WARNING: DO NOT STAY AT ROYAL SOLARIS, CABO
If you're considering staying at Royal Solaris in San Jose del Cabo, here's my advice: don't. What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation turned into a nightmare that my wife and I will never forget. We went to Mexico for some rest and dental work, but instead, we were drugged, robbed, and trapped in a foreign country, with the hotel staff and even the local police working against us. Here's the full story of what happened and why you should think twice before booking a stay at this hotel.
We arrived at Royal Solaris on Thursday, October 10, 2024, through RCI, excited for a peaceful getaway in San Jose del Cabo. The first night went smoothly. We had a drink, grabbed a quick meal, and went to bed early. The following day, Friday October 11, 2024, started off well enough. Around 2 PM, we went to the main pool bar. I had a couple of small, slushy drinks served in small Dixie cups (not full-sized cocktails) while we chatted with a couple we'd met. Everything seemed fine.
Later in the afternoon, I asked my wife to grab another drink for me since I was already in the pool. She brought me a blue cocktail that immediately tasted strange—salty and off. She tasted it as well and agreed that something was wrong but we didn't want to leave it so we finished it. We thought it was just a bad mix, but I only managed to drink about two-thirds and my wife drank 1/3.
A Horrific Turn of Events
About 30 minutes after drinking the blue cocktail, everything spiraled out of control. My body felt unbearably heavy, and I couldn't coordinate my movements. My vision blurred, and I was unable to function normally. Standing up became an impossible task. By the time I realized something was seriously wrong, I was already incapacitated.
My wife, sensing the gravity of the situation, started recording everything on her phone. Without her vigilance, we wouldn't have been able to piece together the horrifying events that followed. Here's what happened:
• By 5 PM, I was severely incapacitated. I could barely move, and I noticed injuries: a broken toe, a damaged foot, and scratches on my arms. My personal belongings, including my shoes, hat, shirt, and Prada sunglasses, were missing.
• There's a blank space in both my memory from 5 PM to 9 PM, and my wife started regaining memories slightly earlier around 8pm. I have blurry flashes of events but no coherent recollection.
• Security then separated my wife from me without my knowledge. Telling her she was being arrested for looking for my missing belongings. Sensing danger, she instinctually began recording.
• The hotel staff threatened to arrest her if she didn't return to her room with a security gaurd. My wife refused to go alone, scared of being alone with the guard, she demanded a key card instead, and continued recording. Her refusal to stop recording seemed to agitate them, and they threatened to call the police multiple times.
• She repeatedly asked to speak with the manager, but they wouldn't address her concerns as long as she was recording.
The Hotel's Alarming Behavior
My wife's law enforcement background helped her navigate this escalating situation. She understood the potential dangers of complying with their demands. As she continued recording, she confronted the staff about their behavior, asking if they would treat their daughters the same way. Their responses were chilling, with one employee coldly stating, “I don't have kids.” Chillingly, continuing to refuse to help.
When the manager finally arrived, she refused to engage with her beyond threatening to call the police, due to my wife continuing to record. Multiple times she turns it on, and off. My wife was begging for help and they threatened arrest. At that point, my wife realized the hotel was not going to help her file a report, and she called the police. After multiple attempts to contact the local police, she finally got through—only for things to go from bad to worse. The manager came down to the pool area and told me that my wife was going to be arrested. I was still drugged and just started have have memories coming back in pieces.
The Police's Shocking Indifference
When the police arrived, my wife initially felt relief, assuming they would help. Instead, they refused to take oue statements. My wife greeted them and tried to explain what had happened, but they ignored her, focusing only on the manager's version of events. On video, she can be heard repeatedly asking to file a report, but they refused every time.
At one point, the manager told the police a story in Spanish that we couldn't understand. We were essentially silenced, unable to communicate our side of the story. The police brushed us off, telling us we could return to our room but offering no assistance and blatantly refusing to take our report, all clearly seen on video. It is terrifying to watch my wife beg the police to take her report and they refuse.
