Hotel Riu Guanacaste - All Inclusive

Pros: Clean and comfortable room, great pool area, and the Liberia buffet was the best dining option on the property. Cons: Unreliable internet, poor customer service at the front desk, and rude staff during checkout. Late checkout was refused and the call was ended abruptly. All restaurants, including specialty options, were buffet-style, which was misleading. Most bars served no-name liquor, except for one location. Overall: A decent resort with nice facilities, but customer service, dining expectations, and drink quality need improvement.

In depth Riu review My friend and I are in our mid 20s, we both have stayed at several different all inclusive resorts before but neither of us have stayed at a Riu. We opted to try it this trip and booked ourselves directly through the Riu website. My friend and I arrived on Wednesday December 3 and were provided with transportation from Liberia airport to the resort about an hour away. The transportation services were included with our stay which was nice. The ride there was bumpy as to be expected with the road conditions. The resort is in a secluded location and at least a 30-minute drive from anything. We arrived around 2030 and checked into our room. The resort is in a complete dead zone if you are traveling using T-Mobile’s international plan which is Claro here. The wi-fi is really not much better in that respect. It took almost 30 minutes for it to connect initially and is extremely slow. We have not been able to make a single video call home during our entire time here. The hotel is newly renovated and is gorgeous from the restaurants to the lobby and rooms. On the night of our arrival, we were able to get dinner at the Liberia buffet before it closed at 2130. The buffet is what you would expect. We found ourselves eating mostly pizza and french fries throughout the week as it was the most consistent and readily available. For breakfast our first morning we were spoiled with eggs, bacon and hashbrowns however it was one of the only times they served the bacon and hashbrowns during our stay. The staff at the buffet begin putting things away and stop replenishing the options about a half an hour before they close and appear visibly irritated when you come in to eat any time after that. The next evening, we opted to try the Asian restaurant for dinner. They do not take reservations for any of the restaurants and operate on a fist come first serve basis. While we waited, we ordered a drink at the lobby bar. This offers a selection of alcohol brands and provides the strongest drinks. In my opinion most of the other drinks are weak and just leave you feeling bloated. Luckily our first few days here there were not many people, so we were able to be seated at the Asian restaurant within 30 minutes of putting our names on the waiting list. We entered the restaurant and were displeased to discover this too was a buffet. We were seated and met with a server who poured us water and removed our wine glasses from the table without even asking if we would like a glass of wine with our dinner. We made ourselves plates of the Asian cuisine and sat back down. While there were a few selections that we enjoyed we ultimately ended up going back to the Liberia buffet to eat dinner. This very well could have been personal preference but as an American it just was not what we were hoping for. Friday there were busloads of people that arrived at the resort. That evening we enjoyed the Spanish restaurant and as expected waited a bit longer to be seated due to the influx in people. The Spanish restaurant like the Asian restaurant is also a buffet which was disappointing. The food at the Spanish restaurant was satisfactory given it being a buffet. Friday evening, I woke up in the night to use the restroom. After turning the restroom light on and seeing 5 cockroaches scatter, I was unable to fall back asleep for hours. We contacted the front desk regarding this but were told the manager Nora was at pacha and that she would call us back and that “maybe she can do something special for you”. We never heard from Nora. Saturday, we utilized the LAR shuttle into La Playa Del Coco for only 18 USD round trip. The bus comes every 2 hours to either pick up from the resort or drop of at the beach. It takes roughly 30 minutes to get from the resort to the beach and vice versa. We arrived around 1130 and did some shopping, stopped for some drinks and the walked to Pacifico beach club. This I would HIGHLY recommend. They offer a day pass for 50 USD and 20 of that goes towards your meal. They have 2 infinity pools that overlook a much more secluded area of the beach. The food there was excellent and a nice change from the buffet we had become accustomed to. The drinks were delicious as well. We stayed there to watch the sunset which was incredible and walked back as it set behind the mountain. We took the 1730 bus back to the resort. On Sunday we enjoyed the pool and beach. The pool was crowded but the beach has ample space and seating. The bartenders at the pool bars have been very attentive and pleasant throughout our time here. After spending the day by the pool, we returned to our room to get ready for dinner. On this particular night we decided to try the steak house which is only available on the weekend. We entered the restaurant at 1915 to again place our name on the waiting list for a table. The host informed us that they were no longer taking names for the waiting list for the rest of the evening. Keep in mind the restaurant opens for dinner at 1830 and does not close until 2130. We were extremely disappointed as they would be closed for the rest of our time here. It seems like you would have to be waiting to put your name on the list before they open in order to get a table. After not getting a table, we enjoyed pizza which had become a ritual for our meals at the Liberia buffet. We then went over to enjoy karaoke followed by live music at the outdoor venue on the resort. Before heading to bed, we decide to try the sports bar for a snack before bed as the resort does not provide any room service. The