We arrived at the Cancun Clipper Club at 1 PM with our 3 kids, tired and hungry, and were told that the room would not be ready until 4 PM. The "welcome" staff wanted us to look at the Royal Sands, for which we would receive a free lunch and a $70 cruise (which was refundable), and additionally we could go for a swim at the Royal Sands if we wanted. They denied that it was a timeshare presentation, which we weren't in the mood for, but with our loads of luggage, the kids, and no place to go, we agreed. Really, it wasn't so bad. They gave us our free meal and our cruise in exchange for 90 minutes (yes, a timeshare presentation), and if I could have pictured us going to Cancun on a regular basis, I would have bought there! Anyway, just a warning that you will probably be approached to look at a timeshare as you try to check into this hotel, but really, it's very gentle as far as timeshare presentations go, and pays nicely. We ended up getting the cash back with no problem.
Now, after being at the Royal Sands, the Clipper Club seemed rather shabby and badly in need of a facelift, but that is not really a fair comparison. It probably was a swinging place 30 years ago, and the years have not been altogether kind. But, for $187 per night, we had a one bedroom/2 bath suite with a full kitchen, a good-size dinette, and a large living room. The suite extended through the entire building, and our view was pool out one end (kitchen window) and lagoon out the other (living room windows). Really very beautiful. And though the buildings are not sparkling and new, the rooms are clean, the landscaping is very well done and pretty, and the pool was nice and great fun for the kids. We didn't eat there, but there was a large crowd at the restaurant near the pool, and they all seemed happy.
The very best attribute of this hotel is that it is relatively inexpensive and walking distance to the Hard Rock Cafe, Coco Bongos, the bar (whose name escapes me) where Tom Cruise filmed "Cocktail" ,and lots of other places that really started hopping as the sun went down, as well as to a nice public beach. And, as everyone has said, the bus system is great, and cheap, if you wanted to go elswhere, like Margaritaville or Carlos & Charlies.
If you are traveling to Cancun on a budget, this hotel is really a good value, has a great location, and offers the convenience of preparing some of your own meals (and drinks). I could really picture us there with friends mixing up margaritas as we watched the sun set over the lagoon.
Heavenly. I miss Cancun already.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.