Hi Gary! Ah yes good point; however, I've been to so many Riu's since I filmed this that I have to say that each one seems to be doing their own thing. I mean, Riu Santa Fe had coffee makers in the rooms. Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas had pool & beach waiters AND they had a drink cart coming around. I guess they're doing all they can to get the best reviews possible.
This video was incredibly informative for anyone considering a stay at these resorts in Mexico. I appreciate the detailed breakdown of the similarities and differences between the options. Thank you for sharing your expertise and insight!
Hi George! Glad you liked it! Stay tuned for a new version, coming in March. I'll be staying at the multi-resort complex of Riu Santa Fe, Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and Riu Palace Baja California and will do another video showing the differences.Cheers!
Hi Mark! Ah thanks for letting us know what you thought of the resort - I'm glad you enjoyed it! After your time there, would you say that the Elite Club upgrade was worth the money at this resort?
Last year we stayed at the Riu Palace Las Américas and it was very good, this year we are going to try the Riu Cancun which really is just the next one over but it does have a bigger beach area which is where we spend most of our day. Prior to that we stayed at Dreams Sands which also is on the other side, now this is a very small resort but to our surprise the food was excellent and the beach service was outstanding
Hi Maxi! It will be interesting to hear how your experience differs at Riu Cancun vs Riu Palace Las Americas. I think both are great properties and they're in such a great location but if you're a beach person, you really want one that is going to have a bit more beach space as well as sun. That was definitely a plus for Dreams Sands - an older resort, for sure, but that beach & ocean there are absolutely stunning!
I’ve stayed at both types and I’ve found that food choices on the buffet are better at the palace. With more varied and fancy appetizers like caviar!, fresh carved prosciutto etc. also nice to have smoked salmon on the breakfast buffet. Dunamar vs palace Cost Mujeres were basically the same with respect to building, rooms, lobby, beach and pool. They are Nextdoor to each other It came down only to food for me. However Riu palace Mexico vs it’s next door “classics” in playacar had a very noticeable difference in the rooms the grounds. The classics were about one star lower. One didn’t even have elevators.
Hi Bruce! I agree - the regular Riu's have a great selection, but once you get to Palace level, there's even more and I did find that the Palace in Cabo with Elite Club had the best selection overall. Definitely the best buffet options for any resort chain!
@@SomeoneWhoCares-jm7lj the Palace. For example one day they had lobster on the buffet. Dunamar never had lobster. Palace also had an "amuse-bouche" section with fancy thing like caviar. Dunamar did not have that.
Hi Colin! That's great to hear. In this video, I explained what the standards were - I always love it when a resort decides to go above and beyond and offer extras that they aren't required to. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this really clear and concise explanation of the differences between each Riu type !! I had been having a hard time understanding it, but your video really cleared things up 🎉😊
Hi Jerry! Glad you've enjoyed my videos! If you're looking for a resort that's just steps to the night clubs then Las Americas is for you but beyond that, Peninsula would get my vote as it's newer and has better pool areas. I do love the beach area at Las Americas but it ends up being in the shade not long into the afternoon. Hope that helps!
Hi Megan! Thanks for watching! Their 'policy' is to only have coffee makers in the Palace properties but we had one in our standard Riu in Mazatlan, so it does depend on the resort a bit. Nice when the include extras that you wouldn't normally get, isn't it?!
Great to know about the a la carte dining, that's always so frustrating when you have a limit or have to make reservations and can't get in. I'm always looking for coffee, but in-room coffee makers kind of gross me out lol so I never use it even if I have it. I stayed at the Riu Emerald Bay in 2014 and we enjoyed it at the time, though I wonder if it's been modernized since then.
Hi Average Tourist! My husband is a coffee drinker and he never had an issue grabbing a coffee at the Riu Emerald Bay - there were a few stations outside of the buffet with small grab & go snacks and a coffee urn so we could grab something and take a walk on the beach. Quite nice. The low-rise section is a new addition to the resort but the main building really could use some updating. Not so much in the common areas, but the guest rooms, for sure. Thanks for watching!
We were at the Emerald Bay in Nov. 2022. Everything was nicely updated and nice. Using the app was the way to go for reservations and if we had any requests for housekeeping.