retreatants close by 2130, and the sports bar is the only option for food any time after that. We entered the American Country Restaurant and were blown away when we discovered that the late-night meal options were waiting inside of a cold refrigerator with a singular microwave nearby. The food options were cold hot dogs, hamburgers and some sort of burrito. Nothing in the refrigerator was labelled to indicate what it actually was. The only other option was tortilla chips that sat under a heat lamp and nacho cheese. We opted for the nachos and cheese. While waiting for get our chips we observed several people utilize their bare hands grabbing handfuls of chips. To add to the displeasure the chips were stale, and the cheese was cold. Sunday night we were woken up around 0200 by a horrific smell of sewer. It smelled as though the toilet in our room had over flowed. We opened the door to the balcony to get some fresh air and were met with an even stronger odor. The smell appeared to be coming from outside and must have had something to do with the septic system. The smell was coming in from under the door and through the AC vents. We shut the air off for a while in order to prevent the nauseating smell from overwhelming our room. This was barely a solution as the room quickly began to heat. We have smelled the smell numerous times throughout the resort and can only contribute it to something to do with an inadequate septic system within the resort. Monday, we went to Diamante Eco adventure which is only about a 15-minute ride from the resort on the free shuttle the provide. The experience was excellent. We started by ziplining and having our photos taken by staff throughout the experience to capture the moment. We then had the complimentary lunch which was the best buffet meal we’ve had since being here. We then went down to the animal sanctuary which was incredible. Finally, we went to the cultural coffee and sugarcane experience which again was nothing short of incredible. It was interactive and informative. We arrived back to the resort and for dinner were met with long waiting lines at each restaurant before they had even opened. Due to this we opted for the buffet for dinner yet again. We went back up to the room for the evening and were disappointed when we notice our fridge had not been restocked today and we were out of water. We called down to lobby and asked if we could have some water brought up to the room. We were informed that if we wanted water that we would have to come down to the lobby to get it ourselves. Reluctantly we walked to the lobby in our pajamas to get waters. The gentleman at the front desk came back with one water. When I asked him if I could have another water as there were 2 of us, he informed me that I could only have one water. I had never heard of such a rule at an all-inclusive especially after our fridge had been inadequately stocked earlier in the day. I asked if I could speak to the manager, and he instead brought me another water. Final take aways: Negative- Not truly “All inclusive” given the lack of room services and access to a meal after 2130 along with the rationing of water The Wi-Fi is terrible The smell is horrific The roaches will have you sleeping with your bathroom light on for the entirety of the trip The lines at all of the buffet restaurants are sure to disappoint The hotel employees are dismissive when it comes to assisting with any disappointments Positive- The views are amazing The weather is perfect There are plenty of activities and entertainment options for your choosing The complimentary airport transportation will put your mind at ease

This was one of the worst Riu's I've been to. The food is horrible. No bacon in the mornings, no real breakfast choices. I ate webo ranchos almost everyday. There is no omelets, no station nothing. There is canned ham though not even Canadian bacon. The food barley has flavor. So needless to say breakfast was not a great meal. I have never been to a hotel that everything shuts off automatically at 10:30 in the buffet. So I got up a little late one day went to get a boiled egg (which I ate other than rancho) and toast. As I am running my toast through the toaster it just stopped. I asked the worker what happened and she said it turns off at 10:30.... smh anyway The only good lunch is at the small side places. The taco shop, the restaurant by Filedelphia, the buffet is horrible no matter what time. But the best meal at the buffet is probably lunch so 🤷🏽‍♀️. Some of the staff is nice some such, but it is what it is. Please be aware this Riu is a locals vacation spot. When checked in on a Friday on Saturday a bunch of locals checked out, by Monday they were all back. Please note I don't mind but what that does is make the hotel very very crowded. Way more crowded then it probably would be. Now on to Dinner. There are only 5 restaurants and note they are not all open on the same night. So 2 or 3 maybe open one night then the next you will have the others. There is also a glitch with this because there are so many people in the hotel you have to be at the restaurant to line up by 5pm and the restaurants do not open until 6pm. So you have to stand online if you want to eat in a restaurant and not at the buffet. But wait there still more. The restaurants only seat 300 people per night. So if you are not online by 5 you may be stuck eating at the buffet. Oh wait all of the restaurants are buffet style anyway except for the steak house. It means for a full hotel with 3000+ guest only 600 to 900 (if 3 restaurants are open that night) can eat in a restaurant setting. I stood in line once because they said to be there by 5 and wait to get a buzzer because i dont want to eat at 6pm. Stood there for an hour when the doors open I was maybe we were maybe the 5th group just for the girl to tell me ahe couldn't give me a buzzer until the whole restaurant was seated. Now what since does that make. Im here give me the buzzer set it once everybody is seated and the first group leaves. Nope I had to ask for a Manager cause I was not eating in the buffet no way. I'm glad I did because