Riu Emerald Bay: Beautiful resort - we loved it there!

We stayed on the 14th floor of this hotel and the view was spectacular! The room was nicely appointed, the maid service was excellent (note - hang your 'do not disturb' sign on your door if you like to sleep in because they start cleaning early - and they knock), and the common areas of the hotel were always spotless. The food in the buffet was varied and always hot - no complaints there at all. We tried the Asian restaurant and it was good as well - be aware that it is still buffet style whi [... read more]ch was a bit of a disappointment, but the food was good. We never made it into the steak house as only the 9 pm seatings were available when we tried to reserve. The buffet hosts a Mexican theme night anyways and it was great. Bar service was good - particularly the lobby bar - those guys are fabulous - my dirty monkey had "art" done in chocolate sauce on it. Very nice touch. The pools were a bit chilly for my liking, but once you got used to the water it was fine. The beach was very clean, and the beach hawkers were kept behind a certain line on the beach - if you wanted to purchase or shop their wares, you just crossed the rope, otherwise they did not bother you. If you wanted to walk the beach, we just exited at the side of the property and we were not bothered. The evening entertainment was okay - choose your seating carefully because the acoustics in the theatre are not great. We enjoyed the Mexican night the most. I would definitely return to this resort!

Riu Emerald Bay: Wonderful Vacation at Riu Emerald Bay Mazatlan.

We just got back from a week's stay at the Riu Emerald Bay. Check in was fast and easy, our room was great on the 12th floor. Every room is Ocean View and the views really are spectacular. The main buffet was amazing, one of the best buffets we have come across in an all inclusive. The Asian Restaurant was also very good. We did not like the Mexican Restaurant and were very disappointed in it but we did give it a try. The lunch buffet was very repetitive but we certainly didn't starve. The b [... read more]each was kept very clean and you could walk for miles on it, we were fortunate to be there when all the sea turtles were hatching. The pools were nice but a little on the cool side, wish they had been heated. The staff were great and very eager to get you anything you needed. High five to Pedro our fantastic waiter who always went above and beyond. We took a cab to Walmart to buy our Duty Free, much cheaper there than at the Airport. Then continued on into town to look around the flea market, cathedral and the cliff divers. Spent a great afternoon checking everything out. We would highly recommend this hotel and would return ourselves.

Riu Emerald Bay: lots of locals

riu emerald bay is a great resort good food friendly staff the food and drinks change with the amount of local which in any case is a wild bunch of untraind children people complain about the elevators these people have never been in one and think they are at the c n e also very untrained parents food all over the place then complain about the bird crap on their towels there should be two seasons nov. to apr. canadians rest of the year the locals .

Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay: Second time and still a gorgeous resort

Stayed three years ago and had a fantastic time. Always wanted to go back. Pools and service are great. Not much beach left. More sand three years ago. A very large resort with lots of walking. Shuttles are available from one end to another. One buffet restaurant and one a-la-carte. Great Mexican food. Other sister property in town has more international food choices. Rooms very comfortable. Great value for the money. Still have to sign for everything although we were all-inclusive but resort ha [... read more]ndles this very efficiently. Hotel was full but overall service was great. Lots of people keep coming back. Would definitely recommend to others.

Riu Emerald Bay: Riu Mazatlan Emerald Bay

hotel - staff was friendly, reception was fast and easy grounds - room was lovely, ocean view, lots of towels, water, cleaned well daily food - good choice at all meals and lots of it, waiting staff most helpful and agreeable excursions - should tell people it is in US money - they said it was Canadian; the Amazing Mazatlan tour spends way too much time at restaurant, games were stupid and time wasters - we were two hours late returning to hotel - beach - could be cleaned better in early m [... read more]orning of garbage, cigarette butts, and during the day - garbage left laying around; lots of chairs available entertainment - okay - not very professional, repetitive money exchange - they are very picky about Canadian bills - can't have any spots, tiny tears in them Bar - staff was very friendly, helpful, games were fun

Riu Emerald Bay: Fabulous Resort

The Emerald Bay Resort, Mazatland was fantastic. There was a large variety of foods to satisfy anyone; vegetarians, meat and fish eaters, dessert lovers and juices to shakes. It was perfect. The resort was very, very clean. Designated personnel for pool bathroom cleanliness. The whole building was spotless. The staff were friendly, polite and very happy people. Will go to this resort again.

