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Riu Palace Mexico Vacations

4.6 - 3348 Reviews
Riviera Maya, Mexico

The RIU Palace Mexico is a truly beautiful resort, where the service and facilities are the highest quality available anywhere. Delivering you spectacular deluxe rooms, delicious dining options with made-to-order food stations, and the most amazing resort layout. Enjoy the best of smiles and join in the various activities for your entertainment, such as games, playing your favourite sports or relax poolside. Prepare yourself for a complete luxury vacation, RIU properties never fail in personalized service and satisfying your every comfort!

Location: On the beach, 10 min to Playa del Carmen, 60 min to Cancun and 45 min from the airport. Within the resort area Playacar, across the street from RIU Yucatan, along with sister hotels RIU Playacar and RIU Tequila right nearby.

Our Opnion

A truly elegant resort, the Riu Palace Mexico is a 4 diamond resort that has amazing service and a superb luxury all inclusive resort program. Perfectly located close to the town of Playa del Carmen, there is also a Starbucks just across the street. Great food, great beach, great facilities and more, the list can go on and on. Highly recommended for travelers looking for a great all inclusive getaway.

  • Buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (buffet & on the spot, made-to-your-taste cooking stations)
  • Room service 
  • A la carte dining without reservations
  • All day snacks including 24 hour Lobby bar
  • Unlimited Domestic and select International drinks from 10:30am-Midnight
  • 2 theme dinners per week
  • In-room mini-bar & liquor dispensers, replenished regularly
  • Lounge chair and towels (pool/beach)
  • Windsurfing
  • Sailing
  • Kayaking
  • Snorkeling
  • Introductory scuba diving lesson in pool
  • Day & night tennis
  • Use of gym at RIU Yucatan Mexican Street
  • Jacuzzi
  • Games
  • Daily activities
  • Nightly entertainment including live music
  • Free admission to RIU Tequila Disco, drinks included until 2am

RIU-topia

  • In-room liquor dispenser
  • Unlimited dining at a specialty restaurants
  • In-room mini bar re-stocked regularly
  • In-room safe
  • 20% discount on select excursions 

  • 434 contemporary rooms
  • 7 restaurants
  • Snack bars
  • 4 bars including swim-up pool bar
  • 4 pools
  • Children's pool and playground
  • Jacuzzi
  • 2 lit tennis courts
  • Fitness facilities
  • Spa including sauna, Jacuzzi, beauty salon & massage services ($)
  • Garden hammocks
  • Chapel
  • 'Mexican Street' at RIU Yucatan with gym, great shopping, Internet access, photo shop & lab
  • Medical service ($)
  • 18-hole golf course & horseback riding nearby ($)
  • Free WiFi

All Rooms include:

  • Balcony or Terrace
  • Air-conditioned
  • Ceiling fan
  • Split-level living room area with sofa or sofa-bed
  • Direct dial telephone
  • Regularly replenished mini-bar and liquor dispenser 
  • Coffee maker
  • Flat screen satellite TV
  • Safety deposit box (laptop size)
  • Iron & Ironing board
  • Bathroom equipped with hydromassage bathtub
  • Double sinks
  • Vanity mirror
  • Hair dryer
  • Amenities kit

Junior Suite

  • Maximum Number of Adults 3
  • Maximum Number of Children 2
  • Maximum Occupancy 4
  • 1 King or 2 Double beds
  • Split-level living room area with sofa or sofa-bed
  • Balcony or Terrace

Junior Suite Superior

  • Maximum Number of Adults 3
  • Maximum Number of Children 2
  • Maximum Occupancy 4
  • 1 King or 2 Double beds
  • Split-level living room area with sofa or sofa-bed
  • Balcony or Terrace
  • Courtyard view

Suite

  • Maximum Number of Adults 3
  • Maximum Number of Children 2
  • Maximum Occupancy 4
  • 1 King bed
  • Large living area
  • Sofa
  • Bathrobes
  • Bathroom equipped with hydromassage bathtub
  • Extra shower cabin (Rain-shower)
  • Balcony or Terrace

