We had a wonderful wedding week at The Royal PDC in July 2012.  We are both in our 30s and wanted something different than the traditional Texas church wedding, so we took 11 friends and family to Playa for a Wednesday afternoon beach wedding and the week couldn't have been better!

FLIGHT - American Airlines - A - We flew out of DFW to Cancun on American Airlines on a Sunday morning.  No problems at all.  Our flight back was on Friday.  It was a little busy and the Cancun airport isn't exactly the best as far as customer service, but maybe I was just spoiled by being at The Royal for a week! 

TRANSPORT TO/FROM THE RESORT - Olympus Tours - A - We booked through Travelocity so they used Olympus as their transfer company and they did  a great job.  Very organized and thorough.  We had to wait about 15 minutes at the Cancun airport for a van.  They stopped at two other resorts on the way and it took us about an hour to get to The Royal.  When they picked us up to return to the airport, they were very prompt and we made it to the airport in about 45 minutes.  My parents also did a catamaran excursion through them and they loved it.

ROMANCE CONCIERGE - A+ - I don't remember her name but she checked us in, got us drinks, helped us upgrade our room and answered all questions we had.  Very nice and helpful.  Our room wasn't ready for another hour so we just went and ate lunch.   When the water in our shower wasn't getting hot, she sent someone up to the room to help so fast that he beat us up there and already had it fixed before we even got there!  We were not bothered by the timeshare people.  In fact, one of them approached us when we entered and all she did was lead us to the Romance Concierge.  She was very helpful.

ROOM - A - We got room 533 (chose it on the online check in), Oceanfront Master Suite, for five nights.  We had a Ocean-view Master Suite but upgraded because those rooms are SO FAR away from the beach and pool.  We wanted to be closer to the action.  I'm so glad we upgraded (about $120 a night) because the view was amazing and all we had to do is go downstairs to be right at the pool or beach.  My parents stayed in one of the rooms we had originally booked and they did not like being so far away.  If you are looking for privacy and quiet, book in the newer part in the back.  If you want to experience everything and be close to the action, book closer to the main pool.  We had Top Shelf liquor in our (not so mini) mini bar, two balconies, hot tub (which, for us, we were always too hot to want to sit in a hot tub), towel art and rose petals, chocolates, etc.  The only reason our room (which was HUGE) doesn't get an A+ is because our AC never got cold enough for us. It wasn't unbearable, but we like it pretty cold, especially when you come in from a long, hot day.

POOL - A - We always saw some open chairs around the pool.  Yes, some were saved, but it wasn't all of them.  The swim up bar is OK.. the bartenders aren't really that attentive and they won't give you a straw for your drink, so if you get a straw from somewhere else, save it for your next drink.  The waitresses at the pool were good and pool volleyball was always fun. There were activities going on every day, but we didn't participate so I'm not sure what all they were.  The music was good, not too loud or too quiet.

BEACH - A - The beach was relaxing and fun.  Lots of activities available but we really weren't pestered by people selling us things.  We had a reserved cabana, but our friends sat in the ones around us and no one ever came and told them to move.  There is good resort security at the beach as well as a waitress, who tries to keep up, but that is a lot to keep up with.  The beach is public, so there are children and locals on the beach.  There are some rocks so you have to be careful where you step.  The waves were fairly big when we were in the water and the water smells a little bad, but once you are out there you get used to it.  There was only one area where you could swim because the red flags were up everywhere else, but we had fun hanging out in the ocean.  We also para-sailed which was fun and relaxing.  We got discs with pictures on them...if you have your own camera I wouldn't really recommend it because all of the pictures pretty much look the same.  Also, my husband's parents did it and they are about 60 and not the most mobile.  The seadoo that takes you to and from the boat flipped over with them on it.  They were laughing but my husband wasn't all that amused to see his parents flailing around in the ocean with no one really helping them.  They had life jackets and there wasn't really anything anyone could do and it all worked out (but the seadoo driver said some Spanish cuss words I hadn't heard in a while!).

RESTAURANTS -A - We only ate at Spice (buffet), Pelicano's, and two restaurants at the sister resort (Marie's and Il Pescatore).  My husband doesn't like asian food and our parents ate at Maria Marie's but weren't that impressed.  Spice was generally good for a buffet.  I enjoyed it most for breakfast (chilaquiles) but we ate there at lunch once and dinner once too.  The waitstaff is nice and always remembered us.  Pelicano's was our usual lunch spot.  We enjoyed the flank steak, pizza, scallops, shrimp, and chips and guac.  We ate breakfast there once and my husband said that was the best french toast he has ever had.  Il Pescatore (Italian) was one of our group dinners and honestly I don't remember what I had there.  Seems like it was decent, but not amazing.  After the wedding, we ate at Marie's at the Gran Porto.  They sat us all together and we had a great time.  Good margaritas and food.  I had some type of tacos, which were basically the same as the fajitas other people ordered.  Probably the best food we had from the resort though.  My husband LOVED that all the restaurants (at The Royal, not Gran Porto) served Coors Light!

