Riu Palace Mexico - Adults Only - All Inclusive

Our only complaint is that the 2 tennis courts are in poor shape and badly need to be re-surfaced.

We went during seaweed season(summer) so ocean wasn’t as clean as we would have liked but knew that coming in. I spoke to others who aren’t aware of this. Please know that if you plan on coming during the summer-the beach will have seaweed in playa & Cancun. That being said, the hotel does its best to clean it daily(I was actually expecting it to be way worse). The area on the beach has palm trees, hammocks and the waiters come and bring drinks to you. It’s actually one of the nicest beach areas I’ve been to. The staff is great especially Patricio, Leo, all the staff at the Mexican restaurant. The staff at the buffet is great as well. Marlene is in charge of the riuland(kids area) and she is awesome. She came up to me as she saw me struggling to inflate a floatie for my kids and asked if she could help. Some things you should know before you book: this RIU is quiet. If you plan on partying all the time at the hotel- prob not hotel for you. BUT it is directly in front of RIU tequila(cross small street) where they have white party. Also, about 20 mins from town. Has 6 pools but they’re not huge. If you bring kids they have a small pool but it is geared towards toddlers. My kids are 9 & 12 so they are too big for this area. Wish they had slides and bigger pool for kids like at other hotels. Kids still had fun. Hotel isn’t so big that you require a cart to get across. You can walk easily to all restaurants. Food is good. Need more entertainment.relaxing place-would come back

Entire facility was wonderful. Bar pool could use some work with falling off tiles and somewhat sharp edges. Know it’s difficult to maintain something that is open all the time

Property is beautiful. Well maintained, and great staff. Please don’t skip on tipping staff just because a portion is included in your package. They work so hard….including housekeeping! Resort desperately needs to add additional restrooms! 1 somewhat convenient restroom for the entire beach area and pool is terrible. No wonder people choose to relieve themselves wherever it is convenient. Gross!

The beach was nice, clean with very little seaweed in the water and no seaweed on the beach. The area between the pool and the beach was covered in palm trees so an umbrella wasn't needed to sit out close to the water. The pool area was clean and well maintained with one pool just for adults which was nice. The dining options were varied enough that we didn't have to just eat at the buffet style restaurant. The resort was big enough to be spacious, but not a lot of walking was needed to get from our room to the pools, restaurants or beach. The evening entertainment options were not that great and seemed geared towards an older crowd, but there were more entertainment options at the two other RIU resorts less than a five minute walk away

There is never a shortage of things to do with a choice of 5 RIU properties in walking distance.

The staff is wonderful - very friendly and helpful. The rooms are large and comfortable. The food is plentiful and good. The overall property is spacious and doesn't feel too crowded - even though it rained for several days on our trip. Unfortunately the fitness center is not well kept. Over half the machines are broken and there just isn't much equipment overall. Definitely disappointing that it hasn't been improved in the past 4 years (since we first went).

The priority seems to be weddings. There were three weddings during our stay of three nights. The first two the pool bar (the only seating on the property with a view of the beach) closed early afternoon to accommodate the receptions. The third wedding was later in the day. The reception was held in the middle of the property adjacent to the rooms with an ocean view. The music was very loud, the lighting reminiscent of Ibiza, was permitted until 11pm. The food was sub par compared to the Palace Rivieria Maya. We found ourselves eating there the entire time and sitting on their patio as it didn't seem to close, regardless of whether a wedding was taking place or not. On a positive note the delightful man working the main entrance was an absolute delight!

I loved the big clean beach area, lots of seating. But the pool was inconvenient as people were saving loungers. They were empty for hours, I think there should be rules enforced about that.

No restrooms,no ambrellis on the beach

Food was good. Resort was not clean, there was an invasion of bees at the swim up bar I even got stung by one. The resort had a bad smell in some of the areas. It needed a major paint job. The bath in my room was rusty, there was a leak from the balcony door, and there was a mold odor. Entertainment could have been a lot better especially since there was an hurricane.

Wonderful stay great service, clean rooms, pools were perfect. Would stay here again.

I like the property location. The team is absolutely outstanding. The food is really good. Rooms are immaculate.