Suite Jacuzzi

  • Maximum Number of Adults 3
  • Maximum Number of Children 2
  • Maximum Occupancy 4
  • 1 King bed
  • Large living area
  • Sofa
  • Bathrobes
  • Bathroom equipped with hydromassage bathtub
  • Extra shower cabin (Rain-shower)
  • Balcony or terrace with private jacuzzi

Restaurants

La Bodega

  • a la carte for dinner, buffet for lunch
  • Mexican
  • Formal dress is required for dinner (long trousers and t-shirts with sleeves for gentlemen)

Krystal

  • a la carte for dinner 
  • Gourmet
  • Formal dress is required for dinner (long trousers and t-shirts with sleeves for gentlemen)

Miyagi

  • a la carte for dinner
  • Japanese
  • Formal dress is required for dinner (long trousers and t-shirts with sleeves for gentlemen)

Dolce Vita

  • a la carte for dinner
  • Italian
  • Dress code

Guacamole

  • a la carte for dinner, buffet for lunch
  • Steakhouse
  • Dress code

Don Julian

  • Buffet for breakfast and dinner

Capuchino

  • Ice cream parlour

Bars

  • Bar Cubano Lobby bar
  • Los Mariachis Theatre Bar
  • Las Conchas Swim-up pool bar
  • Beach Bar
  • Palmeral Swim-up pool bar

Stay at 1, Play at 5! - Receive full exchange privileges at Riu Yucatan, Riu Playacar, Riu Tequila, & Riu Palace Riviera Maya including disco & drinks until 2am. Dinner restaurants excluded.Transfers not included (a short walk away).

Honeymoon Bonus - Surprise welcome gift in your room, King-size bed, Late check-out, and Complimentary upgrade to next available room class. Request at time of booking. Proof of marriage required. Subject to availability and subject to change.

Early Booking Bonus - This hotel may offer early booking bonuses at certain times of the year. If early booking bonuses apply to your vacation, prices shown online have already been adjusted accordingly. Please inquire for complete details.

Some restaurants may be open for certain meals only and limited visits may apply. Reservations required and dress code in effect for a la carte restaurants. Time restrictions may apply for water sports.

Child pricing may only be available with select tour operators and valid for select dates and durations. Child pricing rules are subject to change without notice. Please contact one of our vacation specialists if you require assistance with child pricing.

Photo identification and/or credit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges.

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy. Rollaway beds and cribs (infant beds) may be available and should be requested at the time of booking; fees may apply.

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges upon check-in to fulfil.

Hotels do not condone unruly behavior, parties in rooms, excessive noise or any other actions that violate the hotels terms of use. Guests may be removed from the property at their own expense in the event of any disturbance or complaint from other guests or hotel staff. Escapes.ca cannot be held responsible for any guests who may be removed from the hotel due to a violation of rules.

What's Included

Vacation package bookings include the following:

  • Round-trip flights
  • Hotel accommodations
  • Airport transfers (see exceptions below)
  • Departure taxes (see exceptions below)
  • Tourist cards (see exceptions below)
  • Hotel taxes

All-inclusive resorts typically include the following options. Please see each specific hotels all-inclusive details for what is included, as it may vary from the list below.

  • All meals
  • Drinks (typically soft drinks and domestic beer, wine and spirits)
  • Daily activities
  • Nightly entertainment
  • Non-motorized water sports
Items not included:
  • Baggage fees (if applicable, see Supplier's terms on reservation page for details)
  • Resort and Environmental fees (if applicable) must be paid directly to the hotel
  • Travel insurance (mandatory if traveling to Cuba)
  • Airport transfers for packages to USA
  • Airport transfers for packages to Europe
  • Items of a personal nature
NOTE:
  • If traveling to the Dominican Republic with Sunwing or Signature Vacations, tourist cards ($10USD) and departure taxes ($20USD) are not included.
  • As of November 9, 2019 Los Cabos has implemented a non-mandatory tourist tax of $18:50 per person payable upon entry into Los Cabos.


