This hotel was top notch. The staff was so pleasant and obliging. Always greeting with a smile and “Ola”. Their hard work did not go unnoticed, especially the outside workers. Our rooms were so clean. The ground’s immaculate. Pools well looked after, all bar service amazing . Beautiful resort. Been to many resorts but by far the best food at this resort. A fantastic vacation for sure.

This hotel was top notch. The staff was so pleasant and obliging. Always greeting with a smile and “Ola”. Their hard work did not go unnoticed, especially the outside workers. Our rooms were so clean. The ground’s immaculate. Pools well looked after, all bar service amazing . Beautiful resort. Been to many resorts but by far the best food at this resort. A fantastic vacation for sure.

The hotel and staff were very good. That being said, there are 2 things I would improve: 1. Mention that the pool table in the Sports bar is an extra cost of $5 per hour. 2. The quality of the steak at the steakhouse. The steak was delicious, and sizeable, but very thin. A thicker cut would have been nice. That's about it. All in all, it was a great hotel!

We visited the Riu from April 13 to April 20th and had a fantastic time. The rooms were cleaned and tidy. The buffet food was very good. The beach was clean and pools were amazing. The staff were friendly but most of them will speak Spanish and did not speak English . I will rate this resort as a *****.

Very clean resort and rooms All the workers do amazing job.keep up excellent work I will most certainly be back to Stay again absolutely no complaints I will recommend to other people. Food was fabulous loved it very much

The resort was fantastic; I realized I wasn’t an all inclusive person; but the service was outstanding even with one elevator down. I went on one excursion and it wasn’t the best; really a waste of time and money. The food was great!!

Overall the resort was good. We enjoyed the restaurants and pools. However breakfast should start at 6 am. Pool side bar opens too late in the morning. Scuba Caribe was not a good choice. You should not promote them. Extreme was far better. On resort entertainment was good.

Hated people saving chairs at 6am Otherwise Awesome Hotel Liked the tours we went on Staff was friendly - great mini bar service, very clean - maid did excellent job liked the easy, fast check-in thank you

We found the hotel to be very clean and the staff was very friendly. On a down side they did not fill the bar fridge often enough leaving us short on water and pop. Overall a very nice experience. Very nice well taken care of grounds.

We found the hotel to be very clean and the staff was very friendly. On a down side they did not fill the bar fridge often enough leaving us short on water and pop. Overall a very nice experience. Very nice well taken care of grounds.

My friends and I came to Panama for a week of relaxation. The RIU did not disappoint. The food was incredible, the Italian restaurant was mouth watering(I am still thinking about the buns from dinner) the cocktails were delicious especially the Spanish coffees. Service was great, never had to wait too long. We only had 2 complaints 1. We called down to the lobby to ask maintenance to look at our tub as it wasn’t draining properly. It wasn’t fixed. 2. The pillows in the room were tiny and uncomfortable.

The resort is very clean and well kept. The rooms were nice and comfortable. The staff were very friendly and worked very hard. The food was very good, from the buffet to the there Alacart restaurants. All the pools were nice and clean. The beach was nice. There were always loungers available but you have to get it there at around 630 even though they said you weren't allowed to do that. The only complaint i have is they didn't give you enough water in your room, when i asked for extra water one day, i was told by the manager that he would give me some this time but your only allowed a water restock of for bottles every other day. Had a great time!!

Hotel and staff are great! Beautiful beaches and food is delicious! I've traveled to a number of places and resorts, this was one of my favorites for food! Drinks are tasty too. Would highly recommend!

The hotel is approx 10 mins from the rio halto airport which is fantastic. Transfer to hotel was simple and quick. Check in was smooth with plenty of people to help. Grounds are immaculate and clean. Pools are great. Very difficult to get loungers unless you are down there at 7:30. Beach is very nice with black sand. Food was plenty and very good with lots of choices. 1 thing I didn’t really like after being to many resorts in many countries was the à la carte restaurant process. You are required to wait in line and is on a first come first serve basis.

This place is awesome:) Lots of food 24/7 :) Cocktails 24/7 :) Riu app was awesome, super quick to fill your needs, ie more water & beer in room :) Adult pool was wonderful:) Live music daily:) Super clean inside & out :) Friendly staff :) Felt safe on beach & off resort :) Panama & Riu was wonderful:)

Overall, the resort was very clean and well maintained and the night time entertainment was excellent. The food was decent quality but the buffets didn’t provide much variety throughout the week. The ala cart restaurants did not allow for reservations, was a first come first serve basis and was lined up at opening time with lots of “golden age” guest who you would assume had proper manner and etiquette, but sadly did not. They also followed the same social behaviours with the pool lounge chairs. At the guest orientation, we were told that the lounge chairs were not to be reserved before 7am. Two out of three pool lounge chairs were “sold out” well before 6am all seven days of our stay and said “golden agers” occupied these loungers the entire day. This is not the resorts fault, but they could have enforced these rules a bit better. It seemed to be over populated for the amenities they provided. I would happily go back to the Grand DeCameron, Panama over the Riu.

Only 3 à la carte restaurants. Food too salty in all 3. No reservation system in place so long line ups. Quiet pool (adult) was impossible to get lounges. Despite there being a rule of no reserving before 7 a.m., they were reserved by 5:30 a.m. No poolside bar service or wait staff in lobby bar. Hit and miss getting Chardonnay in any of bars/restaurants and no Pinot Grigio at all. Adult entertainment started after children’s entertainment at 9 p.m. Only one area designated for entertainment (other than beach) so no music or entertainment in lobby bar. Only one bank of elevators so in a hotel that is shaped like a U, if your at one of the end sections, you have to either go up/down multiple floors of stairs or walk along endless hallways to get to elevators so wouldn’t recommend for anyone with mobility issues.

