Riu Flamingos: How do you spell fantastic?

I've been to a few resorts and hotels down in Mexico... Cabo, Mazatlan, Huatulco and (a long time ago) Puerto Vallarta. Last time we went to PV, some twenty years past, we stayed at Royal De Cameron and it was a lovely experience, so we decided to visit the town again for our 20th anniversary. This time though, we stayed at the Riu Jalisco and it turned out to be the best place I have stayed at, bar none. I should point out though, that it takes nothing away from our memories of the De Ca [... read more]meron. We visited again on this trip and it's still a warm and welcoming place. Everything at the Riu oozes happiness and comfort, the staff are all super well trained in customer service and smiles are as natural as the unending sunshine. The food is just top notch, really anything you want,cooked any way you want it and always delicious... you can't get any better than what these guys serve up no matter what the claims of the fancy restaurants are. The buffets are so good that you don't really have to bother with the specialty restaurants, we tried two of them but to be honest it wasn't worth the palaver of waiting for the dish to be brought to your table... I prefer to dig in myself! Waiter service was friendly and helpful, they were all well groomed and immaculately uniformed.They made sure your plates were taken away so you could carry on scoffing uninterrupted and believe me ... I did! Drinks came promptly and they had PR men patrolling to make sure you were happy with the way things were being done at the hotel. They also had a team of unobtrusive security men doing patrols and this, combined with the fact that the entire hotel area is gated access, left us with absolutely no concerns about safety. Rooms are spacious and clean and far enough from the entertainment area to stop you from being bothered by any late night noise. Amazingly there is hardly a murmur of noise after midnight in the residential area of the hotel.Slept like a baby every single night! The gym is modern and has everything you need . we didn't use the spa but there is a free (and very quiet) whirlpool tucked inside the building where you can ease away any aches and pains. The climate is very warm and humid ( about 30 degrees every day we were there) and you can get very sticky. The air conditioning in the rooms just about manages to keep things comfortable but your clothes can get really damp and it's hard to dry them out. Maybe it's best just to stay wet all the time! In my mind the best quality of the entire property is the beach, you can walk right in to the ocean across smooth sand and it's like diving into a warm bath, wonderful curative effects on your skin and your mind... heaven. Don't worry about grabbing a beach chair, there's more than enough for everybody They had evening shows which were excellent ... Abba, Michael Jackson, Mexican Indigenous dance show, Riu Party (which is a blast), and a talented couple who sang opera. You don't really need the shows to enjoy your evenings because just being there and absorbing the energy is enough We took in three tours, the daylong tour of Vallarta and tequila tasting wasn't for me but the second tour to the Mexican Village was enjoyable. The best of all though was swimming with the dolphins, the experience of a lifetime to be able to swim with them and rub your hand across their skin , something that will stay with me forever. I spoke with the hotel's PR man Carlos , a charming , polite and personable young feller who epitomised the professionalism of the whole operation.I told him I would write a very positive review and this is it. you can't get no better than this place, thank you for two wonderful weeks, I would recommend the place to anyone!

Riu Montego Bay: Good value

Grounds well kept, good choice at the buffet restaurant but frustrating trying to get dinner at Japanese and or Italian. The fact that the later are closed 2 days during the week leaves very little time to enjoy. Rooms are clean and spacious. Lots of lounge chairs. Montego bay is not recommended if you are going for the beaches. They are man made and dirty brownish color. Remember the airport is 15 minutes away...... so the noise can be annoying sometimes.

Riu Palace Paradise Island: Excellent getaway

I wanted a quick getaway only 4 nights and the Riu was a perfect place. Staff are friendly, rooms are clean. Shower was amazing and bathrobes are nice and comfy. The food was fantastic. The beach is amazing! Would definitely go back!

Riu Palace Tropical Bay: Typically very good Riu resort.

Everything was excellent, as is to be expected at Riu. The resort is clean and well laid-out. The staff was friendly, caring, polite and hard working. The room was very good and well located. The staff accommodated my wife's wheelchair at all locations. The food was very, very, good.

Riu Playacar: Beautiful Resort!