El Cid Resort Castilla: Good Resort with Fatal Flaw

$210 CA. to connect three devices to the internet for a week! that is what we were met with when we checked in. This can be avoided if you accept free internet as a gift when you attend the Vacation Club Sales pitch on your first morning. This is not a high pressure sales routine though, so you need to decide what your time and internet is worth to you. The resort is situated primarily along the beach but a bridge across the road takes you to a quiet pool, tennis, a very good gym and a lane p [... read more]ool and two more restaurants. All are accessible to all inclusive patrons. The pools on the beach side have constant music and activity during the day. There are water slides, water falls, a jump into the water from fake rocks, a kiddie pool and a swim-up bar. The hotel hosts a Teen Club and a Kids Club. There is only one bar in the lobby of the hotel for evening drinks, no space outside along the water to enjoy a romantic drink for two while watching the ocean, unless you go the restaurant there and pay as it is not included in the all inclusive. There are bars, restaurants and discos close to the resort. The al a carte restaurants are very good and during our stay, last week in November, were very accessible. All that is required is a quick phone call from your room, no lining up each morning to obtain a ticket is required. The buffet offerings were average (or less) but we enjoyed the occasional al a carte breakfast. Over all the resort won us over during the week as we began to forget the exorbitant internet fee and enjoy the enhanced facilities on the quiet side. The staff were all excellent and very accommodating.

Riu Emerald Bay: Fabulous

For people like us who love a bit of rough surf - this is the perfect spot - also great if you just want boozing & soaking in one of the pools. Great variety of food plus very comfortable & clean room.

El Cid Resort Castilla: Great holiday to Mazatlan

Great resort, great value and well worth the money. A week in Mazatlan for a family birthday. Absolute pleasure Overall a good time was had by all, great family resort and well worth it, good location and great weather as usual. Met some great folks and the staff made the stay very pleasurable Highly recommended and would promote.

Playa Mazatlan: never again

stayed at this resort from April 26th to May 6th 2017, I don't think any one in our group of 10 would return. the good first....the beach is nice and a FEW STAFF were great other staff could not communicate and pretended not to understand. Management was absolutely horrible and would not even meet to discuss concerns and would just say come back later. the Buffet was small and very limited, we were informed tourist season was over and as the resort was filled with mostly locals all buffet items  [... read more]were not international. the omelets station and sandwich station were good but after 10 years of traveling sometimes twice a year this was the first resort without a pasta bar. nightly entertainment was okay if you got to go, they have very limit space and line starts at 9am and is full by 9:30 kids were disappointed as they are used to seeing nightly shows. they have a sports bar to watch sports but had no hockey channels for the playoffs only soccer. no repersenitive from West Jet on sight or very very limited and if you want to call them the resort charges you for local calls. the resorts placement in the city is great but I think I would go back to El Cid first and just walk a little further. the Mexican Al carte was horrible as they only got 2 orders right out of 10 and people were left headed to buffet. Italian al carte was excellent with great staff. now let me tell you about why I wanted to see management.....we booked the trip 6 months early, we booked 4 rooms with 2 adjoining as we were told by trip central they have them. I contacted the resort 3 month before we left and was told they don't have the adjoining rooms and to call trip central after contacting them ( Tom was no help) told me to contact West jet. we contacted them and they informed us there was nothing at that resort.....no problem.....i thought I would check again with the resort before we switched resorts and was helped by lic. rocio, I told him my situation and he emailed back that instead of switching resorts he made it possible for an adjoining room plus the other 2 rooms on the same wing...great...i thanked him over and over....i contacted the resort 1 week before we left and was informed by the same person that the adjoining rooms were given away by the front desk and there was nothing they could do, as we were traveling with 2 other family's it was to late to start switching resorts. we told to go to the front desk the day after we arrived and there should be a adjoining rooms opening up and we could move...the resort played games every day and told us no rooms. my family was split in 2 rooms and it was the worst vacation ever.... if they were honest from day one we would of switched resorts and enjoyed our trip. front desk was rude and management avoided us....we have traveled all over and I have never wrote a review like this and will recommend to never go to this resort or book with trip central all they want is your money and that's it.....its a shame to be treated to bad after you spend your hard earned money to go there....avoid this place. and trip central

El Cid Resort Castilla: First class service!

