Dear Bob:
Thank you for writing to Royal Resorts News. Yes, there is an online preregistration service for Royal Resorts members. Visit the Members Area on http://www.royalresorts.com and go to the Menu bar on the left-hand side of the page. Click on Online Services and you’ll see Preregistration as the third in the list, click on the link and you will see the details of your weeks displayed. I have also forwarded your query to the Advance Concierge Manager who will contact you to see if she can assist you with anything else before you are due to travel. I hope that this helps. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Dear Dan: Thank you for writing to Royal Resorts News. When you use a phone card to make calls from your villa, there is a service charge. All phone cards connect to an 800 number, if the card indicates that you have to dial 01-800 then you are connecting to a Mexican toll-free number and the charge is $5 pesos. If the toll-free number starts with 001-800 then it is an international number and the charge is $3 US. I hope that this helps.

Dear Thanh: Thank you for writing to Royal Resorts News. With regard to your questions, I will do my best to answer them and please feel free to send more! I am here to help you. Here goes: Starting with your wife’s question about hurricanes, While you are more likely to experience short but heavy rain showers on August afternoons, it is true that August does fall within the hurricane season. However, having said that, there is always ample warning of the approach of a storm. The Mexican authorities start to monitor any tropical weather systems - depressions, storms or hurricanes - that develop in the Caribbean and could pose a threat to the Mexican Caribbean given their trajectory, days before they actually move towards the Mexican coast. This gives hotels, businesses, residents and visitors time to prepare and for visitors to leave if they wish.
The Royal Resorts are extremely sturdy and built to withstand storms, in fact all five weathered Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 with distinction and several have been designated as hurricane shelters in an annual certification process. The company has a Hurricane Contingency Plan which is put into effect every year at the beginning of the season. Essential supplies are purchased in case they are needed, shelters are checked and staff are trained so that they know exactly what to do to assist members and guests and to look after them.
I recommend that you use the Thomas More Airport Transfer service to get to your resort, it is convenient and will save you time as it goes straight to the Royal Resorts unlike other airport shuttles which stop at different hotels en route. I am forwarding your post to the Advance Concierge Manager who can help you with booking your Airport Transfer and any other vacation needs that you may have.
You don’t say how old your children are, if they are babies/toddlers, you may like to know that you can request a crib for your villa (prior request). The Royal Market store at your resort stocks pool diapers and a variety of baby sun products. August is hot so you will need to take care in the heat, apply sun block regularly and make sure the family drinks plenty of water, although I am sure that they will spend most of their time cooling off in the pool or the sea! There are plenty of fun activities for children at the resorts including pool and beach games, sports and crafts and they will make plenty of friends while doing them.
Another thing that you might like to know about an August vacation is that it is in the middle of sea turtle nesting season. Female turtles emerge from the sea at night to lay their eggs in the sand and security guards, local biologists and volunteers watch over them while they dig their nests and then remove the eggs to a safe corral further up the beach where they hatch 45 to 60 days later. If you stay up late at night you may be lucky enough to see one of the adult turtles (no noise, torches or flash photos allowed and you must keep your distance so as not to scare her) and resort guests can also help release the baby turtles to begin life at sea. This is an incredible experience to share with your children.
I hope that this helps. Please contact me again if you have more questions.

Dear Jane: Thank you for writing to Royal Resorts News. A gym is currently being installed at The Royal Cancun. It was scheduled to open at the end of February, however, I have been informed that there have been problems with the installation of the rubber mats due to the underlying flooring and that these have caused delays. The new estimated date for opening is the beginning of May. We apologize for the inconvenience that this may cause members and guests and would like to remind everyone that there are also gyms at The Royal Sands and The Royal Caribbean that they can use in the meantime.

Dear Jill: Thank you for writing to Royal Resorts News. I have forwarded your query to the Reservations Center and a Royal Resorts representative will be contacting you to assist you with your vacation needs.