@@DennisBraspenninx Yes the app was a great way to stay informed as to what was happening! Wasn't always accurate but mostly it was great. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kristie! Ah yes - I have had some delicious meals at Krystal - I think that was the first time I ever had truffle mashed potatoes...must have been 15 years ago or more. Looking forward to seeing what's on the menu at Krystal at the Riu Palace Paradise Island this fall!
What a great comparison of the two places! They both have some really great plus sides of them it would most definitely make it hard to choose one over the other. I like a mini fridge with drinks lol. What a great video! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Emm Ventures! Thanks for watching! Yes - if you have a nice view from your balcony, it’s quite nice to just relax with a room cocktail and do nothing.
Always wanted to satay a RIU but way out of our budget! Great info and love the maps. The dining looked great and good to know about the A La carte dining. Wifinis so important too. But not a fan of having to pay more for premium internet. Thanks for all your time making this!
Hi Adam & Heidi! I’m heading to the Riu Paradise Island (Nassau) in September so I’d love for you to go their first and give your reco’s! I find them to be really good options in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Aruba) as they are consistent and usually cheaper or at least significantly better value than other all inclusives. Agree on the internet but so far, the regular wifi has been ok for me to upload vids in a reasonable amount of time. Thanks for watching!
Another big difference is that you in the palace resorts get A brands alcohol and beverages from a bottle instead of sirupe base drinks. Also the drinks on the beach are more frequent then in a classic resort. Palace is better service and more relaxing. I'm just back from a palace hotel in Mexico where i also was in a classic hotel before. The differences are in the details, but very much welcome if you didn't had them before.
Hi TheAfterzone! Yes very true about the alcohol - I couldn't drink the wine at Riu Santa Fe but at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas (neighbouring), it was fine.
How weird that they don’t have coffee makers in the room! But I do really like how they’re allowing you to make all your reservations online now. That’s really convenient. I can’t wait to see the video about your trip!
HI Christy! It does depend a bit on the resort, but for the most part, non-Palace resorts will not have a coffee maker. The app is great for seeing activities and which restaurants are open that day - you can lay on your lounger on the beach and peruse the menus - love it! Here's a link to the review I did of the Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan, if you're interested... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1KZ8TB7GSfY.html
That was a clear and concise comparison, very interesting. Not sure, I will be visiting that place though, being in India but it will be very helpful for anyone planning a visit.
Also Palace properties have air conditioned common spaces, such as the lobby, while Classics don’t. Plus there’s a difference in the buffet restaurants, Palace have Eggs Benedict at breakfast among other choices that Classics don’t have.
Hi Jon! These are good points and I hadn't thought of the air conditioning in common areas or maybe I hadn't noticed it before, but it's little things like that that can make a subtle difference in your overall vacation enjoyment.
Now these resorts look like a blast. Not sure if I'm at the monetary level to afford it but, something to definitely work towards. I wonder if the Palaces learned from the classics and upgraded everything. Oh I'd have to stay at a Palace purely because a lot of times I need to use my phone and computer at the same time. The rooms look fantastic. Particularly the bath tub.
Hi Adventures of a Traveling Don! The Riu’s can be quite reasonable, especially since they are all inclusive. When you consider how many bottles of water you’ll consume, coffee, beers, plus all your meals and snacks in between, it’s great value for money. Thanks for watching!
Hi Suzanne! Yes in fact, they often have servers walking around with a bar on wheels! Obviously they can't make any blended drinks but if you want a beer or a mixed drink, they've got you covered. Have seen this at Riu Santa Fe, Riu Emerald Bay (Mazatlan), Riu Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta) - I've sure they do it at all of the regular Riu's but perhaps only when the resorts are at 80% capacity or more (which would be most of the time!). Thanks for watching!
Hi Carlos! The Riu Palace Peninsula is newest and has spacious grounds but I prefer the location of the Riu Palace Las Americas as it overlooks that amazing aqua blue water. It’s also close to the shops, malls, restaurants etc but the rooms are a bit more dated.
Hi SMB! Yes it's true - when you start to consider the upcharge for a la carte restaurants, alcoholic drinks, special coffee (like espresso), desserts, activities like fitness classes and room service (all of which are included at most all inclusive resorts), it really makes it better value for your hard-earned vacation dollars.