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4.6 Google Rating
Based on 3348 Reviews

One of the best vacations ever. Went with the family so we had different ages...there was something for everyone and everyone had a blast.The rooms are fantastic, the food...with many choices, sensational, the location was perfect. What brings this to a level of 5 stars is the staff. There was one day when i noticed something and mentioned it to Maria Sanchez, the director. I have travelled the world and stayed at many many places. I have never met someone as professional and courteous as Maria. As i am describing the incident, she gets on her walkie talkie and immediately remedies what I mentioned (strong fish smell at the buffet). She acknowledged me, was kind and the situation was dealt with IMMEDIATELY. Maria, a huge thank you. The rest of the staff, same. Alex teaching me to dance...thank you, Daniel, drawing the kids into play, and my sincere apologies i dont remember everyones name, the kindness that the staff exhibits, the professional and courteous manner which they conduct themselves is making this our next years family vacation spot. This riu is stunning as well as the others near by. Yes there was some seaweed, TO BE EXPECTED...you are on the ocean. I would highly recommend Riu Palace Mexico (already told a bunch of friends). Perhaps a highlight that i should also mention is that it is extremely safe. Walking the streets at night, zero incident and very comfortable...I will be back very soon.

Excellent hotel, very good varied and excellent quality food. Super friendly and attentive employees. The rooms are always very clean

riu palace mexico is not safe. If you have teenagers do not let them to the Riu Tequila. We had predators stalk the girls on our trip. Parents confronted 45 year old men about unwanted contact they cried assault. The Riu club is not a safe environment and should be avoided. It felt like security was as compromised and in on the the issue. Two parents saw 2 men switch drink and try to walk away. This is not acceptable and Riu should have done more to prevent. Security at Riu blamed the parentS who saw the drink switch. Riu said they don’t have video but I doubt that is the case.

The hotel is good, it has things to improve, for example the freezer of the guacamole restaurant does not work well, therefore the ice creams look like milkshakes, take into account that there are no umbrellas or paplapas on the beach, there are very few umbrellas in the pools and they are not of solar mesh
The ping pong table is not indoors, wear very good sunscreen. The atmosphere is familiar and, as in all palaces, you can access nearby chain hotels.

Our first vacation in Mexico was simply amazing ♡ great service, always there to answer questions.
The food, restaurant and buffet are maintained and prepared with so much effort, work and love ♡ I will come back ❤️ thank you for the wonderful two weeks ♡

We were there with the whole family for 12 days. It's a beautiful hotel with a great location and fantastic food. Yes, it is a bit noisy in the evenings, but that is also due to the guests being very loud. Some people are of the opinion that they have to reserve loungers with towels at the pool early, but this is not the fault of the hotel but of the guest who does it. I would like to highlight the really great staff. Very thoughtful, friendly, helpful and reserved ❣️👍. The beach is also very beautiful. We would like to come back.

We were at Riu Mexico Riviera Maya in February 2024.
We have the best memories.
Although it is not the newest Resort, it is beautifully maintained. The rooms were very clean. We had a view of the main avenue with a side view of the sea.
Reception friendly and very helpful. We were asked twice if we were satisfied with the room.
A very good and friendly RICHARD, a Hungarian who lives in Mexico, works at the reception. He is very friendly towards Poles... he knows several languages ​​- unfortunately he does not know Polish.
We talked to the Director of the Resort - Mrs. Maria.
Young, energetic... at 7 a.m., when the Breakfast Bar was opening, she stopped at each of the chefs for a short conversation... asked the guests about their impressions... the chef's ideal.
The service at the hotel was very nice.
The gentleman serving arriving and departing guests tried to help everyone and saw everything... even an abandoned piece of paper or a left-behind cup!
Abundant cuisine - fruit, vegetables, cheese, Mexican and European dishes... and 5 or even 6 separate restaurants. Alcohol ... in the rooms, and the fridge is constantly replenished. The beach is clean, the water is beautiful and... 26 degrees in February. What more can you expect?
We have been to several resorts, but here we felt cared for and spent 9 days wonderfully. The price is very affordable.
We recommend ... Zofia and Józef

