I thought I’d finally take the time in my schedule to write about my latest Mexico vacation before I forget all the details; after all, I’ve only been back five weeks…

I started this 2024 vacation at Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya which was located in the gated community of Playacar just south of Playa del Carmen.  This Riu resort is the second resort I stayed at in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area when I first started vacationing in this part of Mexico (I was first at this Riu in 2014–the very first resort was Live Aqua in 2012).  I loved the Old World look and charm of RPRM at the time of my initial stay, and I was devastated to learn of its full renovation which was completed the end of 2019.  I had been purposefully avoiding returning to the resort since I thought it was going to look like the other Riu renovations going on at that time–a modern glitzy rendition of Vegas with lots of neon hues of silver, pinks, and purples.

During my latest stay in Feb. 2024 I discovered that while the lobby did have a more modern look, the resort has kept some of its beautiful artwork, the stained glass ceiling panel, and some chandeliers which has helped it to retain some of its original Old World beauty.  Just about everything at the resort was touched up or completely renovated in 2019–all guest rooms were redone (they did need it desperately), the spa and gym were relocated, a new restaurant was added, the sports bar was changed to a 24-hr. lounge with food and drink options (there are still multiple screens for viewing sporting events plus comfortable seating areas with couches as well), addition of a lobby coffee shop with snacks, the pool area was completely redone, the beach area was thinned out for more opportunities of direct sunlight for those who want to get their tan on, waterslides were added to the Kid’s Club, the theater area was redone, a music stage was added in the courtyard, and it got a fresh coat of white paint!  Still beautiful, and a resort to which I would certainly return.

Check-in was a breeze and a surprise–I received a complimentary room upgrade without asking, most likely because I had booked on the resort website using My Riu Class membership (that’s the complimentary “loyalty club” Riu offers for on-line bookings which gets you certain perks), plus I had been chatting with the front desk staff and mentioned I had been at this resort before which led to a discussion about what I thought about the renovations so far.  It doesn’t hurt to improve your chances of getting a complimentary upgrade by doing different things–just being friendly and sociable with front desk staff may also help.

 

My room was located next to the pool and beach areas which meant I was closer to resort “action”, plus I wound up having an ocean view from my third floor room balcony.  Sweet.  As is customary for all Riu resorts, there were in-room liquor dispensers (Smirnoff Vodka, Bacardi White Rum, Beefeater Gin, and Jose Cuervo Tequila), and an ice machine on the first floor which made having a late afternoon or pre-dinner drink a snap with glassware provided in the room.  Bathroom privacy was limited–there was a separate room for the toilet with its own door, but the double sinks and the shower with its translucent door were open to the rest of the room.  As it typical with newer Riu renovations, the exposed tub wasn’t used except to dry damp clothing and swimsuits.

I have to be completely honest here and mention that this resort opened in 2006 with a lack of sufficient elevators in guest room buildings.  I happened to be in a building without any elevator, so a trek up and down three flights of stairs was definitely a calorie burner and a quad and glute buster…but when you stay at an all-inclusive resort that can be a blessing over time.  I believe there were only two elevators, one for each side of the resort and accessible from the lobby area (the resort is roughly shaped like the letter “U”), so if your room is far from the lobby or is in a building separate from the main courtyard rooms then be prepared to walk a bit or climb several sets of stairs.  Definitely request a ground level room close to the lobby if you are mobility impaired.

Now let’s talk pools.  Prior to renovations, the pool area had a separate raised infinity pool which had an ocean view but no ocean view from its swim-up bar.  After the renovations, three of the four new pools have some sort of ocean view; the only pool that didn’t have the greatest view was the one with the easy gradual entry.  There was no clearly marked activities pool–multiple activities were held in different pools, but the pools were so close together it’s not much of a problem to look around and see what is happening where in this area of the resort.  In addition to pool wait service, there were plenty of places to get drinks–a swim-up bar in its own separate pool, a regular bar area outside the water, and a bar cart was pushed around daily for quicker but limited drink service.  Food was also readily available–there was a poolside buffet restaurant for lunch along with Pepe’s BBQ stand serving hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, tacos, and chicken. Pepe’s was a quicker lunch option you could take back to your lounger or eat at nearby dining tables. (Here’s a hint–if you can’t find the hamburger and hot dog buns, lift up the sliding panel on the extreme right side of the BBQ stand, you will find them there).  I didn’t think the pools were heated though, they were swimmable in Feb. but not what I’d call a comfortable temperature.  Shade was provided primarily by overhead sliding panels; there were a few shade umbrellas in outlying areas, however.

Let’s talk beach.  Definitely one of the best features of this resort was its beach.  Beautiful Playacar Beach is one of my favorite beach areas in the Riviera Maya.  It’s long and wide with soft white sand and suitable for lengthy beach walks in both directions.  Waves were mild during my stay, there were plenty of loungers, but shade was dependent on moving one’s lounger to find the shade provided only by the coconut and palm trees.  There seemed to be much less shade available this stay, it looked like lots of trees had been removed which is a shame since the coconut and palm tree grove was one of the most extensive ones on this stretch of beach prior to renovations.  For vacationers wanting a massage on the beach, there was a shaded hut with massage tables; not much in privacy, but it may be acceptable just for the beach experience.  The beach also had a hut to sign out non-motorized water sports equipment like kayaks and boogie boards…jet ski rentals and parasailing can be found further down the beach and were not part of the resort’s offerings. Looking for a daytime beach party?  There was one on Thursday early afternoon involving coconut drinks (with or without alcohol) in actual hollowed out coconuts, live music, and dancing.  A nice way to spend some time on a beautiful beach.  Oh yes I almost forgot, I have to mention that just south of the resort on the beach you will find a small pool, bar, and restaurant area.  It looks like it belongs to the resort, but it’s actually the Beach Club area for Hotel Riu Lupita guests.  That Riu resort is landlocked, so Riu provides this slice of beach just for them; those amenities are not to be used by Riu Palace Riviera Maya guests.