Very informative video, thank you. Had a question about the Cabo San Lucas properties. Not sure if you'd know the answer to these but worth asking. 1. How far is the walk between Riu Palace and Riu Santa Fe in Cabo San Lucas. Was thinking about staying in Palace but going to Santa Fe for parties. 2. Is the Riu Santa Fe adults only or families as well? From my research it says all the main parties are at Santa Fe but it is also a family resort?
Hi AR! Thanks for watching! The Riu is mainly built behind the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and lobby to lobby is maybe a 5 minute walk, tops. The party pool is in the courtyard, just off the lobby, so it's very easy to get to. It is family friendly, but some of the parties will be age-restricted (most resorts have made foam parties an adult-only thing because the kids can get lost in the foam).That is the designated 'party' resort for the Riu's in the area, so you'll find the foam parties, neon parties, etc there and all will be at that courtyard pool. If you look at the resort on Google Maps, satellite view, you'll see the marker for Splash Water World - that's the waterpark beside the party pool. You'll also see that someone has marked the building with the brown roof beside (west of) the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas as the Riu Palace Baja California. This is incorrect - that's actually the beachfront pool area, rooms, and restaurants for Riu Santa Fe. The building that's shown as being under construction (it's an old satellite photo) is the new Riu Palace Baja California and that's the one that is adult only. Hope that helps!
Well this can happen anywhere, but on vacation, and with every imaginable food under the sun at the buffet, it's quite common for people to overindulge. Eating more tropical fruit than normal or a lot of coconut-based drinks can also cause an upset tummy. Too much sun can also cause this and sometimes, it's just hard to avoid the sun in those destinations. Stay hydrated, take it easy on the rich foods, don't overconsume on alcohol, and avoid getting too much sun - those tips should keep you feeling great for your next trip!
Incredible video! Need any new Friends? LOL! My wife and I have been going to Mexico for over 22 years and we are looking for the very nicest all-inclusive resort in Playa De Carmen or Cozumel? Last year we went to the Iberostar Grand Paraiso in Riviera Maya, my wife and I love most: Adults only, beautiful, large beaches and excellent facilities? Any thoughts/recommendations? Thumbs up and shared!!!
Hi Hallaran! Thanks for watching & for sharing! My favourite beach-front all inclusive in Playa del Carmen would be the Hilton - it used to be the Royal Playa del Carmen but changed hands a few years back. Still a lovely property with pools spread throughout the property and delicious food & great bars all over. Love the location - just a block or so off famous 5th Ave! Cheers!
Hi Ken! I think each resort has a bit of control to improve things beyond the 'Riu Standards', so that's nice to see and it's always nice to get more than you expect, isn't it? Which property is your favourite?
@@ChristineTurner I used to prefer RIU Palace Mexico , but now I like RIU Yucatan. I never use an in room coffee maker , or bathtub , and I only use my iPhone, so no need for wifi . These are some of the Palace items that cost more than a Classical RIU. I'll be there July 8 th again.
@@kensilver4462 Yeah that makes perfect sense when you explain your needs - no sense paying extra to get stuff that you won't use! Thanks for sharing and have a fabulous trip!
Hi NoeReyes! It depends where I am. In Cancun, I always pre-book a shuttle and the company I always use is Canada Transfers. Reliable & very reasonably priced and you can pre-order beers for the ride. I also use a shuttle in Cabo FROM the airport but always Uber to the airport on the way home - that saves buckets of money. In Puerto Vallarta, taxis are quite reasonable but they are still fighting with the Ubers (who charge even less) so they make it difficult to get an Uber from the airport. Almost always take an Uber to get around or to go back to the airport. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
Hi, so just making sure, does this mean Riu Jalisco and Riu Vallarta, which are located in Neuvo vallarta, are able to use each others amenties? (pools & Restaurants)
Hi JT! Yes you can use the pools, bars, and the buffets. Not the a la carte restaurants. You just have to make your way to the other hotel and show your wristband. Obviously, you won't have access to the Riu Palace Pacifico, but they'll have access to your resort. Which one are you staying at?
so would you Riu Las Americas is better as far for the beach and food? We been to Riu las americas once and wanted to try to go Riu Kukulkan but i heard the beach water is wavy and can have a lot of seaweed..