The hotel grounds are beautifully manicured and kept incredibly clean! Rooms are fresh, clean and as they're advertised. Food selection was fantastic and we really enjoyed the steakhouse - not needing to make reservations was a huge bonus! We went there twice and ate at the buffet the remaining nights - they even had a vegetarian section. Breakfasts offered a vast array of options from cereal to fresh fruits, custom omelettes, eggs any which way and a fresh juice station. For lunch, the sala [... read more]d bar was great as well as a full offering of hot foods or you could grab a bite at the grill by the pool. The staff is fantastic and always ready to please! We noticed that a lot of people don't tip the staff - take a wad of dollar bills and tip them - they'll all work so hard to make your stay enjoyable! Entertainment was great most nights - ending at around 11pm which is great for the crowd on a relaxing vacation. Those wanting a bit more nightlife could be shuttled to one of two other resorts just down the road. Loads of activities during the day - the staff is fantastic and not too pushy. This was our second time at the resort and we'd go back without a doubt!

Riu Emerald Bay: Great week

The hotel is very large and can get busy! Loved: pools, great food, nice walkable beach, view from the room Got tired of: waiting at the elevators, all the insanely ridiculous and inconsistent rules at the water park (never did end up going down a slide - no jewelry, not tall enough, not old enough, no zippers 🙄), very small store with very high prices. Overall had a great week - enjoyed Mazatlan, very helpful kind people, lots of fun in the pools and the beach!

Riu Emerald Bay: Fantastic Destination

After many southern vacations we have found a beautiful resort to vacation at, this ended up being my 4th time to Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan, Mexico. The hotel has just completed a large renovation and my daughter and I got rooms in the new part of the hotel. They added new pools including a new swim up bar, new restaurants, a small water park and play area, a work out area, another towel hut and many new washrooms. The rooms are well appointed and comfortable, the food is good with many cho [... read more]ices, the hotel is very clean and the staff are absolutely helpful, friendly, hard working and there is really no problem with a language barrier. The hotel also has a beautiful spa.

Riu Negril: Relaxing Vacation!

We stayed at RIU Negril for 1 week at the end of November. Here are some Pros and cons of the resort. Pros: clean large rooms, excellent food, great beach, great sea life, clean resort Cons: poor to none existing waitress service, nightly entertainment is repetative, staff not too friendly at beach bar Overall we enjoyed our stay and would recommend this resort to others.

Riu Palace Jamaica: Excellent resort

Everything was perfect including staff,food beach and cleanliness. Absolutely no complaints . The room was beautiful and staff were very friendly . I would highly recommend this resort and would return again for sure.

Riu Ocho Rios: Super fantastic resort

The overall hotel, facilities, staff, food,location was excellent. I'm really looking forward to a revisit in the near future. I would most definitely recommend it to family and friends. Being there was exactly what I needed

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Absolutely Amazing Experience

Our recent stay at the Riu Palace was absolutely an amazing experience. The staff were friendly and helpful, the facilities beautiful and clean. The food was probably the best that I have had throughout my travels. There was an abundance of natural flora and fauna. When the Riu built this resort it was only allowed to develop 30% of the land. The rest had to remain in it's natural state to preserve the local environment. The mountains behind the resort are also owned by Riu and Riu has prov [... read more]ided support to the nearby schools and communities offering locals preferential opportunities for jobs. El Diamante an eco park is just outside the resort gates. Very impressed.

Riu Palace Antillas: Great Vacation

We got the upgraded suite ocean view- and stayed at the Riu Antillas. Th room was nice, had two balconies and a spacious bathroom and walk in closet. The staff was polite and helpful, the rooms were clean- the beach was great and the food took me by surprise. For a buffet they had a lot of variety as well as flavor options. If you don’t want to be too adventurous with food all the normal stuff was their (prime rib, chicken etc) but there was a lot of other options like lamb, sword fish, fresh [... read more] cerviche- I will say there are parts of it that were dated- BUT we took a walk into the the Riu Palace and though they had some fancier renovations, both my husband and I felt quality wise for food, view, and serenity we lucked out staying at the antillas adults only side. I will be a returning customer!

