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Recommended Reviews - Riu Palace Peninsula
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Here's a polished, review-ready version of your write-up--clean, structured, and easy for readers to follow: Stayed at Riu from November 16-20 and had a great time. The resort is about 25 minutes from the airport, and check-in was a breeze. I even got my room before 3 p.m., which is a big plus for me. Drinks & Room They stock Jack Daniels, Patrón, and La Puerta Negra Reposado in the room. My room was spacious, clean, and well maintained--housekeeping did an excellent job throughout my stay. (Don't forget to tip!) Beach & Pools The beach was small, clean, and really nice, with little coves where you can relax and enjoy the waves. Beach service was great as well. The resort has about four pools: * a swim-up bar * an adults-only pool * an activity pool * a quiet pool Dining The food was solid across the board. The steakhouse was my favorite--I tried the ribeye and lobster, both excellent. The breakfast buffet was also very good, definitely a Riu signature with tons of options. I didn't try room service, but the sports bar is open 24 hours, perfect for late-night snacks. Extras You also get access to Riu Caribe, and the pool party there was a lot of fun. Overall Great experience from start to finish. I'd definitely recommend it.
We had such a great time here! The ocean-facing room was gorgeous -- waking up to that view was everything. Room service was super quick and the staff at the reception and restaurant were all really friendly and helpful. There were activities happening throughout the day, so we were always entertained and never felt bored. The advantage was, another resort 'Riu Caribe' was next door & was allowed to attend the parties happening there. Overall, a wonderful experience, highly recommended!
This was my first all-inclusive resort experience, so please take my review with a grain of salt. I usually travel to big cities and take public transport and walk to food destinations and cultural landmarks. So staying put at one resort was a big change. We had a family of 10 people, ages ranging from 10-75 years old. I think that the price point was fair. At the time of booking, my spouse and I shared a Jr. Suite for seven days for about four hundred dollars a night. The price included all food (buffet, restaurants, snack bars, drinks, alcohol), pools, nighttime entertainment, beach chairs, towels, gym, etc. There was only one separate fee charged at the front desk upon check in (I think it's a Mexico tourist fee) and it wasn't much. The food is okay. 2.5-3 stars. The buffet is presented very nicely but the taste is just okay. The nighttime restaurants are okay. The best were the Mexican restaurant and the Steakhouse at night. The Italian restaurant is acceptable. The worst was the Japanese/Asian restaurant. The sushi and other Asian dishes were not good at all. The beach is very pretty. The sand is white. The colors of the water are gorgeous. The colors reminded me of Costa Rica. I was worried about the seaweed issue but it was well-managed. We spent at least two days in the beach area about chest deep playing in the water for 3+ hours. We brought soft fabric softball-sized balls for pools/beaches from Target and they were a hit. We spent hours tossing them to each other in a circle. There's plenty of space in the water so I don't think we bothered other guests. Other days we would spend a little bit of time on the beach chairs on the sand. Other days we hung out at the pool. There's a cocktail bar inside one of the pools but I bet that pool had so much pee. Unfortunately, the bathrooms are a little bit of a walk from some of the pools. They aren't far, but I bet some guests are too lazy/drunk to go. The servers will stop by your pool or beach chairs and you can order drinks from them. It's a good idea to bring a good amount of one & five dollar bills (US dollars fine of course) to tip your servers. *Tip* It's warm out and they don't serve your drinks with a ton of ice, so bring a double walled/insulated metal cup with lid and straw. My sibling gave us this tip since he has been to multiple resorts. Give the server your cup, but keep your lid and straw. Water - Unfortunately, it's not advisable for you to drink the tap water in Cancun. Housekeeping was usually quite good at restocking our room with giant water bottles when we left her notes. We'd use these water bottles for drinking and brushing our teeth. It was really hard not to rinse toothbrushes with sink water or avoid getting water in your mouth from the showerhead. The water from the tap smells like sulfur most of the time. I didn't mind it much, but my spouse was bothered by it. We were mostly careful to drink water from water bottles, wine, etc. but I still randomly drank their juices from the buffet, icy blended drinks from the pool bars, a couple cocktails, etc. I hope that they install a whole resort filtration system or that Cancun improves their water treatment system in the future. It would put me at ease to know that all water used to wash vegetables, fruits, and foods and ice were treated. Food illness - Only one person in our group got food illness. It wasn't until the very last day. Unfortunately, he was heaving in the shuttle bus on the way to the airport. So remember to bring DiaresQ, Travelan, pepto bismol, immodium, etc. just in case. It was neat that they had ancient ruins on site. Make sure you wander the grounds near the pool to find them. We watched every nighttime show. Everyone in the reviews talks about the Michael Jackson show, but I enjoyed the Madonna show the most. The main singer was so good and I loved the funky environmental theme. The stark snack bar by the foosball table could be improved. We chose to go to Isla Mujeres (the island you can go to via ferry boat) for one day. We rented two golf carts for seven people after checking a few prices in person (it might be best to book ahead) and we had a good time. The food was meh at the random restaurant. Don't get scammed by overly friendly guys who claim they "work at Riu" and pretend to recognize your family. They will cozy up to you and try to guilt you into buying jewelry and such from their store. In reality, they just see your "Riu" bracelet. We chose Riu Palace Peninsula mainly because of availability and the fun, kooky Miami 80s vibes/color scheme over a nearby Marriott resort. There are a ton of resorts in the area fyi. The food at Riu could be better but I was happy with my first all-inclusive resort experience. We trekked over to the other nearby Riu Resort (it looked like a pyramid?) and I didn't like it as much. It had an outdoor buffet that is a lil hot and uncomfortable and their welcome drink wasn't as good.