The police finally told the manager they had to give us a key card and let us into our room without being arrested. But on video, the Manager states that we were “not allowed to leave the hotel” which is repeated back to her. This chilling statement made us feel like prisoners in a foreign country. The police refuse to help and the hotel states we can't leave. Security and maintenance personnel knocked on our door throughout the night, checking on us every hour or two. None of them spoke English, and their constant presence felt like surveillance rather than assistance.
Trapped and Terrified
We went to bed, completely confused about what transpired. By 5 am neither of us could sleep so we reviewed the videos and realized the gravity of the situation. We contacted our kids who watched us on Facetime who confirmed our pupils were dilated. We put it all together and realized we were drugged, robbed, injured, and abandoned by the very people who should have been responsible for our safety. The hotel staff's threats and the police's refusal to help left us feeling trapped and vulnerable.
Our attempts to seek help were unsuccessful. RCI, our booking platform, couldn't assist us immediately due to the holiday weekend. Our credit card company was also closed on the weekend. With no support system, we were left to fend for ourselves in a hostile environment.
We decided to escape. Early the next morning, we called an Uber and sprinted to the vehicle waiting outside the hotel gates. Security guards pursued us, but we managed to get into the car and flee before they could stop us. The relief we felt as we sped away was immense, but the trauma of what had happened lingered.
Realizing We Were Drugged
Once we reached the safety of a new accommodation in La Paz, we began piecing together the events. We sought out the advice of a doctor as they confirmed the symptoms we experienced—confusion, memory loss, and an absence of a hangover despite consuming minimal alcohol—were classic signs of being drugged. Here's why we're certain this was the case:
• We are moderate drinkers and have never experienced such severe effects from drinking, especially considering they were small drinks.
• We woke up the next morning completely sober and clear-headed, which wouldn't have been possible if we had simply been intoxicated. My wife reacts poorly and would have been sick for days, but she was sober at 5am.
• Our children, who we FaceTimed during the ordeal, said we looked “strung out” with dilated pupils—clear signs of drugging. My wife slurs her speech when drunk, but this never occurred at any time on the video, her speech was very clear and coherent.
Aftermath: Feeling Unsafe Everywhere
The aftermath of this experience has been devastating. We were left with injuries, stolen belongings, and a profound sense of insecurity. The hotel staff and local authorities failed us entirely. Instead of helping us, they exacerbated our trauma, leaving us with no choice but to flee and seek refuge elsewhere.
A Warning to All Travelers
Here's what you need to know:
1. Avoid Royal Solaris: This hotel is unsafe. The staff's behavior was not only unprofessional but dangerous. Their actions, combined with the local police's indifference, create a hazardous environment for guests.
2. Be cautious with drinks: We believe we were drugged through a drink served at the pool bar. Reports of similar incidents in the Cabo area are becoming more common.
3. Don't rely on local authorities: If something happens, the police may not help. Our experience showed that they prioritized the hotel's interests over the safety and well-being of guests.
4. Document everything: My wife's decision to record the events likely saved us. Without those videos, we would have had no evidence to support our claims.
Our lawyers said we are extremely lucky, but the trauma we suffered as a result doesn't feel lucky as it has shattered any sense of safety, stopping us from ever to Mexico as a result. This experience has forever changed how we view travel and safety. We will never return to Mexico after what happened, and we urge you to think twice before visiting this hotel or region. Your safety and well-being are not worth the risk.
Looking back, the videos are chilling. Why did they never offer to help my wife? Why was she threatened for merely searching for my missing belongings? These unanswered questions only reinforce our Warning: Royal Solaris is not a safe place. Women and families, be especially cautious. Protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding this hotel at all costs.
For review verification, I have a different name on my profile to protect our safety considering what happened, but the hotel can validate the incident with the Manager, Security Guard and Police on October 11, 2024, and the lawyers submitted the videos to the consulate to confirm. Our advice, stay away for your safety!