Beautiful resort, very clean grounds, food was great with a lot of variety, service was great but could be better if the staff spoke English. The staff did not speak English at all which was a bit disappointing, I asked for a glass of wine and the girl just took everything from my table. Even the entertainment staff very few spoke English. Otherwise we had a wonderful time

This was our 4th visit to RIU Playa Blanca. We have always requested ocean view. We requested a room change which we were able to do on our second night of a 7-night stay. We got the full ocean view after the room change. The first room was partial ocean view. When you looked out the window of the first room you do not see the ocean. Only the rooms across the other side of the U shape of the hotel. You only saw the ocean when you were on the right side of the balcony Food is always good at the buffets and specialty restaurants. Cocktails are amazing and you can request your favourite drink that is not on the cocktail menu. Hotel is very clean and staff very friendly. We will go back for sure! Good value for money.

Very pleasant and well run resort. Nice beach , guaranteed weather and warm ocean water. Polite and very friendly crew. Great food with a lot of selections. The varieties of the evening shows with professional performers.

Very attentive staff. Rooms are very clean. Communication through resort app very helpful; avoids having to call or go to front desk. Only complaint would be the lounger saving, however, this redorts removes towels or whatever placed before 7am.

The resort was clean ,the room was good location had to have shower fixed and hairdryer (done very quickly),buffet good,al a cartes could do with upgrade in menu,would recommend. Adult pool bar was very busy more staff definitely needed,

The rooms, service and food was amazing however the nightly entertainment was lacking. Every night they had the same dancers with different costumes lip sincing and dancing. They could do with some local musicians playing live music to allow the guests to see some culture and msic of the Panama people where we could dance and sing to the music. The tours were 2 hours away in Panama City. A long bus ride which was only offered on certain days. According to the people who went to the Panama Canal tour, there was no room to sit or stand to see the boats or the canal and they only had access to the movie theater. This hotel due to its location to all of tours ONLY available 2 hours away needs to find local activies, tours to local towns where there are bars and restarauntswe could visit. Maybe a local catermaran boat ride to snorkling, maybe para sailing from the beach. In summary a wonderful hotel close to the airport but nothing to do locally unless you are willing to give up 4 hours of your day to be on a long bus ride.

This is our second time at this location. The hotel itself was very clean and beautifully decorated for Christmas. The staff was very pleasant and accommodating. The food selection was great. We definitely enjoyed our week stay. The only issue we had was that the floors were very slippery, it had a high gloss. In this case a porcelain tile with a Matt finish would have been more practical. We will definitely be back again.

Grounds were beautiful, manicured every day and beach was raked daily. Abundant staff. We had a ground level room, which we requested for easier mobility, and easy access to all amenities. The room could use a refresh, however, it was very spacious, full bar, and a/c worked well. We did however encounter a cockroach twice in the 2 weeks we were there. Big plus is proximity to airport..15 min.

Myself as well as some family and friends (10 people in total/total of 5 rooms) booked a week stay at this resort. Really my only complaint is that we were told our rooms would be located together - however rooms were located on different and different sides of the resort which was a bit inconvenient. Otherwise the food was good, staff were nice, grounds were lovely.

We stayed at this resort for the second time this year and we loved it both times. The rooms are spacious and clean, the resort is beautiful and always clean. We had wonderful service and we can't wait to return again next year;)

I was very disappointed in my recent trip to the Riu Playa Blanca. I felt overlooked as a tourist compared to the locals. There was segregation within the pool and bar area which I don’t agree with. One pool had locals and one had tourists. The music was also different at each pool. The third floor is under construction and the rooms are dated. The garden view is of a construction site where workers work 6 days a week from 7:00am until sunset. The cleaning is subpar which leads to tourists getting very sick. There is no new glassware provided even when a former vacationers toothpaste remnants are left in the glass. The staff just rinses the glassware in the bathroom water. The sheets had stains on them and the pillows were terrible. If you got sick, like most of the tourists did, you get 2 bottles of water every 2 days. If you are truly sick and have to go down to the hotel lobby at 2:00am, they will request you get more water at 10:30am which will be 6:00pm after calling 4 times. I was overlooked at the bar since I was a sober tourist. The food was amazing but because the cleaning was subpar I believe there was some sort of cross contamination which results in getting very sick or at least traveller’s diarrhea (even when taking Dukoral). I found it odd there was no option to get a cappuccino until after 10:00am. There’s no option to get any water before 10 or 11am if you are at the beach/pool. I will not be telling friends and family to come here. If you want top tier beaches, customer service and cleanliness I do suggest going to the Grand Aston or Iberostar in Cayo Coco, Cuba.

The resort is nice and super close to the airport, which makes getting there easy. It is a bit far from everything else though, so if you plan to explore more of Panama, I’d suggest staying closer to Panama City or the Caribbean side. The black sand beach is beautiful with lots of lounge chairs available. It’s a public beach, so there are a few local vendors, but they’re respectful and leave you alone once you decline. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. The in-room bar was a great touch, and the cleaning staff did an amazing job every day. The food was a highlight — the buffet was hands down the best! Each day had a different theme with plenty of variety. The pool area was well maintained, and there was always a lifeguard on duty. The bartenders were friendly, hardworking, and kept the drinks flowing all day. The DJ at the disco was awesome! It was a fun, mature crowd, and the music mix was perfect. Overall, a great spot for a relaxing and fun sister getaway!