It was okay...I thought the price to quality ratio was pretty on point. It's one of the cheaper hotels on the Cancun hotel mile but still maintains all of the amenities. The staff was super nice at check in and let me keep my bags in the lobby until the room was ready. The breakfast buffet was excellent and the lunch was good as well. The a la carte restaurants, as expected, were just okay at best. The quality of the food was mediocre and the service was nothing to write home about. The room was nice enough; nothing absurdly fancy but it was clean and big and had a nice view of the ocean. Really can't gripe too much. Would stay again for sure; it really is unbeatable for the price. The Riu brand is always pretty solid and this was no exception
More like a 3.5. Riu Peninsula is not in the main hotel zone area/downtown, it's about 2 miles north. We came in Feb and it was raining on and off and also "cold" for Cancun, around low to mid 70s. Room: the room is definitely old. You can tell with the many layers of paint, furniture and at times old smell. It was super clean though. Our cleaning lady, Alexa was amazing. Spotless. The room was purple. The AC didn't work too well in the day, but in the middle of the night it would get super cold, then turn off and get stuffy. It's weird. The rooms were so noisy, paper thin walls. We heard everything from the upstairs and next door neighbors. Very loud bangs in the wee hours of the morning. Rooms come with a balcony and faces the ocean. Pools: 4 main pools. One adult, 1 long one, 1 infinity pool and one activity pool. The long pool with beach entrance was super cold. The activities one was a little warmer but on the cold side, and the affinity was super cold. It would be great if it was hot, but weather was on the colder side. No hot tubs! We had a 1 year old and it was too cold for him. One day weather got up to 76° and he enjoyed his time in the pool. The pool servers came around a lot, great service! They have burgers and hot dogs food at the pool. No pizzas though. Food & Drinks: the drinks were watered down, so just ask for shots. We took shots of "patron" and it was somewhat not too watered down. We felt buzzed after 3-4 shots. Normally it's 2 shots. Wine was the usual low end wine. -Italian (Venecia): love the appetizer buffet, the paella was great. Get the lamb chops! We got it every night. -Steakhouse: long wait, lobster was terrible- it was so rubbery and chewy, I think it made me sick. I also got the fillet and it was pretty decent. -Krystal: the food here is the worst. It was terrible. The crudo/yellowtail was plated on a puddle of soy sauce, it made it so salty. We ate one and it was too salty. They should have used ponzu. The lobster risotto was ok. Steak was ok. I would skip this restaurant. It was empty for a reason! -Mexican restaurant: the best restaurant there. We got the octopus, fried fish tacos, and the beef. All good! The ceviche was buffet style and we loved it. Also the tres leches cake was the best. -Buffet: best option overall. Only place for breakfast, lots of options. The omelet lady sucked though, the omelet was drenched in oil and she often didn't know how to cook it, so it looked like a mess. For dinner- very good options! -Cafe/sports bar: didn't open early for coffee, so you can go to the sports bar that is opened 24/7. It was great. Sports bar even had food (burgers, nuggets, hot dogs). Espresso bar. Cafe had cakes and desserts. Activities: a lot at night, they try to get you to go. There was always some kind of party of loud music until 11pm. Fun for adults. Not too many activities available for children under 3 years old. Over all, it was a pretty good experience, a 3.5 out of 5. It wasn't too bad, could use major room renovations. Door was paper thin. Also, a little far from downtown Cancun.
Riu Palace Peninsula is located on the north side of the Hotel Zone. An all-inclusive adult only hotel. However, there are kids that I saw in the dining room, so I'm assuming they share the restaurants with another property. When we checked in, the front desk staff were friendly and informed us of everything we needed to know. TIP: There's a hotel /tourism tax you need to pay, so don't forget to pay it. We also got a treat with a welcome mango drink. The lobby is beautiful, and the room accommodations were equally as beautiful. It was clean and no maintenance issues other than water seeping out from the shower. I also liked that the floor was not carpeted. The view from the room was also breathtaking. There are 4 swimming pools and the beach to enjoy the sun. I've heard about seaweed in cancun, but luckily, there was none in some areas. The lobby bar is a must! Diego is the best! He knew our drinks after the first day. There's also a pianist in the evening. There are lots of chairs to sit on to enjoy. Now, as a foodie, the restaurants are ok. The worst Tamales and the Sports Bar. You would think being in Mexico that the food would be great. The sports bar food is awful. Dirty and no one cleaning up like the other restaurants or lobby area. If you want better food during the day, do the buffet. I personally enjoyed the Venecia Italian. That was the best meal we had. I really wanted to enjoy the Isla Mujeres Steakhouse, but the ambiance was not there. The Rib Eye was good but nothing fancy about the decor. The entertainment was fun at the Riu Stage and at the Riu All White Party. Some of the shows were meh, but the Michael Jackson show was the best. Overall, I'd return again. The majority of the workers we were in contact with were nice.
Just ok. The service was good, everyone that we encountered was very friendly, but I wouldn't return to this resort. Despite upgrading our room, I could see there was a lot of wear and tear. Our floor had cracks in the tile, which made for an eyesore as soon as you walked into the room. After seeing that, along with the rust in the door of the patio, I could just tell that the property was old and it's time for a remodel. The rooms, definitely give an older hotel that was maybe changed into a resort property and never fully renovated. The food was ok. Between the restaurants and the buffet, you can find something to eat. Drinks and food at the pool was terrible. The drinks were so bad and watered down at the pool, that we ended up going inside when we wanted a drink or to get something to eat. It's kind of hard to mess up burgers, but if it's burgers with absolutely no seasoning, it can be horrible. Overall, I wouldn't return to this resort.
