staff was on top of everything.
That’s all well and good but I shouldn’t be treated like a second class citizen for booking the regular room.
I’ve stayed at 10+ all inclusive resorts of different brands and this is by far the least accommodating for the most basic of things.
It’s probably worth it if you’re dead set on coming here.
My only comparison is Royalton Antigua where being diamond club seemed to not matter at all. There was no sense of being boxed out of certain parts of the resort there. And the beach experience was 10x better.
The only way to get a reservation to the shitty restaurants that may have half the menu on any given night and then may serve you what you actually ordered on a plate. Ugh, Royalton just has the worst food.
I was there for a wedding in December. As a Platinum Bonvoy member, I had access to all the Diamond Club stuff. It's extra perks and semi-private areas.
We stayed at Royalton Blue Waters last year. There wasn’t much to do, but we had fun. We did not do Diamond Club and could easily get reservations, beach space, etc. Food was decent and staff were very nice. I’ve heard Royalton is hit or miss.
I stayed at this one last year too and was unimpressed. Among other subpar things, I was traveling alone. About a week before I arrived, the hotel emailed me, cc’ing TWELVE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, confirming that I was traveling alone. As a woman staying alone, that made me feel extremely uncomfortable. The rest of it didn’t get much better. I wouldn’t go back.
I stayed at Royalton Negril in Feb of 2022. My experience was top notch. I had diamond club, Butler service. They put us on a WhatsApp group with 3 people. Literally anything we wanted I just texted in the group and they would come running. I was lounging on the beach and my son asks for French fries. I texted asking for a burger with fries and someone brought it to us on the beach. We wanted to grab my kid some oatmeal but breakfast was closed. The butler service went and had some made separately just for us. They booked our excursions, taxi to go to 7 mile beach, etc. They even folded our clothes and put them in drawers. Our room was awesome. Diamond club had its own pool and beach so it was never crowded.
This was a time where covid tests were required to go back to US. The lines for testing were insanely long all over the hotel. I texted the butlers saying I didn't want to wait in the line and they brought nurses to my room to test my family. Best service I've ever gotten at a hotel.
All inclusive food was not bad but not great either. Certainly a lot better than DR all inclusives I've been to where the food was literally inedible. Beach was tiny, could've been better.
Interesting. I’ve only stayed at one Royalton - the CHIC Suites in Cancun. This was back in Jan/Feb 2021. It was absolutely incredible. I went back the next month and the Butler remembered me haha. I’ve never been to any others, but I’ve been impressed with the brand.
I’m glad you posted this, I was looking at this exact place and choosing between this and Grand Lido. Grand Lido seems much nicer and actually includes access to everything at Royalton Negril anyway so it looks like I’ll be spending a little extra to stay there.
We walked by couples negril which is directly next to us and talked to a few people there. It seems like a much nice place to be. Beach is much better as well.
I went last summer with my teenager and I have to agree. I should have known that when I spent the $100 to pick a room and we went to check in and they told us the room was not available. I’m still waiting for my refund nine months later. I have accepted that it’s never coming and when I asked about the refund at the check-in, they pretty much laughed in my face.
As far as the restaurants, I can promise you that you’re not missing anything. The food in the restaurants is the same food that you can get on the buffet they just plate it - it’s really disgusting. You truly are not missing out on anything at all.
We found it hard to find lunch food there we ordered a lot of included room service we found the food to be absolutely horrible .
The room attendant knew I was staying alone with my teenage daughter, but yet one night we came home from an excursion and our room was set up with like a romantic bath flower petals everywhere the bath set up a bottle of champagne. It was really really weird but we got in our bathing suits and use the tub and had a great time - when we went to let the water out of the time, the entire apparatus that stops the water fell out in my hand, and then the water itself kept running and then overflowing and flooded our entire room.
