Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya

OnAir15869845342 wrote a review September 2025
Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

2 weeks in paradise

Hotel,food and staff were all first class had a fantastic 2 weeks and have booked it for our golden wedding anniversary next year.

Date of Stay: August 2025

maureenfA2843XZ wrote a review September 2025

Everything was wonderful, especially the staff

This is the best all inclusive hotel we have stayed in! The accomodations are spotless , the food is fresh with a wide selection . The athletic/ entertainment crew are outstanding, and the shows are first rate! Special thanks to Angel, who works tirelessly, and still takes the time to make each guest feel special.

Date of Stay: September 2025

sammyoh2019 wrote a review September 2025
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England

Family & friends holiday

Absolutely stunning hotel, the staff work so hard to please everyone, gardeners, barstaff, cleaners, receptionists, waiters &waitress, entertainment staff, nothing is too much trouble and the food is gorgeous, cater really well for coeliac disease and other allergies first class service from start to finish. Exceptional management. Thank you so much for a fantastic holiday ❤️

Date of Stay: September 2025

micks978 wrote a review September 2025
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England

Anniversary Holiday

First time visitors to Mexico and won't be our last.

RIU Palace Riviera Maya hotel was definitely worthy of a 5 star rating.

Staff couldn't do enough for you.

Room cleaned daily and was spotless.

Room service was instant (replenishment of toiletries etc).

Food at the restaurants was amazing.

Highly recommend RIU hotels.

Date of Stay: September 2025

Paradise66554512179 wrote a review October 2025
England

Fantastic hotel

This hotel is amazing! Its beautifully clean, the staff are very attentive and the scenery/grounds are amazing.

The food was excellent and the drinks were all branded.

This is the first hotel that I've known to include zero percent alchohol and a non-alcoholic cocktail menu which I was very impressed with.

Travelling with my friend, we were worried that going off complex might be dangerous for two younger females. However this hotel is in a gated community with restricted access by security. There are shops nearby which we felt completely safe walking too and even stopping off for a drink.

Date of Stay: September 2025

crookedspire25 wrote a review October 2025
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England

Late August early September break

On arrival was surprised that there wasn’t anyone to greet us.
Reception staff were very good welcoming and arranged a shot of Tequila, after checking in and the obligatory taxes we were told the way to the room no porter for the cases hey ho it must be me.
Room was lovely well appointed with everything you need
The only complaint when the cleaners come to service the room they prop the main door open and open the patio door which let mosquitoes in got eaten alive
The pools and beach were fantastic
Evening shows were acceptable could be better
Food:
Our biggest criticism the food has certainly gone downhill in the resort the buffet food is way to salty the temperature is barely warm
The specialty restaurants with a show kitchen prepare the sides well in advance and put them under hot lights until they get mains ordered come on veg and fries need no cooking
Would we come again, to Mexico yes to this Riu no the staff are amazing mostly but you need good food as well

Date of Stay: August 2025

Carpenter2019 wrote a review October 2025
Liverpool, Merseyside, England

Amazing!!

We have just returned after spending 2 weeks at this Hotel it’s a wow from the moment you walk in till you leave
Reception area is beautiful with Chandeliers.
Rooms are lovely and clean, Housekeeping attending every day, loved the towel animals left on the bed.
Food was amazing from using the Buffet and the restaurants, we weren’t keen on the Japanese but that was a personal choice. Grounds are kept Immaculate.
Plenty of Sunbeds around the Pool and Beach area, stunning Beach which is lovely to walk along.
We also used the gym which has adequate facilities
Entertainment staff work so hard engaging with everyone, loved the Aqua Gym in the Pool.
Lobby bar and coffee bar was great, staff always helpful and smiling
We hope to come back again next Year. All the Staff working here are a credit to the Hotel and should be proud, we have been going to Mexico for about 8 yrs this is the 2nd RIU we have stayed at and by far the best.
Playa Del Carmen is about 30 mins walk, or short Taxi ride.
You won’t be disappointed staying at this Hotel.

Date of Stay: September 2025

L4794ARdavidc wrote a review October 2025

DO NOT BOOK AN OCEANVIEW ROOM FROM THE RIU RIVERIA MAYA!!!

Dear Carmen & Luis Riu,

We booked and paid for an Oceanview room, and upon check-in we were told that the Oceanview rooms were all booked up. We were given a gardenview room instead and we were told that is the same category. There was no partial refund given despite all of our requests.

We will never stay there again. We will make sure everyone knows this is how you treat repeat customers.

Date of Stay: October 2025

magmid wrote a review October 2025
Quincy, Massachusetts

Riu never disappoints

We returned yesterday after 6 nights at Riu Palace Rivera Maya.

We were assigned room 21, it was clean and spacious. The shower was AMAZING. I literally groaned with how good the pressure was. The toiletries were plentiful, none of those tiny little bottles. It felt so good after a day traveling. Towels were huge and you could actually wrap them around your whole body. My only complaint, and this is every resort anywhere, is that there is no place for a woman to prop her leg when shaving. Hello shower designers.

Yessica kept our room tidy and well stocked. The few times we were low on something, a quick order on their app and it was promptly delivered.

