Riu Palace Tropical Bay: Great beach, and fantastic staff

I was lead to believe this resort was adults only. It's not, and we were wanting an adults only resort. That being said, the beach was fantastic. They have a waiter on the beach serving drinks. We spent no time at the pool. The resort was very well kept, including the grounds. And our room lovation was great, beachfront. (Most rooms at this resort have oceanviews. We had a bit of difficulty getting a reservation for the steak house (only one night). Staff at the buffet were great, especially the [... read more] omlet guy:-) I would not recommend the spa. Massage and pedi not up to par.

Riu Santa Fe: Awesome time

This resort was amazing. We had a great time. The staff and service were great. We didn't have any issues at all. Checking in was the easiest we have ever experienced. If you do go to this resort request building 7. The location and atmosphere is the best in the entire place. And the food was the best I've had at a resort so far. Los cabos was a great place to visit and will definetly return.

Sol Turquesa Beach: Amazing resort with amazing staff

Had a 7 night trip, can say it was well enjoyed. We had a blast and would definetely will go back. Entertainment staff was great- made the trip that much better! The food on the resort was great unlike some places in Cuba.

Grand Memories Varadero: RIU Varadero Adult section

my husband I just spent 10 beautiful day as the RIU. I will say I am glad that we updated to the adult Deluxe Suite from our original booking of a standard room. we were in building 32 facing the pool on ground floor which was amazing you just had to walk out patio. don't think we ever used our front door key. our maid Judy was amazing and Roxanna and staff at the pool ar were great, As for food it was okay. lobster in our International restaurant was great had it three times. we ate most of our [... read more] meals breakfast lunch and dinner in the adult section. and if we were still hunger after dinner we ordered room service which was also good. the BBQ/wood over Pizza was always great from 12;30 TO 3;30. being in the Adult section we were a short walk to the beach which was very nice to play in and take very long walks. we rented an old car one day and went for a tour of Havana. my only regret was we did not have enough time in Old Havana. we should have spent 7 days in Varadero and our last 3 days in Havana so we could explore more of the Old city. I enjoyed Cuba alot and will go back but stay closer to Havana and on the Carribean side. go and enjoy and you will be surprised.

Riu Emerald Bay: Fantastic Vacation!!

My husband and I vacationed at Riu Emerald Bay from March 24 - April 3 in a Honeymoon Suite located on the 15th floor which had amazing views! I have absolutely no complaints about this resort. The facilities, grounds, pools and beach are kept in pristine condition, food is plentiful, always fresh and very good and all staff are very friendly and hardworking. Although the resort was at full capacity towards the end of our stay, reservations for restaurants were not a problem, we always found a p [... read more]erfect spot on the beach,(sun or shade), not a line-up at the bars and the elevators were fine. We both had a wonderful vacation!!

Grand Memories Varadero: beautiful beach, mediocre resort

the resort was too large for my taste which made the experience very impersonal and the buffet was far from the beach. I knew the resort was going through a change of management so I wasnt surprised. the rooms were mediocre (i stayed at a 3+star which seemed newer and cleaner and bigger). I went to cuba primarily for the beach and predictable beautiful weather and I was not disappointed.

Sol Turquesa Beach: Nice resort, Awesome staff!

The hotel grounds were nice, pools were very clean and lovely. The beach was ok but we have seen better. The food needs improvement in quality and variety. Staff is the strong point at this facility!!

Riu Negril: Good and Bad

PROS: The rooms are very modern and clean. The view is amazing. The food is fresh and cooked to perfection. CONS: The resort is very small. We seen 2 small stingrays in the swimming area so we tried to stay near the pool. There was only one small pool for the whole resort. This left the adults drinking alcohol with the young children running around. There were way too many rules at this resort. They had a pool bar at the pool but you couldn't stand in the water at the edge of the pool to drink i [... read more]t. Not a big deal, but there was no smoking around the pool area. You couldn't smoke by the upper bar during the day but at night they would put out ashtrays. And about 50% of the staff that work there are super obnoxious. Don't bother asking questions cause they will snap your head off. All in all, in my opinion, way to expensive for what you get!