A very nice and welcoming hotel that is located in the Golden Zone Mazatlan. The El Cid Castilla front desk clerks were warm and very friendly. Our room was a great surprise! King size bed on the 12 floor with a spectacular view of the bay. Our maid was very good and greeted us with a smile every day. Food and the service was outstanding. The grounds were well kept and pools were our favorite. The beach was a challenge some days with riptide and jellyfish warnings keeping us from venturing too [... read more] far in. Highly recommended the El Cid resorts to everyone on a budget. Great value and friendly staff makes for a fantastic stay!

Playa Mazatlan: Good but not great

The hotel itself was clean, the beach was beautiful and well kept. However upon arrival our whole parties rooms were screwed up and never corrected meaning a family of five were put in two separate rooms that didn't join even though this was requested and confirmed. The buffet was probably the worst I have ever experienced in my six trips to Mexico. The entertainment staff were excellent however things were extremely difficult as very few spoke any English including the servers, waiters and  [... read more]room staff. The tours were hit and miss. The Stone island tour was extremely disappointing and we were refunded our money as they didn't have the quads available nor was the banana boat available. The horses were so beat up it was just brutal to see.

El Cid Resort Castilla: 2017 El Cid Castilla Mazatkan

To start with this is a. very busy resort. I was most impressed with the people, they were all so very friendly. A special shout out to the waiters around the pool area, Thomas,Luis, Martyn, they made us all feel very special. The food was OK but I was really tired of it after 9 days... Overall we had a great vacation and would go back but maybe try the Marina next time, it didnt seem to be as busy and was a very nice resort also.

Riu Emerald Bay: Beautiful spot!

The location of this resort was awesome! Right on the beautiful beach! There is shops and restaurants a short walk from the resort, and we felt safe leaving the resort without being on a designated tour. The waves are okay for surfing if that's what you like, and good for just playing in the water as well. The resort had a huge variety of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but did not have any "sit down" restaurants. They are all buffet. Overall, a great resort!

Riu Emerald Bay: Nice hotel

Great hotel..enjoyed our stay.changes Ned to be made in the Elevator an they have to stop locals from vacationing whilet Canadians are on vac...not nice when they started comming in...even the food changed

Riu Emerald Bay: Beautiful Hotel

Second time stay at this hotel..nice stay only complaint is the elevators...so slow waiting for them and to many locals vacation there the same time Canadians do...as for workers they are awesome......

Riu Emerald Bay: Nice place

The hotel was nice. The food was good. The biggest disappointment was when we checked in. We were put on the second floor which would have been fine,providing my view didn't consist of a concrete wall. WhenI asked to be moved to a room with a view, they said that was the roomI paid for... Two other couples that travelled with us, received rooms on the 12th floor... and paid the same price. I returned to the front desk, and told them I would pay the 400 pesos per night for the upgrade, but that  [... read more]I was very disappointed. The gentlemen upgraded us to the 10th floor, handed me my cc, and said there will not be any upgrade fee. Antonio at the pool bar, was absolutely amazing!

Riu Emerald Bay: Riu - clean accomodating resort

The hotel was impecably clean, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Cleaning staff went out of their way to ensure that the guests were happy (Elizabeth) would return for another visit, the beaches were cleaned daily, the pools as well. Overhaul good value and exceptional friendly people

Riu Emerald Bay: Excellent resort

We had a great and relaxing vacation. Food was plentiful and a great variety. There was something for even the pickiest of eater. I was worried because my son has a peanut allergy, the chefs were there to direct us to peanut free meals. The grounds were well kept. Rooms were dated, but they were clean and very large. My children loved the place. Fantastic time!!!

Riu Emerald Bay: Beautiful!

This was my fourth trip to Mexico and this was one of my favourite resorts! Incredibly beautiful, clean, and friendly. Bar staff were great! Huge rooms, make sure to stay 5th floor or higher to watch the incredible sunsets.