RIU Palace Riviera Maya

We returned to RIU Palace Riviera Maya because we had such a wonderful experience here last year. Unfortunately, this time we left feeling disappointed. There were definitely some highlights, especially the amazing staff, but there were also several issues that significantly affected our vacation.

The Staff Deserves 5 Stars ❤️ I want to start with the positives because there are employees at this resort who truly go above and beyond.

Axel at RiuLand is AMAZING! He was friendly, energetic, helpful, and genuinely made the experience better. He is exactly the kind of employee who represents what great hospitality should be.

Cielo at the restaurant was the BEST! She was incredibly attentive, kind, and welcoming. Her service really stood out to us, and she deserves to be recognized for making guests feel special.

The coffee shop in the lobby was also excellent. It was always clean, the employees were wonderful, and the service was consistently good. We really enjoyed stopping there.

These employees are a big reason why I still have positive things to say about the resort.

Housekeeping Was Just Average Unfortunately, the room cleaning was only okay.

Even though we were leaving tips, our room still wasn't being cleaned as thoroughly as we expected. I don't expect perfection, but for a resort at this level, I expected better attention to detail.

Leaving a tip should be a way of showing appreciation for good service — it shouldn't be necessary to receive proper housekeeping. Unfortunately, even with tipping, the room wasn't consistently cleaned to the standard I would expect from a five-star property.

The Elite Club Pool Situation Was VERY Disappointing This was probably our biggest complaint.

We came back this year without realizing that the resort had closed an entire pool for the Elite Club. We were very disappointed when we discovered this.

I understand that RIU wants to offer premium upgrades and generate additional revenue. That's completely understandable. What I don't understand is putting an adults-only Elite Club pool right in the middle of a family resort and taking that entire pool away from everyone else.

The result was that everyone who wasn't using the Elite Club ( you can see in the photo that the Elite Club pool was completely empty) was squeezed into the remaining two pools.

And let me tell you — they were CROWDED.

If you don't wake up early enough to reserve your pool chairs, good luck finding a spot.

We are on vacation. We shouldn't have to set an alarm early in the morning just to put a towel on a chair so we can actually enjoy the pool later in the day.

This setup really changed the atmosphere compared with our visit last year.

If RIU wants to make money from Elite Club upgrades, I completely understand that. But I think there are better ways to do it.

Why not offer guests an Elite Club upgrade with additional perks while still allowing families to enjoy the resort's pools with their children?

Taking an entire pool away from the general guests at a family resort creates overcrowding and frustration for everyone else.

The Mattress Needs a SERIOUS Upgrade The mattress was another major disappointment.

Honestly, for a resort claiming a five-star level, I expected much better.

You can actually feel the springs in the mattress.

And if you are traveling with a spouse or partner who moves around during the night, be prepared to feel every movement. When one person moves, the other person feels it and gets bounced around as well.

A good night's sleep is extremely important on vacation. After spending the entire day swimming, walking, traveling, and enjoying the resort, you want to come back to a comfortable bed.

The mattress simply wasn't comfortable.

In my opinion, if RIU wants to maintain a five-star reputation, investing in better mattresses should be a priority.

Would We Return? This is the difficult part.

We came back because we had such a great experience last year. That's why the changes were especially disappointing.

The employees we interacted with were wonderful, and people like Axel and Cielo deserve recognition. The lobby coffee shop was also a highlight.

However, the overcrowding caused by the Elite Club pool, average housekeeping, and especially the uncomfortable mattress made this stay much less enjoyable than our previous visit.

I really hope management reads these reviews and takes the feedback seriously.

RIU Palace Riviera Maya has a lot going for it, especially its staff, but some of the recent changes seem to be taking away from the overall guest experience.

If this is supposed to be a family resort, I really hope RIU reconsiders how the Elite Club pool is handled. And please — replace those mattresses!

We loved this resort enough to come back a second time. I just hope that on our next visit, if we return, it feels more like the wonderful experience we had last year.

Great people, but some important things need improvement.

Facilities are NOT 5 star. Pool that is open to children is tiny for a hotel this size and resembles a bath tub which is horrible when it’s warm anyway with no way to feel fresh or cool down. Food is average, lunch buffet not good. Entertainment schedule is good when they bother to turn up.

It’s a 4 star all day long. Disappointing.

Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya is, without a doubt, one of the best resort experiences I have had in all my travels so far.

The moment you enter the property, the only word that comes to mind is “WOW!” It feels like stepping into another world — an absolutely stunning white palace. The fresh, refreshing aroma throughout the hotel is also something I will remember for a long time.

But what truly makes this resort special is the people. From the bell boys and front desk team to bartenders, servers, chefs and housekeeping, everyone takes genuine pride in their work. Even when there is a language barrier, they make every effort to understand and find a solution.

The food variety and quality were excellent, the service was prompt, and the entire property was beautifully maintained.

I understand that these are all part of operating a successful resort, but there is a difference between doing a job and taking pride in what you do. That pride was visible everywhere at Riu.

Beautiful places create memories. Beautiful people create experiences.

I came to Mexico for a vacation and left with a wonderful experience and a new perspective.

Thank you, Riu Palace Riviera Maya, for making our stay truly memorable. I would happily return! 🇲🇽❤️