Riu Santa Fe: Cant wait to go back!!

I booked with friends to stay at the Santa Fe, it was great, exactly what I was expecting! FOOD- The Steakhouse and Mexican a la carte restaurants were fantastic!! Although hard to make reservations as they were often very busy but if you plan ahead its worth it. The buffet selections were just okay in our opinion, they didn't change much throughout the week so by the end we were a little sick of the same thing but overall the food was fine. POOL BARS - The ocean view pools were a younger crowd  [... read more]that was more into partying while we were there, however there was a quieter pool with a swim up bar in the middle if the property (no ocean view) that was much more relaxing if that's what you're looking for. Only complaint here was people reserving chairs - very hard to get pool chairs because people would put towels on them and "reserve" them veryyyyy early or late the night before. OCEAN VIEW & BEACH-Ocean views from the hotel were spectacular, couldn't have asked for more. We saw whales almost every morning from the hotel property. The water was extremely rough, the first few days, huuuuge waves would crash up on the beach and the wash up of water would come all the way up the beach - it was really a sight to see and could not be captured in its full magnitude on camera. The water calmed down toward the end of our stay and we WERE able to swim in the ocean at our hotel. LOCATION - Perfect. The hotel is very close to the Marina and Downtown for Nightlife but not so close that the beach is busy and crowded. Taxi pickup at hotel was 14 dollars and about 10 minute drive. The walk to the Marina on the beach was about 30 minutes and very hot but the beach is beautiful! There is also a Wal-Mart near the hotel, nice to have in case you forget anything; sunscreen, first aid, medications - all MUCH cheaper there than at hotel. EXCURSIONS BOOKED AT HOTEL - Can be pricey but worth it!! We did the Cabo Expedition Whale watching $85- staff was great, very welcoming and knowledgeable, offered tones of information about the whales and other marine life, got to see the Arch, Lovers Beach, sea lions, dolphins, manta rays and some fish. (Pickup and drop off at the hotel included) Eco-Cat Catamaran Ride $50 - included unlimited drinks, tour of the Arch and Lovers Beach, snorkeling/kayaking/swimming at the Sea of Cortez, lunch and music - we had a great crew on board and a great fellow guests on teh tour - it was so much fun and well worth the money! (Pick up and drop off at the hotel NOT included.) Glass bottom boat ride booked at the Marina - inexpensive and saw tonnes of fish and got to take some pictures and tour the Arch, saw Sea Lions, and Lovers Beach where normally you could jump out but the water was very rough so we could not. CLEANLINESS AND ROOMS - No complaints here, rooms were clean and comfortable, mini-bar was included and fully stocked all week. The resort itself was verrrry clean, always saw friendly staff out cleaning, scrubbing floors, walkways, and pools or refreshing green and sand areas. RECOMMENDATIONS - In the future I will 100% be booking the RIU again but I would upgrade to the Palace in the future (same property). The Palace apparently offers better food, poolside drink service at your beach chairs, and will still allow access to the Santa Fe pools and restaurants (but Santa Fe cannot attend the Palace). Also, from what we heard the Palace is a more relaxed atmosphere as opposed to partying. Overall, great trip!! Looking forward to going back!!

Riu Palace Punta Cana: From 4 1/2* to 3 1/2* resort

The Riu Palace is a very nice resort with a fantastic spanish architecture and decor. Our room was facing the pool side. It was very nice with just a tad of smell in our room which was very clean on a daily basis. Plenty of bottle of water, pops and beer in our fridge. The buffet food was very very repetitive. The pools are small (Easter crowd) and have started to show their wear and tear; as the resort. The Italian restaurant was excellent, Sushi were great at the Japanese restaurant but the se [... read more]rvice was horrible for the main course. Beach is awesome ! Overall it is a good resort !