Hi Gina! Well that's a tough one because Riu Palace Las Americas is right on the corner of the "7" of the Cancun peninsula, so, although one side has the nice, tranquil water, the other side is very rocky and the pools are in the shade of the building shortly after noon, depending on the season. Riu Palace Kukulkan is on the main Cancun beach which isn't rocky but yes, the waves can be strong at times and there can be some seaweed (although this year, there's been very little of it). As long as you're staying at Riu Palace Kukulkan, you can go to any of the other Riu resorts in the area, so that's something to consider. (You just can't eat in the other resort's a la carte restaurants, but the buffets are free game.) I haven't actually been to the Riu Palace Kukulkan, as they don't sell it to Canadians, but we went past it about a dozen times when we were in Cancun and I've walked all along that beach.
@@ChristineTurner Thank you so much for the info. Based on my research, a lot of people tend to like the Riu Palace Las Americas, even though it is an older hotel, a lot of people tend to like this RIU compared the other ones..
@@bj10jgo Yeah I've stayed there and it was fine. Older property but fine as long as you know about the shadow from the building, it's doable. It's also in a great location if you plan to head to CocoBongo one night or any of the other places nearby. Have fun!
Hi Mike! Congrats on your engagement! So many amazing places to choose from - I've got tons of videos on my channel of various places - if you have any questions, just jot it down on any of them - I respond to all comments! Happy planning!
Awesome video! Considering Riu somewhere in Mexico for bday next month. 4 questions: 1) Is Riu classic more a party vibe & Riu palace more chill? 2) Can you explain a bit more about the differences in drinks? Are you saying the drinks taste bad at Riu classic? (I did a resort pass to Iberostar Cozumel and the drinks & food were 👎🏾) 3) Can you view menus & make reservations for restaurants in the app at both or just palace? 4) Any recommendations for a particular Riu resort in Mexico for early October? Thank you so much in advance!
Hi TruThis! Thanks for watching! 1. Generally, yes, Riu Classic is more party vibe but I've also found that it mainly depends on whether it's a designated "Riu Party" property and also what the guests are looking for. 2. The alcohol is lower quality than at Palace. Palace will have all the top brands; whereas, Classic will be more 'house' brand or no-name alcohol. That said, I thought the wine & mixed drinks were just fine at Riu Emerald Bay (Mazatlan), which is a Classic property. 3. Most properties weeded out the need for reservations before Covid. There may still be a few properties that are doing this but for the most part, unless you're looking for a Teppanyaki-show-cooking dinner, you should be able to just walk up & get a table whenever you like. 4. I haven't been to the Riu Palace Baja California yet & I've got my eye on that one as the food is supposed to be next level. Any of the Palaces in Cancun are great, as well as the ones in Playacar - I prefer resorts that are within easy walking distance of things. I hope that helps & I wish you a very happy birthday trip!
Just want to confirm, the a la carte is included, there is no extra charge? They are just referring to the style of dining? And if included are you able to go to other locations and eat at their a la carte restaurants?
Hi Kyle! That's correct - you can eat at the buffet or a la Carte restaurants and it's included. They may have some items that are an additional charge like Lobster or Tomahawk steak but these are very clearly marked, and the server will always confirm if you are agreeing to anything with an upcharge. Within the resort, you can dine at any of the restaurants and you do have exchange privileges (Palace guests can go to any other Palace resort / regular Riu guests can only go to other regular (non-Palace) Riu resorts) but the only meal that is eligible for this is lunch. You cannot eat dinner at any of the properties that you're not staying at. Thanks for watching!
Hi Will! In my experience, the buffet choices & size depend more on the size of the resort overall, as well as the occupancy levels. If it's summer / hurricane season and occupancy is low, they'll have less options than they will at Christmas when the resort is sold out. The Peninsula resort is a Riu Palace property, so it would have had all the bells & whistles. When there are Palace & non-Palace resorts within easy distance of each other, I think that's when you do see more of a difference in the quality of some of the offerings. A Riu Palace might have crab legs where a regular Riu might just have frozen prawns. Either way, you're sure to have a ton of things to choose from! Thanks for watching!
