Much need of repair

This is the 4th time we've been to this resort. It's been one of our favourite places to go to relax and enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica.The resort is closing down in August for 6 month for renovations and they have let a lot go. Our first room was a maintenance nightmare, closet doors wouldn't close the main door to the room and sliding glass doors wouldn't lock. The fan made a terrible noise and the sink backed up with water. There was a lot of wear and tear in the room. The manager moved us [... read more] to a different room, we still had a few issues there but it was much better than the first room. It's unfortunate that RIU allowed the resort to get so run down. We spoke with people that had been there for the first time and they have no intention of going back. Food was not the same. The RIU Guanacaste has been completely redone and looks fabulous. But it's huge there must be over a 1,000 rooms, plus they've added a Water Sports Centre with a lot of jet skis..which makes for a busy noisy beach.

Excellent hotel

The hotel is beautiful, great rooms, excellent food and friendly staff. The pool and grounds are well maintained. Variety of dining options and high quality buffet. Sea view rooms are well appointed,clean and spacious. Tripcentral staff very helpful with booking and providing additional info about the area,tours etc Beach area is public and less attractive.

Great resort

The palace resort does need up grades. But we did have a great time. A large group can’t be taking over the pool area . We encountered the Red Hat Society Ladies -117 ladies. They were loud and disrespectful to other guests. This type of group needs to book a conference centre, not a resort . This group of ladies were out of control. Making me and my family uncomfortable.

Wonderful Stay!

I had read some negative reviews about this hotel and was wary about staying here. However from the moment we pulled up to the resort to the moment we checked out, I was very impressed. The grounds, the pools, the rooms, the lobby! Yes, it is starting to show its age, people had trouble with the room keys etc., however we had no complaints. We were able to try all the a la carte restaurants, you just need to line up early. There was never any problem getting into the Italian restaurant at an [... read more]y time. The buffet was also very good. Food was abundant and so many options! The staff were also wonderful, so attentive. All in all we had a wonderful time!

Amazing resort

The resort was huge but amazing. After one day you could get around faster. The rooms are a bit out of date, but apparently Reno’s are happening soon. The food and pools are great. I will definitely return!!!!

Amazing resort

The resort was huge but amazing. After one day you could get around faster. The rooms are a bit out of date, but apparently Reno’s are happening soon. The food and pools are great. I will definitely return!!!!

Amazing Resort!

I thought the resort was great but the staff made it amazing. They were always so happy and polite and always asking if there are any issues. Friendliest staff I have ever experienced in my travels. Especially Angela who made sure we were taken care of at the pool with our drinks and her infections smile!

Amazing resort

This resort is absolutely beautiful. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. The beach is nice and if you walk down the beach you will see monkeys. There are vendors on the beach but they are not pushy. They are trying to make a living and the prices are incredible

Beautiful resort!!!

A very beautiful hotel. The scenery is incredible. Several pools, restaurants, and bars. Just one problem: if you love the beach, this probably isn't for you. The beach itself is nice, with black sand, perfect for swimming. Since the sand is volcanic, the sea bottom is very smooth and firm, which is very good and safe to swim. There are sun loungers on the beach, but no umbrellas at all. A few small trees provide shade, but that's not enough. There's also no bar on the beach, but the guys from  [... read more]the pool bar occasionally come onto the beach, but it takes about an hour for them to bring you a drink. We've been there in September, which is the rain season. Normally, there is a heavy rain in afternoon for a few hours, However, we liked it - the nature is enjoying the rain as we are.

Amazing vacation!

The hotel itself is beautiful and always clean. The view to the ocean is great. The staff is really what makes the experience even better. They are always very polite and love to have conversation. Seeing the monkeys on the beach was an added bonus!