I had an exceptional time here during my stay in Cancun. The RIU actually has multiple hotels within the parameters of the hotel zone and with access to one, you can also visit the other RIU hotels. I thought this was a cool feature, if you did not like food or the bar in one location, you could easily go down a few blocks to another entirely different hotel. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the lovely staff and given a complimentary drink, they immediately take your luggage out of the vehicle you came in and wheel it so you don't have to carry it as your checking in. Check in was seamless and the hotel complimentary upgraded my room to a sea view room which I truly appreciated. The exterior of the hotel is pretty cool actually and easily recognizable especially if you're driving up to it. I gathered all my belongings and went to my room. I was relieved I did not have to actually sit and wait for an additional 4 hours for the room to be ready, and the room was extremely clean and in amazing condition. It was a jacuzzi suite with a king bed. I liked the layout of the room, everything was literally one big open space and easy to get around instead of the usual layout which has many doors and such. I unpacked and settled in. You have a full minibar inside the room and there is liquor on tap as well. The room is also fully stocked with essentials. After showering and exploring the room and the breathtaking balcony view, I decided to check out the rest of the hotel. It's easy to walk around and you are literally right on the beach.There are many pools and mini bars on the property and the actual ocean itself which was an insane perk! I never realized it when I booked so it was a beautiful surprise. The hotel is extremely clean and theyre constantly cleaning it throughout the day. There is also a buffet on the first floor, as well as the restaurants, bars, and gift shop. During the day, you can sit within the hotel like the pool area or on the beach chairs, or you can take a swim in the beautiful crystal clear water. They also offer water activities such as jetski, boat rides, kayaking, and snorkeling. This is a separate private company not associated with the hotel, but the prices are reasonable and it is conveniently located right there so why not? I would recommend if you are interested in water sports. At night it is somewhat hard to get a reservation as the restaurants as they fill up quickly, there is about a 30 minute wait. The foos itself was good at the authentic Mexican restaurant, and I would eat there most often. The other cuisines are not as appetizing, but keep in mind you are in a different country so you cannot compare- I would recommend sticking with what you know or like. Also the buffet area you can get anything you want to be made for you. The bar and drink area is great, and the service is awesome. They clean the room once a day and offer 24/7 room service. You can order room service on the app or call down to the lobby. The room service is also pretty fast but the options are limited. Ideally if food is important, then plan your day and activities accordingly so you don't miss a meal at the hotel. You can also eat outside- there are restaurants in the area. The staff also responds to inquiries very quickly. Checking out was seamless, I was just sad to be leaving. I would highly recommend the RIU as a hotel to stay when in Cancun!
Easy check-in process, friendly staff, things to do on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday! The parties are fire and there's plenty of room to let your hair down. Resort has a good amount of food options, but better quality at four out of possible eight places to dine. All bars are great and you can get tucked away at one at any given time! Ensure to download the RIU app, it has everything you need especially restaurant hours and room accommodations such as room service at any time meaning 24 hours a day. This was my fav part at 4am. Inside the hotel suite, the renovations are good to go. The hotel can look updated, but with the updated renovations, it expunges that. The staff are super friendly from the resort, personnel, in-house and outside. The bartenders are very entertaining as well so feel free to carry tip cash! During the week you can catch live music and great food as you can on the weekend but it's not as crowded. During the weekend (beginning on Friday) more guest check in and you'll meet great people but can navigate the place properly. Seagulls are very dominant! Watch your food at the pool grill and bar. Food is phenomenal. There are plenty of beach excursions and beach rocks to take beautiful photos on for those who are photogenic such as myself. Be advised, they do have associates walking around to take photos of you in which you can purchase later. Enjoy!
Great resort and price very reasonable! Huge good selection and staff extremely nice. Didn't encounter any issues during our stay! Traveled with teenagers and they loved everything especially entertainment beach and pools.
I loved this place! I don't think I want to stay anywhere else ever again while in Cancun. Lol Everything about this place is great. The room, service, activities, the buffets and restaurants. Pools were a blast.. the swim up bar was a straight up Rager every time! "20 Baby Mangos Please!!" That was my order every time! I made so many friends with random people and staff. If you are in Cancun this is where you want to stay!!!!!
Pros: the views are spectacular and your within a 2 minute walk to the ferry for Isla mujeres. The food wasn't terrible but wasn't anything to rave home about. Great costumer service but even better if you tip :) so always bring tipping moneyyyy hunnnay! Con: slightly outdated and the rooms were really dusty I don't think they're filtration system is up to date. We were mostly all sniffy towards the first few days of the trip. The beds were a little uncomfortable, slightly disappointed compared to the Riu hotel we first stayed at in Cabo Baja California. Overall the hotel was clean and we had a great time celebrating my bachelorette here :)!