Hi John! Yes this is true. They are completing renovations and are scheduled to re-open in December as an Adult Only property. It's already being sold as such but, now that we're into hurricane season and it's an El Nino year, I'd probably lean toward waiting until closer to actual opening before booking, or at least make sure your reservation is refundable. (In case there are any storms which delay opening) Thanks for watching!
Hi Romario! Yes very good point - sometimes it's about the location or staff or the age of the property, moreso than what it includes in the room or at the restaurants. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Christine. I'm going to riu palace mujeres next month, isn't that the place that has 24 hours food service? And can I access to next door waterslide? Thanks
Hi KK! Exciting to have your trip so soon! Yes - the Riu Palace resorts have full exchange privileges with the other Riu's for lunch and you have full use of their pools, waterslides, and can get drinks at their bars or eat at their snackbars. The Sports Bar is where the 24-hour food is located (or you can order from room service). Have a fantastic vacation & thanks for watching!
we are considering Riu Montego bay for 30 yr anniversary. We love 7 mile beach in Negril but hate the shuttle ride to Negril. Any recommendation as for which Riu in Montego bay?
Hi Tony! I have only been to Ocho Rios and the Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, so I can't really advise on those Riu's but if the price is comparable, I'd always recommend one of the Palace properties over a standard Riu. Last week, at the Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan, there was only one half-a la carte restaurant at the property - everything else was buffet, which gets old after a while. Hope that helps!
Hi I stayed at the riu montego bay was a few years ago now but I absolutely loved it. I would upgrade the room though. I loved it that much I went twice food was great entertainment was good loved the steel pans and was only about 10 min ride from airport. Great to get to all the excursion places we wanted to go. The Dunn river fall and dolphin swim was excellent value to. Fully recommended I would of loved to go back but its priced out of our reach now flying from UK
Hi Naomi! Yes, you can swim in the ocean at most Riu locations but not in Cabo - to swim there, you would need to walk west along the beach (exit the hotel & turn to your right, on the beach) to Medano Beach. This is one of the few swimmable beaches in the area.
Hi Jonah! The exchange privileges are only available to guests staying at Palace properties. If you stay at Riu Santa Fe, you will not have access to either of the other 2 Riu Palaces. That said, the exchange program also does not apply for dinner meals but if you're staying at Palace and want to watch the evening entertainment at a standard Riu, that's allowed.
@@rkenzie5235 I would 100% agree with this. Stayed at Riu Santa Fe years ago and after 2 nights, we inquired and upgraded to Riu Palace. Thing is - you can always hang at Santa Fe when you want because staying at Palace gives you an all access pass (except for breakfast and dinner).
Hi Christine! Ugh I know but I have heard *Amazing* things about their food so I’m gonna try to go there sometime this year!! It’ll likely be with a friend so I’ll definitely report how that non-private space goes!
@@LicensedBajaRealtor Really? Was this a recent trip? (I'm assuming you're referencing the Riu Baja California) I had friends go there who are super picky and they don't typically like Riu's but they wanted to try this one because it was newest and they quite liked it. Maybe they just got lucky with their meal choices or the chef was having a better day.
Thanks for uploading this video- it help answer some of my questions. But I wanted to clarify how many Riu are near each other in Cabo. Getting conflicting info. (1) Riu Sante Fe (2) Riu Palace (3) Riu Baja California. Are all 3 located in Cabo? And which one is the most luxurious resort? Thank you 😊
@@dianajenkins5309 Hi Diana! There are 3 properties and they are all located beside each other, with the main part of the Riu Santa Fe located behind the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas. Each has at least 1 pool overlooking the beach and all are located in Cabo San Lucas, about a mile from Medano Beach (swimmable). Guests staying at either Riu Palace resort have full exchange privileges at all 3 properties for food (lunch only & snacks) and drinks and full use of the pools (bearing in mind that Riu Palace Baja California is adult only). The Baja California one is newest and I have quite fussy friends who have stayed there and really liked it. This would be the most luxurious of the 3. The Riu Santa Fe is where they'll have the foam parties and pool DJs during the day - a much more lively atmosphere. Hope that helps!