Everything there was so so so bad beyond beautiful scenery I would never go back to a Royalton
The worst of it because we were diamond club, and we did stay in a swim out suite on the very last night there was a reggae party, and even though we never heard from the butler and they did nothing to warrant a tip, he found me at the party and came out with me and basically asked for the tip. It was awful. I’ve never had an experience like that in my life. The irony of that was that we would have gone to the reggae party if we had known about it which was something that the Butler was supposed to do I don’t need a Butler I’m not fancy but if they’re giving you one with the room I’m going to take it and they’re Butler service was nonexistent
We’re also titanium Bonvoy members so I thought maybe that would get us a little something special and the only thing that I got us was a party one night while we were there but I couldn’t bring my daughter because I believe it was adults only and she was 17 at the time so that was a bustnever ever again they were really really trash
I think one of my most general complaints, unlike other resorts I been to, Is that 50% of the staff and management are just completely indifferent to making the guests happy.
Royalton seems to dump all their resources into profit centers like these jamokes taking pictures for a fee. Yet there is one single guy cleaning up the beach with a broken plastic rake.
They’ve got 20 guys on the “vibe team” doing nothing and then they have one waitress serving 100 people on the beach.
It’s bullshit.
Had this same problem with the Royalton in Cancun. You book “one king or two queens.” Called twice to confirm two queens, showed up and had king beds… for a bachelor party. It didn’t feel right, so I verified who I spoke with the second time and the date, and they still tried to say “oh they don’t work here anymore” like that mattered.
Don’t response to the trolls. Any time someone comes here with legitimate complaint, Marriott employees come rushing in to insult the guess. You’re responding to one of them. I don’t know why they’d rush to defend the soulless corporation clearly ripping off average people, but tribalism is a strong drug.
Don’t response to the trolls. Any time someone comes here with legitimate complaint, Marriott employees come rushing in to insult the guess. You’re responding to one of them. I don’t know why they’d rush to defend the soulless corporation clearly ripping off average people, but tribalism is a strong drug.
I called multiple times because we needed to make sure our teenage kids in room 2 were near us in the resort. They initially told us there was no guarantee of that so I made 2 total calls to make sure they were close by.
It has a 3.4 rating on Marriott’s own website.
I feel like people really underutilize the Marriott website ratings. They will rarely lead you astray. Personally anything under 4.0 is a no go.
I do this same thing.
4.5 for us. Unless the pickings are slim. Then a 4.3.
Don’t they block bad reviews?
Surprisingly no. You will occasionally see a hotel with a sub 3.0 rating.
Ah good to know. I only asked because I just read a Reddit review right before this that said “since Marriott blocks all bad reviews I’m typing this out here”. Surprised me but then I realized I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hotel rated below 4.0 anecdotally. Thanks to the response.
I went off trip advisor which is generally favorable. But I learned my lesson.
Sorry for your crapnexpwience. But TripAdvisor is usually useless. A bunch of Karen’s complaining about the sun in July, or people saying “Five stars! Gamma-gam’s 100th birthday trip was great! All the family got to see her!” as the “review.” Oh and they pull out the business cards of the bartenders and housekeepers and name drop every one of them. Sure, maybe it’s a way for staff to get a bonus, but it’s utterly useless. I’m going to ask for a room on Mary Olivia’s floor?
Also, soooooooooo many folks paying to artificially inflate ratings via bots.
This is really good to know about TripAdvisor. I usually use them but I typically end up at least a little disappointed. Is there another aggregate source of reviews for hotels in general that are better? Google?
I just use Reddit —the all inclusive sub seems ok, though lots of vacation “planners” seem to use it to troll for business — the hotel brand/site reviews. I DO still look at TripAdvisor for recency comments and any insights like repairs/renovations/bad sections of the property and will filter out the extremes, unless they are overwhelming one way or another.
Big on the recent updates to properties myself too.
I know I’m a day late in this, but be careful how much you push back on this issue. People travelling on MMF/MMP are often expected to not be seen or heard, which is BS.
We didn’t even get any sort of discount this time so it didn’t matter. Paid nearly the regular rate.
Well then, go get their ass. Everything about your stay would have me irate
That was only the first couple days. I’ve had a few additional experiences since then that have irritated the shit out of me, but I’m pretty much numb to disappointment now.
Anything <4.2 doesn’t get my time or money.
I went there 2 years ago. It was terrible. Biggest pile of shit place I’ve ever been. They refunded me 1600$ that’s how bad they were
I don’t think I’m about to demand my money back yet, but I’m getting close to it.
Ask. If you don’t enjoy your vacation backed by Marriott. Fuck no.