I have enjoyed RIUs but this one didn't live up to its name Room for my husband and I was great, nice king bed and decent size bathroom. Room for my 3 teens was not. Third bed was a little leather sofa bed that folded out to the floor. My kids aged 16, 19 and 21 fought over who didn't need to sleep there. When you are given an Oceanview room you should be able to see the Ocean, don't wait the extra money, Courtyard is just as nice and better location to elevators/lobby and restaurants Beach was absolutely beautiful, shells everywhere, a highlight Rooms and food and pool all close together, wifi was spotty at the pool but good in the rooms and restaurants Food was okay. Lots of salads, burger and fries, ice cream, turkey dinner and taco nights were the highlights. Deserts terrible and would have been nice to have bagels or muffins or waffles or non runny eggs for breakfast. Pools were good, nice benches along edges to sit on. Didn't open til 8am and we were already feeling the heat at 7am so it would have been nice to use earlier All in all it's an okay family resort but again doesn't live up to RIU in other countries.

This resort is one of the best maintained and cleanest. Dining rooms, grounds and many pool areas are immaculate. Staff, service and food are excellent. Entertainment could be improved and a minor disappointment was the beach. It is not really maintained or set up with chairs, umbrellas etc for sunbathing. There are loungers under the trees further inland. The ocean is very rough, the sand is course.

Great deal at this price point. Large room with nice bathroom. Nothing fancy but nothing wrong with it either.Aircon was great. Buffet was excellent for a buffet and a la cartes were ok to good. Drinks were good all around but better in the sports bar and best in the lobby bar where they blended the drinks. Four pools including a great kids pool with slides. Beach was great for walks but not pretty white sand and the water was a little cold in April ( ok I am a wuss) compared to the pools which were quickly warmed up in the hot sun. Entertainment shows were ok . One set of four elevators but they were very quick and hardly any waiting. We were close to the elevators ( no noise) and that was great. I could see it being a bit of a pain if you had a long walk from your room to the single set of elevators. The staff was always very helpful.

Grounds are very well kept. Always cleaning going on by staff. Food was good but Steak House needs work. Not bad but not good. Italian place was good. Buffet was also good you cannot go hungry. Pools were good and beaches were nice. They indicate any issues on the beaches with flags either watch out for jelly fish or stingrays. All in all nice staff and a good resort.

This beautiful resort exceeded our expectations The staff were helpful and kind, the food was excellent and the resort was really clean. There was an adult only area that we really enjoyed Panama is a beautiful country We will be back to explore further

This beautiful resort exceeded our expectations The staff were helpful and kind, the food was excellent and the resort was really clean. There was an adult only area that we really enjoyed Panama is a beautiful country We will be back to explore further

First thing about this hotel is the cleanliness. The staff worked constantly to clean floors, around the pools and rooms. Food was excellent, so much variety. Drinks were very good. Very friendly resort

Great stay at the RiU. The cleanliness of this resort was beyond fabulous. The staff went above and beyond to ensure the guests were well taken care of. The dining experience was also very good. The food was plentiful, flavourful and the variety was awesome. When speaking of the A la cartes, the Italian restaurant was my favorite restaurant followed by the steak house and lastly the Asian. I totally enjoyed the adult pool with the swim up bar, however the beach did not leave alot to be desired. The sand was very hot, the water appeared murky and unswimmable. The red flag was posted the majority of the entire week and very few people opted to swim in the ocean. With that said, the beach is walkable for distance in either direction. The activities offered during the day were fun to watch and staff gathered guests for participation in each activity. Shout out to Gabby who led the aquafit classes. She was fantastic. The evening entertainment was amateur at best but the staff's effort put forth was much appreciated. Great vacation overall and would recommend friends and family to visit Riu Playa Blanca.

This resort was a good place to get away from it all. The food, room, and service were all very good. The theme was definitely simplicity. Activity staff (especially Ruben and Gabby) worked tirelessly to make sure everyone had a great time. The bartenders, (especially Bobby), were friendly and attentive. Our room was very large and our view was lovely. The infinity pool was perfect for all. The downside to this resort is the location to Panama City. It’s a two hour bus ride if you want to visit the Panama Canal, old Panama City or new Panama City. If you are a beach person, this may not be the resort for you. The sand was very coarse and extremely hot, the water was murky, and the waves and undertone were worrisome.

The hotel rooms could do with upgrades to fixtures and fittings, tv could do with more channels as there was only one in English, maybe an upgrade to satellite. The pools. Bar pool could do with a good scrub under the middle island, you can see black mold also the kiddie Pool could do with a coat of paint to make it look better as it is well worn . The restaurants, Italian, Asian, and Buffet were excellent but the Steak house was disappointing. Our waiter Rey was the best in the buffet, he was very professional and remembered drinks, names etc, very attentive. On our last full day we had a bit disappointment, everyone was reserving seats at the bar pool and the security came a took our cups, towels and clips for the towels. When going to the reception in the lobby to retrieve them we were told they didn’t have them and then when asked to see Manager the cups appeared but nothing else. If they are going to do this it should be all guests things and not just a certain few, also they should leave a card in English saying where they can be picked up, personal items should not be taken. I don’t care about the towels they are the resort but personal items (stealing) should not be taken.