the Italian restaurant was one of the best meals I had all week. Even though it was buffet style also, but the food was delicious. Anyway positives: the rooms are gorgeous. They were recently updated and the floors are amazing. I started in Building 6 which was nice but I requested a garden view upgrade and once people checked out Saturday I was able to move and went to Building two with not just a garden view but an ocen view and a balcony. I was on the 3rd floor and the room and the view was spectacular. Sorry gotta go back to negatives. They refill our mini bar every other day, but when we got to our new room they had not replenished the many bar or added the alcohol in the room. I was very understanding because the room was previously occupied by teenagers so, I liked the fact that they did remove the alcohol from the room. But the room should have been completely ready before you put people in it and we had to wait 2 days because, wait for it it was on the every other day already.... lolol Also every building as 1 ice machine on each floor our room was like 304 or something. When I wanted ice I had to walk to the other side of the building which is like a 5 minute walk just for ice. Now just imagine, one ice machine for like 300 rooms. So you walk all the way over to the otherside and there is no more ice in the machineeeee.... that really sucks and you don't dare walk to another floor cause you don't know where there machine is at..... Last negative how you have fajita meat for dinner,I mean sliced steak and onions and green peppers. Sliced chicken, shrimp, just everything you would need to make a fajita except tortilla. When you ask they send you to the pizza station who tells you they don't have... like I was over the food situation on this hotel... I think I ate nachos almost everyday for dinner when we had to eat at the buffet. The chicken was always under cooked, but the steak was always decent. Oh the burgers were good to if they were cooked for me not everyone likes it cooked medium well. Know there is no 24 food. The sports bar is open 24 hrs but you can not order food after 10:45. So if you missed dinner and would like to eat there remember the cut off time. There is no room serivice at this hotel, but the Palace has room service and according to the people I meet from that side they said they had food issues even with room service. I would never stay at this location again. I love the Rius but this one missed the mark completely.

My family and I spent one week at the Riu Guanacaste. The resort is large and gorgeous with beautifully maintained landscape. Check in was smooth and we were provided a map of the property together with a welcome drink. We found our room on the 3rd floor above the entertainment stage. The room was modern and clean with comfortable beds and a fridge stocked with sodas, water and beer. Note, the shower has only shampoo and no conditioner. If you forget conditioner, it is $11 at the very expensive hotel store. Despite being above the stage, we only heard the shows faintly if at all from our room. The room was cleaned daily, however we had to ask twice for toilet paper to be restocked. The service in general was ok but not great. The ladies working at the beach boutique were unprofessional, took 2.5 hours for lunch eating in the store in plain sight of customers with the door locked and shooing people away. In the restaurants and bars the staff did their jobs but not one went above and beyond to the point that we would recognize anyone specific. The service in the American Country bar was terrible. It is clear that customer service is not high priority. The food was OK but not one meal outstanding. We ate and were full and there is a wide variety to choose from so nobody should be hungry but there is no wow factor. With the exception of the steak house, the specialty restaurants are all buffets. We tried them all with the Japanese restaurant being our favorite. One huge annoyance is the system in place for these specialty restaurants. Stand in line and first come first serve. People lined up for the steak house in the heat literally at 4:30pm for a 6:00pm dining. Not an effective use of time on vacation. Dinner was a large but thin steak, potato wedges, 1/3 of a corn, little bit of vegetables. The night we were there the air conditioning was broken and it was hotter than the hubs of hell inside. It appeared that the pizza at the main buffet and at the Italian restaurant were the same. Do not expect fine dining at this resort as it does not exist. The evening shows were good. The performers did their best to entertain and the Riu party on Friday night was a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time enjoying the multiple pools and a bit of time at the water park. There are a few swim up bars and various activities happening at different pools. The pools were clean, large, a comfortable temperature and area kept nice. The pools were never crowded and always plenty of chairs available. The beach was lovely with the mountains in the background. Sand is darker as it is volcanic sand. Smooth entry into the water. The ocean was warm and pleasant. There were always lots of seats available. There are a few vendors at the entrance of the beach but they are not pushy. Note, there is no drink service at the beach. I must mention the monkeys. We discovered them while going for a 7:00am walk on a trail to the left of the resort. These capuchin monkeys will come up and take food out of your hand. It was a treat to see them. If you venture further down the beach to the left about 10 minute walk there is a trail with an arrow that leads to the Monkey Bar. It is a bar which serves authentic Costa Rican food and drinks and yes there are monkeys in the morning. Try their signature drink, the White Faced Monkey. So delicious. It was a nice break from the resort. We had a great time at Riu but would make a few adjustments based on what I wrote above. What could be 5 star unfortunately loses a star for the customer service and the food. If you want a relaxed and casual holiday experience then Riu is the place for you.

