Riu Palace Mexico - Adults Only - All Inclusive

After a horrendous delay of over 24 hours by TUI and our resort private transfer ( through TUI) being cancelled by provider, we finally arrived by taxi at The Palace tired, frustrated and eager to start our holiday, Reception told us our room with a lovely garden view was ready. Our room was disappointing with two twin beds and a view over a flat roof with various flower planters. Not the lovely garden view queen size bedroom we were expecting! My husband popped down to reception to be told that was all that was available and to try again to change rooms later in the week. We had already lost a day and a half so decided to stay put. We went down to the buffet restaurant late, 9.40om and were told it was closing in 5 minutes and to hurry and get what we wanted, we managed to grab a few things as the staff were clearing up around us. Back to the room exhausted, toilet light broken and also two wall light. Next morning realised over head shower wasn’t working either!! Putting all these problems aside, we went exploring, the hotel was dated, having stayed in the Playacar and the Yucatan in previous years we expected something amazing from the palace, but the room and dated decor did not impress, However all the staff we met were so friendly, the hotel is spotless, the gardens and the beach were as lovely as we remembered, But, the seaweed was really bad both in the beach and in the sea. Tractors ran up and down early morning trying to clear it but it was bad this year. The little coffee/cake cafe in reception was a massive bonus and we tried far too many delicious cakes!! We tried all the restaurants except the Fusion, all gave us a good experience and the food was great , although the Mexican one seemed short of staff. Buffet was great for breakfast and we had a light lunch in the Guacamole restaurant during the heavy rain showers that fell a little bit too frequent for us. All in all this hotel didn’t have the Palace luxury we have been in previously and let’s hope we can visit after the refurb and be wowed with the much needed makeover

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

Great resort

We stayed at the beginning of September 2025 and booked a junior suite through TUI. The hotel is smaller than most. It is beach fronting. Initial apprehension based on FB and Trip Advisor reviews regarding 'tired' rooms with hard beds and poor electrics were unsubstantiated. Our room (2043) was large, clean, well maintained, had a comfortable bed and absolutely no problems with any of the electrics. A home from home for our 10 day stay. The weather was very hot throughout the holiday with some showers at the end (it was the start of the hurricane season..) remember the time we visited it will rain heavily for a short period and then the sun comes back out. The pool areas were very popular and the usual early morning towels on beds did happen, but most times you could get a bed after 10am. The sun cover around the pools is poor with better shade under canopys compared to the poor quality brollies. They all need replacing. The pools were warm - too warm to really cool off. The swim-up bar should be avoided as many will get in and never leave for quite a few hours - if you get my drift!! Drink service was provided frequently around the pool and on the beach. The beach - what a place to relax - plenty of beds, shade through the tall trees, lots of space and a clear blue sea. Very little sargasum on any of the days. The hotel food is exceptional, especially at the main buffet restaurant. The specialist restaurants were 'hit and miss' unfortunately, especially the steak place near the beach. Shame really. Night time entertainment is low key, with some live music on the outdoor stage, a silent disco and a piano played in the reception area. Again, waiter service at all times. Suited us for our stay. The whole site is spotless, with staff continually cleaning and gardening. The staff are very friendly and accept any tips offered with real gratitude. Tipping is NOT expected. The hotel is due to be refurbished in 2026. It is needed. As this hotel is a Rui Palace, you have access to 4 other Rui hotels nearby. We visited all for a nose about, drink and lunch at one. Clearly all are a lot larger and have a lot more guests. Our view is that none were are good as the Mexico Palace!! So, like many we will consider visiting this hotel again once refurbished.

