My girlfriend and I stayed at the Riu Palace Las Americas for 2 weeks from the 10th - 24th June 2009. I would consider myself to be well travelled and have stayed in many 4 / 5 star hotels worldwide.
Check-In
We arrived at the hotel at around 5:30pm and were instantly seated at a table in the exquisite Lobby where, drink in hand, we completed the check-in paperwork and within 15 minutes were in our room unpacking.
The Room (2nd Floor 0224)
Whilst I agree that the furniture in the room was a a little dated, dark wood furnishing, the room was large, clean with a beautifully marble tiled bathroom which had two sinks and a good selection of complimentary toiletries, all laid out exactly as you would expect from a 5 star hotel. The mini bar was well stocked with bottled water, lager, 7 up, pepsi (including diet) and soda water and was restocked daily. In addition to the mini bar was an optics cabinet containing Brandy, Whisky, Vodka and Bacardi all branded labels.
The Bed.
I was somewhat hesitant having read previous reviews regarding the HARD beds as I am used to sleeping on a very soft bed at home, between 2 quilts, as hard beds make me prone to cramping during the night. Surprisingly, I didn't find the beds to be as hard as people made out and had no trouble whatsoever sleeping.
The Musty Smell.
Again, having read previous reviews, I arrived expecting to be overwhelmed by this smell, however was delighted to find out for myself that this was at worst, only mild and at best almost undetectable… and I visited most floors of the hotel during our stay and found this to be the case throughout.
The Buffet Restaurant.
Firstly, I would like to point out that during the first couple of days the hotel was running at maybe 60% capacity (thank you Swine Flu… or should I say, lack of Swine Flu) yet all the speciality restaurants were open and it appeared to be ‘business as usual’. By the weekend the hotel was almost full maybe 95% capacity, yet this did not affect the first class service we were receiving. Tables were cleared, re-laid and ready for use again at lightening speed. Seating was allocated upon arrival at the restaurant so no walking round, plate in hand looking for an empty table or having to guard your table whilst your partner ventured off for food (Dominican Republic 2005).
There was plenty of food to suite every possible taste ranging from salads, seafood platters, and a huge selection of cold and cooked meats. They even had caviar available every night… you name it, they had it... I was totally spoilt for choice during our entire 2 week stay. How anybody could find fault with the food or the variety of food astounds me… I guess they could always visit the Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut or Subway outlets, which were situated not far from the hotel.
The Speciality Restaurants.
Even when the hotel was full, making reservations for the speciality restaurants was simple. You normally had to book a day or so in advance but could book for each of the restaurants together, thus eliminating the need to queue at the Service Desk every morning. Although having said that, I arrived at the Service Desk at around 10:00am and only queued for maybe 5 minutes or so and made all our reservations together.
The Pools.
We spent a lot of time in both pools and at various times of the day, from early morning to late evening. Both pools were crystal clear every morning and still reasonably clear right through to 6:30pm. The quiet pool never seemed to have more than 15 people in at any one time, and whilst the pool with the swim up bar was always busier, it never felt crowded, and as for the person who’s review said that the pools were dirty and noisy and full of wild drinking games… What Are You On About..!? We were there at the same time as you and totally disagree with your comments. Yes people were smoking, (I don’t), yet I never saw anyone put a cigarette, cigar, lime or anything ‘snot like’ in the pool ever. Are you sure you stayed at the Riu Palace..? We did take a casual stroll down the beach to the Riu Caribe and found their pool to be very crowded, noisy and rowdy… Perhaps you are confusing it with them.
The Beach.
The hotel has the best stretch of beach in Cancun, I know this as I walked right along the coastline in both directions during our stay. The water was calm, clear, warm and very shallow for the first 30 yards then the floor drops away. Perfect for families with young children who will spend hours of fun splashing in the shallow water and watching the many fish that swim around your ankles. The beach is continually cleaned throughout the day and is 99% seaweed free.
The Hotel in General.
The hotel lobby is breathtaking and screams out 5 star hotel. The moment you arrive you realise you are staying somewhere special. The grounds are extremely well maintained and immaculately clean. You will always see someone somewhere cleaning something. The reception staff were always courteous and gave a competitive exchange rate, although US Dollars seem to be the favoured choice of currency. The Bar Staff and Waiters are very hard working and are always smiling. Nothing seems to be too much trouble for them and you get a feeling that their friendliness is genuine, rather than just a painted smile. I found it almost impossible to finish a drink before being approached by a waiter ready to take our next order. This applied while lying on the sun loungers in the grounds, on the beach and even in the pool. There was always someone offering you drinks. No queuing knee deep at the bar in this hotel. Oh, and if you’re a fan of cockroaches then go somewhere else as there are non at the Riu Palace.
In conclusion, this hotel truly is a ‘Palace’ and you will feel like ‘Royalty’ from the moment you check-in. Whilst the Riu Cancun and Riu Caribe are also 5 star hotels I guarantee you will get that feeling of self-satisfaction in the knowledge that you are staying in the best.
