Royal Elite Vacation Club β Member Benefits at Sandos Resorts
What Vacation Club Membership Includes vs. the Standard All-Inclusive Package
What Is Royal Elite Vacation Club?
Royal Elite is a vacation club program operated by Sandos Hotels & Resorts. Members purchase weeks of future travel at Sandos properties β currently spanning 9 resorts across Mexico and Spain. Royal Elite is certified by ACLUVAQ (the Mexican vacation club regulatory association) and affiliated with the RCI exchange network, giving members access to over 6,000 resorts worldwide, plus cruises and car rentals through RCI.
When you attend the 90β120 minute presentation during your promotional stay, this is the program you’ll learn about. Membership is completely optional β your discounted vacation is guaranteed whether you join or not. This page explains what members receive so you know exactly what’s being presented. See full qualification requirements β
Your Promotional Stay vs. Royal Elite Membership
Your promotional package is the standard retail all-inclusive β the same product sold on Hotels.com and Expedia. Here’s what members get that retail guests don’t.
| Experience | Your Promotional Stay (Retail) | Royal Elite Member |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | Buffet meals + 1 Γ la carte dinner per night | Γ la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner at all restaurants |
| Drinks | Standard well liquor, domestic beer, house wine | Premium top-shelf liquor and full cocktail menu |
| Beach Access | Public beach areas | Private Royal Elite Tortuga Beach Club with butler service, premium liquor, and Balinese beds |
| Pool Access | Standard resort pools | VIP Relaxation Pool (adults-only) with premium liquor and waiter service |
| Check-In | Standard front desk line | Private VIP check-in β skip the line |
| Service Level | Standard resort service | Personal VIP Ambassador + butler service at beach and pool |
| Room Amenities | Standard room setup | Welcome amenities, luxury bathrobes & slippers |
| Spa | Pay per service | Complimentary 1-hour spa hydrotherapy for adults + 25% off massages |
| Dining Reservations | Subject to availability | Preferential reservations β guaranteed best tables |
| Room Service | Standard priority | Preferential room service β member priority |
| Identification | Standard wristband | Royal Elite Black Bracelet β visual access pass to all exclusive areas |
Exclusive Royal Elite Areas
These areas are restricted to Royal Elite members only β black bracelet required for access
Emiliano's Restaurant
Γ La Carte Breakfast
Full restaurant-service breakfast β no buffet. Available exclusively to members with black bracelet identification.
Tortuga Beach Restaurant
Oceanfront Γ La Carte Dining
Premium oceanfront dining experience with Γ la carte lunch and dinner service. Black bracelet required.
Royal Elite Tortuga Beach Club
Private Beach
Private beach section with dedicated butler service, premium liquor, Balinese beds, and lounge chairs. Black bracelet required.
VIP Relaxation Pool
Adults-Only Pool
Adults-only pool area with premium liquor and waiter service. Restricted to Royal Elite members.
Reserved Balinese Beds
Poolside VIP
Best poolside locations with dedicated food and beverage service. Black bracelet and one-day advance reservation required.
Royal Elite Member Discounts
Members receive special pricing on resort services and activities throughout their stay
How Royal Elite Membership Works
Royal Elite Vacation Club is a points-based vacation ownership program spanning all Sandos resort properties β four in Mexico (Cancun, Caracol, Playacar, Finisterra) plus two in Spain (Tenerife and Benidorm). Members purchase weeks of future travel and use them through three flexible options:
Sandos Weeks β Use your weeks at any Sandos resort, or exchange them through the RCI network for stays at 6,000+ affiliated resorts worldwide in 100+ countries. Elite Weeks β Reserved for use exclusively at Sandos properties, with full Royal Elite VIP benefits. Points β The most flexible option. Convert your ownership into points that can be split across multiple trips, combined across years, or used for partial-week stays.
Members can bank unused weeks for future use or accelerate future weeks for use now, giving you control over when and how you travel. All Sandos resorts in the Royal Elite collection hold RCI Gold Crown designation β the highest quality rating in the exchange network. This means your Deposit Trading Power when exchanging through RCI is among the strongest available. Learn more about RCI exchange and Gold Crown β
Important note about meal plans: Purchased weeks do not automatically include the all-inclusive meal plan. The all-inclusive package is charged per person per night at check-in β roughly $65β$95 per adult per night depending on the resort and season.
Members can use multiple weeks per year, bring friends and family on their membership, and access Royal Elite benefits at any Sandos resort in their membership tier. The program includes a referral program β members earn 7 all-inclusive vacation certificates for each successful referral through the promotional package program.
Through the RCI exchange network, members can trade their Sandos weeks for stays at over 6,000 resorts worldwide, plus book cruises and car rentals. Royal Elite also offers a Save & Stay exclusive travel platform with discounts up to 60% off retail travel rates for additional booking flexibility beyond the exchange system.
The program is certified by ACLUVAQ (the Mexican vacation club regulatory association), ensuring compliance with Mexico’s consumer protection standards for vacation ownership.
Membership details, pricing, and terms are presented during the 90β120 minute presentation at the resort. We are not involved in the sale of Royal Elite membership β that transaction is entirely between you and Royal Elite Vacation Club.
See the Royal Elite Experience
π₯ Watch My Actual Trip
In May 2021, I visited Sandos Caracol and Playacar as a Royal Elite guest. I documented everything β the scuba diving, whale shark encounters, feeding spider monkeys, the buffets, the rooms, and more. Over 180 videos showing exactly what to expect.
See My Royal Elite Experience βTours & Excursions with Seek & Go
Royal Elite members receive special pricing on excursions through Seek & Go, the official tour agency at all Sandos resorts. Book directly from the resort lobby:
- Riviera Maya: Xcaret parks, Mayan ruins, cenotes, whale sharks, scuba diving β Explore Tours
- Cancun: Island trips, jungle tours, nightlife, underwater museum β Explore Tours
- Los Cabos: Whale watching, sport fishing, sunset sailing, ATV adventures β Explore Tours
Destination Weddings at Sandos Resorts
Planning a destination wedding? Sandos offers three all-inclusive wedding packages starting at $4,200 for 30 guests, with venues ranging from Caribbean beaches to jungle cenotes to Cabo mountaintops. Explore Sandos wedding packages and venues β
Important Distinction
Your promotional vacation includes the standard retail all-inclusive package only. The Royal Elite benefits described on this page are not included in your promotional rate. They represent what vacation club members receive when they purchase membership. You are under no obligation to buy β your discounted stay is guaranteed regardless of your decision. Promotional rates require qualification. See requirements β
Official Websites
Learn more directly from the resort and vacation club
Follow Royal Elite on Social Media
Stay connected with the latest resort experiences, member highlights, and travel inspiration
Interested in a Promotional Stay?
Explore our Sandos resort options and pricing