Excelente servicio , aunque estuvimos durante el huracán y hubo un día difícil pero aún así nuestra estadía fue muy divertida … el staff de animación fue muy importante .. cada uno de los trabajadores de ahí son gente maravillosa , amable y comedida … la comida muy buena y los baños muy limpios y elegantes … y las piscinas limpias yo vi como las limpian cada noche .. todo excelente …

My wife and I spent a wonderful 10 days at this hotel. The service was excellent, the food is very fresh and delicious, the staff was attentive and polite, everything was very clean, and the staff were constantly doing something to keep everything sparkling.Best restaurant at hotel is it steake house.

In overall we had a great vacation. The food was great and surprisingly food at the buffet was better than at the restaurants. Rooms was clean ( except we killed several cockroaches). Towels and bedsheets were worn out and yelloish color. Hard to find shade on beach

We really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. The property was well kept, staff was fantastic and it was a small resort so it was easily walkable for all ages. The beach was stunning with no seaweed and having been to Mexico a bunch, this is a constant issue some places. Again, staff was fantastic and my room was always pristine. We got to know some of the serving staff as we always went to the same table. They were really accommodating, fast and thoughtful…just great people. We brought money specifically for tipping and did so consistently. The staff deserved it. My only few issues were as follows…the beds sucked. Rock hard on top with a weird bounce underneath the hard top. The Japanese Ala carte restaurant was not good but the buffets were consistently excellent. The hallways also need a re-paint. The coffee was also pretty crappy…really bitter. All in all those things were super minor. I’d definitely go back.

Mold infested beds unclean and dated and maintained rooms . Took 3 times to find a room that was somewhat sleepable . Still Have mold on the mattress

The Riu Palace Mexico, was likely one of the nicest, well kept resorts we have been to. Great food , service and staff, excellent entertainment. The room was comfortable and very clean.

In general the property is in very good condition, but some details here and there like not very clean bathtub. Spa's jacuzzi need maintenance urgently. The good: Great food in the buffet, great scotch options (compared to other resorts) and accommodating staff, we were upgraded for free because our room was looking to the back of the hotel. The bad: most shows were not very fun, and the music sometimes is from 70s in the bar. For younger families not great. The ugly: most of the a la carte restaurants are depressing, the food is not worth the wait time. Beach steakhouse sort of Okay. The really bad: the white party is OK for adults but it's definitely not place for children and is way too crowded. The resort saves money trying to keep one show for many of its hotels in one place.

Overall the stay was amazing. The two criticism would be 1) the humidity in the room wash horrible; the sheets on the bed felt wet all the time and our clothes felt wet all the time. 2) The food in the restaurants was just ok; the steakhouse never cooked our steaks properly, but the buffet was amazing for all breakfast, lunch and dinner. Good stuff: The care of the property is amazing, beach amazing, staff amazing, buffet amazing. The resort is very clean, restrooms very clean. Downtown playa del carmen is about a 20 minute walk away; easy access. Shopping very close to the resort. I would definitely come back but wished the room would be drier, so I don't feel wet all the time.

Beach is lovely and staff accommodative. Rooms are dated - Furniture scuffed, visible cracks in wall. overhead shower required to jam a floss pick on the side of the push button (maid left it alone in position) and the stand alone tub water pressure was negligible (40 minutes to fill). Spoke with the front desk, who sent a repair person. Asked the manager if I could switch rooms. Manager was polite noting the tub water pressure was the same for the entire property. I was sent a kind note along with chocolate strawberries. Your on vacation, nothing can derail relaxation and fun. Beach allows for long walks both North and South. Attentive staff brought beverages to the beach lounges. I was disappointed, as I chose a property with a tub jacuzzi to nursie a shoulder injury. A new coat of white paint along with plaster and furniture touch ups would improve the guest experience a lot. As a pescatarian, there were choices every night. The head chef may consider to ensure a vegetarian/pescatarian each night at the Mexican station. There were squash flower and mushroom different evenings, however selective nights were meat only. Overall a good stay. In regards to the jacuzzi water pressure, you expect more from RIU properties brand and consistency.

Key card didn't work 6 times. We had to ask everyday, multiple times a day. They changed the battery of the lock twice. It was annoying. Food and drinks were not great. The rooms need updating. The staff was friendly.