Great stay

Stayed here from 9th- 23rd August and wish we were still there This hotel is truly wonderful. Each and every staff are friendly and helpful, everyone says hola, from the gardening team to the senior management team (very glam ladies they are too!) We have stayed at quite a few Riu hotels and this has got to be our favourite No reservation or limits on the speciality restaurants. We ate at all of them twice, and the steak house 3 times! There is no specified sittings either, you can stroll in when you are ready (between 6pm and 9:30pm) and if there’s no table you are given a buzzer to come back. The main buffet had many options. It was never very busy, always for a table straight away, no queues. Abraham at breakfast looked after us very well, very attentive. We were given Room 2029 which faced the walk way between here and the Riu Yucatan, no view but we only showered and slept in the room. Did hear a little bit of noise on a couple of nights (we thought the path was locked) but no major disturbance Room had 2 double beds and a sofa bed made up for our 2 children. The rooms do have a bath in the middle but we had a curtain which could be pulled round for privacy Entertainment is great. Enjoyed the aqua aerobics every day. They let children participate which we’ve not had in previous Riu hotels This hotel knows how to party. Foam parties, coconut parties, neon and white parties…. Took me back to my youth! My kids loved it although the youngest found the neon and white parties a little too loud Had a small incident with a Mexican family who took one of our towels and refused to give it back. I informed the towel hut and was given and additional towel, quickly resolved Riu never fail to provide an excellent holiday

Myself, partner and 7 year old arrived on the 12th August for 2 weeks, we swapped to this hotel a week before as we were meant to be going Planet Hollywood. we didn't really know what to expect. As soon as we arrived we had a welcome drink, the staff couldn't do enough for us. When we got to the room we had 2 double beds, we asked for a pull out bed for my little girl and they brought it straight away, the safe didn't work or the iron and again they were straight there sorting them. ROOMS- We stayed in room 2031, 2nd floor. our view wasn't very good from the balcony but we weren't bothered as we weren't in the room much, when we come out of the room we were facing the fountain in the middle of the resort. The room was quiet. away from the entertainment and reception. Rooms were cleaned everyday, aircon & fan were really good. we never slept with the aircon as it made the room freezing. fridge was always filled, and someone always knocked on asking if we wanted anymore drinks for the fridge. maids used to make animals with the towels for us. The only thing we found odd was the bath next to the beds, and it was all open plan. not private for families if they have teenagers. there was a separate shower and toilet, the toilet didn't have much room. POOLS- we went to the pool at 5pm when we got there and couldn't believe how warm the pool was, we found in the mornings they felt abit cooler but by the afternoon they were like a bath, we actually liked this though as we stayed at the pool until late, they close them at 8pm. the staff around the pool are brilliant, constantly cleaning offering you drinks. the gardens were kept spotless, the whole resort was clean. All drinks were nice. we did take our own bottle to keep drinks cool. FOOD- LA--CARTE restaurant always had a huge Varity of food, breakfast was always good. my little girl loved the chocolate pancakes & we ate here quite a lot at tea time aswel. staff always find you a table or will make you one up, and come round offering you drinks. DINNER- Dinner time food is good, you can either eat in the restaurant which is used for the steak house at night but you do have to wear something over your swim wear, they had a beach bar with chips, meat, burgers and hotdogs, you just had to walk over the beach with your food and eat it by the pool bar or by the pool, not many people ate by the pool which we liked as there was no food left everywhere. sometimes I didn't want to eat in either so I walked up to the lobby bar by reception and grabbed a sandwich, you also have the option to going to lounge 24/7 which had food. Our first night we ate at the mexican which was nice as they served you, we went to the steak house 3 nights, the meals were lovely. There is no need to book either, 1 time we went they said it was a 45minute wait but we only waited about 20 minutes. we sat in the bar by the pool and had a drink. we didn't try the other restaurants as our daughter is fussy but we were told how nice they were. ENTERTAINMENT Day entertainment was amazing, there were fitness/yoga/dance classes on everyday apart from sundays. aqua at 11am with Gustarvo who is the nicest funniest man we have met. His aqua was the best, even my partner joined in. We never missed a day. Gus had us involved in everything, foam parties in the pool, pool games, coconut parties on the beach, the hotel was non stop but it wasn't too loud. The entertainment is mainly in the little pool so we got beds by the bigger pool. NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT There was always something on at night time outside, but we enjoyed sitting in the lobby where there was aircon and someone playing the piano. Fridays we went across the road to tequila hotel where they had a white party or neon party, they alternate them every week. These are amazing nights with all the staff from rui hotels on stage. We were there for 2 weeks so made them both. The hotel paints your face before. we took both bright clothes and white outfits. we visited the other RUI hotels whilst we were there and did like the other RUI Palace riu hotel riviera maya, other hotels can't visit these 2. there seemed to be more kids at the riviera maya one. We have been told our hotel is been renovated next year and going be adults only which is a shame. BEACH there were tractors every morning cleaning up the seaweed, there was quite abit the first week we were there, the second week it all cleared up, the water was crystal clear and a nice temperature. SUNBEDS my partner used to get up about 7am to get sunbeds, we found sunbeds had towels on all day and not used. there was always plenty on the beach not used. KIDS CLUB My litter girl loved kids club, every morning she would ask what was on. Marlene who ran the kids club was so good with the kids, they had there own foam party, there was always something on in the morning then afternoons. My 7 year old could come as go as she pleased, but it is very safe. there is a park and indoor area aswel. Even the morning we come home my little girl went to make a goodbye bracelet with Marlene. I never even mentioned kids club to my daughter but because staff make such an effort she wanted to go. TRIPS we booked 2 through the tui rep at the hotel & 1 through facebook we did xcaret park, which was an amazing day!! expensive but worth the money. there was so much too do there and a show at night. boat and buggy trip to Isla Murjeres, the whitest beach we have ever seen. all drinks on the boat were free, we stopped on a beach and had dinner which was included, went snorkelling and a buggy tour around the island with a few stops. Jungle Buggy tour to see where some of the mexicans lived, my partner booked this through someone on facebook, it was eye opening to see how some of them live, we got to stop and have some food with them and also buy them some food back, we stopped at a cave and swam in the river there, this was a trip I will never forget. We have never stayed at a riu hotel but we were really impressed and will definitely to a riu in Mexico, the best holiday we have had. Can't thank the staff enough for making our holiday so special, we met some great people. I am still gutted to be home after 2 weeks.