The RIU Playa Blanca resort, although showing it's age a little still made up for it with it's amazing restaurants, great pools and a friendly atmosphere. But the true value at the resort is the staff who were amazing and willing to do anything for you. I only wish I could give them a higher rating than 5 star.

The resort and room was very clean.Was impressed with the buffet an poolside offerings.Service was excellent at the lobby bar.Deep sea fishing trip booked at resort was awsome. I would definitely recommend this resort to a friend.

Second time at this resort. Four of us went last year. We were very impressed so took a group of 14 this year! Rooms are adequate, service is very good, food is amazing as there is something for everyone. Beach not the greatest so we stay and enjoy one of the 4 pools. Staff we found is very friendly. The grounds are very well kept! Looking to return again next year!

This resort is beautiful. The grounds are well maintained. Staff are constantly cutting grass and trimming trees and bushes. The dining room is beautiful. It’s very clean and staff are constantly setting up for new diners. The staff are very helpful and very friendly. Food is very good too with lots of selection. Great pools and sports bar. The shows are fine if you’ve seen them the first time, but they are the same shows for a number of years and if you’ve been there more than once, you will have seen them before.

Great value for money with excellent staff, immaculate facility and beautiful setting. Beach access is easy and beach is clean. Food choices are far ranging and there is something for even the most picky eater. We will book again

This was our 3rd time at Riu Playa Blanca in Rio Hato The room was lovely with a king size bed and large bathroom with shower The entertainment was the same for the last 3 years, except they now added a lip sync and dancing show including Bruno Mars, Marc Anthony, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, as well as an Abba show. Both of these were a welcome addition and very well received.

I'm not sure of the full facilities of this hotel, but notwithstanding the hotel rates five star. I do have one complaint and I'll get to that, but first let me tell you why I think this is a five star hotel. The hotel management is first class and this shows everywhere. The hotel is super clean. Public spaces, gardens and beach are immaculate. Everything works. We did have a problem with our room safe but maintenance was in the room and the problem fixed within minutes of the issue being reported to the hotel switchboard. Without exception staff were well turned out, polite, friendly and helpful. Our room was large, bright and airy, with no sign of mildew, so common in the tropics. The air-conditioning worked well and was quiet, as was the ceiling fan. The hotel is located only about 7 minutes from the airport, and travel between the airport and hotel was well organized, as was our reception at the hotel. There is no portering service but this isn't an issue as there are four small elevators in the main building and room signage and directions are good. During our visit the elevators were in service all the time, to the best of my knowledge. We did not use any of the pools, so I'm not going to comment on them. We swam in the blue sea which was very warm and completely safe, but not really suitable for snorkeling as the ocean is murky. The hotel is located on a beach about 4 kms long. The beach is deep and shallow, and while we were at the hotel there was no surf and only wavelet. The sand is very hard below high water and great for walking, but grey in colour and not particularly attractive. We had all but three meals in the main dining area. This large space is divided into a core air-conditioned area, where the food is self service, and an outer area which is covered but open to the gardens. We preferred to eat in this latter area, but there a couple of cats around, and various mynah birds, intent on stealing food, particularly fruit and packets of sugar. The quality and variety of the food was excellent at all times, and there were several different items each day. My only regret was that it wasn't mango season, but the pineapple was the best I have ever had. Salads, mains, veggies were all great. Desserts were sometimes quite gaudy [some had gold leaf] but all were very tasty. The four house wines were all very pleasant. Bar drinks were very nice, and the staff were very smart in keeping the amount of alcohol in the drinks low, unless you wished for more, in which case it was freely given. My only complaint relates to the three specialty restaurants, my partner didn’t really have any issues with her food but I did. At the Italian Restaurant the minestrone soup was so salty it was inedible. There was a major problem with noise on the evening we attended the Italian Restaurant, two large groups of a certain ethnicity were shouting and screaming at one another across the room – we got up and left it was so bad. At the Asian Restaurant the soggy heavy “tempura” bore no resemblance to light super crispy tempura batter. At the steak house, the Caesar salad was very poor and so were the pork ribs, which was surprising as the pork was excellent in the main dining room. I suggest that Hotel management take a close look at these restaurants as, in my opinion, the food is not up to the standards of the main dining room, and the staff in the Italian restaurant made no attempt to control the rowdy diners . We traveled on a Sunwing holiday, and the local staff were very friendly and helpful. We only had one 5 hour excursion to the local town of Penonome, which at USD $ 20 per person was great value for money and led by a very informative helpful guide. This was an excellent vacation, good flights, transportation and a five star hotel, what more could you ask for.

Had a great time. Close to airport after a 5 1/2 hour flight. ✈️ Four pools so none of them were over crowded. No air conditioning in restaurants. The resort grounds are very well kept. The sand on the beach is black so bring water shoes as very hot.

The RIU staff are fantastic. Always cleaning and servicing you with a smile and respect. The food was great at the buffet and especially the restaurants. Fruit, breads, salads, desserts are always in abundance and fresh. The variety of food is insane and there's something for everyone. The beach was great but water is not blue or aqua but still very clean. The Wellness Center (SPA) is great however it's located at the far end of the pool and you can hear the booming pool music rather than the zen sounds of the spa. Nonetheless, fantastic hidden gem of a resort.