Mother-daughter getaway with two teen girls (15 & 18)

Overall Vibe: A solid resort with stunning views, strong margaritas, and just enough quirks to keep things interesting. ? The Good Stuff (a.k.a. why we didn’t book an earlier flight home) • Jaw-Dropping Scenery: The grounds are lush and green — think "Jurassic Park intro" but without the dinosaurs (unless you count the howler monkeys). The pools are beautifully maintained and there’s plenty of space to sprawl out and do nothing, which we fully embraced. Beach is hot dark sand and warm wa [... read more]ter. Monkeys in the trees near the beach were fun to watch and feed if you have fruit with you. • Genuinely Great Staff: Every staff member we interacted with was warm, helpful, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. • The Riu App – Surprisingly Useful: As someone who likes a plan, I lived on this app. Everything from restaurant hours to daily activities and weather updates — all in one place. My teens found it annoying; I found it life-saving. • Always Something to Eat: Food is available pretty much around the clock. Whether you need a burger by the pool, a late-night pastry, or caffeine to survive another sarcastic teen comment, you’re covered. • Poolside Drink Service: Top-tier vacation vibes. Nothing quite like having someone hand you a cocktail while you pretend not to see your kids filming TikToks from the lounger next to you. • Clean Rooms & Comfortable Beds: Rooms were well-kept, beds were comfortable, and housekeeping stayed on top of the sand trail we brought in daily. ? The Not-So-Great (aka: “It’s not a dealbreaker, but...”) • The Food – Hit or Miss: The buffet was fine at first, but by day four, we were all craving variety. We did manage to get into the Italian, steakhouse, and sushi à la cartes — all very solid, with some standout dishes. But it came with a catch... • À La Carte = Line Up or Miss Out: There’s no reservation system, so if you don’t line up early, you’re heading back to the buffet. A couple nights we tried and couldn’t get in, which was frustrating — especially for hangry teens. A little more structure here would go a long way. • Awkward Room Layout: The bathtub in the middle of the room was... a choice. Not ideal with teenagers. Also, the bathroom lighting was weirdly dim and made everything feel like a scene from a moody indie film. Big thumbs down from anyone who needs to apply make up or has over 40 year old eyes! • Slippery Floors: The tile floors in our room were absurdly slick when wet. Two near-wipeouts later, I was navigating the room like a figure skater. Pack non-slip sandals. • Construction “Garden View”: Our room faced the construction site next door. We knew about the renovations beforehand, so not a total surprise — but the 7 a.m. jackhammer wake-up calls were not part of the dream vacation. It was so dusty and loud I wasn't able to sit outside at all on the balcony for a morning coffee. • TV + WiFi Frustrations: The Smart TV wasn’t smart (or working), and the WiFi was hit-or-miss. Fine for unplugging, but not great if you’re trying to stream, video chat, or keep teens entertained in the room. ?‍♀️ Could Be Better... • Room Service: Food arrived in basic takeout containers — no plates, utensils, or presentation. We made it work, but it felt like an afterthought. • Lighting at Night: Some of the walkways were poorly lit. I ended up using my phone flashlight regularly, which made it feel a bit like a scavenger hunt to get back to the room. ? Final Thoughts: Would I return? Possibly — with a better room and a more laid-back approach to the dining scene. The resort is beautiful, the staff is excellent, and there’s enough to enjoy if you’re okay with a few quirks. It's not a foodie destination or tech paradise, but if your goal is to relax, disconnect, and soak in the sun (while occasionally muttering about the bathtub), it’s a pretty solid place to do it.

Amazing Resort with great All Inclusive services and fantastic weather , too!

One of if not , the Best place and vacation -- go for it! I could not imagine working day in day out, in such lovely hot weather (usual temp was about 31:c) but the great employees at the Hotel RIU do all the time. Kudos to them all from the front desk; to the great room maids; to the great bar service; and food service people. Great tours provided by Nicolas and by YuuGo at NEXUSTours (Vardala and Palo Verde tours). We our family of 5 adults stayed for 7 days. Great weather (only had a rain d [... read more]ownpour for about a hour one late afternoon). Had working AC but did not use as ceiling fan was just perfect (the more Eco friendly way ). And the Monkeys were a Bonus! :-}

RIU Palace, Costa Rica

Great place, good food and entertainment. A lot of walking to get from point A to point B if one has mobility issues. They could use more public washrooms around the pool area as you have to make your way to the Papagayo Restaurant or inside by the theatre which is a distance.

