From the street, the Park Royal is one of the tallest buildings on the popular tourist road and is marked by the hotel's symbol on the side of the building. The modern lobby is a simple space with glass walls and wicker seating. The bustling all-inclusive hotel offers plenty of options to keep guests busy. During the day, the pool and beach area are busy with kids and families playing or hanging out by one of the various poolside bars. With music playing by the pool and a board of daily activities, the ambience is upbeat and lively. At night the Lobby Pub is bustling with guests hanging out and drinking while listening to live music, karaoke, or theme nights. For night owls, the Chill Out Lounge is open late and features DJs spinning records and dancing. There are a few common areas throughout the hotel for guests to hang out, but most of them are a bit noisy because of proximity to the bars. Expect to see couples and lots of families. One major downside is that the guest is open to people who buy day passes and tend to take over the beach and pool. 

The Park Royal Ixtapa Hotel has a privileged home, situated on the white sands of Playa el Palmar and along a popular tourist road. Popular restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance of the hotel, and while the road is heavy with traffic, there are wide sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians. The start of the bike path is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and goes for several miles through the outskirts of the town. Ixtapa’s sister city, Zihuatanejo, is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. The popular Paseo del Pescador is a 20-minute drive from the hotel; it has several beachfront restaurants with stunning views of Zihuatanejo Bay and grants easy access to the bustling Playa La Madera. The quieter Playa la Ropa is a 22-minute drive from the hotel. Guests should allow 25 minutes of travel time to drive to the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo airport.

There are 228 rooms at the Park Royal Ixtapa, and all of them are modern and spacious. Each comes with either a single king-size bed or two queen-size beds made with white sheets, a brown bed runner, and wooden headboard. Beds are bedecked by simple wooden bedside tables and reading lights. Colors in the rooms tend toward white, brown, and beige. There are a few pieces of abstract artwork for pops of color. There is plenty of walking and storage space, and rooms feature a separate sitting area with tables and chairs. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and powerful air-conditioning. Bathrooms are spacious; they come with a shower/tub combo, toiletries, and a hairdryer. All rooms have a spacious balcony or terrace and offer either ocean or garden views.

The Park Royal Ixtapa has plenty of features to keep its guests busy. The hotel is beachfront to the white sands of Playa el Palmar, set with plenty of white lounge chairs and thatched palapas. A volleyball net is set up on the beach for guests to hang out and play. The hotel is centered around a massive pool terrace, with plenty of beige lounge chairs, thatched palapas, and lovely manicured gardens. The pool has stunning ocean views, but does tend to get busy with families and kids playing -- plus day trippers with passes. 

There are a few wellness options. The small fitness center is split into two rooms has cardio machines and some weights. A small, tranquil spa is located on the lower level of the hotel and it offers massages and skin care services. There are a few thoughtful extras around the hotel, including coffee and tea set out for guests throughout the day. 

The lower level of the spacious hotel has a few shops including a small convenience store with snacks, drinks, and toiletries. The front desk is open 24-hours, which is a nice extra for a hotel in Ixtapa. There is plenty of free parking on offer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

There are plenty of all-inclusive dining and drinking options on offer at the the Park Royal Hotel. Two restaurants, La Veranda and El Pescador, are open for the main meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most of the meals are buffets with traditional Mexican dishes, as well as various international fare. Some meals are accompanied with a la carte meal options to choose from. El Italiano is an a la carte Italian dinner option. Guests should note that reservations are required for El Italiano.

There are plenty of places for guests to grab a drink and hang out throughout the day. Moby Dick is a casual beachfront bar serving beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Guests hanging out in the pool can grab a drink at La Langosta, the swim-up bar next to El Pescador. Snack El Jardin is located amongst the beautiful green lawn and tropical flowers, and serves a casual snack menu with drinks in the afternoon. The Lobby Pub is open all day and into the evening, featuring live music and theme nights. For those looking for late-night fun, the Chill Out Lounge is an adult-only beachfront nightclub with DJs and dancing.