2 years ago
4 years ago
The views are amazing! The hotel itself is a bit outdated, beds were not very comfortable. The food was also okay, very bland. The desserts looked amazing but didn't taste good. But the lamb at the Italian restaurant is delicious. Service was good... Overall Rating: 3.8 read more
11 months ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
One of the best vacation destinations I've been to. Great resort/hotel, pools, the white sand beach. Food, specially the Buffet, are amazing! The employee are superb. Location is awesome. Very peaceful and safe place to have a vacation! I would definitely be back at this place!! read more
4 years ago
Great resort with nightly activities and near pier to hop over to island of mujeres! Free kayak/canoe rental! read more
Rooms: clean and spacious. Check in is at 3PM and check out is at 12PM. Times are firm. They put on the wristbands before 3PM but cut them off at check out. However, they will hold your bags, and allow you to stay on site until your airport transfer arrives. View was amazing! Service: Everyone we interacted with was fantastic! I cannot say enough about the kind, attentive, and enthusiastic staff! Food & Drink: Both were in abundance. Breakfast buffet with unlimited mimosas; they were quick to make sure our glasses were never empty. No reservations required for the specialty restaurants but they do fill up quickly regardless. Prepare to wait if you show up at the dinner rush. We dined at 3 of them but our favorite restaurant was Krystal; did not care for the other 2. Did not care for the desserts at lunch or dinner. Pools: Lots of entertainment in the pool and nearby. Wait staff ready to bring bring orders and bbq on the beach. Only issue is that the pools close at 7PM for daily maintenance. Entertainment: Loads of it throughout the day and evenings. All well planned and choreographed especially the beach party or fiesta en la playa. read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
These people will have you thinking you have Jeffrey Epstein money ... just WITHOUT all of the sex crimes. There are six different restaurants. Two are buffets. And one of the Buffets, Las Olas, is the Gourmet Buffet. The other four restaurants are Japanese, Italian, Mexican and Steakhouse. And you have to dress in nice attire to eat it all of them except the basic Buffet. You can have on your swimwear and eat in the basic Buffet. The beach... You have soft white sand and then you have a rocky coverage. So you have the Best of Both Worlds at the beach! They also have a couple of Cabanas on the beach. I felt like making a music video to some Jazmine Sullivan or Bryson Tiller and there is also a couple of Cabanas located at the end of the pier further out in the water. They offered jet skiing and I do believe some type of water parasailing. FYI... The pool water is not freezing! I want to thank them for that! Room service definitely wants to be tip! I literally had everything thrown everywhere trying to get ready at the last minute for my Excursion. I assumed I put the do not disturb on the door. Obviously I didn't. My room was so freaking clean when I got back! I was gone for 13 hours. So I was grateful that they did clean the room so well. There is a sports bar that stays open 24/7. So if you get the late-night munchies ... (we are Mexico people! The cartels aren't fighting over trafficking butterflies.) They had options for the Seafood only eaters! And that guacamole was so good OMG! And it's not made how we're used to eating it in the states. But it's still so darn delicious! And they also offer tuna fish sandwiches! MASK MASK MASK!!! Unless you're in the beach or pool section, you better have that mask on! And some people even in those two water sections still have their on a mask. Round of applause! One of those people were me LOL. One more thing... Because this is long AH! In the eating areas, you can only have your mask removed "while eating". What I mean by this is, if you're NOT sitting and eating, your mask has to be on. And they will stop you if it's not on and you're up from your table or seat. They have a bar called to go and a pastry bar. And they only offer seats there no tables. But that mask better stay on! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
I haven't ever left a resort. I was there for only 30 minutes and I couldn't imagine the rest of my stay at this hotel. Original hotel was the Riu Cancun they then offered us the better higher quality Riu peninsula. When we got there the staff was great and that is the only reason why I'm giving it 1 star. Get up to the rooms and it was extremely dirty, Old and outdated. Bathroom had also grown mold! read more
I had an amazing time at Riu. I understand everyone has different experiences everywhere. Upon arrival we were greeted by the bell boys who sanitized our bags and hands, then checked our temperature. Check in was smooth and our room was ready at 10:30 am even though check in is at 4pm (SCORE!!). There was some confusion with our reservation but that was due to Expedia and not the actual hotel but the hotel took care of things. This was a getaway trip planned for my mom who is an essential worker and I felt she needed a relaxing vacation to reboot. The food- we stuck mostly to the steakhouse and buffet. They sanitize before you enter and check your temperature. You must wear a mask when you are not at your table. They have workers walking around To enforce this which is nice. The room was spotless. It was super clean. Riu has an app to request anything needed, see what time restaurants open, fun schedule.. different excursions, you name it. Room service was FAST and very friendly. The spa- we both got relaxing massages on the beach which was absolutely amazing!! This hotel was so much fun and I enjoyed my vacation! *tip- bring cash to tip the workers, they are so sweet and you can tell that it helps them a lot* read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
YES!!!!!!! If I was a millionaire I would stay there FOR LIFE!!! Beach is unbelievably warm! Staff is very friendly!!! I felt like heaven was there, I can't even express how much I liked it there. Very humid and hot as well! read more
7 years ago
We stayed in this hotel from Dec 23rd to 29th, 2019. Hotel is very grand but lacks quality food, organized activities and more importantly terrible manager & supervisors. My kids got food poisoning, eating @their Krysal restaurant & had to call front desk @ 4 am to see if they can get medical help for their diaherre and vomiting, which they had none to offer. On our last day , they forced us to pay $15 extra for cleaning my kids room of vomiting residue. We explained to their supervisor that my kids didn't drink alcoholic beverages & their condition was due to their crappy food. They wouldn't agree or believe us & instead of giving us a courtesy discount, they force us to pay $15. After payingover$5000 for our stay, It just wasn't about $15, rather principle, which this hotel hotel managers have lack of it. read more