BARS - A - We didn't spend much time at the bars on the resort.  I know the lobby bar and the one in Pelicano's are the only one that has Coors Light, so that was a plus for us Texans.  Swim up bar was so-so.  Drinks seemed a little weak at first so we started ordering doubles, and we ended up passed out and missed dinner, so they must be doing something right!

SPAzul - A+ - My MIL, who is a massage connoisseur, said those were the best deep tissue massages she has ever had.  My hubby and I got a couples massage in the Spa (my first ever) and it was good, but I had nothing to compare it to.  I was a little giggly about the whole thing.  50 minutes for $136 for the couple.  I also had my hair done for the wedding there and they did a WONDERFUL job.  She took her time and looked at the pictures I brought and really made my hair stay in the wind and humidity. I did my own makeup just to save time and money but I bet they'd do a good job on that too.

WEDDING COORDINATOR - Lilia - A+ - Let me start by saying I kept my wedding very simple.  She was always prompt in responding to my emails as was Maritza (the first lady I worked with from Real Resorts) and answered any questions I had.  We met with her our first full day there for about 5 minutes.  I told her I had a cake topper and the music I wanted was on my iPhone.  She said she would pick them  up at 3 on the wedding day and she did (about 3:15, but it's Mexico after all).  She came and got me when it was time and everything went great.  When it was over she met me at the room to give me the stuff back and that was that.

WEDDING - A- We chose the free wedding package because we wanted to keep it simple, but keep in mind nothing is free.  We had our wedding on the beach in front of Pelicanos.  We thought that if we were going to the beach to get married, then we were getting married ON the beach.  There were many onlookers and people who walked past but I never even saw them until the pics.  I was glad they were watching and enjoying our wedding! I didn't have any extra decorations, just the basic white, which was fine with me.  I made my own bouquet and bout. out of paper flowers (which saved money and was unique) and they looked great.  We had vanilla cake (Hubby is picky) and champagne at the end of the aisle when we were done.  I took my own script, which was followed, except for a few things.  They asked my dad who gives this woman blah blah blah...which I didn't have in my script considering I haven't lived at home since I was 18 and I had a part for the parents in there later.  That was unexpected, as well as having to sign a certificate in the middle of the ceremony and have two witnesses sign.  I figured since it was just a symbolic marriage, we wouldn't have to do that, so we weren't prepared with witnesses or anything.  Two guests finally came up and signed.  Otherwise, it was wonderful.  Evidently everyone cried but us.  **As a side note, I'm so glad we did the legal marriage before we left because it took so much pressure off of that day.  I cried like a baby at the courthouse but did nothing but smile at the beach wedding while everyone else cried!**

RECEPTION - We didn't have one.  It made no sense for me to pay for food we had already paid for at an all inclusive or have a dance floor and DJ for 13 people.  We went across the street and ate at Marie's and it was great, then we hit up 5th Avenue and had a great time.  We were a group of 13, ages from 30-60.

PHOTOGRAPHER - A+ - I was really impressed with the resort photographer (from Funever).  I didn't catch her name, but she was very professional and took 400+ photos in an hour and a half.  She took  us all over the resort and really worked hard to get great shots.  It was fun to walk around and have people cheer for you and tell you congrats.  We have the proofs, but are still combing through them.  The only thing that bothers me,  is that they evidently cannot say anything to any other people about moving out of the way, or even excuse me, or anything.  There was a guy sitting right in the way of some great shots and she never said anything to him, probably because she isn't allowed.  Other than some random people in our pictures, they are very good.

5TH AVENUE - A - Besides all of the street vendors offering you everything from drugs to prostitutes, 5th Avenue is fun.  We bought some souvenirs and had some drinks and food there.  We loved the Tequila Barrel for drinks.  They had a great atmosphere and we saw some famous Mexican singer there (Pablo Montero?).  Our last night we went to Mi Pueblo for dinner (we were tired of the resort food by then) and it was some of the BEST food I've ever had.  Amazing margaritas, guacamole, bacon wrapped shrimp, chorizo, beef.  We were stuffed.  Several mariachi bands came by and sang and it was a really great time.  I highly recommend both places.

Overall, I'm not sure I would change a thing about our week at The Royal. Some of the things I would definitely recommend are:

• Get legally married before you go.  It took so much pressure off of me on the day of the wedding, I could just relax and have fun, which is the whole purpose of a beach wedding!  I was glad not to be a crying mess.
• An oceanfront room.  Worth it, great view and location.  The other one we would love was the one that walked straight out to the pool.
• For us, a simple wedding was all we needed.  It can become a money pit really fast.  If I wanted to worry about colors and flowers and cake flavors I would have just stayed here and gone the traditional route.  It's all about spending that week with your friends and family.
• SPAzul for hair. 
• Resort Photog.  Great job for only $650.  1.5 hours and 60 photo disk plus prints.
• Eat off the resort at least once.  That was the best food we had all week at Mi Pueblo.
• Gift bags.  None of our guests had been to a destination wedding before and they were so impressed with my welcome bags.  They thought I came up with all that by myself! Haha!
• Choose The Royal due to its location.  Close to all the action and not isolated.  We loved it.  Best customer service we have ever had.

Hope this was helpful and I hope everyone who chooses The Royal PDC enjoys it as much as we did!