We spent 1 week there and there are pluses and minuses!
MORE: the beach is beautiful, the places are very clean, the staff is very kind and attentive (special thanks to Abraham for making our lunches and dinners enjoyable).
MINUS: we absolutely have to place our towels on the beach chairs BEFORE 7 a.m. to get a good spot, the hotel is shabby despite its cleanliness, the mattress in our room was hard and I was bitten by bed fleas… finally, the culinary offer is mediocre, buffet morning and noon no other choice and redundant, and the à la carte restaurants are ordinary, very salty food, never hot! Very noisy and echoing corridor, doors slam constantly and the cleaning service starts around 8 a.m. with a noisy trolley…

It's a great hotel. Staff very nice. Hotel is kept clean. Unfortunately, some guests make it very noisy until late at night. The rooms are noisy. The doors are slammed shut. I booked a room in a different location but still didn't get it. The loungers are reserved in the morning. So if you need some peace and quiet, not here.

Super good and comfortable stay, excellent service

My husband and I stayed at the Riu Palace Mexico in February 2024 for 6 nights. The staff at this resort are extremely friendly and professional. The landscaping is gorgeous and everything is thoroughly cleaned daily. We absolutely loved the beach. There were an abundance of loungers available (if you got there early enough) and drinks served throughout the day. The water was a beautiful blue and the beach itself was very clean. If friendly people, a nice beach, and cleanliness are high on your priority list then this is a great place for you!

We did run into an issue with our keys not working one night; however, the staff rectified this issue promptly. We also couldn’t check in to our room until 4PM despite check-in beginning at 3PM which was a little annoying. Lastly, the food was very mediocre. The Mexican food was amazing but everything else was just okay. You probably could find something to eat as there are lots of options; however, if you’re used to fine dining then you may be disappointed.

This was our 2nd stay at the Riu Palace Mexico and we loved it just as much as the first time in April 2023. The grounds are beautiful, staff are all very welcoming and attentive, food is good, and the beach is top notch. The location is great for nearby shopping, ferry to Cozumel and adventure parks like Xcaret and Xplore. Since I see some negative reviews I'm going to touch base on a few things that I hope will help others who are considering booking.
*The buildings and rooms are dated, but they are still very clean and we've never had any issues with anything not working properly.
*If you are wanting the best balcony view from your room then make sure you book the "superior" room. It will give you the views to the courtyard. This property does not have ocean view rooms, but the courtyard and fountains are still beautiful.
*The pool chairs and beach chairs fill up fast so I suggest going down before 9AM to save your chairs for the day. Everyone does it, so don't feel guilty for doing it also.
*I suggest bringing ear plugs because you can hear people in the hallway and doors closing while in your room.
*The pool bar closes at 8 PM and the night time entertainment is usually over by 11PM. If you're wanting the late night party scene, you can simply just walk next door to the Riu Tequila as they have that late night party atmosphere.

Thank you Riu Palace Mexico! We will be back!

Highly recommended, great food,facilities, very well maintained.

The hotel grounds are great, along with the service you receive. They need to install soft close devices on the doors, people go into the room, and just let the doors slam all hours of the day and night.

Be careful with booking with RIU!!