Hotel as a whole is very clean. There is always someone around cleaning every area, as an example around the pool area, there is always someone ensuring the floor is free of water thus avoiding someone from slipping. Staff in general are very friendly & polite & are always willing to help. Management are also present at all times to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Two things that could be improved to my opinion are: location of the massage center. It would be better to locate in a more quiet area to maximize relaxation ambiance. The other one is, having some hut/shade in the beach areas. They will provide coverage from the sweltering heat & will entice people to stay around that area much longer.

The Hotel area is amazing with its spotless walkways and gardens. The staff were just courteous and friendly. There were a lot of choices when it came to dining and they were all fantastic. It was a great overall experience for us and my family and if I were to name a few to improve on, I'd say the entertainment and the beach area could be a bit more pleasant as there were no huts nor shades near the beach. But I would still recommend this resort to anyone.

We were at Riu Playa Blanca Aug 5-12 and have only good things to say. Beautiful resort, super clean, there is always a cleaning crew everywhere it seems at all times, even the outdoor grounds and pool areas. Food is amazing. Staff is friendly and hard working. The beaches are not like Cuba but resort is top notch.

Cleanliness is A1, fantastic and friendliness of staff, and an abundance choices of food. Pool setup is also great. Visibility and hands on care of hotel management is quite impressive. I would definitely recommend Riu Playa Blanca to many others. We’ll definitely go back.

Immaculate property. Hard working staff. Food was excellent, bar staff could make anything. Plenty of lounge chairs at the pools, lots of pools.****************************************************************************************

Nice kids pool. Decent food. Language can be a challenge at times. We had an issue with the lock on our room for 3 days which we feel wasn't handled properly, should have been upgraded to better room as resort was not full and we had to go to front desk at least 10 times trying to resolve lock issue. Gets very busy on weekend with locals.

The hotel was clean and maintained well - cleanliness of the rooms and other common areas as well as the grounds/gardens. Food: The buffet was good and had many options and well replenished. Staff worked very hard to ensure that the tables were cleaned and guests were served in time. In comparison, the a la carte restaurants were not that great. Staff were good at their job but did not understand very much English and catered more to Spanish speaking. The but food was not that good in taste and presentation - presentation was outdated, the menu choices need to be changed. The food at the Steakhouse was decent. The Asian and Italian restaurants were a disaster. Entertainment: Was not up to standard. The announcer was very difficult to understand and most of the announcements were made in Spanish and even the little English announcement were made in a hurry and difficult to understand. The wait time between dinner and the shows was very long and most evenings we were bored and went to the room. The entertainment staff during the day also conducted all activities in Spanish as a result we who did not understand Spanish could not participate. It was very frustrating that we could not enjoy the activities due to the language barrier. Pools - very well maintained, the bartenders worked very hard and there was never a very long wait to be served. In all, it was a pleasant stay but not a place I would likely visit again and there was nothing spectacular that would make me want to go back.

The report is very big but it’s lay out is awesome everything is very close The restaurants are amazing great food and great service The walk’s on the beach beautiful clean and smooth the ocean is alittle rough but it’s still swim able Lots of activities at the pools for the kids and adults

The resort was OK definitely not a 5 star resort though. The food was OK, not much variety. Beach was nice. Overall customer service was not the best. Weird rule with botted water for a place as warm/hot as Panama- you get only 6 bottles of water per day ONLY. (Reminder this is an ALL INCLUSIVE resort). Far from the city - limited activities, unless you want to pay for excursions.

The Hotel is 10 years old and needs some cosmetic work to bring it back to the RIU standard that I was expecting. The staff do keep the rooms and grounds immaculately clean. The food was good and there was something for everyone but nothing to write home about. I would not say it is 5 stars but certainly 3.5 to 4. The beach is a bit of a letdown, but you have to go with an open mind and remember you are on the Pacific coast. Many people were stung by jellyfish during our stay and the flag was red all week. Horses are on the beach and there is dung and horse urine smell everywhere in front of the resort which made going down to the water's edge a rather unpleasant walk. Wild dogs roam around the beach and onto the resort and they can be aggressive. Some cowboys offer rides and sell certain unnamed substances - strongly recommend everyone stay away from them. There was a strong police presence on the beach and at the hotel during our week, so we did feel safe but would not recommend being on the beach after dark or before dawn. The weather was fantastic, hot and no rain whatsoever. Probably won't go back due to the beach situation (I prefer the Caribbean). It was a once in a lifetime bucket list place to visit. The Service provided by Trip Central was fantastic.

Lovely grounds and pools. Rooms were large and comfortable and very good cleaning service Food was fantastic so much selection and very tasty. Beach was nice just had to watch under tow. Overall a very good experience and would return again.

Hotel was old, Rooms were outdated and room we were in broken doors and handles, upgraded to sea view was worth it, rooms and pacha-night club smelt bad probably due to a sewage blockage, Food was OK pretty much the same variety daily, Italian restaurant was good, Pools were not very clean, lots of glasses found in pools. Could not be in the sea shore for long due to the high tides and deep waters lots of stones need water shoes. Overall would give it a 3 ??.

