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.