3 years ago
So this place was AMAZING!! I didn't want to leave... but life requires a grind between the fun! When we first arrived, we were greeted with "Welcome Drinks" and my room was upgraded to an ocean view (#winning). There were 18 of us there celebrating a birthday and the staff was more than accommodating! As with any other all-inclusive... you will receive an armband that cannot take off until you have checked out from the resort. I don't recall the cost to replace the band, but I would just say save yourself the headache and keep it on. The room was very sleek and modern. If you're a traveler that prefers to relax in their room, then you can order room service AND each room has it's own bar, so you can have drinks without having to mingle (that was the case for my neighbors...seriously, they only opened the door to put their dirty plates outside). HOWEVER, if you're like ME.... then go enjoy the swim-up bar. If this is your first time visiting and you plan to enjoy all the liquid courage this place has to offer... they only offer double shots (you've been warned). The pools are cleaned daily and the heated pool is actually a relaxing contrast to the cool windy November weather. If you get hungry, I appreciated the fact that I could grab a guacamole burger or ribs from the pool side grill. During my downtime, I enjoyed the spa for a fish pedi, which totaled $30 USD ($500 MXN). For 15 minutes, I enjoyed all the dead skin being eaten off my toes (I know, it sounds disgusting... but you'll thank me later). I also enjoyed the neck aromatherapy that was provided, as that helped me relax a little. The main restaurant served a variety of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want a more specific cuisine, then you can head over to the steakhouse or the hibachi restaurant (note: men must be wearing sleeves prior to seating in these restaurants). After dinner, we lounged at the pink bar where we were able to drink and relax on hammocks. Once the pink bar closed, you can head over to the Sports bar that's 24 hours and has a self-serve buffet of burgers, hot dogs and ribs/wings... if you require a late night snack. Finally, if you want to spend your days roaming Cancun. Save some coins by taking the bus instead of a taxi (during the day of course). The bus cost $1 USD (12 MXN). Whatever you decide... just go and have a blast for me! read more
3 years ago
I want to start by saying that we came to the Riu palace peninsula for a destination wedding. The wedding itself was beautiful from start to finish. It was absolutely gorgeous! The resort had its pros and cons. Pros: the staff was so incredibly kind. There were a lot of food options. There was a Japanese restaurant, a gourmet place, an Italian place, a steakhouse, a Mexican place, and the buffet. I appreciate it very much having fresh fruit every morning for breakfast! And the buffet that was set up at the steakhouse for lunch every day. It was delicious. We also very much appreciated that inside the lobby there was a coffee bar. And Freddy, who is the Bartender at the pool bar was by far the MVP for all of us that spent time at the pool bar. The spa staff is super great! Cons: the rooms are a bit dated and even with the AC running consistently it was always humid in the rooms. The beds are not very comfortable. We ended up needing a second massage because our shoulders and backs were a mess from sleeping on the beds. The food was truly hit or miss some spots had good food others had bland food. The entertainment staff was just OK. They did not really hyped up the crowd. The most excited everyone's got was during the foam party. The only pool with a pool bar. It was a relatively small pool, and it was always warmer than bathwater. All of the different pools progressively got colder. There is a fake infinity pool where they do the foam party which was a good size, but none of the pools actually connect which means you have to get up and bounce around because the phone party is not near the pool bar and the entertainment shows that they do during the day are not at the pool bar pool. It seemed a little disjointed in that. read more
So many things are excellent, but a few things missed the mark. The hotel lobby and staff were wonderful. The surroundings are impressive, and our check-in process was clear and concise. The pool and beach areas are not huge, but they are quite clean. A huge plus is the daily activity schedule in the area of the pool bar. For us, this vacation was about some real rest and relaxation, and the on-site activities were just right. There was morning Zumba, pool volleyball, and bingo, to name a few. The food was good overall, with a few misses. The Mexican and French/fusion restaurants were excellent, the Japanese restaurant was good, and the breakfast buffet was fresh and plenteous. The steakhouse, Black and White, seems to always have a long wait, which in my opinion is not worth it as there are plenty of other dining options. The 24 hour snack bar was a real miss, though. It offered burgers, hot dogs, and bar-type foods that were usually quite dried out and lacked flavor. It would really help if there were a few healthy or packaged items like fresh salad or granola bars. The Cappuccino coffee bar was lovely and had excellent desserts available. The rooms are nice-sized and all have a balcony. The sheets were a bit less than comfortable (pilling) and the constant humid atmosphere led to a musty smell in the pillows and couch. It was tough to get used to. Some sort of bathroom fan could have helped this, as the entire room filled with steam after every shower. A big plus is that there is a little balcony in each room. A sunset cocktail on the balcony before dinner was a nice treat. The service level, though, was impeccable throughout. Overall, for the price, Riu was a good choice, and I would stay here again. read more