Very nice hotel, 4.0 to 4.5* in my opinion. Cleaning is ongoing all day, this resort is very well kept inside and out. Beautiful manicured grounds. Rooms two twin beds however Queens were available. Double sinks in bathroom and large shower. Again very clean. Food selection at the buffet is excellent. À la cart restaurants were very good, both Italian and steakhouse. Did not try Asian. Bar service at pool and indoor bars very good. Selection of beverages was good. Canadian, Bourbon and scotch whiskeys all name brands were available. Brandy and Gin quality was also good. Shout out to Justin, Hector and Jose at the bar. The hotel manager was on site and available. We travelled with Sunwing and their reps were on site daily to answer any questions. Resort features 4 pools, 1 swim up bar adults only, 1 quiet pool, 1 activity pool and a water park pool for children. Something for everyone. Entertainment was average most nights. Sports bar was 24 hrs, with espresso machine and pool tables. What prevents this hotel from being a 5 * is the beach, it is Panama on the pacific coast. It is not Caribbean white sand but dark sand. The beach is a public beach so you will get the annoying hucksters, but just wave and walk past them. Overall a very nice resort, however if your a beach lover this will not be for you. Price is better than most resorts.

Resort was immaculately taken care of with friendly staff. Plenty of things to do at the resort was good because there was not a lot of off resort options available. Grounds were very well maintained and green considering the area was desert like off resort.

We travel extensively. Over 25 all inclusive resorts and this was one of the best. The weather was amazing and the food was very good in buffet and a la Carts. It was hot and good variety. The negative was the beach. It's a large beach but sand gets too hot and not great for swimming. The drug dealers that want to take you for horse back rides are a pain too. The adult pool is incredible because they strictly enforce no children allowed. The bar staff was incredible except the one woman at swim up bar very slow and did not seem happy to be there. The pool does turn your white spots green and your Hair.

It was fine / good. Little underwhelming for a 5-Star resort but was okay. Food kinda sucked. & the A la carte resto [Steakhouse] was next to impossible to get into. Service was great. Not a tonne of things to do at the resort in the evenings. Food advice: focus on quality over quantity.

The hotel was very clean! It felt very safe. Any concerns were immediately addressed as they have the staff to rectify them quickly. Breakfast was are favorite meal. Fresh breads and fruit were awesome.

My husband and I visited Riu Playa Blanca at the end of January and loved it! It was HOT!! We were extremely happy with the hotel. It was clean, staff always working maintaining the grounds, food was great and many drink options. It’s nice to have a bar that’s open 24 hours with snacks. The staff were extremely nice and very attentive. The beach was great! Dark sand and warm water. Make sure to wear sandals to walk to the beach or you’ll burn your feet! We had great weather and a fantastic time! I have no complaints and would go back. I highly recommend this resort. Note: smoking areas are limited.

Hotel was clean. Staff was very nice and accommodating. Pool area was a great time with knowledgeable bartenders and lunch buffet served poolside daily. Beach was clean and raked every night but the sand was super hot! Wears shoes! The food was amazing! My only compliments were they did not restock the fridge unless you called and requested it, there were not any off resort activities available and it was a whole lot hotter than I was expecting with the only a/c in the entire resort being in your room and the wifi cut out constantly the whole week.

The Riu Playa Blanca is a beautiful hotel, the staff are very helpful, friendly and keep the whole hotel up to standards expected. The grounds are well manicured and the restaurants are all excellent. If anything is spilled throughout the resort the staff are right there to clean it up, the floors are spotless. The bar pool buffets were a great touch too.

The rooms were great. The staff were always cleaning floors etc. Lobby, halls and pool area. Very clean and well kept. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Food was very good. After the 1st day I said I'm coming back next year! Weather was brilliant! Thanks for an awesome week!!

This is the forth Rui we have stayed at and they have never disappointed us. Food is amazing and the staff are friendly and helpful. Weather was fantastic and it was really worth the trip. Beach is public but the hotel has no control over that. The vendors were friendly and not really pushy. Have seen worse.

The hotel , food, service entertainment were great ! The beach is hot because of the black sand. We swam in the water everyday it was great. It’s not blue like the Caribbean but it’s still awesome. I would definately book again !

My girlfriend and I just spent the week here. We have no complaints. We were in the ocean daily, no issues. Lots of food options and food was delicious. Fruit tasted fresh. Meat was cooked properly. The Italian restaurant was very good, we didn’t do the steakhouse or Chinese restaurant. Staff is wonderful and plentiful, very helpful and friendly. The room was spacious and no issues other than the pillows were not great, I would recommend asking for extras. Room was clean and cleaning staff did a great job replacing towels and drinks in the mini-fridge. There is a lobby bar, sports bar, pool bar, and entertainment bar. The weather was phenomenal… if you like sun and heat. We didn’t have a drop of rain the week we were there and it felt like 35-40 degrees daily. The sand does get VERY hot, especially midday and will burn the bottoms of your feet. Bring multiple pairs of flops or water shoes. The heat melted the glue from my flops and I couldn’t use them as they fell apart and will need a repair job. The ocean water isn’t crystal clear but it is warm with minimal seaweed and smooth beach floor, not many rocks. The guys on horses at the beach will harass you about drugs and horse rides, just ignore them and they will leave you alone. There are vendors on the beach that you can buy trinkets from but they don’t harass you. There is some horse droppings in the sand but not a big issue for us, just walk around them. Make sure you get your loungers by 8am as they do fill up quite quickly. There was always stuff going on around the pools such as live music or games. We used the taxi service at the front of the hotel to go to Panama City, Panama Canal, Amador Causeway, and to see the Old City. It was 200usd for both of us plus entry fees at the canal. It was the whole day but we really enjoyed it. Beware there is a 35usd per person tax to leave the country. Overall we are very happy with the resort, staff, food, and weather.