Room needs a face lift too worn out bathroom was too small and not comfortable Food overall and Dining was average

I’ve stayed at the Riu in Cabo, and that property is much more updated than this location. The rooms are so old and outdated and looks like they just slapped a coat of paint on the walls. The restaurants are not good at all. The Buffett is much better, but needs more options for those who don’t eat beef or pork. My daughter encounter a battle of stomach sickness on our last day after eating a burger from the restaurant near the pools. Too many insects over the foods and some of the items seemed old. The entertainment is mediocre, and can’t definitely be improved. Gustavo, was amazing for the work outs and just his overall personality. I expected a little more.

We just stayed at Riu Palace Mexico for the first time. It was not as "luxury" as some of the other resorts that we have stayed at in the area, but for the price, it was very nice. The facilities could have been slightly more kept. The rooms were clean and nice but be aware if your travel needs require privacy, there is no closed off space to change, etc. It is a very open space! The food options are varied. You can have just about anything imaginable. The drinks, while not being craft cocktails, are plenty! The entertainment is just enough for adults but may not be great for people looking for more excitement. Also, Playacar is walkable and feels very safe.

Friendly outgoing respectful staff. Hotel is kid friendly as well, has a kid pool, playground area. In the evening time they also have a little program for the kids. Also at night they are thoughtful of people who want to sleep, so the music bands aren’t playing all night which was really nice.

Staff was amazing, everyone is very polite and attentive! The hotel itself is beautiful, the room could use minor updates. Great for families. Food was just okay.

This property is in need of room updates

I recently stayed at the Riu Palace Mexico in Playa del Carmen with a group of 15, and overall, I enjoyed my experience. The resort grounds are beautiful—well-maintained and relaxing—and the staff was consistently friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. The buffet was decent, offering a variety of options, though nothing particularly memorable. I didn’t get the chance to try the Italian restaurant, but we did dine at the steakhouse. The food there was just okay, and unfortunately, it took about an hour and a half to get our large party seated, which was frustrating. As for the accommodations, our rooms felt a bit outdated. The bathrooms were very small, and one of the biggest annoyances was the lack of functional electrical outlets—it was a challenge charging devices at night. Despite a few inconveniences, the overall vibe and friendly service made for a good stay. I’d recommend the resort with a few caveats, especially if traveling with a large group or needing modern room features.

We love this resort. It’s always clean and amazing the stuff goes above and beyond to make sure all of our needs are met

Staff was amazing. Property was very well kept and amazing location. Food was excellent. Really happy with my stay.

Riu palace Mexico service desk was the worst I’ve ever experienced. The service team should be removed for incompetence and lack of professionalism when interacting with guests.

I deducted 2 stars from being 5-star perfection for the following reasons: - Lobby staff was rude when upon arrival I politely asked if there were any available rooms facing the pool/fountains. - No welcome drink upon arrival. The lobby staff steranly reminded me of my "garden-view" booking. They definitely had pool/fountain view rooms available, but they just prefer to leave them empty instead of upgrading their guests (especially return customers). Even more surprising was the fact that we did not get a welcome drink. I have received welcome drinks in hotels of much lower class than this one (very surprising). Generally speaking, Riviera Maya Mexico is not the same post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the quality of service at all hotels was much higher and staff were more accommodating. This hotel is nice but not worth the extra money when you can stay at their sister-locations (Tequila) right next door for a lower price. The food, drinks, and beach are the same, so the only reason why you would stay at this hotel is if you want the following perks: -standard hot tub in room -glamour of "palace" decor -beach-side drink service from wait staff that come to your lounge Otherwise, it was a good stay.

This is the third time our families have stayed at this hotel. The first two times were in 2021 and 2023. And I want to say it was amazing. Everything was great, food, staff, service!! This time when we arrived, we were refused check-in due to a mistake in the booking company. We were not allowed to enter the room (although we booked and paid for two rooms!) In addition, we were humiliated and given a pass to the restaurant instead of bracelets to eat ... again, I repeat, we had fully paid for two rooms. We had to sit in the lobby for 4 hours with four small children, including a baby, and with my parents who are in poor health. We had to pay almost $ 1500 extra on the spot at the hotel so that they would check us in. Besides that I want to say that the staff has changed and was not as friendly as last time, when I asked what happened, they said that the director had changed... The food was normal, but not as tasty and varied as last time. The room itself I would say is in a deplorable state..., definitely requiring repairs and major cleaning. The jacuzzi did not work, a lot was broken. The only thing I want to note is the work of the maids and waiters. They really work hard there and deserve respect!! And otherwise, disappointment. Next time we will not choose this hotel for a vacation.