Brenda at Filadelfia is the ABSOLUTE BEST! So friendly and accommodating! Always has a smile on her face and there needs to be more workers like her!!! can you read that? Can you can you do English?

Frequent local guests arriving in masses, the reception overwhelmed at times. When we were resting at our room suddenly a new guests entered to our room! Apparently his key was working to our room. When we reported the situation to management we were given new keys/cards, no apology, so it looks like this is norm for this hotel. Rooms are located in huge block building, lots of walking to elevators.

Our family of 4, (kids 13,15) stayed Nov 9-14. While this was our first trip to CR, we are seasoned travelers and have stayed at RIU properties elsewhere abroad. There are many wonderful things about this property, but also some room for improvement as well. Overall, I would give it 3/5 stars. We would probably stay here again. Arrival. The resort is not terribly far from the airport, but the closer you get, the roads worsen and traffic has to slow considerably. 40-60 min drive depending on the time of day and traffic. We used the airport’s private shuttle service. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and the lobby was moderately busy, but the reception staff was all hands on deck. A short wait and we were checked in. I completed the early online check in using the Riu app, which I think sped the process up. Room. We got two adjoining rooms (2011 & 2012) which were centrally located. The recent renovation and remodel of this property was very well done! Everything is or looks to be brand new. The rooms were nice and clean when we arrived. A couple of minor issues: our safe in the closet was locked and the mini bars were empty. Sadly, it took a couple of phone calls and some waiting to get these remedied. The housekeeping did a fantastic job all week in both rooms. FYI, the minibar is only re-stocked every other day with 2 cans of each type of soda. The kids went through the coke and sprite very quickly. Daily replenishing would be preferred. The beds/pillows are decent and sleep quality was good. The lowest setting for the thermostat is 22c. The ceiling fan worked well; we stayed comfortable despite wanting it a bit colder. Grounds/facilities. As stated, the remodel appears to have been carried out very well. The grounds are very well maintained! The property is somewhat large. We didn’t mind walking, but if you have mobility issues or small kids, it may prove to be a tad laborious. There is ample seating near the pools and on the beach, plenty of bars, and places to grab snacks without going all the way to the main buffet. Beach. The beach was honestly better than we expected. We are used to the white sand and blue hues of the Caribbean, but this beach is nice. The waves and current varied from day to day, but we enjoyed getting in the ocean. During full sun and easy tide, the water is surprisingly clear. There are vendors on the beach, they are not very bothersome, a simple “no, garcias” will keep them moving along if you aren’t interested. The wares they peddle are pretty cheap and I find it fun to interact with them. The bars are a bit of a hike from the beach and there is no drink service on the beach. PRO TIP- Bring your large insulated mug/yeti to keep your beverages cold and reduce your trips up to the bar. Excursions/Activities. We booked a day long trip to waterfalls, rain forest, sloths, etc with Frank the Tank the week before our arrival, based on friend’s recommendations. It was sensational, 10/10. I also booked a 3 hour private fishing trip for my son and I from “the two Ericks” on the beach. It was good, we caught a couple bonitas while trolling and a few small fish, fishing off the bottom near Monkey Island. Speaking of Monkeys, we walked to the “Monkey Bar” one day just down the beach on the other side of RIU palace. When we went, there were no monkeys. The white-faced capuchins are actually closer to the resort in the jungle, near the area where the vendors park their cars and scooters. We LOVED interacting with the monkeys and feeding them. Grapes and Raisins got us the most attention from them. We went to three of the shows at night in the theater. They were on par for this tier of resort. They start at 2100, which for us is a little on the late side. We went to the water park one day which is farther to the front of the property. It was a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed it. No lines to speak of, just nonstop slidin’. Antonio hosted a daily beach volleyball game in the afternoon with his co workers from the entertainment staff. Antonio is a newer hire and was fantastic. Food. To be fair, I did not have very high hopes for the food, so I was not super disappointed like some other reviewers. The bottom line is that we did not