Traveled to the RIU playa Blanca as a couple with three other couples. This was not our first trip staying at a RIU hotel. We have stayed at all RIU hotels in Jamaica as well as Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, the RIU playa blanca in Panama did not compare well to the other RIU hotels we have stayed at in the past. We are definitely beach people and unfortunately were not able to use the beach due to locals waiting every morning on the beach with their horses which caused a terrible smell when the wind was not blowing as well as large quantities of horse manure you had to step around when walking in the sand. In general food at the buffet was good, there was always something to choose from however, the New Year’s Eve gala left quite a lot to be desired. Front desk was very helpful weight staff were not so helpful. There were a handful of extraordinary service people however, the majority found it hard even to smile. The housekeeping staff were in need of more training. We struggle to get towels bath mats and our room cleaned on a daily basis. We did, however have one day where the service was extraordinary but unfortunately it was one day out of 14. During one of our dinners, There was a senior member of the RIU staff randomly asking guests for their opinions and we were able to speak to him. He was extremely open and understood all of our concerns. In closing, we will not visit this hotel a second time.

Just came back 2 days ago and I definitely had a great time. The food was good, never went hungry. It would have been nice if they put out some prosciutto, but they didn't. The staff was great, if anything went above and beyond. The resort was extremely clean. You don't need a speaker here because they have good music playing all day. Each day they would have a live band come in and play. We rented a car for the week up the street at Buget for 11 dollars a day plus insurance. Do not speed if you are driving on the roads. The resort has vendors on the beach and they give you great deals on the merchandise. The only thing that was beyond annoying was the guys on the horses. The beach is covered in horse shit so wear your water shoes.

This hotel will be great with some renovations, to name few bed rooms need Bigger pillows, doors to the bathroom does not close, not enough washrooms around the three Pools, the small washroom by the Pool close by 5 or 6 PM, guest on the Beach has no washroom close by,

Grounds were well groomed, clean. Definite notable priority given to Spanish speaking patrons Not too comfortable with male staff in women’s bathrooms at all times. Buffet was great and satisfied all. The a la cartes were hit and miss. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it wasn’t. Christmas Eve dinner was very disappointing. We had a group of twenty, stood in line at 630am with everyone else to get a reservation. By the time we were seated the staff seemed to be done with the evening and us. Most of us ordered the special ‘Surf and Turf’ all of our lobsters were burnt. There was little to no meat inside it was sooo dry and all of our filets were served well done regardless of what temperature had been ordered. And no one came to clear our table. We sat at a dirty table for at least half hour to an hour before getting dessert which was served before our dinner plates were cleared. Most staff had left, except for one server who remained taking care of another table. Rooms were always cleaned and a left with a lovely flower display. Would have liked to have water bottle replacement daily in room without having to request. Sports bar food needs to be upgraded.

Had a good week. Staff in general were mainly good. Bar staff knew their stuff. Was nice to have drink of the day signs up at lobby bar etc to try something new. Buffet always had a good variety & no problem finding a table. No reservations for a la cartes. Went at 630 and got seated right away each time. Steak house & Italian were both very good. Beach isnt what we are used to. Sand not white and hot in sun. Ocean rough and dark water but we swam in it every day and waves made it fun. Rooms were clean. Staff constantly mopping & cleaning hallways & any walk ways. Less than 20 minutes from airport for Canadians. Overall a good holiday.

We have stayed at Riu resorts over 6 times in the past, first one in Panama. being 10 minutes from the airport was great. On the way home they allow water, pop and your own food as they do not sell at airport, limited seats so get there early. Now Panama and the resort. We went end of November and were worried about the rain, It was Hot and even on overcast and rainy days it was still beautiful, rained only a few times and less than an hour or at night. Ruben and Lucus at the swim up were awesome, all the employees were good. The horses on the beach stay away someone had their stuff taken when they were on the horses, heard another story some one bought drugs off them and it was laced. Please beware. There is a strike in Panama that is causing some disruption on excursions and for shows getting to perform at resort. For me I go to relax and hand by the pool with Friends and everything was just fine for that. Food Italian lasagna was the best, Steak house the rib eye, and chicken. I didn't make to the Thai but my friends said the chicken was great. It was a great trip but I never have to go back to Panama. I love the hot weather, but this wasn't even the hot season and it was too hot. Beach you cant see the bottom and we were warned about stingrays so no thanks.

Very clean resort, lots of help, many bars, good liquor(!) & food. Room nice & spaces! My travel agent Tammy Beamish requested ground floor for me and I was very happy. Resort property non Smoking area, only beach or outside hotel permitted. A la carte unlimited, no need to book: first came first serve. Resort very close to airport. In the way back you have to pay cash AEROPORT FEE (about $37.25 per person) and its take forever , only one person colleting money. No AC @ airport , no duty free store. If you do like to get home some tobaccos & liquor you have to go to local store.

Well kept resort overall. immaculate clean resort..amazing food, great friendly staff, no complaints of any kind. Incredible hot weather all week long. What more can you ask for in an all inclusive vacation?

Very very clean rooms immaculate kept gardens and amazing food staff very polite and professional loved the Latin American music in the disco instead of techno music which all these all inclusive places seem to play great vacation

The resort is beautiful. The people are very friendly. It has a relaxed atmosphere with nightly entertainment for children at 8 pm and adults at 9 pm. A really good variety of food is offered (although at times it is cold) and many, many alcoholic drinks. The fridge in the room is filled every other day with cans of pop, bottled water and beer and there are four bottles of liquor in the room for your use. The resort has two a la carte restaurants. There are many activities around the pools and there is no problem finding lounge chairs on the beach. We would go back.