What was supposed to be an amazing trip was sadly affected by food poisoning and other unfortunate events. I have been to Mexico, specifically the Playa del Carmen area many times but this was the worst by far. This was supposed to be a very happy and romantic trip as my fiancé had just proposed however on the third day we got terrible food poisoning. This was extremely upsetting as I had spent hours reviewing what I thought was an excellent hotel that was well maintained. From here things only got worse for us. Our room lock was not working and would always flash red when we tried to enter our room. Despite multiple attempts to change key cards and asking for help, no one did anything to fix our situation. Pair this with an upset stomach and needing to get into your room in a hurry and you truly have a nightmare. Not to mention, my finance and I were both so sick and unable to get our own water, we kindly asked staff to bring us some and they refused. My fiancé then attempted to make his way to the front desk to get us water but puked the entire way and had to turn back. We are very upset with our experience and the lack of care from the some of the staff. With that being said, Daniel from the front desk was awesome when we had the privilege of being assisted by him.

Some staff members were helpful and sweet, especially the bartenders and servers, while some others (at the front desk) did not provide any help at all and made our stay more difficult. Overall, the resort is alright and got the job done.

All of the staffs are very nice and cleanliness of the entire resort/hotel. Omar, the manager, are very helpful and accomodating always checking on us if we need anything. I highly recommend Riu Palace Mexico. We will definitely come back here.

Staff and resort were both wonderful, had an amazing time!

Beautiful property. Staff was not as friendly as I was have experienced at previous hotels. Getting a drink was difficult as I was expecting more servers at the beach and pool. Food was mediocre. Shows were okay. Overall I would not return based on the staff. Usually you find one cool bartender on these trips who makes it special- not one staff member stood out. We had a big group staying at tequila across the street and they we were at the palace. Staff wouldn’t allow us to eat one dinner with the whole group.

I really enjoyed this hotel. It is very beautiful and fun. I also love the beach there and you can see the ocean from the property. The location of the hotel is great. I will definitely will be coming back.

My husband and I stayed at the Riu Palace Mexico for a 6 night getaway in February 2024. The front staff were very welcoming and professional upon our arrival. Our only issue was that our room wasn’t ready until 4PM despite checkin being at 3PM. The property is gorgeous and the landscaping is extremely well kept. The beach was absolutely stunning. The beach was cleaned every morning and the water is a beautiful blue. There were an abundance of loungers available (if you got there early) and delicious drinks being served throughout the day. The resort was thoroughly cleaned daily. Our room was very clean. We did have an issue with our keys not working one day but staff handled it promptly. The food was mediocre. You could always find something to eat but if you’re used to fine dining then you won’t be impressed. The Mexican food was the best and taco bars did not disappoint. I would recommend this spot if you’re looking for a great beach, kind people, and a clean space!

The property was in a safe area, a neighborhood that requires passing through a security guard gate to enter. Very nice resort property with well kept landscape.

Really enjoyed my 9 day stay here. Staff was friendly and helpful, facility was clean, beach is fantastic, location for me was great as it was about a 2 mile walk to town. I had heard the beach closer to town had been impacted by the last hurricane so wanted to be sure the beach was nice and it was even better than I hoped for. The food was fine…nothing special but I mostly only ate breakfast there and then went into town for lunch/dinner at some local places. For breakfast there are lots of options at the buffet. I had dinner at the steakhouse and Japanese restaurant and again, food was fine but the service was always good. The pool area is busy…not really overcrowded, but busy, and the pool with a swim up bar is packed in the afternoon.

Great location, beautiful hotel and beach.

Quick taxi ride to downtown Playa Del Carmen. You will not wait long. Download the RIU app so you can do everything from order room service, refill the minibar, or anything else you could need. Beach is awesome for long walks. Sun chairs easy enough to get full shade to full sun. A few vendors selling things on the beach but they leave you be if not interested. The restaurants and buffets are good, plenty of choices. The staff is pleasant and make your stay great.

