Riu Palace Mexico - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

8798 reviews

• 

  Is a bulldozer an option?

  This was the most disappointing AI experience yet for us. We had fun because we were on vacation and chose to but this hotel is way past due for a complete revamp. I hear that is happening in May but they honestly should not be open as it is. The location is on a beautiful stretch of Playacar beach and that’s where to good ends regarding the actual hotel. It has the awfully ugly and confusing color scheme of purple and stark white along with the worst ultra daylight LED light bulbs you can imagine everywhere. How people don’t understand that dimmer lighting and warm light over cold light creates an inviting environment is beyond me. If senior management from any hotel showed up here they’d likely be agast at the deferred maintenance but also just the aesthetic choices and lighting. The good - the people were really nice and work hard. The food is lousy and the drinks were all loaded with synthetic sweeteners. I keep my expectations in check at any AI but for what supposed to be the upper end of RIU, their Palace line, this was really bad. The Riu Palace Riviera Maya just down the beach is much better than this one. It also has sub-par food but the hotel itself at least looks better. I’d skip these and choose elsewhere.

  Mar 21, 2026
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  Staff great

  I just returned from a 5 day stay at this resort. Let me start by saying wait till after Sept the rooms are very dated and they are shutting down starting in May to Sept to redo the place. Bed was comfortable but everytime your partner moved you felt it. Didn’t even think of using the hot tub in the room which was next to the bed. The staff was amazing all nice and friendly and the do keep you entertained while in the pool area. The foam party was fun. Food was horrible we ate in the buffets and nothing really was out of this world. We did go to the Italian restaurant which we all enjoyed but a lot of us had stomach issues for most of the stay. Sadly I would not pick this resort again. Can tell you it didn’t leave me wanting to return to Mexico again anytime soon.

  Mar 20, 2026
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  Second home

  We have returned several times to this hotel yes a little tired but doesn’t spoil the experience, they are having a refurbishment in May 26 and we are returning On our last visit the staff as usual are amazing always smiling polite and helpful i hope they will be returning as they are a big part of our experience, Service around the hotel is on a whole quick we did find the lobby bar slow even when not many people so we would leave and go to the court yard in the evening where the service and staff are excellent as is the coffee bar (maria) The food has plenty to choose from we like to eat at lunchtime and there was always plenty of choice,there is also a good selection of drinks We met a lovely young lady called sara (Trainee manager) so engaging The beach wasn’t the best due to the sargassum but you can’t control nature we tend to stay around the pools,there is drinks served around the pool so you don’t have to move if you don’t want to Javi was amazing as where the rest of them The hotel is very clean and the gardens, Look forward to going back in December to see what has been done

  Mar 20, 2026
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  All good except the food 👎🏻

  First off I will say, beautiful resort! I was hesitant after booking as reviews were saying the resort was tired looking, we do not find this at all. We found the resort was kept clean, grounds were beautiful, no complaints there. Evening entertainment was a bit disappointing, pool entertainment was good. Pools were great! Service and staff were absolutely amazing! Kudos to them. Where this resort is severely lacking, was food. I have stayed at many Rius (including Palaces) and this resort was by far the worst. My partner and I felt unwell almost every day after eating, and even being back for a couple of days, still not 100% (this is most definitely food related,not sickness) Would not return or recommend this resort due to this, unfortunately!

  Mar 18, 2026
• 

  Our Happy Place

  Firstly we would like to thank the hotel for accommodating our requested room.This was our 6th visit to this wonderful hotel we absolutely love the staff and this is what makes us return year after year.Unfortunately because we return the we have found the evening shows to be same thing and have become below standard they once were . We love the Grease show put on by the Entertainment team and the Mariachi show put on by the Swlm up pool in the afternoon with a few Tequila’s.As a whole the service is excellent although we did find the Lobby bar service a bit slow this visit this we think is because of lack of staff at times to take our orders we have never had this before.Bar service was excellent at the pool and always with a Hola and a smile thank you all .Lovely to meet Sarah the Trainee Manager always happy to engage and always smiling she will be an asset to the RIU chain .We are looking forward to returning to newly refurbished hotel for Christmas 2026.A big Hola to all the Amigo’s at the entrance to the hotel for making us feel so welcome.Hopefully we will meet the same staff when we return.

  Mar 16, 2026