Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya

We just returned from our second stay at Riu Palace Riviera Maya, and once again, it absolutely exceeded our expectations. This resort is truly amazing. The property is incredibly clean and beautifully maintained. From the rooms to the common areas to the beach, everything feels immaculate. The beaches are stunning — soft sand, crystal-clear water, and always well cared for. It’s the perfect place to relax. The water sports are fantastic. One of our favorite activities is taking the sailboats out as a family — such a fun and memorable experience. The pool is wonderful and heated, which adds an extra level of comfort, especially in the mornings or evenings. The drinks are plentiful and top-notch. If you ask, you can even get top-shelf options like Patrón or Bulleit, which is a great touch. The entertainment is outstanding every night — there’s always at least one, and sometimes two, shows in the plaza area, and they’re genuinely impressive. The restaurants are all extremely good. My favorite meal was at the Italian restaurant — the chicken parmesan was absolutely delicious. The steakhouse was also excellent, with especially tasty lobster. And at the Asian restaurant, the fried banana dessert was amazing and a perfect way to end the meal. What truly makes this place special, though, is the staff. Every single person we encountered was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and always smiling. The coffee shop is also fantastic — great drinks and even better service. We can’t recommend this resort enough. Two visits in two years, and it still doesn’t disappoint. We’ll absolutely be back again.

We had a wonderful stay at the RIU Palace Riviera Maya. The resort is beautiful, the grounds are well maintained, the rooms were clean and comfortable, and the staff was friendly and hardworking. The food options were plentiful and overall we truly enjoyed our time here. That said, one ongoing issue really took away from the experience — the pool lounge chair situation. By 7:30 in the morning, nearly every pool lounger was already “saved” with towels, yet hardly anyone was actually there. One morning I counted 68 loungers reserved with no one using them. I watched a guest save 12 chairs, and then no one showed up until 11:15 a.m. It was frustrating to see so many guests unable to enjoy the pool simply because chairs were being held for hours with no enforcement by the resort’. Everything else about the resort was excellent, but this is something management really needs to address, as it affects the overall guest experience. We would still recommend the resort — but hope this issue improves in the future.

An truly unforgettable, amazing family holiday. I would recommend this hotel and location to anyone planning to stay outside of hassle and bussel of Cancun. The staff could not do enough to help and really were the most friendly I have come across anywhere. Hotel was immaculate and extremely clean. A wide variety of food is available and was excellent. All in all a superb stay. Michael Chapman

What an amazing place. From the first entrance into the hotel lobby to leaving at the end of our 11 night stay we were over-awed by this hotel and the amazing staff. The hotel is kept immaculate in all areas and the staff at all levels are so friendly and helpful and eager to please. The food quality and choice was fantastic and not having to book speciality restaurants was refreshing. The beach location was perfect and allowed us to walk every day. Although a storm at sea bought seaweed onto the beaches the team did everything possible to clear it as quickly as possible. The only minor downside we found was that the gym and gym equipment was not well maintained for the quality of the hotel. We would definitely recommend this hotel.

A rocky start with Elite Club room with view of restrooms. Staff handled professionally. Elite Club made huge difference; like a boutique resort with the amenities of a large resort. Property meticulously maintained. Extensive selection of well prepared food in buffet and specialty restaurants. Highlights include lobster, stone crab claws and filet. Top shelf drinks available all day. Note there are no ocean view rooms, and the gym is small with aging equipment, some in need of repair. Steam room, thermal pools reserved for extra / paid spa services. Not a big fan of all inclusive, but if those caveats are ok, this is a phenomenal place!

We just got back from one week of bliss at riveria Maya Palace. Staff goes over and above all expectations of what good service should be. The food was great , especially the buffet (and I'm NOT a buffet person). The room was very nice and well taken care of every day. The only thing I would change is the smoking policy (or lack therof). When you're on the beach...which is beautiful by the way, people can smoke anywhere and as a non smoker, this is annoying when trying to take advantage of the fresh air and sunshine. They also sell cigars on the beach and that is even worse. I felt bad for the people getting massages on the beach in the massage cabana, there were men smoking cigarettes and cigars right next to it! If I paid all that money for a massage and had to smell cigar smoke, I would have asked for my money back. But aside from that issue, everything else was exceptional from the time we stepped onto the property and the time we left. I highly recommend and I can't wait to vacation at another RIU in the very near future.

We had a wonderful time! This was our 5th time at this resort and we have had a great experience each time. Staff are so friendly and accommodating. Food is very good with a variety of choices for any diet. The grounds are impeccable, pools are clean, and housekeeping does a fantastic job of keeping the room and public spaces clean and tidy. I have nothing but good to say for this resort!

Just returned from a few days at the resort and had an amazing time. This was my first all inclusive experience and I was very happy. The accommodations were amazing along with the staff. You literally need nothing when you show up there. Sitting by the pool and feel thirsty? Well, someone will come by with a piña colada shortly. Hungry by the beach? Ask any of the amazing service staff and they will come back with a hamburger or hot dog for you. Anything you want 24/7 is as good as asking for it. Everything was immaculate, including the rooms, pool areas, beaches, and grounds in general. My only non-stellar observation is that the food is mid at best. If you want 5 star cuisine, you won’t get it. Go in with that expectation and you won’t be disappointed. I would also like to see more traditional Mexican offerings because they go all out for everything else, but that seems to be absent. I will definitely return and also try other Riu resorts in the Caribbean.