starve, we stayed fed and usually found something palatable. At the end of the day this is all-inclusive, multi-national type cuisine. Mediocre at best. The dinners and ala carte restaurants were better, but executed horribly. Not all of them are open each night and the ones that are start forming lines to get in at 4:30 for the 6pm open, first come first serve. I paid my son to stand in the line and hold our spot. If you are not one of the first 200 people in line, you will not get in that night. It’s not like you can show up later after the rush and get in. They limit the number of diners nightly. And yes you read that correctly…..hundreds of people in a line each night for dinner. It’s pretty absurd. I’ve never seen anything like it. Perhaps they should go to a reservation system, as much as I’ve hated that about other places. Staff and service. It pains me to say, but this was the area where the most improvement is needed. The attentiveness of the staff is woefully lacking. There were a few exceptions, but overall, there was not a lot of enthusiasm or sense of service from the waiters and bartenders. We are from the U.S., but I speak Spanish AND we tip. I brought a stack of 1 and 2 dollar bills and routinely tipped. Whether you tip or not and whether you speak Spanish, you’ll get the same level of service/attention. You do you. I would like to mention the employees who were indeed exceptional in hopes they may be recognized by management. If you’re reading this before your trip, you may want to seek them out to get taken good care of. Christian is the best waiter in the Liberia buffet. His section is just inside the main door to the right. He always kept our drinks full and was very attentive. Same for Raphael in the steak house and Italian restaurant. I learned that November is considered the slow season for them, as the rain is starting to slow. This particular time is when many locals will come to the resort. During our stay, I would estimate that 80% of the guests were from Costa Rica, 10% Americans and 10% Canadians. One of our drivers claimed there had been promotions (kind of like Groupon) for locals to come stay at the newly renovated RUI. Made sense to me. NONE of the Costa Rican guests tipped the staff. None. Perhaps this has a little something to do with the service, as there isn’t great incentivization to provide excellent service. Just my hypothesis. If you made it all the way to here, you’re probably already booked or thinking about booking. I hope this helped. Safe travels.

Honest Review of the Riu – One Week in Costa Rica We travelled from Toronto on November 11 after a delay and a plane swap, but once we landed in Liberia, everything moved like clockwork. Customs took less than five minutes, bags came out quickly, and there’s even a duty-free shop if you want to grab your favourite liquor before hitting the resort. We waited about 30 minutes for our Sunwing/WestJet shuttle due to the flight delay, but once onboard, our rep Charlie made everything worth it — she was warm, knowledgeable, and easily one of the best reps I’ve ever had. After a 45-minute ride, we arrived at Riu, where check-in was surprisingly fast (I’d recommend using the Riu app to check in online). We were first placed on the ground floor, but after mentioning my husband’s love of monkeys, the front desk kindly upgraded us to a 5th-floor mountain-view room — the perfect spot to hear the howler monkeys in the morning. The standard king room impressed us: comfy bed, stocked minibar, pullout couch, big bathroom, and great AC. After a long day of travel (including a Toronto snowstorm), we kept it simple with burgers and wings at the American restaurant — perfect comfort food. We grabbed a drink at the lobby bar, admired the resort at night, and headed to bed early. (Tip: the resort uses a towel-card system worth $25 USD, so don’t lose it!) ⸻ Pools, Drinks, and the Beautiful Jungle (Days 2–3) Jet lag had us up early enough to watch a breathtaking sunrise from our balcony. The jungle around the resort is stunning — honestly, I preferred our garden/mountain view over an ocean view. Breakfast at the buffet was delicious with tons of variety (no bacon though — a recurring theme). Fresh eggs, great juices, and the best prosciutto I’ve ever had at a resort. We staked out a spot at the adults-only pool where we met Lita — an incredible bartender who makes very generous drinks and had us wobbling by noon. The Tiki Taco Bar and snack bar open at 11 a.m., and they serve some of the best quesadillas and tiny-but-mighty chicken nuggets I’ve ever had. I ate an embarrassing amount, and I would do it again. We spent the afternoon on the beach — yes, vendors will approach you, but they’re polite and not pushy. The sand is unbelievably hot (wear shoes), the waves are strong (lifejackets for kids are a must), and