GREAT RESORT

THE RIU Palace Costa Rica did not disappoint. Food was great, grounds were clean, rooms were well air conditioned and the staff were friendly and polite. The nightly entertainment was well done and entertaining. My biggest plug at the RIU was they served bottled COKE ZERO which i was very happy to discover. It is the first time i have ever seen that and it added to a great experience.

Solid choice for a family with teenagers

The Riu Palace definitely has a 1980s Miami feel rather than the familiar Spanish colonial, but was the perfect choice for our family getaway in Costa Rica with 4 teenagers (with the minor exception of the in-room liquor dispensers!). The property was comfortable and well-maintained with generous sized rooms, great dining choices, and inviting pools and beach area. Staff were friendly and attentive. Access to the adjacent Riu Guanacaste property meant additional variety for meals, pool and wa [... read more]ter play. The Diamante Adventure Park next door was convenient and offers zip lining, wildlife sanctuary, horseback riding and more. That said, if you're just going to stay on the resort, you'll probably get better value in Mexico or the Dominican Republic!

Great service

The service at the hotel was great (staff was very attentive and friendly) and the hotel was clean. The building itself was a bit dated. We were in a junior suite and the jacuzzi tub in the hotel room/open concept bathroom (only the toilet is behind a closed door) may not be convenient for all groups of travellers. When I asked to switch rooms, I was told that all rooms are the same. Not sure this was accurate given the size of the resort, but maybe there was nothing else available at the ti [... read more]me. The food was good, especially the stations where they prepare meals in front of you (e.g. omelettes, wok station, etc.). There was the usual fare, but also healthier options. The food at the Japanese restaurant, Tokio, was excellent. The steak at the steak house was also very good. Room service delivery was prompt but the food (nachos) arrived cold and soggy. Overall, we had a good time there, and would recommend it to others.

Some good, some bad

Typical Riu - beautiful outdoors space and pools and substandard rooms. The beach isn’t very nice and the water was too rough to go in. As it’s a public beach you need to pass through an area of stalls selling trinkets and excursions before you even get to the beach. There are several pools and all are very nice. Be aware - people are leaving their towels in chairs as early as 7 am and there are not enough chairs to go around. The staff are wonderful- very warm, helpful and friendly. We were tra [... read more]velling with a baby and 5 year old they were always acknowledged as we moved around the resort. We ate at all the Ala carte restaurants and the food was quite good. The buffet was typical but the tacos and tostadas were outstanding. Our room was very outdated. There was a tub in the middle of the room and the sink and shower were in the main room also offering no privacy at all. The room smelled very musty every time we entered. The lock on the patio door was broken and the screen door didn’t close properly. The beds were small - definitely not double size. The electricity seemed very weak as a phone didn’t fully charge despite being plugged in all night. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and I would definitely like to visit again but I wouldn’t stay here again unless they did a major renovation.

PHENOMENAL RESORT!!!

This Resort is absolutely Stunning..from the moment you arrive. Food is Incredible.. restaurant Exceptional.. Excursions from Sunwing Rep was easy to book.. Fabulous Excursions.. we did the mega combo premium package.. 17 Zip lines.. Horseback Riding..Lunch.. Spa.. All the Guide were Amazing. We travel alot and this is By Far the Best Excursion we have ever been on.. ATV tour was Exceptional as well.. Room immaculate.. Resort Grounds Immaculate. It is worth the PRICE!.. A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE.

Riu Palace

The grounds and lobby were stunning.The rooms were very tired and need updating.It was musty smelling.All our clothes had that stale smell. Air conditioner needs cleaning as we felt that was where the meldew smell was from.

Tired Resort

Took 4 room moves before we found one that would be suitable to stay in. Old tired beds and bedding along with TV’s not working or hanging off wall. Buffet was the best food offered as the unique restaurants were lacking in food quality during our stay. Torn canopies over loungers reduced opportunities to stay out of sun.