 

Let’s talk food.  For those not familiar with the Riu brand, when it comes to dining experiences their buffets are extensive and hard to beat (well, with the exception of Hotel Xcaret Arte, but that is comparing apples with oranges).  I had my breakfasts in the buffet as well as dinner the evening I arrived, and the food was exceptional as always. (Just in case you want your vacation breakfast mimosas or something a bit stronger like a Bloody Mary, look for the make-it-yourself drink set up, it’s off to the left when you enter the restaurant mixed in with the buffet food).  I did notice this resort stay there were no staff to greet guests and assign tables in the buffet, so guests were left to find their own seats.  No big deal, just a bit confusing because it departs from general resort protocol.  Most lunch venues I’ve already mentioned (poolside buffet restaurant and Pepe’s BBQ in addition to the main buffet by the lobby), and let’s not forget that the Italian a la carte restaurant at Riu resorts also serves a combination buffet/menu selection lunch option.

A la carte dinners were a mixed bag (which is also typical of Riu resorts).  Krystal, my usual Riu a la carte favorite, was a disappointment this time around–with the exception of the boneless braised short ribs everything else was ho-hum or just not very good, so if you choose to dine at this restaurant at this particular Riu resort then be prepared to be disappointed.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by my dinner at the Asian restaurant, Yashima.  I’ve become used to Riu Asian a la cartes to be mostly a buffet option, but this was entirely different with a varied menu of delicious items including sushi, sashimi, vegetable rolls, and pot stickers; there was also a vegetarian menu available at this restaurant.  If I had stayed longer than three nights I most definitely would have gone back to this restaurant for dinner.

Interested in evening entertainment?  There’s lots to do if you stay at a Riu resort.  RPRM had a beautiful outdoor courtyard to enjoy drinks, music, and the evening theater show. You do have to get there early, however, if you want to be able to pick a seat where you can fully enjoy both the live music stage and the theater stage performances.  Evening performances were very well attended at this Riu location.  Also, it is now pretty standard for all Riu resorts to have a weekly silent disco event; unfortunately, I completely forgot to attend the night it was offered so I cannot comment further on that activity.

The evening party highlights at Riu resorts in the Playacar area were the Friday night Riu theme parties held at Hotel Riu Tequila which was actually just a 20 min. walk from the resort–just turn left when you exit the resort and walk down the street.  (Be prepared to cross the street when you arrive at Hotel Riu Palace Mexico, the Riu Tequila resort entrance is there).  Since Playacar is a gated community, most residents and resort guests feel perfectly safe walking at night.  Or, if you prefer, you can take the complimentary bus which will pick you up outside of the lobby and take you over to the Riu Tequila resort (check with the resort for pick-up times).  Theme parties at the Riu Tequila alternated between Neon and White Parties; during my stay at RPRM the Neon party was planned.  There was neon color face painting both at the RPRM and Tequila resort lobbies prior to the show.  Riu theme parties are quite the social scene, so be prepared for a crush–lots of people, too little room since all local Riu resort guests are invited to the party at the Riu Tequila (there are six Riu resorts just in the Playacar area).  Also, if you don’t like that much partying, Riu Tequila also has a disco you could enjoy other evenings since Riu Palace resort guests have access to that amenity.

Anytime I stay at a Playacar resort I feel like I just have to mention Plaza Playacar which was only a 10 min. walk from RPRM (Plaza Playacar is located halfway from RPRM to Riu Tequila).  If you are staying in the Playacar area and don’t want to go all the way into nearby Playa del Carmen for shopping, drinking, dining, or entertainment extras, Plaza Playacar is an excellent substitute.  I walked past Plaza Playacar on my way to the Riu Tequila party and heard an awesome band playing at Barra Artesanal, an outdoor bar area where you can have a drink (they have quite a selection of craft beers and IPA’s), watch some sports on their oversized flat screen TV’s, grab a taco, and listen to music.  Plaza Playacar also offers pharmacies, local goods/souvenirs, stores to pick up what you forgot to bring on your vacation (sunscreen bought at a resort is easily 2-3X what you would normally pay at a regular store), and various other goods and services.  Plaza Playacar used to have a Starbucks but I didn’t notice one this time around.  Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!

I think that covers all the highlights of my stay at RPRM…Would I come back a third time?  Definitely.  It is a quality resort where you get a lot for your vacation dollar and it’s on a great stretch of beach, what’s not to like?

I am trying to straighten out a problem with my Foo Gallery add-on which has messed with my photo galleries, so for right now there are only the pics I’ve posted along with this blog piece I’ve written.  Come back in a week or two to see if the complete photo gallery is up…Thanks for your patience!

The comments in this review are those of the author/reviewer.  This trip was paid for in its entirety by the author; at no time were any monies or services exchanged for this review.

Location:  45 min. south of the Cancun airport.

Telephone:  52-984-877-2280

Email:  palace.rivieramaya@riu.com