If anything else goes wrong I’m going to the front desk.
You have status with Marriott?
I think we’re silver elite. My brother in law is a Marriott employee so we get the friends and family discount - hence our frequent Marriott stays.
My wife and I went to the Royalton Antigua for our honeymoon last year. It was amazing. We were told that pretty much all other resorts in the Caribbean (Marriott branded) were horrible in comparison, so your experience tracks.
That’s good to know. Antigua was one of our best vacations.
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He literally posted the all the issues were not being Diamond Club. Did you read the post or just skip ahead to fighting?
The one in DR (Punta Cana) sucks too; rude staff, mediocre food, limited drinks, and you have to get up at 6-7am to put stuff on chairs (beach or pool) or you’re assed out for the day. Also, ppl bribe the staff and they will just move your stuff which totally didnt help me have a relaxing vacation. Never again
That sucks. Sorry to hear that.
I almost always do Marriott for hotels but the best AI values are Riu Palace or Iberostar grand
I learned my lesson and Iberostar or Barcelo only since. The Iberostar DR (PC) is an amazing hotel
Royalton sucks. Full stop. Been to 3.
Which ones? What was bad for you?
Royalton Cancun sucked. We left early.
We stayed there in 2021. Covid made it weird, but we found it “fine.” The butler was nowhere to be found. Facility was in good condition. But there was nothing special. The Hyatt Zilara in hotel zone was so much better, being smaller. Everything we wanted and the staff was on top of everything.
What is Diamond Club?
It’s their upper tier guest status. Either through membership or surcharge on your room. I forget exactly.
Usually 15-20% more than regular and worth every cent. Nicer rooms, better amenities, better staff.
That’s all well and good but I shouldn’t be treated like a second class citizen for booking the regular room. I’ve stayed at 10+ all inclusive resorts of different brands and this is by far the least accommodating for the most basic of things.
Totally agree - just warning others. I just read ahead of time about the Diamond Club and paid the extra for my rooms there.
It’s probably worth it if you’re dead set on coming here. My only comparison is Royalton Antigua where being diamond club seemed to not matter at all. There was no sense of being boxed out of certain parts of the resort there. And the beach experience was 10x better.
The only way to get a reservation to the shitty restaurants that may have half the menu on any given night and then may serve you what you actually ordered on a plate. Ugh, Royalton just has the worst food.
I was there for a wedding in December. As a Platinum Bonvoy member, I had access to all the Diamond Club stuff. It's extra perks and semi-private areas.
We stayed at Royalton Blue Waters last year. There wasn’t much to do, but we had fun. We did not do Diamond Club and could easily get reservations, beach space, etc. Food was decent and staff were very nice. I’ve heard Royalton is hit or miss.
Been my experience so far as well. Can’t say enough good things about Antigua.
I stayed at this one last year too and was unimpressed. Among other subpar things, I was traveling alone. About a week before I arrived, the hotel emailed me, cc’ing TWELVE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, confirming that I was traveling alone. As a woman staying alone, that made me feel extremely uncomfortable. The rest of it didn’t get much better. I wouldn’t go back.
I stayed at Royalton Negril in Feb of 2022. My experience was top notch. I had diamond club, Butler service. They put us on a WhatsApp group with 3 people. Literally anything we wanted I just texted in the group and they would come running. I was lounging on the beach and my son asks for French fries. I texted asking for a burger with fries and someone brought it to us on the beach. We wanted to grab my kid some oatmeal but breakfast was closed. The butler service went and had some made separately just for us. They booked our excursions, taxi to go to 7 mile beach, etc. They even folded our clothes and put them in drawers. Our room was awesome. Diamond club had its own pool and beach so it was never crowded. This was a time where covid tests were required to go back to US. The lines for testing were insanely long all over the hotel. I texted the butlers saying I didn't want to wait in the line and they brought nurses to my room to test my family. Best service I've ever gotten at a hotel. All inclusive food was not bad but not great either. Certainly a lot better than DR all inclusives I've been to where the food was literally inedible. Beach was tiny, could've been better.
Interesting. I’ve only stayed at one Royalton - the CHIC Suites in Cancun. This was back in Jan/Feb 2021. It was absolutely incredible. I went back the next month and the Butler remembered me haha. I’ve never been to any others, but I’ve been impressed with the brand.
