Riu Palace Tropical Bay: Excellent Vacation

The RIU Palace Tropical Bay is a great resort. The beach and grounds were kept very clean. Excellent service from all staff. The food and drinks were amazing, especially the jerk chicken on the beach.

Sol Turquesa Beach: great resort

The resort was overall good. The internet access was not available for 3 days and the food was..well..in Cuba not to expect much. Staff was very good. Nice pools and beach and overall good value. I would go again.

Sol Turquesa Beach: resort is amazing

spent a week with family and friends at this resort and I cant say enough about it...the grounds are kept beautiful, and the food, oh the food, was everything we expected, not like other resorts we have been too ....the staff were great when we complained about our mattress, it was replaced right away We will go again with more friends this time.....

Riu Santa Fe: Review of Riu Santa Fe

My friends and I had an amazing time at the resort. It was generally clean, staff was friendly, had a variety of food. You could hardly tell that it was effected by the hurricane a couple months ago. I did, however, find there was a lack of problem skills for some of the staff we dealt with. Otherwise, we definitely felt like it was a good pick.

Riu Palace Punta Cana: Riu Palace Punta Cana - Love it!

Just returned Dec.11 2014 ... seven days! Great Hotel... Beautiful Beach! This was a return holiday , we were there Mar. 2012 for a daughter's wedding! ( we actually witnessed two weddings under the gazebo @ the beach while we were there!) Love this resort, food was very good. Stick to the buffets, although you have options for onsite restaurants. They were just okay. The staff always kind & friendly. Daytime activities, if interested. But they did not hound you. Same staff returning for evening [... read more] activities to greet you! Evening activities were good, professional groups coming in to entertain. The evening layout is really neat, before & after dinner... you have a huge area to sit & listen to music... dancing. Service is EXCELLENT here. They serve you drinks... on you... as soon as your glass is empty! Beach is beautiful, lots of chairs! As well as the pool... but you know the rules! ...get down & reserve your favorite spot with towels! Very few vendors on beach bugging you! But there... if you want a hat, sunglasses, cigars or cheap jewelry ! shops on site for souvenirs, nice jewelry store in Lobby. Ten minute walk to Harrison's Caribbean Jewelry for higher end stuff ( 14kt yellow/white gold) ... I know ... cause it was my Birthday!!! Favorite staff ... for a second time in a row! RAUL ...he has been there eight years! As you walk into the main buffet area... Turn to your left ... far wall ... Raul & staff will look after you! Rooms were very nice, they will smell a little musty when you arrive. DON'T WORRY ... crank the fan & get the air on high for the whole week! Beds are hard... oh well ... lots of pillows! Fully stocked fridges every day, Only beer... Presidente! very good... Wine sucks here... I was bummed cause I LOVE wine.... white is drinkable, as long as it is really cold...I always kept a bottle in our fridge... they will give you a bottle anywhere... just ask... Lots of hot water & lots of fresh towels! Cleaning staff speak very little English. We were top floor ... facing the court ( I recommend this) I think we were 3109 ? Rooms kept very clean.... they are very handy with towel art!! All in all ... great trip .... but travelers ... wee bit of advice... You are on Holidays, these staff members ARE not your servants.... TIP .... I we took 120 one dollar bills .... We left $5 UNDER a pillow each day, and $1 INSIDE the fridge. Someone cleans your room ... another stocks your fridge daily. We tipped at the bars, restaurants... after you leave your table, after a meal... leave a buck or two!! They remember you... sit in the same areas The only rudeness we saw was from other TRAVELERS ... Great Place ... will return!

Riu Guanacaste: Okay but didn't wow me.

