We got back from a week at the Royal Sands last weekend.
Everything is pretty much as ususal. When you check in there is a machine that takes your temperature. The hotel staff is behind plexiglass. All the restaurants were open and there is daily maid service. Everything is immaculate. For example, the spray and wipe down the lounging chairs on the beach. The pool bars are open as well as all the restaurants. You are not required to wear a mask at the pool or on the beach. Everyone wears a mask inside the buildings and elevators. We tried to social distance but others were not as vigilant after a couple of drinks. We did not take the intra resort transfer bus but we saw it arriving and parked near the Sisal Restaurant. We did not eat at the Royal restaurants. We carried out from Sisal the first night, cooked in a couple nights and went to Harry's and ordered room service the other nights. We had an ocean front 2 bedroom so we would not get better view than from our lanai and we like being together as a group.
On Thursday before our Saturday departure, we went to the room next to Sisal to have our Covid test to leave Mexico. The process was a little disorganized but honestly, it is Mexico. What do you expect. It took us about 50 minutes for the 5 of us to get tested including waiting in line. The results were emailed to one person in each family. Royal Resorts paid for the test. If one of us tested positively, the Royal will provide a room and food for you and your spouse for 14 days quarantine. We forwarded the email to the front desk who printed the test out for us.
We gave the results to our airline carrier at the check in line. There is a Covid form you need to fill out before you go through security. We had a morning flight so we had no wait. But the rest of our group returned in the early afternoon and they almost missed their flight with the lines.
We did learn on sad thing while we were there. Because occupancy is so low, the Royals have laid off half the staff. Those that remain are working for half pay. The employees didn't tell us this. An owner did. So we made a special effort to give a generous tip everyone of the employees who helped us. We also doubled what we would normally leave the maid. An extra $20 or $40 isn't going to effect our lives but it could make a difference to people who are trying to support their family.
All and all we were not really affected by Covid at all. There are less people there. The nightclubs are closed but we are don't go out anyway. We didn't hear of anyone testing positively.
Go and have a great time.
