- Mexico Holidays
- Playa del Carmen
- RIU Palace Riviera Maya
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RIU Palace Riviera Maya
Mexico, North America
Playa del Carmen
Situated directly at Playa del Carmen, this hotel is in a prime location. In the area, guests can appreciate the Mayan legacy, with spectacular pyramids and the popular ruins of Tulum, or the ruins of Cobá, or visit the reservation of the Sian Ka'an biosphere, where guests can find an untouched jungle. The club resort offers six restaurants and room service is available. There are also bars, a nightclub, a hairdressing salon, Internet access, a newsstand, boutiques, a laundry service and a concierge. The hotel also has a children's playground and a kids' club for younger guests to enjoy.
Facilities
- Billiards*
- Beauty salon*
- Spa treatments*
- Massage*
- Steam bath
- Sauna
- TV lounge
- Entertainment programme for children
- Entertainment programme for adults
- Children playground*
- Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.5 Excellent8,719 reviews
Excellent
66%
Very Good
22%
Average
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Fantastic hotel
This is a fantastic hotel and defo a 5 star. Large complex and it’s immaculate. The rooms are large and very clean with good towels and bedding The staff are superb. Bar staff with like crazy and the entertainment team never stop. It’s full on fun. The main restaurant is good with a wide selection but the speciality restaurants are great and you don’t need to book. A lot of famalies here from all over the world but mainly uk USA and Mexico. The two pools are a little small and get busy and the sun beds are cramped together. The beach is lovely but as other reviews says the Dead Sea weed is a nightmare. The hotels try to clear it without much success and you just end up with tractors working on the beach till about 11am. This is a really good 5 star hotel with lots going off. We absolutely loved it.
Review by cheelvis Shipley, United Kingdom
Amazing hotel
We stayed here with our family, including two grown-up kids, and had a great time. The location is perfect — you can easily walk to 5th Avenue. The hotel has a chill atmosphere, and the rooms are clean, spacious, with good showers and plenty of closet space. Just note that the elevators are only on the lobby side, so if you’re on the pool side on the second floor, you’ll need to take some stairs.
The other services team is excellent — truly the best we’ve experienced, with activities that are fun for adults too, like dance lessons and aqua fitness. The hotel is very clean, and the Riu Party is super fun.
Overall, a great stay for families with adult children who enjoy a relaxed vibe, good entertainment, and a top location.
Great quality food, service and drinks
Great food and good quality cocktails. Amazing service and great pool. Entertainment all day. Don’t expect go swimming in the ocean. It’s not possible anywhere in the area. However the hotel makes up for it with all they have going on. The kids show in the evening could be better but they have a kids club and a kids pool so i guess it’s ok. I would come back here with the family again.
Review by guera323 Copenhagen, Denmark
Excellent.
Stayed at the Riu Palace Mexico (smaller property along the road) last year and loved it. This year that hotel is being renovated and turned into an Adults only, so we stayed in the Riu Palace Playa del Carmen which is bigger but very similar. I have to say both are excellent hotels. I stayed with my Husband and two teenager daughters and we've had many conversations regarding which is better. I like both the palaces as they both have fully air conditioned lobbies, rooms and restaurants ( apart from the open air restaurant near the beach) having stayed in the Grand Bahia Akumal for many years open air was never an issue, but I would say age has made me appreciate air-conditioned lobbies hugely! Rooms were clean and kept beautifully, food, drinks and bathrooms all excellent. The staff work hard and remember us from last year which was unexpected, I assume some staff have moved with the renovations. I would recommend spending a morning or afternoon at the other hotels, they are all in walking g distance or if you prefer just jump in a taxi its 150 pesos. The Riu Playacar, Tequila and Yucatan do not have air conditioned lobbies, however, there is an air-conditioned sports bar in the Tequila, just go left past the stage area right to the very end, the doors will be facing you. Its a welcome little haven if you've walked it from anywhere! The only negative I have is if you go to another Riu you have to take towels from the hotel you are in, which is just stuff you dont need to be lugging about in the heat. Anyway we had a fantastic time, the pool is lively with activies and fun for children and adults, the staff just genuinely have really good humour, the adult pool we never used and is more for the party people, but it was just people having a kid free good time, no issues that I saw which I was actually surprised at given the world cup is on, security however are quietly around the complex which is reassuring too. Favourite meal was steakhouse on the beach and italian. The Yashima food and Krystal is also absolutely worth visiting, food is great. I would highly recommend this hotel for families or couples and look very forward to returning next year.
Fun stay but not worth the price
I’m a big fan of the Riu’s and this was my first stay at a Palace. They honestly are all the same and for the price difference, I wish I stayed somewhere cheaper. Having direct beach access was important to me but I didn’t end up swimming because of the seaweed. There is better options for the price point. However I very much enjoyed the food, drinks, spacious and clean rooms, helpful staff, live entertainment, and beautiful grounds. You also have access to the other Riu’s including the Tequila for the parties if you are there on a party day.