Here are some of the things I didn't find in any of the other reviews. Here's some tips and best practices: 1) reservations are currently unavailable at the restaurants; first come first served 2a) Kulinarium is strictly for the adults-only villa guests, but we received an invitation for a snafu during booking 2b) check your booking reservation to ensure you booked the right room type BEFORE arriving in Cancun 2c) I had a small mechanical issue which was resolved within the hour, while I was on the grounds eating/at the pool. 2d) My friend stayed in the patio jacuzzi room - in hindsight, I might have booked that room too; we chilled out there in the water with a bottle of ice cold bubbly...it was awesome 3) Breakfast buffet is the only morning meal option; there is no plated, sitdown breakfast like dinner 4) the steakhouse is a waste of time; we were literally told to hurry and order and rushed through the lackluster meal and some entree options were not available 5) Most restaurants allow you a second entree, but you have to finish the initial entree first (no tasting menu for the table situation) 6) We tried swimming at the adults-only pool (we we had rooms in tower and were nicely asked to leave - the armbands are different colors so don't try it 7) download the Riu app before leaving home - you can get restaurant menus and book your Covid test through the app 8) Covid tests are in two converted guestrooms on the 1st floor and you will get an email confirmation 24 hours before the test - ours was the day before our checkout and you are clustered with other guests to get C19 tests at the same time (use elevators close to reception desk to get to the rooms) 9) gym and spa are accessed through the first floor hall closest to the reception desk 10) Gym opens at 6am - bring your own wipes and hand towels b/c they don't leave enough and there was no attendant there all three times I visited 11) Riu Caribe/Cancun allows visitation privileges for breakfast and lunch only, no dinner 12a) Room attendants are super nice and cleaned my 8th floor room everday around 3pm, so plan accordingly 12b) Fridge restocks happen daily - call down to ask for a restock of a soda/beer they normally put in the fridge - Pepsi products only) 12c) if sharing a room, bring an air freshener (water closet is right by front door) 13) Book the romantic dinner 24 hours in advance - about 60USD pp 14) As noted by other reviewers, beach is pretty craggy so you may have to walk/taxi to another public beach like Playa Delfines 15) use the transportation captain to help you get taxis which are staged nearby (everything up and down Kukulkan was about $12-14USD, except WLMT is $40USD rt) 16) exchange currency in your home country with a bank - better exchange rate than on the ground in Mexico; front desk was happy to make change, as needed 17) please tip the workers - they are really working hard for you! I hope this helps! Have an awesome time! read more
Visited Riu Peninsula Valentine's Day weekend 2021. When we arrived there seemed to be a lot of people at the resort but the next day I think most people were headed out. Our checkin process was very smooth. The front desk staff upgraded our room to 1222 which was a corner room that was on the 12th floor. They tell you to download the Riu app which I had done prior to arrival. Anything you need you contact through the app which I prefer. The room: very spacious and for the most part clean. I did like that our room was high up because we had a very nice view. Also we had a bigger balcony because it was a corner room. Cleanliness: Staff members wore a mask at all times. They did not let anyone without a mask go to the bar area to order drinks or get food from the buffet. The only time you had your mask off was when you're in the pool or eating. They used sanitizing sprays on the surfaces or all chairs and tables, which included the outdoor areas. The only weird thing I noticed was the horrible sewer smell that came near the infinity pool and sometimes the shower in our room. Entertainment: We stayed here for 5 night. 2 of the nights that were Latin night were actually entertaining and fun. The rest of the nights I didn't bother to go because it seemed boring. Because this is a kid friendly resort, they had RiuLand shows for the kids prior to the main entertainment. I was disappointed that they cancelled the pool and beach parties because of COVID. Food: Some restaurants were good and some were not. Our first night we were very disappointed at kabuki. The sushi there is worse then the store bought sushi. We kept asking for Don Julio shots and our waiter kept bringing us other drinks and saying that it's Don. We were upset after being lied to 3 times so we left the restaurant and went to the buffet. The rest of the nights were a lot better. The steakhouse was great minus them calling small shrimps jumbo shrimps. Lobster at the steakhouse was great. The lobster risotto at Krystle was good. Overall the food was okay. Nothing amazing although some dishes were great. All the menus are on the app so that's another reason why you need to download the app. Their breakfast was good as well. If you have gone to other all inclusive resorts the set up is very similar. They had a omelet station where someone makes you what you want. There are a lot of breakfast varieties. Fresh juices, mimosas, all kinds of fruit, different waffle and pancake options. The sport bar food was not so good. I don't know what kind of nacho cheese they use for the nachos but I hope they change it. I can't complain through because you get to eat so much at the resort that you don't need to eat nachos. Staff: There are 3 staff members that come to my mind when I think of my trip. Guzman and Diego at the bar were literally the best bartenders. They made our trip so much better. The third staff member that was great was Lupita who gave me one of the best massages at the beach. Pool: The bar and the infinity pool is not heated. The deluxe/VIP pool and the main entertainment pool were heated. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
We had a great stay here with five families (booked through Delta Vacations.) The food was decent enough--our faves were the buffet and the steakhouse. Our kids loved the sports bar. The foam party was a big hit for everyone. The aqua workouts were AMAZING and a highlight for all of us. The dance classes as well were awesome. Danny teaches both and he is the best out of any resort we have ever visited. The service was phenomenal. Servers were always checking on us by the pool and making sure we had drinks. The beach was very nice and had beautiful waters. Nightly entertainment was not great, but we enjoyed chilling in the lobby bar in the evenings. Our kids loved the jet skis (available for rental for $70 per jet ski.) Only downsides were that food was hit and miss and the lack of reservations meant we needed to be at dinner super early to guarantee a spot. We would return here--especially with a large group. Overall everyone (all 21 of us) had a great time. read more
5 years ago
