On a trip to Cancun courtesy of a gift vacation from Sundance Vacations, I had three nights booked in the Grand Royal Lagoon, a small hotel at the end of the strip that was by no means fancy, but had a local charm about it that made it a good, affordable option for a few nights.
The Room & Facilities
My room at the Grand Royal Lagoon served its purpose perfectly: a comfortable place to come relax, shower and rest up for any adventures the next day. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a beautiful swan made out of towels – a nice touch that I was sad to take apart for my shower that night. The room was equipped with an air conditioning unit, a TV (which I never used), a small closet, wireless internet, and a bathroom. The Grand Royal Lagoon offers the following amenities and services for hotel guests:
- 24 hour front desk
- Multilingual staff (though not all of them could speak english)
- Airport service ($30, which is cheaper than the $40 we spent coming from the airport)
- Outdoor pool
- Restaurant open for breakfast and lunch
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free wifi (works best by the pool area for some reason)
- Free parking for those renting cars
The Grounds
The Grand Royal Lagoon is situated on the lagoon side of the Cancun strip, hence its name. This gives it some lovely views overlooking the water and the creatures that reside there, most notably the crocodiles! There are several warnings near the water telling guests not to swim in the lagoon in order to avoid a most certain nasty encounter with one of them. On the grounds are other creatures such as large lizards; one came right up under our table during breakfast one morning looking for a bite to eat I'm sure.
The hotel has a pool in the middle of its four towers with lounge chairs along the side for guests to relax and lounge. There are a few tables near the pool as well as a shower to wash before or after your dip. Down by the water are more lounge chairs overlooking the lagoon which get plenty of sun, though again swimming there isn't possible due to the crocodiles.
The Grand Royal Lagon offers breakfast to guests at its restaurant, El Farolito. The restaurant is only open in the morning for breakfast and midday for lunch and serves Mexican favorites as well as some American classics (see pictures of menu below).
Final Verdict
What Grand Royal Lagoon lacks in fanciness, it made up for in the small touches, such as swan towel creature. At just $40 a night, it is a great affordable option for those looking to visit Cancun on a budget. Although it does not have access to the beautiful, white sand beaches that are so famous in Mexico or an ‘all-inclusive' option, it is very close to some real deal local Mexican restaurants that are better and cheaper than any food you will find on the strip! I had the best burrito I have ever had in my life just around the corner! If you don't come here expecting a five-star resort, you will not be disappointed. Use your time to explore more of Cancun – the strip is a short walk away where you can be in the middle of the action without paying the price!
If you happen to stay here, I have compiled a list of 10 Things to Do in Cancun that will help you plan your trip!
Hotel Info
Calle Quetzal #8-A Mz. 45
Zon Hotelera
775000 Cancun, QROO, Mexico
+52 998 883 2749
Have you stayed at the Grand Royal Lagoon? Share your experience in the comments below!