The resort is nice, nothing special. The rooms are dated but clean. I stayed in room 2138 facing the Spa and Wellness Centre. The room had a large balcony. It would have been nice to sit on the balcony and have our morning coffee but coffee wasn't available in the rooms. We ants in the bathroom. The frig was restocked every two days with 2 beer, one water and 2 sodas. However, you can get unlimited bottled water at the front desk. The wellness centre is spacious and had some good quality cardio  [... read more]equipment however I was looking for weights. There are a few weight machines (I didn't use them). Free weights consisted of two 6.6lbs, 2 10lbs, 2 15lbs, and then up from there to about 35lbs. The mat area is very small and in rough condition with ants. The exercise mats available are thin, and unsanitary. There was no music playing or ceiling fans to keep the air moving. Small towels and water are available though. Some hand sanitizer in the area would be helpful. I had a deep tissue massage from Stephanie and it was great. The food was good but after a few days of eating at the buffet I was tired of the same options. The steakhouse (Ocotal) was good but be sure not to be seated near a light as the bugs swarm the area. I enjoyed the Italian restaurant, we didn't eat at the Asian or other al a carte restaurant. The liquors are not premium however if you specifically ask for Jim Beam, Bacardi, Smirnoff, etc. you can get it. The wine in the buffet area is not good. Filadelphia bar was serving Cab Sav from Chili. I took bottles of wine from home (purchased at duty free in the airport) and was constantly asked by other guests where I got it. You could buy wine at the store but it ranged in price from $30-38 USD. Much cheaper if you go into Playa del Cocoa. The pool area is very spacious and clean. Lots of loungers. Got to see the occasional iguana (small). Didn't spend any time on the beach other than a walk and a massage. Didn't notice any sand crabs or sand fleas which is nice. Highlight of the trip - watching a family of 5 howler monkeys in the trees right from the resort. There are lots of excursion options available. I think everyone should go to Costa Rica and experience the rainforest, animals, and all it has to offer. I think perhaps my expectations of the resort where a high and it didn't meet them. It was okay but didn't wow me in any way.

Riu Tequila: Outstanding Hotel

Having stayed in many resort hotels over the years, this is the best that we have come across so far. The rooms were spotless, the facilities were excellent, and the food was phenomenal. The variety and quality were outstanding. The nightly entertainment too was excellent. When we stayed there, the occupancy rate was 100%. The maximum number of guests is 1,800,. The staff total was 335. If there is one drawback, it is located a 10 minutes walk from the beach, but this is made up for by the many  [... read more]pluses. The hotel does provide a shuttle service. This hotel is scheduled to be renovated in about three years. Some of the nearby other Rius have already had a makeover, and the results are terrible.All metal and glass. This hotel has thus far retained its Mexican spirit. MAY IT NEVER LOSE THAT SPIRIT!

Sol Turquesa Beach: Best points and areas to improve

In my opinion, based on stay Nov 26-Dec 3 2014, the resort has strong points superior to many other resorts, but also areas to improve. What made a good impression: 1. Large territory with grand common buildings and lots of greenery 2. Beach with beautiful trees 3. Spacious clean rooms 4. Desserts in the buffet (these surprised me - the best out of many resorts including Melia and Iberostar in Spain) 5. Caliber of entertainment shows (e.g. opera singing) 6. And at last, but far from the least - [... read more] cheerful, helpful staff and management: I was especially happy with Public Relations representative Ariel and his associates (with regard to possible change of our accommodation based on my health problem) Problematic areas, fixing of which does not seem hard, but would greatly impact the overall impression: 1. Beach (cleanliness): - GARBAGE (e.g. plastic) on the beach or visible in the nearby greens - Sea weed cleaning (amassed piles were left for 4-5 days); one person solely responsible for ongoing maintenance should be enough! - Some umbrellas required replacement of the roofs (other resorts have much better ones) - Soupy white matter noticed in the sea water on the right side of the beach (please check for a possible source not to allow the problem to grow if it is local) 2. Buffet restaurant (smell, birds) - At least, a short wall should be built between the stale water area (which smells) and the food area - Birds on the tables (they are cute and tolerated, but there is a potential hygiene issue here) 3. Territory (Landscaping) : gradually cutting some thin trees with mouldy trunks and planting more exotic plants (e.g. coconut palms, aloe types of plants, generally anything with large or juicy leaves and/or bright colors). There are some already there, a few times more would add greatly to the overall impression. Thank you for your ongoing effort and cheerfulness! Cuba always brightens our mood.. Elena

Riu Bambu: huge resort

The resort is very big . The service was great. The cleanliness is kept very well , with the only exception of our room had a bad smell of vomit when we first arrived. The king size bed was two beds pushed together ! They don't have ocean view because of how the layout of the rooms. The beach was not maintained for the seaweed . The dining service was great ! It was so well organized and the staff deserves a lot more of whatever their salary is. They didn't miss a beat. I would like to say I wou [... read more]ld return to the Riu Bambu .