Services was excellent, foods was okay! I stayed here for 4 days/3night all inclusive in July. It was okay for everything except my door card does not work often as it required to activate most of the times in the lobby. The hotel is located about 10 minutes drives from the shopping center and 15 minutes from downtown. From the outside it looks beautiful but inside needs a lot of update especially on the beds. If you are a family of 3-4 people.. the two beds room will not fit for two people on the same bed. The bed is twin size which is only for one person. The bathtub in the room next to the bed which took a lot of space, I recommended remove it! There are 6 restaurants but we ate mostly at the buffets since it is convenient and a lot of foods to choose from. Crystal fusion restaurant was good. The steakhouse has no lobster and the steak was dry and rough. The sushi restaurant was okay. I think other Riu Palace restaurants from other location is better than this one. The desserts in the buffet was good. Everyone was nice and respond quickly so makes sure you tips them well. They depend abd survive on tips so brings a lot of $1,$5, and $10 dollars bill. You don't need to exchange the money as they loves dollar bills! The pool is busy during afternoon so comes early in the morning for better alone pool times. The beach is beautiful right next to the resort. Checking in was a little slow but checking out was super fast. After checking out, you can still used the facilities such as eating at the restaurant until your times back to the airport. Overall, I will check out other resort if I am in Cancun again so I wouldn't get bored with the same resort again! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
We were lucky enough to to spend our honeymoon here and we had a great time. We went in mid-October, which is apparently a less crowded time. CHECK IN/OUT- very smooth process. The staff was friendly and helpful. I was surprised to find we wouldn't receive an airport transfer because we booked on Orbitz. It shouldn't matter where we booked, we still chose you. I did see some reviewers complain they arrived extremely early and couldn't check in until...we'll, the advertised check in time. If you need different arrangements or a late check out, call ahead and see if it's available. Don't assume and be made if it isn't. ROOM-the room was exactly as pictured. Very contemporary decor. Beautiful views from the balcony (I don't think there's a single room in the place without an ocean view). Balcony had racks to dry bathing suits. The shower was definitely slippery and a safety concern. You also wouldn't want to share a room if you're not a couple, as only the toilet has a door on it. The bed was meh. Not very comfortable and only 3 standard pillows, although I'm sure we could've requested more. It was overall very clean and the cleaning staff we encountered on our way in and out were friendly. On our last day we arrived back to find a dinosaur made out of towels. Adorable. Also, I saw a complaint that most of the channels were in Spanish which was kind of funny, as the resort is in MEXICO. Wouldn't it be funny if Mexicans vacationed here and complained our channels are in English? But there were actually plenty of English options for stations. There was also a fridge stocked with Pepsi products, water, dos equis and tecate, refilled daily. and on the wall was gin, rum, tequila, and vodka. RIOM SERVICE- try to avoid it if you can. We tried a few items and honestly none were very good. The queso was the worst. Very watered down and if I'm being honest, it's the first time in my life I've had chips and queso and thought it wasn't good at all. REATAURANTS- they were pretty good other than the Steakhouse. The meat was grey and dry. We just didn't go back and there were plenty of other options. The buffet is huge and had a lot of good options. The mexican food was delicious. Please remember that Americanized Mexican food options are not the same as traditional Mexican food. The other restaurants were pretty good as well, though we found ourself repeating the buffet for variety. Keep in mind that if you eat at their Mexican or Italian restaurants, they will offer a buffet that's an appetizer. Both places we filled up and then they asked us what we wanted for our entrees and we were stuffed and skipped them. There is also a coffee/pastry place in the lobby that was pretty good. POOLS-Bathrooms are nowhere near them, so brace yourself for that. I definitely wouldn't stick my head in the water at the bar pool for this reason due to my lack of trust in people not being lazy and peeing there. There are a lot of chairs but they will fill up if the weather is nice, so you may want to head out mid morning if you're picky about where you sit. They had fun games lead by staff members, pool volleyball, and a daily bbq for lunch. I expected dry, bulk bbq hamburgers and was surprised to find my burger juicy and really tasty. BEACHES-there are two sides. One is a bit rocky and narrow but the other has plenty of sand and chairs. Again, they will fill up during prime hours. There are vendors walking the beach. We joked that they must look for the least tan people there and pounce. Our first day we were inundated with them and the rest of the trip they left us alone for the most part. They sell shrimp and fresh coconuts in the beach, so that was fun. They also have plenty of masseuses (non-hotel employees, tbh) so if you want to skip the resort prices, it was a great option and only steps down the beach. There was also a jet ski rental place within a close walk. We had a blast and purchased our pictures afterward (they sue a drone). Keep in mind if it's your first time traveling, prices are almost ALWAYS negotiable, so flip on those bargaining skills. BARS-there was a nice sports bar area with big screens and a lackluster food line. It wasn't bad, per se. It was just a standard line of precooked hotdogs and hamburgers and a few pastries. It was definitely convenient and not bad enough to be mad about by any means. The drinks were ok. The lobby had a nice bar area and they will also take your order throughout the lobby. The mixed drinks were ok. The mimosas were pretty darn good. ENTERTAINMENT-cute shows (mostly lip syncing and dancing) and a pretty-ceding kids show that was cute. TAXIS-easy to get. TOURS-I highly recommend doing a catamaran tour to Isla Mujeres. We did not book this through the hotel but rather through Albotros right down the street. The host was AWESOME and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Overall, while it wasn't perfect (and what experience for 8 days is?) we would definitely return. read more
4 years ago
I love the Riu. I prefer the Riu resorts with the trendy upscale look. My room was well cleaned each day, but I am a good tipper so that helps. They make cute towel animals on my bed every day. I stayed in the adults only area, and I loved that I could go to the pool or beach straight from my patio. There's a hot tub on each patio, it looked fairly clean but I didn't take any chances, however the people in the next room "enjoyed" it every night. The grounds were well kept and the staff was nice. I will be trying the Riu in Costa Rica next! read more
2 years ago
