Grand Royal Lagoon

The Grand
Royal Lagoon feels like the budget hotel it is. The age of the
facilities is evident upon arrival, and guests will see peeling
paint, cracks in the plaster finish, rust on outdoor furniture, and water marks on the exteriors of the building left by air conditioners.The air-conditioned reception leads into the main courtyard where the
pool is located. Umbrella-topped tables and chairs are to one side, with
loungers surrounding, and a small alcove to the left features a religious
shrine for those inclined to say a prayer or leave an offering. The four wings
of the hotel dedicated to the rooms rise above and surround the pool on all
sides, offering shade along the perimeters of the pool area at points during the day. Tropical vegetation and landscaping add to the overall atmosphere.Past the reception area are views out
over the lagoon and Hotel Zone skyline, and sunrises every morning. Once past the pool, the grounds
slope down to the lagoon and the small snack bar where guests can order
breakfasts or small Mexican samplers, such as tacos, fajitas, and tortas. Lagoon
views and a quiet setting are the main selling points of the hotel -- not the basic rooms.

Pok-Ta-Pok
is a small section of land in the northern part of the Hotel Zone that juts into the lagoon, and the hotel is set
smack-dab between the golf course and the lagoon. While the hotel is not in the heart of the Hotel Zone, some guests prefer the more peaceful location away from the clubs and
restaurants of the tourist strip. The R1 or R2 buses pass by on both sides of
Avenue Kukulkan, just two minutes north of the hotel on foot, leading east and
south deeper into the tourist zone, or west back out to the mainland. The
location puts guests roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the mainland, and roughly 10
to 15 minutes away from the Cancun Convention Center and the primary beaches of
the Hotel Zone, via taxi or bus. Playa Tortuga (Turtle Beach) is just 10 to 15
minutes away on foot, which also has a ferry out to Isla Mujeres, along with a
bungie jumping tower and several restaurants.
The hotel isn’t near any major restaurants or shopping centers, although Plaza Quetzal on the main
avenue is about five minutes on foot. There is a gas station, a La
Europea liquor store, an Xpress mini-mart, pharmacy, money changer, and a
couple of small eateries. Beyond that, the Chedraui Select mega-supermarket is
just across the street from the Cancun Convention Center, for those who need
more than the tacos and fajitas that the hotel’s snack bar provides. 

There are
35 rooms at the Grand Royal Lagoon, split into 25 Standard Rooms and 10 Suites.
They are simply furnished with tile floors (that have held up pretty well over the years), wooden
desks and chairs, closets with wooden doors, and wooden trim throughout, but
it’s here that the age of the hotel shows more than anywhere else. The wood is
visibly warped with age, with closet and cabinet doors not shutting all of the
way in most cases. Color schemes vary, and towels are laid out in a charming
array of shapes, a welcome extra effort from the staff. The furniture is either painted dark brown, natural brown, or white. Twenty-two of the
rooms feature two full-size beds, while the other 13 have a king-size bed; there are a
maximum of four people per room. Bathrooms
have functional showers, shampoo available in unmarked plastic bottles by
the sink, which look like they might have been left behind by another guest,
and a free bar of soap. Some of the shower doors are missing handles, and there are water stains on the fixtures, but the tile is clean, although grout is missing in some areas.The rooms come
with ancient box air conditioners that can be quite loud, and box televisions.
Daily maid service is available, and each room comes with its own keyed safe. A
hairdryer, ironing board, and iron are all available for the room upon
request at the front desk. The Suites
come with a wet bar area with mini-fridge and kitchen sink, as well as a small
table and chairs. However, there are no pots and pans, no stove,
microwave, or cooking utensils. None of the
rooms have Wi-Fi, but if you have one of the rooms closet to the lobby you may
be able to pick up the signal. Cribs for infants are available upon request. 

The Grand
Royal Lagoon is mostly a self-service budget hotel, apart from the snack bar
that has American breakfasts in the morning hours, and Mexican "botanas" such as tacos and fajitas
throughout the early afternoon. Room service is available when the snack bar is open. Breakfast can be included in the room rate.The pool has a small public shower that guests are
requested to use prior to entering the water, and after exiting. Free towels are
available upon request from the staff, above and beyond those in the rooms.There are
roughly a dozen parking spaces available out front, both directly at the hotel
and across the street alongside the golf course. Valet service and babysitting are
available at additional costs.