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Spend the extra $200!

Do yourself a favour and spend the extra $200 to upgrade from the resort next door! The +$200 will include: - free wi-fi throughout resort - older, quieter crowd...if that's what you prefer - better food - less busy resort, never was a problem to find a spot by the pool, never had to wait long to get a drink/be served, mostly had an elevator to yourself - AND coffee bar! :))) (José was great and always served you with a smile! He also remembered your orders.) So splurge UNLESS you're with a l [... read more]arger group/family and you want to save some money OR you're looking for that social atmosphere. I found that the majority of people at the Palace kept to themselves and weren't that friendly/social/outgoing. I think my ONE major beef was that the washrooms were just a bit far from the pool area. Closest ones were at the buffet restaurant near beach and there were only 4 stalls for the women. At one point, 2 of the washrooms were out of commission, either dirty/not flushing properly, so there was a wait. Since this is the washroom situation, I can only imagine that people, especially if they were drinking, were probably going in the pool! If you're a beach person, you may be disappointed. Look through the pics to know what you're getting into. Beach is volcanic sand, so it's dark and VERY HOT! Other than the trees provided, there aren't any beach umbrellas. However, I did see the resort staff still bring people drinks. TIPS: This is not the resorts' fault, but it was pitch dark by 6pm! So if you wanted to explore to beach to see the sea turtles laying their eggs, bring a flashlight. Otherwise, there is no point in going out on the beach 'cause there is absolutely no light there. You do not need reservations for the Italian restaurant), across from the lobby. They have a small buffet, but also a la carte menu, so don't load a plate up! So if I wanted a nicer, quieter, sit down without the somewhat depressing atmosphere, I just went there for lunch/dinner! If you have a family, bring your laptop and download some movies as there isn't much English options on the channels provided. Resort staff works hard. So if they don't have a smile on their face, just smile at them and say, Hi!

Riu Palace Paradise Island: Good resort if work done to premises

The location of the building is excellent, however to rooms are in a deplorable state, there was mold on the ceiling, could not get the room warmed up as the A/C was stuck on. Staff was excellent as well as the service , drinks and food. Especially Ceril aka Cereal and his crew.

