Westin Lagunamar vs Villa del Palmar Cancun

[amanven]

My husband and I have been to Westin lagunamar twice in the last three years. We love the resort....especially the pools. It has everything we could ever want....with one exception. Each time we have been there the water at the beach has been very rough making what little bit of time we spent in the water not very enjoyable. I have been looking at Villa del Palmar Cancun. By all appearances it is as equally good as Lagunamar and has much quieter water at the beach and easy access to the beach clubs at Isla Mujeures. Has anyone who has been to both resorts offer any opinions, or info for or against Villa del Palmar. The fact that it is not in the heart of the hotel zone isn't of much concern to us but reviews I have seen seem to find that a big negative of the resort. As long as I can catch a cab to get down to our favourite restaurant in the La Isla Shopping area a couple of times during the week, that's all I would want. Is the beach worth changing resorts for and do they heat the pools at Villa??

 

[simon63]

I’ve never been at Villa del Palmar, but I think the quieter water is from Krystal resort to Cancun town and the rougher water is on the way to the airport

 

[ilene13]

We have been to both resorts. As a disclaimer I need to say that we own 2 weeks at the Royal Sands and 1 week at the Royal Haciendas, which IMHO are nicer than either place. We love to sit at the beach. The beach itself is nicer at Lagunamar. The villas are lovely at Villa Del Palmar but although our unit was new it was falling apart. The biggest difference between the two properties is that Villa Del Palmar is in a remote area of Cancun. You can’t walk anywhere. We always rent a car but we still felt very isolated there. Lagunamar is in the heart of the hotel zone, you’ve been there before so you know that the location is great. My other complaint about Villa Del Palmar is that they restricted the uses of some of the resort amenities to owners only! I resent that, as the properties that I used for the exchanges are actually nicer!

 

[KiKiDee]

We were at the Reflect Cancun (which I believe is right beside the Krystal resort) in December and it was the most beautiful beach we have had in Cancun in a long time. No seaweed, extremely calm and crystal clear. Literally lived in the ocean for the week!

 

[byeloe]

2 weeks at the Royal Sands and 1 week at the Royal Haciendas, which IMHO are nicer than either place.

We have stayed at all Sands Haciendas and Lagunamar. They are all nice but we prefer Lagunamar then the Sands. Haciendas we would not go back to because of the isolation. We like the newer bathrooms, pool loungers and washer/dryer from Lagunamar. What is it about the Sands that makes you prefer it?

 

[ilene13]

We have stayed at all Sands Haciendas and Lagunamar. They are all nice but we prefer Lagunamar then the Sands. Haciendas we would not go back to because of the isolation. We like the newer bathrooms, pool loungers and washer/dryer from Lagunamar. What is it about the Sands that makes you prefer it?
I prefer the RS for the following reasons:
Larger units with daily maid service.
There are more palapas on the beach, they are farther apart. I felt claustrophobic on the beach at Lagunamar. Their palapas areal, bunched together.
The restaurants on property are better at the RS. We eat dinner off of property but most lunches on property.
The convenience store at the RS has more variety and much better prices.
I could care less about the washer and dryer. We have the laundry do our wash before we leave and they do a fantastic job.
The villas at the RS had been renovated and they look fabulous.
Fitness center and spa at the RS is definitely better. I am a gym rat and I was not impressed with Lagunamar”s gym.
We have owned at the Royal Sands since it was built. The staff is like family.

 

[amanven]

The villas are lovely at Villa Del Palmar but although our unit was new it was falling apart. The biggest difference between the two properties is that Villa Del Palmar is in a remote area of Cancun. You can’t walk anywhere. We always rent a car but we still felt very isolated there. Lagunamar is in the heart of the hotel zone, you’ve been there before so you know that the location is great. My other complaint about Villa Del Palmar is that they restricted the uses of some of the resort amenities to owners only! I resent that, as the properties that I used for the exchanges are actually nicer!

I don't like the fact VDP restricts the use of some of the resort amenities when I am exchanging in and I have read other reviews that indicate the VDP units do have some issues despite appearing new. The main reason I considered going there was the quieter water at the resort. I am thinking now I might exchange back into Lagunamar and then book a couple additional days at the Ixchel Beach Hotel on Isla for a couple of beach days and to explore a bit.. The lower price of a mid week flight would offset some of the additional cost of that plan and I would be able to have my cake and eat it...so to speak..

 

[simon63]

It also depends of your priorities, for my family is important to spend part of the time inside of the sea and I know that my kids are safeties, for us is not enough to stay on the beach and many times just watch the sea.

 

[DannyTS]

The combination of waves and the amazing pools at Lagunamar is great, you really have the best of both worlds IMO. I do not like oceans that feel like lakes, they are not fun at all. At the same time, I make my kids wear vests, just to be on the safe side.

A couple of years ago we were in at WLR in November, the ocean was still like a lake though, see below. I do not know if it just happened or if the ocean is calmer that time of the year.

 

[byeloe]

Good points regarding the Daily Maid service and beach palapalas. I don't really have a preference between the restaurants. We often get a studio so WLR works better in that regard. I also like the ability to grill a nice steak from costco. The markets have different prices for sure, but we usually go to the grocery store anyways.

Thanks for your viewpoint.

 

[simon63]

WLR is one of the most nicer resorts in Cancun, I don't have a doubt, only mention that point, a friend choiced to lose his sunglasses than his kid after a big wave, it would be interesting to check what months the sea is rougher, anyway evrybody take their choice.

 

[easyrider]

We own VDP and even though the VDP Cancun is very nice it is too far away from anything except Isla Mujeres, imo. The resort has very large decks with hammocks and the restaurants are pretty good. I think it is the nicest VDP but I'm not a Cancun area fan. Regarding the beach and ocean it is very calm and weedy. They clean the weeds daily.

One of the biggest owner complaint is that the resort sells AI trips for very cheap and floods the resorts with non-owner guests, lol.

Bill