The hotel director "Alejandro" and "Luisa" the customer service rep didn't seem to care that my father and my 10 yr old brother slept in a dirty room that was issued to them late. We checked in at 4pm. But my dad's room was not ready "Diego" the front desk agent told us to come back in an hour. We went to have dinner and walk around the hotel. My dad was tired so he went to go get his hotel key and the lady said his room was not cleaned yet. But Diego standing next to her said yes it is. Give him the key. He got his key and just went straight to bed. In the morning when he got up, he moved the sheets and pillow while looking for his phone and he discovered nasty yellow stains. The hotel didn't really care all they said is they didn't know if it was the cleaning ladies mistake or front desk. But that they couldn't do anything to compensate this bad experience. Not staying here again. read more
My boyfriend and I stayed here for a week at the end of May. This place is amazing! There's food and drinks everywhere, lots of really nice pools, and the hotel is along a really beautiful stretch of beach that's really nice to walk down. We were upgraded to the adults-only villas at no extra charge when we checked in. Our room was amazing! It was super big, nicely decorated, air conditioned, and had a hot tub on the balcony (although it was too hot to actually use it)! There is some sort of food available at all times but most of the eating areas are only open during a certain period of time, so make sure to check the times before heading to the all you can eat buffet. There was one place you needed pants (not shorts) to eat at so we were unfortunately unable to try it out. If you want to go there, you need to be in the adults-only villas (not sure how strongly they enforce that rule) AND have pants (they enforce this very strongly). The staff is super nice and helpful. Anything we had questions about or wanted to learn more about they were able to help us with. Most of the staff spoke English and the ones who didn't understood our spanglish well enough to help us with whatever we needed. There were a lot of different activities to do at the resort alone. Every night, there would be a choreographed performance of song and dance. We only went to part of one because we were so tired from being beach bums all day that we just wanted to stay inside and sleep. The half of one we went to seemed like the actors put a lot of effort into it and the audience was having a good time. When it rained, they set up lots of different games and indoor activities, like blackjack, poker, various board games, and giant jenga! One night, there was a 21+ game where the winner got a hat and the loser had to do a double shot of tequila...so win win! We also did a painting class here. The instructor was very exact in his instructions and both our picture turned out beautifully. The only downside to this place is that we had to leave. read more
3 years ago
Expedia gave this resort 4 1/2 out of 5 star.... When we checked in to the hotel, Andre was really nice and gave us a free upgrade from our original junior suite to the villa suite jacuzzi. That felt like a plus.. The Villa is in another section somewhat away from the main lobby where everything was.. It is located in a quieter and peaceful section. Seems like it was more for newlyweds and couples that wanted their alone time vs. a bunch of girls wanting a getaway. The decor was nice and pretty. The quality of the decor on the other hand, was poor. The walls are pretty thin. I could hear the mumbling sounds of the guest next door when they talk. Thank goodness it was our friends so it's ok for me to hear them say where they will be putting some of their stuff in their luggage! The bathroom was small. Lacked lighting at the shower stall. They give you this tiny little dim light and the they already use dark color decor in the shower, so it made it more difficult to see when you shower. There's not much to do in this resort. The food was so so. Drinks aren't strong at all. Mostly felt watered down. There's not enough shows, or a good show for that matter. Everything is finished by 12am, except for one really bright sports bar that is open 24hours. There's no clubs or lounge. Not enough bars. Not enough pools, there was 1adult pool, again., mainly for couples that wanted alone time. 1 kiddie pool. 1 pool that they use mostly for volleyball. 1 pool side bar. 2 regular pools. I think thats about it.. The water is very very warm. I'm thinking it's the sun beaming down, but jumping into a pool of warm water was not what i was expecting on a hot summer day. Then the beach... So much rocks, seaweed and ants everywhere. Felt very dirty. You have to make ressies for most of the restaurants and they will only allow you to make it a day prior with only two times to choose from, 630pm or 830pm. So other than that you only have an option of buffet for breakfast/lunch/dinner, or one italian restaurant that doesn't require any ressie. Something to keep in mind, the steakhouse restaurant is outdoor seating with ceiling fans. So you may possibly be sweating during the meal. But the positive note to that is you have a view of the beach and you get to watch the beautiful sunset. Last but not least, the WIFI is terrible!!!!!! It keeps cutting off whether you're in the room or anywhere in the hotel. Skype moments are so choppy and sometimes takes forever to connect. A little disappointed in this "All Inclusive" hotel. read more
8 years ago
Our first time in Cancun, second time at a Riu. We've had this trip planned for 7 months... and we spent a lot of time planning and researching before we booked here. Pros: friendly, gracious staff. Always greeted with a smile at breakfast/lunch/dinner. Check in was a breeze. Again, friendly and quick. Beach! Can't do much about the seaweed/grass, but I was happy how clean the staff attempted to make it. Room views. 9th floor, perfect view of the ocean. Shows were pretty great. One night in particular, Las Vegas theme. Dancers were clearly professional. Cons: pool drinks... service was so-so. Mostly had to go get my own drinks, I suppose the plus side was that I got my steps in! Only 1 towel for pool per person. Not a huge deal, but would have liked two. Bathrooms outside were super far from the pool... potty trips have to be planned. We like all inclusive when traveling to Mexico. Food begins to become mundane after a while... we only ate at the buffet because in my opinion, the restaurants just had the buffet food, just brought to you. Overall, the food was better here than I thought it would be. Something to keep in mind, the staff here are underpaid and work ridiculously long hours... so don't be entitled. Enjoy the beach, enjoy your family, and stop thinking you're better than everyone and I am certain it will be a great holiday! read more
5 years ago
This resort is absolutely beautiful inside and out. The rooms are pretty and spacious and awesome views of the ocean. The food is good also. I have visited this location twice and each time it was a nice experience. read more
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Riu Palace Peninsula - hotels - Updated August 2026
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