It was our second time staying at this resort we had a great time no complaints it was close to the airport Staff very helpful food was great the drinks were good never had to wait long for a drink at any bar

I dont know where to start. This resort is amazing. Panama in general is amazing. The resort staff were all so lovely and accommodating while the food and drinks were on par! The sunwing representative Christian was amazing from the beginning and ensured we had everything we needed. The excursion to anton valley was much recommended! All in all 5/5 resort and experience

Over all, we had nice vacation .Weather was incredible, area has nice walking beaches, not far from the hotel. No complains on variety of food, not too much, but very tasty. Great quality of fruits and vegetables, always fresh fish. Perhaps service require some improvement, especially waitresses with bringing any drinks during meals.

The hotel was fantastic. The rooms were spacious and clean. Had 2 minor issues and the problem was fixed within an hour or less. Pools were busy. It was good to see life guards making sure children stayed out of the adult pool. They maybe should put more signs going into the adult pool. Staff was always cleaning. Very friendly.

We had such a wonderful time at the resort. The food was amazing and so was the cleanliness of the place. The only problem was that one of the pools bleached my bathing suits. Other than that, we had a great time.

The resort is very nice. The food is great. Very friendly workers. Room very spacious and clean. The beach is not the best though. The water is not very clean and we had to get away from the jelly fish. The resort could use more elevators. We had quite a walk from the elevators to our room. The only other alternative was to take the stairs that were closer to our room but we had to climb 79 steps to get to the 4th floor. All in all, we had a great time

Great ocean view from our room Friendly staff, great meals with plenty of foods to choose from ! Excellent entertainment and overall atmosphere ! Resort personnel works constantly to maintain the cleanliness the 5 star requires We had a Panama Canal tour that was well planned and very informative ! We will come back !

Nice resort that is very clean ! Grounds are well maintained. Lots of pools ! Nice staff and very safe environment. Good resort for families Rooms are a little dated but still functional No drink service at the beach though..

Great variety of good food Excellent service Wonderful value for the money Close to the airport RIU is a reliable and respectable brand RIU management took pride in ensuring quality was maintained for all Sunwing service and staff were fantastic from start to finish

Room with ocean front view was amazing, great room Cleaing service, could replenish beer and coffee daily though instead of every other day Good food, a bit cold but tasty Very well-maintained grounds Shows were the usual

We loved Riu Playa Blanca. The food selection was the best we've ever had at an all inclusive. Staff were very friendly and most could speak some English. The grounds were beautifully kept. The room was really nice but our room had a bath/shower combination and the bath was deep for short people. A fantastic resort...would definitely recommend.

Grounds were well maintained and beautiful Hotel room was well appointed. Unfortunately towels were not replaced each day as requested. Food left a lot to be desired. It was served cold. Lots of duplicates and leftovers served. If meal was served for dinner at night it was also served at lunch the next day. I had asked for gluten free food and unfortunately there was very little in gluten free. Although I was told that sauces on all food was ok for me, it was not. Grilled meats were over cooked, tough and inedible. Pool was well maintained. Specialty restaurants - Steakhouse was delicious. Entertainment was geared to kids. There was virtually no entertainment geared to adults. Excursions were fabulous especially Panama City and Panama Canal. A must see.

The beach was not pleasant to walk All pools were very dirty There was no green space to walk around the hotel they would not leave shampoo in the room and we had to call three time to get a small shampoo

This was a very nice and clean resort. Food and drinks were excellent. Unfortunately, it felt like the resort was over capacity during the time of our stay. All pools were very congested. Large lines in Buffett restaurant as well as bars and a La carts. The resort workers worked extremely hard and tried to keep up and should be commended for their efforts. An amazing resort but way too crowded.

This trip was fabulous! The resort is beautiful, the staff are so friendly and the entertainment was lovely. Our room had a couple of issues (a broken handle on the dresser, a spout broke on the bar) but the staff fixed it immediately. The food is pretty good - hard to keep buffet food hot, but there was a great variety. The a la carte restaurants do not use a reservation system which made for a couple of disappointing nights. The beach is beautiful - but gets super hot during the day - water shoes or sandals are a must. I would definitely go again and recommend it to family and friends.

Hotel was very nice..clean and friendly staff. Never line ups except @A la carts because you didn't need reservations. Food was fabulous in the buffet dinning.. Always something different and lots for the kiddies.. Would have been nice to have servers at the beach & pools but very few line ups at the bars. Drinks were made to perfection.. So not a huge minus.. Our room was great with ocean views and green belt.Always clean ,no complaints..Grounds were beautiful, all flowers were starting to bloom..Palm trees matured more then what pics show.. Over all I would recommend this resort .Won't be disappointed..

We paid for garden view and essentially got a swamp view. We couldn’t see the garden at all. Our room was facing the swamp outside the resort grounds. We asked to change our room but were told to wait until Monday for availability and we weren’t offered any other options to switch our room. We were very disappointed.

The hotel room was not very clean. We had to ask for towels on more than one occasion. Telephone did not work. Shower handle to turn water on and off came off in my hand. Shower water was either freezing cold or scalding hot. In terms of a la carte, avoid the steakhouse, waited 1.5 hours for food and it was inedible. Asian and Italian restaurants were excellent. Buffet was very good.