We enjoyed our 2 weeks and had an amazing time. Other people have been exaggerating about the state of the hotel. It is true it could do with some renovating in areas. Before arriving, we didn't know what to expect and prepared ourselves for disappointment. We certainly weren't and were impressed with many aspects of the hotel Overall it is in very good condition and I hear it actually is being renovated next year. The employees are fantastic and work very hard in whatever job they've doing. Our room and the whole premises are cleaned to a high standard. The beach is a big attraction to the hotel and we were on it every day. The Carribbean sea is warmer than our local swimming pool and also clean. The pools were on the small side, but adequate for cooling off. The choice of drinks is very good and bar staff will make cocktails which aren't on their list. Food choice is good. We didn't eat in their Japanese or Italian restaurant. The steakhouse is good, as too the Mexican. We had mixed feelings about the Krystal restaurant. The main buffet is really good and great choices. The afternoon buffet which is the same restaurant they use for the steakhouse is also very good. The coffee shop does tasty milkshakes, lovely coffee and nice cakes. All the bars are quick at serving drinks and it's nice trying new drinks which you may not normally go for. The Playacar area is nice and we walked around the area a few times in the evening. We went to 5th ave., but did not enjoy our time there. It was nice walking from one end of the beach to the other. Many nice hotels are bordering the beach and all over is clean and well maintained. I believe the Mexico Palace clears the sargassum in th morning, as we were very clear to some other parts. Before booking with TUI, we considered 10 days, instead of 14. When we approached day 9, we were very pleased we had booked 14 as we certainly weren't ready for going home. This hotel will definitely be considered again when we visit Mexico.

Beautiful beach and good food we love it planning to go back soon

The people who work the resort are hard working and are always there to help.