I booked a trip with RIU directly for January 2024. I noticed through the RIU app that our hotel changed, so I called the call center. I was told we were upgraded to this hotel (RIU Palace Mexico), which was very exciting! I confirmed with RIU Palace Mexico over email that they had my confirmation about a week in advance. Upon arriving to the hotel, my partner and I were told the reservation switched (they blamed the sales teams for downgrading us within the past 24 hrs and then not telling us). They did not honor the upgrade we were promised, despite the proof I had, and instead sent us in a taxi to the original hotel. This was incredibly unfortunate and something I have NEVER experienced with any company ever!!! We understood the staff did not do this to us, but it was obvious they were not empowered (or didn’t care) to make any effort to make it right, despite us being upset by RIU’s mistake.

When I complained after our trip to RIU, first they gave us $50 and said that there was no confirmation of the upgrade. When I shared the email and app screenshots showing RIU Palace Mexico, they then said that I booked through Expedia and should bring my complaints there (but I did NOT book through Expedia). It is obvious customer service is not their strong suit. Our original hotel was fine but the whole experience means I will never trust RIU again. Mistakes happen, but I would have expected better customer service to either 1) honor the original upgrade or 2) admit to the mistake and take better effort to make it up to us.

Update,, pretty much the same,, one thing this place as really failed on is the absence of a restaurant at lunchtime, only place available is the buffet restaurant by the beach,, fantastic as long as you don't mind sitting on wet chairs,, ,,

great return to the Riu Palace Mexico,, Hotel spotless as usual, great range of quality food and very nice rooms,, Staff helpful and friendly, Animation good but not intrusive,, Pools good, but be aware of the sunbed collectors,, placing towels on sunbeds by pool before breakfast then not turning up until late in the day,, not only that they will collect multiple sunshades, leaving people without,,, Hotel needs to clampdown on these practices much more,,,As usual can have some groups of Americans determined to get very drunk and extremely loud, not just in the bars but also in restaurants,,

Great hotel! In a gated neighbourhood and a 30 min walk into playa del carmen town, so you dont feel trapped in one place.

Food is fantastic for a resort. We loved eating at the Mexican and Italian a la carte restaurants. We had breakfast in bed, courtesy of the complimentary room service.

Plenty of service. Always asked us for drinks whenever we sat down. Even had beachside service where servers will walk around the beach with beer pina coladas and water, so you dont even have to get up.

Palace has its own section of the beach that the other Rius cant access, but by 10am most chairs are claimed by othet guests.

Ample wifi access, even got access while on the beach. Limit of 4 devices though.

Only complaint is that decor is a little dated.

RIU Palace is one of the quieter resorts nearby.

Checking in as a guest at RIU gives you the opportunity to use other RIU resorts nearby, although only for activities and bars, but they are open to all RIU guests.
The friendliness of some of the staff was really excellent, but some actually made you feel a little taken aback.

Rooms are spacious and well furnished, the entire area is rather kitschy-modern. Lots of bright colors.

I found the buffet restaurant boring after the first week, the same thing every day, like at breakfast, lunch, then also in the evening, always the same, or the same every other day. Restaurants haven't changed their menus at all, and have done so since 2020 🤷🏽‍♂️ As a vegetarian, the choice is rather limited.

I have already visited Mexico several times and I would enthusiastically visit some resorts again, but unfortunately this hotel will not be one of them.

Constructive criticism about the room:
The jacuzzi in room 2023 does not work well. It is painted very badly instead of tiled and the paint comes off and when I turn it on to drain the previous water, a nauseating smell came out...it had not been used for a long time.
Another detail, there are no swabs or swimming cap for women.
There is no tea, sugar or saccharin.
To stir, there are no spoons or even wooden sticks.
Small details that should not exist in hotels of this size.

Did not like the rooms not much privacy for the bathrooms cuz they have a tub right in the center got food poisoning because they can't keep the hot food hot and the cold food cold did not care for this place at all can't even get Gatorade on the property when you're sick hardly any places to smoke because they outlawed it this was the worst I've ever stayed at definitely will not come back to this place

24-03-29-08-51
24-03-29-08-51

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