If I were staying at Royal Palm--which we have done several times--I don't think the Flamingo beach is that much better. I would just stay at RP, and then I would be close to my room, for drinks and snacks. And while the beach is a little rocky in the water at RP, it is a lot less crowded than Flamingo beach. Even during Regatta, we were often able to get one of the shade palapas on the beach (without getting up at 0 dark thirty--or paying someone). I personally don't care much for Toppers either, but I guess I'm one of the few on the planet who doesn't like it.