The king bed was a bit hard but after a day in the sun we had no problem sleeping. Weird, loud, grinding machinery sound every morning at 7:53 am.

I love that they have in room liquor dispensers, I enjoy sitting on the balcony in the evening reading with a beverage . The balcony was really big with 2 chair and a side table. The chair backs semi reclined which was nice. It was somewhat loud as we were facing another resorts kitchen or something so it was constant.

We spent a lot of time in the sea just bobbing around. Yes there's some seaweed closest to shore but go out a few feet and it's better and you can still touch bottom quite far out And we are short people.

The pools were a bit disappointing as the lounges were claimed at the crack of dawn and many never had anyone in them. The staff hustled all day delivering drinks and cleaning the area but no one was removing towels that sat there for hours. I think they need a system to remove them after an hour if no one uses them. Maybe stickers with the time on them could be placed on the unattended ones and someone can go around hourly and remove them.

The Food.
Steakhouse - the ribeye and filet were tender and seasoned well
Mexican - Loved the enchiladas
Krystal - Pumpkin bisque, Lobster Rice were delicious
Buffet - I at a lot of fish, marlin, tuna, bass, huge shrimp, mussels. There were ribs, BBQ chicken, burgers, dogs, steak, pork, lamb. dozens of fresh fruits and salads and countless desserts.
Where we live we have exceptional, authentic Italian and Japanese so we skipped those.

This was our third Riu resort an look forward to trying more in the future.

Date of Stay: October 2025

L5278JVbarbaraa wrote a review October 2025

Amazing experience

I had an excellent experience at this hotel. The grounds were impeccably maintained at all times, and the service was outstanding. My room was clean, and its location was ideal, as I had requested a view and received one. The noise level was reasonable; although the hotel hosted events for guests every night, the shows ended at 11 p.m. When the hotel advertises “all-inclusive,” it truly delivers. Every amenity was included in the price. The hotel is approximately 40 to 50 minutes from Cancún International Airport, and the route is a direct drive along the highway. The food was of good quality, offering many options from which to choose. I will definitely return to this location.

Date of Stay: October 2025

BGbg1122 wrote a review October 2025
Saint Charles, Missouri

I think you will be happy here.

The hotel was beautiful. The food was good, most of the beef is tough even the filet mignon. The variety was good. The Italian is open for lunch and dinner which was nice. We ate at the Steak House the most. The entertainment during the day and evening was. Good. Many activities during the day. The beach was just starting to clean up from the seaweed.

Date of Stay: October 2025

LVworldTraveler wrote a review October 2025
Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula

Top Tier Resort. Great location, facility, service and food

We are repeat visitors here. Having stayed at three other RIUs in the area, this is our #1 choice. Online reservations were simple and fast. Emails, prior to arrival, came with fast response and clear instructions. Check-in was a breeze: 10 min tops. The rooms are large, modern, clean and comfortable. With the property set-up, you’re never a long walk from anything: lobby, pool, beach, restaurants, entertainment. Housekeeping did a fantastic job of keeping our room clean and refreshed. Pools and beach were very clean and well staffed for service. It was rare to have more than a two minute wait at any bar and at any time. Food service was very good at all restaurants and grills. Food was very good and the “no reservations needed” was nice to enjoy. The price for this resort was very reasonable for the amenities. We’ll be back.

Date of Stay: October 2025

MA-Newcastle wrote a review October 2025

A fantastic Hotel 5*

From the moment you arrive at the Rui Palace Riviera you will be impressed.
A quick check in by the welcoming reception staff and we were shown to our room.
The room was really nice, a huge comfortable bed, separate w/c and bathroom area, fully stocked mini-bar, plenty storage room and blackout curtains. The room was cleaned thoroughly every day and given new towels and bedding. The grounds of the hotel are kept in superb condition and are constantly being looked after as is all of the hotel. The lovely beach with its soft sand is cleaned every morning by a machine and the staff. The sea is warm with no rocks under foot as you enter. Turn left on the beach and you can walk to Playa Del Carmen in about 10 -15 minutes or turn right and it's a beautiful beach to walk along. The buffet breakfast and dinning is exceptional with plenty choice of quality hot and cold food, it was very good indeed. There are also 'A la Carte' restaurants including, Italian, Steak House. Fusion, Mexican & Japanese all of which were excellent. What I did like compared to other hotels is you don't have to book the A la Carte restaurants. If they are busy when you get there they give you a handheld device so you can go for a drink and when it flashes your table is ready. However we never had to wait, it's a great idea and works well.
All the bars are very well staffed and the service is quick. As well as the reception and the 24hr bar/lounge there's a great pool bar and another bar near the pool. Around the pool and on the beach someone comes around and asks if you would like drink's and they get them for you. There is even one man who comes around the pool sunbed's with a cold drinks trolly, class !.
The animation team are great and the entertainment on the evenings is better than most hotels.
Without a doubt this is a very well managed hotel and every single member of staff go out of their way to make you have an enjoyable holiday. We're hoping to return again next year. Thank you Riu for a great holiday.

Date of Stay: October 2025