Riu Republica: Beautiful resort

The food was amazing, room was spacious, staff were friendly. Plenty of chairs by the pools and on the beach. Also, plenty of sunny or shady spots to sit. Large beach compared to the other beaches we saw on our walks. No need to reserve dinner seats as plenty of places to eat. The only negative was the nightly burning of garbage. Depending on the wind, it could be quite noxious. Maybe all of us sun seekers should think twice about the amount of waste we generate.

Riu Palace Tropical Bay: We'll be going again...it's fabulous!

We've been to RIU Tropical Bay in Negril a number of times and we love it! They did a great job with the renos. The rooms are clean and spacious. Balconies offer a great view as they are surrounded by glass so when you're sitting down, your view is not obstructed. The beach is perfect...nice and sandy. Guests are not packed in like sardines. There are plenty of lawn chairs and ample room. The water is typically like a bath. At about 5ish, the star fish make an appearance. It's just beautiful. [... read more] Negril Bay (formerly called Bloody Bay) is truly a piece of heaven. Food at the RIU is very good. Whether you choose an A la Carte restaurant or go to the buffet, you won't be disappointed. Best of all, you don't have to waste your time making reservations. It's first come, first served. If it's busy, sit down, have a drink...relax...your wait time will not be too long. And...you have to try the Jerk Hut...best food ever. Wish my chicken could be this good! Staff at the RIU work hard and are so pleasant. Even though it's an all inclusive, we like to tip well. We also come with lots of gifts for the cleaning staff. It's much appreciated. There was a wedding one evening and the whole set up looked so magical. Looked like a great time was had by all. To get to this resort, we always use personal transport (Island Tranfers). The bus tends to leave late and always stops midway. After a long time travelling, we just want to get to the hotel. Can't wait to go back. Always hate to see that trip end...that's my only negative. Try it out. You won't be disappointed.

Riu Palace Punta Cana: Great resorr

Grounds are beautiful. Very interesting majestic architecture. Rooms are spacious and feel very new. Bathrooms are great same feel as in 4 Seasons hotel. 3 Pools all clean and comfortable for small kids. Beach is white sand with lots of activities. A lot of entertainers working for both adults and kids. Breathtakin shows and live music at night. Food is solid quality but lacks the high end feel. Out of all RIU hotels in Punta Cana this is the nicest.

Riu Palace Tropical Bay: What a great resort for our wedding and honeymoon

This resort was highly recommended from a friend and it truly did not disappoint. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, the food was excellent with a great variety of choices, the room was spotless every day and everything around the resort was neat and tidy. Without exception we will be returning to Riu Palace Tropical Bay.

Riu Republica: Beautiful resort

The hotel is clean. Staffs are very friendly. The entertainment every night is awesome. They have varieties of delicious foods. I could not wait to go back. This place is a paradise. I recommend this resort to everyone.

Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas: Great Resort!

We sent a week at the Riu Palace Cabos San Lucas. The resort, room, pool, and grounds, were AMAZIING. We enjoyed the buffet especially breakfast and lunch. Dinner had a lot of choice but is was not the best we have been at. We did not go to any of the other restaurants. The beach was beautiful to look at. Even though we walked on the beach we found it very difficult. You seemed to sink in the sand as you walked. We went to many of the shows. We really enjoyed the artist that played before the ma [... read more]jor show. We did not find that the major shows were as good as others we have seen. We did the tour to Cabo San Lucas and the Arch and San Jose de Cabo. It was EXCELLENT. If it is your first time to Los Cabos it is a great trip.

Riu Palace Aruba: Impressive resort!

A well kept property overall. Pride in work ethic and in the resort is shown by all employees. Good restaurants, nice pool, attractive beach, good location. Our 6th vacation in 3 years at the Riu Palace!

Riu Palace Costa Rica: A perfect vacation!

Resort was immaculate, beautiful grounds, exceptional food quality and selection, amazing cocktails, very friendly service. We loved walking to visit the monkeys on the beach! A great time on and off the resort. Highly recommend.