Riu Palace Antillas: Enjoyed our holiday not perfect but still fun

Stayed in the Riu Palace Antillas from Nov 24-Dec1 we had a good time with our travel partners. Like those before us have said the renovated area's are nice and they are although some of the designs as more for aesthetics rather than comfort. The rooms are ok but definitely could use a little TLC but by no means was our room a dump as indicated by some. The room was clean except for the grout on the bathroom floor and the tub was a little worn but other than that it was clean and the bed very co [... read more]mfortable so we did have a good nights rest. We stayed on the 8th floor and the carpet was replaced but the doors/frames could be painted a colour taken from the newly installed carpet(my suggestion chipotle red) as they are currently a drab washed out olive green with paint runs from the recently painted walls which gives people a poor first impression of the room and they are really not that bad. I have been told that I am a clean freak so I went with an open mind and did not go to judge the room my husband was a little upset when we first walked in because he thought I was going to be disappointed I was ok. Food was really good but enjoyed the atmosphere of the Riu Palace Aruba buffet much better than the Antillas(no character in that one) but we did enjoy both hotel lunch buffets. Steakhouse ala carte was the only one I liked and did not return to any as there is absolutely no atmosphere in any of them, no mood music, candles, or server personality. Went to the Disco one night and had fun but the DJ has no clue how to play to the group, everyone would all get up for a song to dance and the floor would be full and then for 3 more songs it would be empty he should be able to read the crowd and learn how to fade out a song that is not working and fade a good one in. Play what the crowd is requesting, we must have requested 10 songs but only heard one in the 3 hours we were there. At least play the hit parade.....top 40 is usually liked by all cultures. Lobby lounge is where everyone seems to hang out(I won't mention the shows) but it is a little dry and impersonal. It would have been nice if they had an out door space or bar to hang out in at night or even servers that came out to the pool patio to serve drinks while sitting out by the ocean. Night time is definitely where they miss the mark. We enjoyed the our days on the beach and loved the bartender Daniel he is a friendly hard working young man who tries to keep everyone happy. The Riu should hire more people like Daniel as he is the only one of their staff that stood out in my mind as giving personal service to each guest. There is a bar off site on the beach a few steps right from the Antillas called Bugaloe which plays great music all day, bring a few extra dollars for your night life entertainment to spend there as it will be money well spent, much better than sitting in the lobby of the hotel. Trust me you won't miss anything at the lobby bar Over all we had a good time but it was definitely our daytime spent on the beach drinking Costa Caribe drinks and swimming in the ocean that made us the happiest.

Grand Memories Varadero: good value hotel

this was our first trip to Cuba and overall enjoyed our stay. would highly recommend the a dults only section great international restaurant serving ala carte breakfast lunch. and dinner (includes lobster tails)!to make this resort better you need a music at the adults only pool.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Faboulous Resort

Everything was great. Food, accommodations, service. I miss the drinking water which was excellent. I would highly recommend this resort. Keep your eye out for wildlife, such as monkeys and birds, which can be seen from your hotel.

Riu Emerald Bay: RIU EMERALD BAY TRIP, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

This was our third trip to Riu Emerald Bay and once again we had an amazing trip!! The rooms are great and the service & staff are always great!! The resort is still as well kept as when we first went there in 2010. It has not aged at all. Sometimes a few years later we've noticed other resorts have gone down hill but not this one. We also love to walk down the beach to the coffee shop & the little souvenir stores just minutes away. We always feel very safe there!

Palace St. Martin: quite resort

the hotel should be fully functional now with 3 speciality restaruarnt. rooms are very quite. staff is excellent. excellent beach. french side seems to deal all in us dollars. they have a full stock of any kind of drinks/alcohol

Sol Turquesa Beach: Riu Playa Turquesa

This hotel is not a real Riu and it's not a 4.5 star. The room are poor. The pool are excellent. The service and staff are very good. The beach chairs were well organise, you arrive and a man bring your chair where you want them, and when your done the chair are pick up. No empty chairs on the beach. The beach was not nice. I will not go back.

Sol Turquesa Beach: Too much loud entertainment. There was no escape.

Service and resort staff were excellent. Rooms good and clean. Food decent. The entertainment was incredible. The opera singers were world class. My only real complaint was that they are catering to a few party people at the bar around the pool, but most of the people there were over 50 and would have preferred some peace and quiet for at least part of the day. Even on the beach and as far away as my room, you could hear the PA system from the pool. There was no escape. I spoke to the entertainm [... read more]ent director and let her know, but it didn't seem to make any difference.

Palace St. Martin: Great resort....

We were very impressed with the hotel, but especially the staff. So, friendly, and go out of their way to please. Great beach,and pool area was also wonderful. Clean, and tidy and easy to find a place there. The only thing that I feel would make this better is if they had more entertainment that was not in the lobby, as there is not enough seating for everyone to sit and enjoy. Over all the place was great. There was some construction being done, but it was not disruptive or overly loud as some  [... read more]people have said. Good job for Riu who has recently taken over...

Riu Bambu: Perfect getaway

Resort was clean. Rooms were big staff were lovely. Food was excellent,would definitely recommend the right resorts to everyone. Lots of loungers never struggled to find a great place to sit. Animation crew were fabulous.