while the water isn’t Caribbean-blue, it’s still beautiful and full of action with jet skis, catamarans, scuba classes, and boats. In the evenings, we attempted the à la cartes. The system is chaotic, and you’ll wait a long time if you’re not early enough. After 90 minutes waiting for the Japanese restaurant without getting in, we gave up and hit the buffet. Decent food, great pizza, tasty chicken drumsticks, and an excellent Caprese salad. Day three included a walk to the famous “monkey bar,” which quickly turned into an adventure. Wear sandals — you’ll go through mud and puddles. We fed a group of cheeky capuchins fruit (no bananas — they were covered in chocolate at the buffet). They took food right from our hands and were hilarious. A free, one-of-a-kind experience. The monkey bar itself is pricey but worth a drink and some cuddles with Frodo, the resident dog. Back at the resort we relaxed by the adults-only pool, enjoyed more tacos and nuggets, and tried more drinks. The pink-pussy shots, mimosas, prosecco, dirty monkeys, Tom Collins, and gin & tonics were all hits. Mojitos are made with Sprite unless you ask otherwise. That evening we lined up early and made it into the steakhouse. The ribeye was delicious, sides were tasty, and dessert was great. Totally worth the hassle. ⸻ Coco Beach, The White Party, and Resort Life (Days 4–5) We booked the shuttle to Coco Beach ($18 USD roundtrip), but honestly, Uber is cheaper and easier. Coco Beach is gorgeous, full of shops (all selling similar things), and we enjoyed a delicious but pricey lunch by the water. We visited Pura Vida Tattoo (the owner also owns a shop in my hometown) and got tattoos before heading back for the Riu White Party. The White Party was incredible. While the app says 6–10 p.m., it really kicks off at 8. The live singer was phenomenal, followed by dancers, bubbles, balloons, and a DJ. It was two hours of nonstop fun, and my feet paid the price — worth every second. Day five was… a hangover day. We floated between the pool, beach, and shops, relaxed, and hit the buffet for dinner, while our friends enjoyed the Italian restaurant. ⸻ The Catamaran + Final Days (Days 6–8) Day six was the day I was waiting for: the sunset catamaran cruise. They picked us up on the beach, stopped at Coco for more passengers, and then we went snorkeling. I swam with sea turtles and beautiful marine life, ate, drank, danced, met amazing people, and — the best part — watched dolphins swim alongside our boat at sunset. Absolute magic. And yes… still no bacon. On Day seven, BACON FINALLY APPEARED at breakfast. We soaked up every last hour by the pool, and dinner at the Japanese restaurant was easily the best meal of the week. Fresh, flavourful, and I’m still thinking about the sesame peanut chicken. Day eight, we packed up, checked out (quick and easy), returned our towel cards, and headed back to the airport. ⸻ Final Notes & Tips • There is VERY little bacon. Treasure it if it appears. • The sand is scorching — wear shoes to the beach. • The beach has a slight smell in the morning but it goes away quickly. • Shop with the beach vendors first — cheaper than the stores. • USD is accepted everywhere and often easier to use than colones. • There is no conditioner or lotion in the rooms. • Weekends get BUSY — tons of locals come for day passes.

We are on the van leaving as I type this. This was our first and last Riu. The grounds are lovely. Our check in and check out process was fast. The room was good no complaints with that. The buffet was terrible in my opinion. The restaurants don't take reservations. They all open at 6. The Steakhouse line starts forming at about 4 or so. We never got to try it. The Asian restaurant was great. Ate there twice. On our last night every restaurant was at capacity by 8pm. So we ended up at the buffet 🤦🏾‍♀️. The staff was great. The people staying at the hotel was another story. Very rude and no manners excuse me goes along way. Even if you don't speak the same language. Will not EVER go to another Riu again.

Great atmosphere, clean and up to date rooms. Staff were friendly and helpful. Good value overall. Food was okay. Almost all restaurants were buffet style so you would typically be able to find something. It was very frustrating that you had to wait in line to make a reservation and they didn't offer a better booking system. Asian and Italian restaurants were the best. Buffet by the lobby is typically less busy then the main buffet for breakfast. Beach was nice as you can get about a 45 min walk in. Mid November capacity was about 60% fron what we were told so beaches and pools weren't overly busy... I can't imagine it at full capacity. Allan on the beach is a trustworthy source for excursions. We enjoyed the river boat excursion the most, but also did fishing and an atv tour. A good time had by all!