Westin Lagunamar or Grand Luxxe Rivera Maya?

[Tucsonadventurer]

We have the option of either of these for Aug but they are both studios. We know we love Lagunamar, been there twice already this yr and I know the studios are doable plus they have grills on ground.
Never been to Grand Luxxe, but heard great things. Their studios have no kitchen or fridge which would be challenging. Do they have grills there to use?
At this point we have booked Lagunamar but have E Plus insurance to change if we want.
Any recommendations?

 

[richontug]

Grand Luxxe is great. Going to both in January and will provide comparison after that!

 

[bobpark56]

At Grand Luxxe, you are more or less a captive if you don't have a car. They do run daily free shuttles into Playa del Carmen, though...oriented to shopping & groceries mostly it seemed, though you would have time for lunch. On the plus side, the lock-off portion of the 2BR unit we had was almost a 1BR unit...with its own small living room. No real kitchen facilities, but I do seem to recall a small refrigerator. At Lagunamar you have cheap bus service to wherever you want to go and a large mall right across the street. The lockoff unit is smaller than at Grand luxxe, with no separate sitting area. At Grand Luxxe, you will likely be on the ground floor with no view...upper floors go to owners. At Lagunamar, every unit has a good view. At Lagunamar, you have a beach...great sand but not so great for swimming (waves & current). Grand Luxxe has no beach that I know of. We found the restaurants a Grand Luxxe to be better and to offer more variety than at Lagunamar, but at Lagunamar, you have the whole island and town to find restaurants in, and many are from very good to outstanding. There are also relatively inexpensive wines, alcohols and cheeses within walking distance at La Europea and Soriana. I understand that Grand Luxxe has now instituted a substantial daily fee that was not imposed the 2 times the stayed there. You will want to check this out. In short, they are both great resorts...each with its plusses and minuses.

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

Thank you. We will stick with Lagunamar for now, we know we love it there but plan to check out Grand Luxxe in the future

 

[ilene13]

I love the Cancun Beaches. We own at the Royal Sands and the Royal Haciendas. I have stayed at both the Lagunamar (2 weeks ago) and the Grand Luxxe ( 5 times). The Grand Luxxe is a fabulous property. Their beach is not great, but that's what I think of the Playa beaches. Their studio unit does have a mini kitchen located in a cabinet. Small refrigerator, microwave, coffee etc. The restaurants on property are excellent, I do not cook on vacation so grills are not important to me. You have twice a day maid service, at the Lagunamar it is a once a week tidy service. I am a bit of a gym rat-- the fitness facility at the GL is exceptional, while I thought the ones at the Lagunamar were just ok! Personally I would go to the GL over Lagunamar.

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

Thank you, sounds wonderful. Do they have a hot tub by the pool area?

 

[ilene13]

Yes they do but I would never use a public hot tub. My husband contracted eColi from the hot tub at the GL and when we were at Lagunamar 2 weeks ago there were many toddlers and even some young adults with diapers in the hot tub.