Although Royal Solaris Cancun is still in the same location about 10 min. north of the airport, it acquired a “sister” resort in 2011 called the GR Caribe by Solaris which is located right next door.  Guests of Royal Solaris who happen to be “members” (timeshare/vacation club owners) may use the facilities over at the GR Caribe; non-owners may not.  Guests of the GR Caribe, however, have unrestricted access to Royal Solaris’ amenities which may create its own difficulties with insufficient loungers, restaurant/snack shack/bar wait time, and just the feeling of the resort being too crowded.  If you like to make lots of new friends while on vacation, this won’t deter you from having a good time.

Although the lobby and reception area is reminiscent of a hotel one would find in the States, once you step outside and take those stairs down to the pool you will be instantly reminded that a tropical holiday awaits.  The large, bi-level pool is the heartbeat of the resort with its three interconnected sections, children’s swim area, palapa-covered open-air restaurant and bar, and the beautiful Caribbean Sea stretching endlessly on the horizon.  With its step design, guests can move easily from the higher level activities pool down to the swim-up bar with its built-in pool loungers.  There is another separate, smaller pool with an unusual waterfall feature which also has steps to the swim-up bar.  Just on the other side of the palapa-covered restaurant (Rosmarinus), is the children’s mini-water park with its mushroom splash fountain and numerous jungle animal statues and slides.  NOTE:  Despite what the web site says, the entire main pool area and Jacuzzi are used by individuals of all ages, there are no separate pools for adults-only.

The beach is beautiful as only Cancun beaches can be with white sand and brilliant turquoise water; ocean entry is smooth and gradual here.  There does tend to be more sea grass at this end of the “7”, but the resort gathers it when necessary.  Loungers are in abundance here, but palapas, slatted structures, and very few cabana beds provide shade.  For those who tire of beach and pool time, there is a marina across the street on Nichupté Lagoon where complimentary non-motorized water sports can be utilized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much needed room renovations began in Nov. 2013 and are being completed at this time.  New room décor is now done with attractive cushioned headboards which continue on the wall, bold flower wall paintings, white bedding with tan and gray accents, and light tan draperies.  There are still showers-only in most guest rooms; balconies, coffee makers, and mini-bars are not standard for all rooms, and room service is continental breakfast only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests who like or need to stay “connected” while on vacation should be aware that this resort charges USD $16 per device/per day.  However, there is complimentary WiFi throughout the resort every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the resort will also allow you to post pictures on Facebook and Twitter for free throughout your stay–check with the front desk about how to make this happen.

Type of Resort:  Family-friendly

Pro:  Budget-friendly, lots of amenities for the price, friendly staff, good ocean entry.

Con:  WiFi $, lack of room soundproofing, lack of balconies

Best Suited For:  Singles, families with young children, couples who don’t mind being around a lot of children.

No. of Rooms:  256

Room Amenities:  King or two dbl beds, A/C, in-room safe, TV, telephone, radio alarm clock, table and two chairs, iron/ironing board, hair dryer, shower, and toiletries.  Room service is continental breakfast only, and WiFi is an extra cost.  Here is a brief rundown of guest room categories:

• Deluxe:  King or two dbl beds.  Lagoon view.
• Deluxe Ocean View:  King or two dbl beds with ocean view.
• Deluxe Ocean View with Jacuzzi:  King bed, balcony with Jacuzzi, mini-bar, coffee maker, two chairs and a small table on the balcony.  Jacuzzi rooms are located on the floor above the lobby and can be noisy; they also have no balcony privacy from above.
• NOTE:  No matter how this resort is booked, there is no consistent information about what amenities are in what room categories.  If a balcony is absolutely necessary, book the balcony Jacuzzi room because other balcony rooms can be had only with availability, and that outdoor space is very small indeed.  Be prepared to upgrade when checking-in.

Physically Challenged Rooms:  This property is not advised for those with mobility impairments.

Resort Amenities:  Main bi-level pool (with swim-up bar), children’s pools, Jacuzzi, spa, steam room, fitness center, beauty salon, theater, hospitality room (for those arriving early or leaving late), complimentary non-motorized water sports at the private marina across the street, one-way transportation to local nightclubs, Kid’s Club (ages 4-12), small playground and children’s mini-water park, scheduled activities for teens, business center, car rental, tour desk, concierge, gift shop.

Restaurants/Bars:  There is the primary buffet restaurant by the lobby (Las Fuentes), a poolside buffet (Rosmarinus–members-only for breakfast and all guests for lunch), and the sole a la carte, Marco Polo, which serves international fare (no reservations required).  There is also a snack bar by the pool along with a brick oven which serves individual pizzas and a new sushi bar.  There are two bars including the swim-up bar/pool bar and the lobby bar.  A Mayan coffee presentation/service is held in the lobby from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Entertainment:  The theater hosts evening shows while the lobby bar has live music and a small dance area.  There is also a live Mayan show on the beach between Royal Solaris and GR Caribe once per week.  Staff also accompanies guests to nightclubs where seating, bottle service, and complimentary one-way transportation is provided (the VIP bottle service and seating is an extra charge).

Website:  http://goo.gl/2ZQ1F