El Dorado Casitas Royale: A Private, Adults-Only Playground
Snuggled along the Caribbean coast, you’ll find the all-inclusive El Dorado Casitas Royale. It is an adults-only resort designed by people who understand romance and the importance of private time. The best part is there aren’t any children to be seen (or heard) anywhere near the casitas, just the calm breeze rustling through the palm trees. Unwind in your private, picturesque casita overlooking the clear blue sea and enjoy your super-cozy room with an in-suite Jacuzzi, outdoor shower, and private wading pool.
For couples who want to disappear into a quiet resort with no children, this is your place. Although there are over 200 casitas on the property, they are clustered into 20 guest rooms around one private pool, restaurants and beach. So, you truly feel like you are at a small, intimate resort. Each couple can easily have their own draped cabana on the beach and the staff is eager to get you a drink of your choice—all included. You can dine at one of the several different a la carte restaurants on the resort. This is a lovely change to usual all-inclusive resorts where meals are served buffet-style. Another bonus is that all the vegetables are grown in their hydroponic garden and many dishes are created around what is ripe and ready to eat.
I have to admit that I am not a fan of all-inclusive resorts. The ones that I have experienced offered sub-par service and the food was never an important aspect of the stay. It was different at the El Dorado Casitas. The staff was super-attentive and my favorite part of the day was when my companion and I would stroll to the beach, find a private cabana, and lay out our towels on the big, comfortable mattress. Within minutes, we would have a waiter at our curtain asking us what we would like to drink. Piña Coladas of course! Since it was only 10 am, a beer seemed a bit too much.
Our days were spent playing in the sand, swimming in the pool and enjoying cocktails at the swim-up bar. Although the food options were endless, we chose to stay close to our casita and ordered room service every morning (also included). We would enjoy breakfast on our private terrace with a bed and small swimming pool. Lunch we would eat poolside, where they would cook the a la carte menu items on the grill next to the patio. One of the more popular restaurants was D’Italia. There, waiters dressed to the nines offered an impressive list of Italian dishes, along with red or white wine. Those who wanted to enjoy a vintage bottle of wine could do so for a few dollars more. Otherwise all food was included. It is a treat to look at a menu and not worry about the price.
There is no other property on the north side of the resort, so we spent hours holding hands and playing at the water’s edge there. We found a turtle’s nest of eggs, along with beautiful seashells that drifted onto the white sandy beach. It was simply heaven and a time in my life that I will never forget.
If you truly want to get away and not worry about a thing, this is the place for you. The staff is incredible, the dining choices are impressive, and the rooms were definitely designed by someone who understands romance and privacy. I would definitely go back.
Where: 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport
Price: $662 – $1984 per night, per couple (All-inclusive)
Amenities: Private beach, numerous swimming pools, spa and beauty salon, snorkeling, kayaking, nightly entertainment and events.
All-inclusive Restaurants: Cocotal Restaurant, D’Italia, Kampai, La Isla, JoJo’s Seaside Grill, Fuentes-Culinary Theatre, La Fondue, La Cabaña Pizzeria, Healthy Corner, Rincon Mexicano.
All-inclusive Bars: Martini Bar, Las Guacamayas, Las Olas Corner, and the Swim-Up Bars: La Isla, Las Fuentes, Pericos, Papagayos, Pelicanos, Colibri, Quetzal, Faisanes, Albatros, Gaviotas Seashore Bar, Tucanes, and Beach Bar.
Children: No children allowed