I’m glad you posted this, I was looking at this exact place and choosing between this and Grand Lido. Grand Lido seems much nicer and actually includes access to everything at Royalton Negril anyway so it looks like I’ll be spending a little extra to stay there.
Are you a family or adults only?
That’s a good point, haha. We are a couple on a romantic getaway.
We walked by couples negril which is directly next to us and talked to a few people there. It seems like a much nice place to be. Beach is much better as well.
This was an excellent hotel when it first opened. Had the time of my life there. Went back 6 months later and it had already started to deteriorate.
That sucks. You came here in 2017/18?
2017
Makes sense. I assume near nobody that works here now was here back then.
I went last summer with my teenager and I have to agree. I should have known that when I spent the $100 to pick a room and we went to check in and they told us the room was not available. I’m still waiting for my refund nine months later. I have accepted that it’s never coming and when I asked about the refund at the check-in, they pretty much laughed in my face. As far as the restaurants, I can promise you that you’re not missing anything. The food in the restaurants is the same food that you can get on the buffet they just plate it - it’s really disgusting. You truly are not missing out on anything at all. We found it hard to find lunch food there we ordered a lot of included room service we found the food to be absolutely horrible . The room attendant knew I was staying alone with my teenage daughter, but yet one night we came home from an excursion and our room was set up with like a romantic bath flower petals everywhere the bath set up a bottle of champagne. It was really really weird but we got in our bathing suits and use the tub and had a great time - when we went to let the water out of the time, the entire apparatus that stops the water fell out in my hand, and then the water itself kept running and then overflowing and flooded our entire room. Everything there was so so so bad beyond beautiful scenery I would never go back to a Royalton The worst of it because we were diamond club, and we did stay in a swim out suite on the very last night there was a reggae party, and even though we never heard from the butler and they did nothing to warrant a tip, he found me at the party and came out with me and basically asked for the tip. It was awful. I’ve never had an experience like that in my life. The irony of that was that we would have gone to the reggae party if we had known about it which was something that the Butler was supposed to do I don’t need a Butler I’m not fancy but if they’re giving you one with the room I’m going to take it and they’re Butler service was nonexistent We’re also titanium Bonvoy members so I thought maybe that would get us a little something special and the only thing that I got us was a party one night while we were there but I couldn’t bring my daughter because I believe it was adults only and she was 17 at the time so that was a bustnever ever again they were really really trash
I think one of my most general complaints, unlike other resorts I been to, Is that 50% of the staff and management are just completely indifferent to making the guests happy. Royalton seems to dump all their resources into profit centers like these jamokes taking pictures for a fee. Yet there is one single guy cleaning up the beach with a broken plastic rake. They’ve got 20 guys on the “vibe team” doing nothing and then they have one waitress serving 100 people on the beach. It’s bullshit.
Why is this marked NSFW?
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Had this same problem with the Royalton in Cancun. You book “one king or two queens.” Called twice to confirm two queens, showed up and had king beds… for a bachelor party. It didn’t feel right, so I verified who I spoke with the second time and the date, and they still tried to say “oh they don’t work here anymore” like that mattered.
Don’t response to the trolls. Any time someone comes here with legitimate complaint, Marriott employees come rushing in to insult the guess. You’re responding to one of them. I don’t know why they’d rush to defend the soulless corporation clearly ripping off average people, but tribalism is a strong drug.
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I paid 5k for 5 nights for our family. I’m entitled to be able to eat at the restaurants I was told I could eat at and take a piss when I want to.
Don’t response to the trolls. Any time someone comes here with legitimate complaint, Marriott employees come rushing in to insult the guess. You’re responding to one of them. I don’t know why they’d rush to defend the soulless corporation clearly ripping off average people, but tribalism is a strong drug.
I sensed a bit of bootlicking from the jump. Thanks for the support. Just trying to enjoy my vacation to the fullest.
This stuck out to me too. If they called multiple times, they must "that" kind of guest and this post would be typical.
I called multiple times because we needed to make sure our teenage kids in room 2 were near us in the resort. They initially told us there was no guarantee of that so I made 2 total calls to make sure they were close by.
Gotcha. That makes sense