Grand Memories Varadero: Beautiful resort;everything else just "okay"

We waited for over five hours for our room. The check in staff should have more people working. Everyday I went to the "telephone" person to get my password, so I could check that all wa alright at home. The girl that worked there was rude at times. When it got to be my turn, she would, for example start chatting it up with a friend or talk on the phone, not even acknowledging that people were there. The room was fairly clean. The same two dead flies were on a ledge in the bathroom for 6 days. W [... read more]e had little to no water for 3 days; the toilet never completely flushed and the water from the tap was a bare trickle until the third day when there was none. We were banned from sitting in a certain section(deluxe) on the beach even though here were so many empty cabanas, but we were just in the pink arm band section, so had to lay on the beach, which was ok, because we were there for sunshine anyway. The buffet food was always cold, they had no way of keeping it warm. We enjoyed our two excursions! One to Havana and the other on the catamaran. Simply two beautiful days. Would we go back? No....not a chance.

Riu Palace Jamaica: best resort we ever stayed at

Hotel room was beautiful, clean the grounds were well kept. The staff was AMAZING and very friendly and accomadating. Our private tour guide was very friendly, and informative on the sights and history of the island . Our room was always ready, clean and done upon our arrival back to our room at the end of the day. The fridge was always stocked. The staff is VERY trustworthy. I left my jewelry and money out on the dresser wirhout any issues.

Grand Memories Varadero: Disappointing

This resort was not the resort people said it was hence why the name got changed part ways while we were there. It did not live up to the Riu standards at all. No plates and glasses in morning for breakfast, tables not cleaned off, no water many times and so forth

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: l was happy with all

It was a great resort had a lot of something to do all the time if you want or just do nothing. The people always happy and smile there to help you with everything and anything.l also think it is good place for families they did a lot with the kids.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Very Nice Hotel with a couple of Issues

The Good: Very nice hotel, great services, pools are nice, great staff, food was excellent, our 2 kids (9, 7) had a great time, no fighting for pool chair, turtle tracks on the beach and monkeys a short walk away. We had a "courtyard View" room which also had a nice view of the ocean which was a pleasent suprise. The Bad: the beach in front of the hotel was rocky but if you walked a short distance, the rocks were less and the water was beautiful. The Ugly: there are 4 pools and only 1 toilet i [... read more]n a restaurant next to the last pool. Also, there is no toilet in the main buffet restaurant; you have to walk a fair distance to find one. Given this place is only a couple of years old, it's shocking at the lack of toilets.

Riu Bambu: Rui Bambu

Had a great time. Good food and service as well as a great beach. Friendly staff and always helpful. Beach was well maintained. Al cart restaurants were good as well as the main dining room. Would go back

Riu Palace Paradise Island: Beach was beautiful

The hotel is outdated BUT still very clean. Food was great. Don't go to the Japanese restaurant ... it wasn't that good. Staff was very friendly! Nightly entertainment wasn't as good as other vacations I've been on. However for the price, it was awesome!

Riu Palace Mexico: Fantastic Resort

Great food, grea staff, wonderful nighly entertainement, beautiful decor, great view from our room. Great shopping withim walking distance. The alacarte restaurants were fantastic. The maid service was great.

Sol Turquesa Beach: Great value for your money!

The staff was amazing. Very welcoming, attentive and friendly. The grounds were lovely and well kept. I enjoyed the buffet as well as the a la cartes. The Romantic was my favourite. The lobster dinner for an additional 20 CUC is well worth it. The lobsters tail was twice the of ours back home. The highlight for me was drinking fresh coconut water and then eating the coconut too!!

Sol Turquesa Beach: Good value, lovely staff

Had a wonderful vacation. 6 people in our party. No one got sick. Staff very friendly. During the week we were there saw improvements being made to the facilities every day. Nice to have watercraft included in fees. Jeep tour is a must. Beautiful beach and inspite of it being very busy we always found chairs and a spot in the shade! Pasta bar wonderful. Always had enough of everything. Helene in Cuban restaurant made Cuban pie for us on her time off!