The Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun is not worth the premium price you pay. The check-in process was slow due to room cleaning, despite the resort being nearly empty. It felt like they were making excuses without any valid reason. The resort is built on a swamp, and the surrounding area has a persistent muddy smell. While the staff tries their best to improve your experience, they can only do so much to cover up the poor management of the property.
You will pay a premium price here because of the brand name, but this is not the Royalton experience I've had at other locations. It feels like a cheaper version of the Royalton I know. The drinks provided are no different from those at any average resort, so why pay more here? The food at the restaurants was generally good, but the buffet needs improvement. For example, every morning, they ran out of bacon. Being in Mexico, I expected more avocado, but it was either limited or unavailable if you didn't arrive early.
It was amusing that some friends had to eat at the buffet for dinner because the restaurants were full, yet I walked into an empty restaurant. Some restaurants were closed due to low occupancy, so you might miss out on trying them if you visit during the low season. If you're looking for a beach experience, this is not the place for you. The beach doesn't give you that Caribbean feel, and swimming is limited due to the presence of crocodiles.
However, Krystel, our Expedia representative, was exceptional.