This RIU is definitely a favorite of mine. The location is perfect, the beach is beautiful, and the staff go above and beyond.

Excellent place to stay safe to walk around to the stores. I would definitely recommend it to everybody or anybody with families. Excellent 😎👌

Great place, like any other Riu property. You can't go wrong.

The property had a beautiful beach!!

I've been to this property in two separate occasions in 2019 and 2022. The property has changed a lot. Everything is beautiful, but when you look at certain things again, like fans just to give a simple example, you can tell they haven't cleaned them in years. The major problem at this Riu is the food. It is inedible. The food was so bad that my family including my kid had food poisoning which basically ruined the entired vacation. The amenities are great, but if you can't trust the all-inclusive food and it will actually make you sick, then it doesn't matter how beautiful or how nice the administrators of this hotel are to you. They should have given us a return of our money given that that thanks to their awful food we weren't able to enjoy our stay. I hope they can go back to how they were in terms of food. You can also tell some of the pools were dated and required attention.

I’ve stayed at the Riu in Cabo, and that property is much more updated than this location. The rooms are so old and outdated and looks like they just slapped a coat of paint on the walls. The restaurants are not good at all. The Buffett is much better, but needs more options for those who don’t eat beef or pork. My daughter encounter a battle of stomach sickness on our last day after eating a burger from the restaurant near the pools. Too many insects over the foods and some of the items seemed old. The entertainment is mediocre, and can’t definitely be improved. Gustavo, was amazing for the work outs and just his overall personality. I expected a little more.

Food horrible. This palace worth then Riu Tequila. Food dry no taste all empty. Never go back

We enjoyed almost everything about our week long stay at the Riu Palace Mexico. Excellent food and amenities, beautiful beachfront with hundreds of beach lounges. There were tons of sargassum along the shore but that has been an issue for years in Playa del Carmen for years. The only real complaint I have is the size of the toilet area. I am 6'2" and it's very uncomfortable to use. Would I return to Riu Palace for another stay? Yes. All in all we had a wonderful time.

Nice property. Good service inside the hotel except the beach (just a couple of waiters and took a while to see them come back). Beach is awesome, one of the widest beachfront areas with at least 100ft (30m) . Unfortunately seaweeds were terrible during our stay, affecting all resorts. Food is decent for an all inclusive. The specialty restaurants are a bit too small and not too upscale, could get the same or similar food in the daily dinner buffet. Night shows were nice, good dancers and singers. During the day not too many activities for teenagers and kids though, this property definitely falls short on that one. Regarding room cleaning service it was outstanding with plenty of clean towels everyday! Enjoyed my time in the hotel but I don’t think I would come back. Recommendable for couples looking for a relaxed environment, specially +55 yrs old.

Spent a week here in May for my birthday. I loved this hotel!!! The room was nice, the food was awesome and the service was excellent. We ate at the Steakhouse twice. The surf n turf was delicious! Even the food at the buffet was great!! My wife and I were completely satisfied!! Oh yeah, the beach was beautiful and no problem finding a lounge chair!!!

Great beach, beautiful grounds. The rooms are a bit dated and the food was ‘mid’.

My wife and I spent a wonderful 10 days at this hotel. The service was excellent, the food is very fresh and delicious, the staff was attentive and polite, everything was very clean, and the staff were constantly doing something to keep everything sparkling.Best restaurant at hotel is it steake house.

The best resort I’ve ever stayed in. Great dining options. Wonderful beach, high end all the way through. Will be back again and again.

I recently stayed at the Riu Palace Mexico in Playa del Carmen with a group of 15, and overall, I enjoyed my experience. The resort grounds are beautiful—well-maintained and relaxing—and the staff was consistently friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. The buffet was decent, offering a variety of options, though nothing particularly memorable. I didn’t get the chance to try the Italian restaurant, but we did dine at the steakhouse. The food there was just okay, and unfortunately, it took about an hour and a half to get our large party seated, which was frustrating. As for the accommodations, our rooms felt a bit outdated. The bathrooms were very small, and one of the biggest annoyances was the lack of functional electrical outlets—it was a challenge charging devices at night. Despite a few inconveniences, the overall vibe and friendly service made for a good stay. I’d recommend the resort with a few caveats, especially if traveling with a large group or needing modern room features.