Cancel

Open app

Search

Riu Palace Peninsula

3.3 (297 reviews)
ModerateHotels

Riu Palace Peninsula Photos

Recommended Reviews - Riu Palace Peninsula

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Adult pool
Deborah K.

Update: My husband and I traveled back to the Riu Palace Peninsula and just arrived home 2 days ago. We asked for and were given the same adult villa as on our last trip. We had a wonderful time and would return again and again. The adult pool is our favourite place to be and Marcelo is a gem! He remembered our drink order after day 1. Also, special shout out to Mendez in the lobby bar, who was so friendly and always had a big smile for us. The staff make this resort! They are so kind, friendly and gracious. We will be back!!

Kiara S.

Once I had arrived here they had greeted us. We had got here before the 3pm check in so they allowed us to be on the resort early but our room wasn't ready. They held our luggage for us and we were able to go eat and get drinks while we waited. While our stay here wasn't bad at all I didn't give 5 stars because the beds were not comfortable at all. While sleeping I just couldn't get comfortable at all. Seem very small even though they say they are queen size beds but seem like they are to twin size beds. The toilet was hard to press button to flush. Literally broke a nail pressing it. They didn't refill the refrigerator or give us more waters. Mexican restaurant was good. Italian restaurant the bar was better than the entree you order. Overall the buffet did not disappoint and you had a lot of options. I really enjoyed getting in the pool. Let me not forget the cheesecake was to die for at the cappuccino bar. They did allow us to stay on the resort late and still be able to eat after checking out.

Mike O.

Here's a polished, review-ready version of your write-up--clean, structured, and easy for readers to follow: Stayed at Riu from November 16-20 and had a great time. The resort is about 25 minutes from the airport, and check-in was a breeze. I even got my room before 3 p.m., which is a big plus for me. Drinks & Room They stock Jack Daniels, Patrón, and La Puerta Negra Reposado in the room. My room was spacious, clean, and well maintained--housekeeping did an excellent job throughout my stay. (Don't forget to tip!) Beach & Pools The beach was small, clean, and really nice, with little coves where you can relax and enjoy the waves. Beach service was great as well. The resort has about four pools: * a swim-up bar * an adults-only pool * an activity pool * a quiet pool Dining The food was solid across the board. The steakhouse was my favorite--I tried the ribeye and lobster, both excellent. The breakfast buffet was also very good, definitely a Riu signature with tons of options. I didn't try room service, but the sports bar is open 24 hours, perfect for late-night snacks. Extras You also get access to Riu Caribe, and the pool party there was a lot of fun. Overall Great experience from start to finish. I'd definitely recommend it.

tacos from Mexican restaurant for dinner. Mexican restaurant and Steakhouse were the best restaurants imho.
Thien H.

This was my first all-inclusive resort experience, so please take my review with a grain of salt. I usually travel to big cities and take public transport and walk to food destinations and cultural landmarks. So staying put at one resort was a big change. We had a family of 10 people, ages ranging from 10-75 years old. I think that the price point was fair. At the time of booking, my spouse and I shared a Jr. Suite for seven days for about four hundred dollars a night. The price included all food (buffet, restaurants, snack bars, drinks, alcohol), pools, nighttime entertainment, beach chairs, towels, gym, etc. There was only one separate fee charged at the front desk upon check in (I think it's a Mexico tourist fee) and it wasn't much. The food is okay. 2.5-3 stars. The buffet is presented very nicely but the taste is just okay. The nighttime restaurants are okay. The best were the Mexican restaurant and the Steakhouse at night. The Italian restaurant is acceptable. The worst was the Japanese/Asian restaurant. The sushi and other Asian dishes were not good at all. The beach is very pretty. The sand is white. The colors of the water are gorgeous. The colors reminded me of Costa Rica. I was worried about the seaweed issue but it was well-managed. We spent at least two days in the beach area about chest deep playing in the water for 3+ hours. We brought soft fabric softball-sized balls for pools/beaches from Target and they were a hit. We spent hours tossing them to each other in a circle. There's plenty of space in the water so I don't think we bothered other guests. Other days we would spend a little bit of time on the beach chairs on the sand. Other days we hung out at the pool. There's a cocktail bar inside one of the pools but I bet that pool had so much pee. Unfortunately, the bathrooms are a little bit of a walk from some of the pools. They aren't far, but I bet some guests are too lazy/drunk to go. The servers will stop by your pool or beach chairs and you can order drinks from them. It's a good idea to bring a good amount of one & five dollar bills (US dollars fine of course) to tip your servers. *Tip* It's warm out and they don't serve your drinks with a ton of ice, so bring a double walled/insulated metal cup with lid and straw. My sibling gave us this tip since he has been to multiple resorts. Give the server your cup, but keep your lid and straw. Water - Unfortunately, it's not advisable for you to drink the tap water in Cancun. Housekeeping was usually quite good at restocking our room with giant water bottles when we left her notes. We'd use these water bottles for drinking and brushing our teeth. It was really hard not to rinse toothbrushes with sink water or avoid getting water in your mouth from the showerhead. The water from the tap smells like sulfur most of the time. I didn't mind it much, but my spouse was bothered by it. We were mostly careful to drink water from water bottles, wine, etc. but I still randomly drank their juices from the buffet, icy blended drinks from the pool bars, a couple cocktails, etc. I hope that they install a whole resort filtration system or that Cancun improves their water treatment system in the future. It would put me at ease to know that all water used to wash vegetables, fruits, and foods and ice were treated. Food illness - Only one person in our group got food illness. It wasn't until the very last day. Unfortunately, he was heaving in the shuttle bus on the way to the airport. So remember to bring DiaresQ, Travelan, pepto bismol, immodium, etc. just in case. It was neat that they had ancient ruins on site. Make sure you wander the grounds near the pool to find them. We watched every nighttime show. Everyone in the reviews talks about the Michael Jackson show, but I enjoyed the Madonna show the most. The main singer was so good and I loved the funky environmental theme. The stark snack bar by the foosball table could be improved. We chose to go to Isla Mujeres (the island you can go to via ferry boat) for one day. We rented two golf carts for seven people after checking a few prices in person (it might be best to book ahead) and we had a good time. The food was meh at the random restaurant. Don't get scammed by overly friendly guys who claim they "work at Riu" and pretend to recognize your family. They will cozy up to you and try to guilt you into buying jewelry and such from their store. In reality, they just see your "Riu" bracelet. We chose Riu Palace Peninsula mainly because of availability and the fun, kooky Miami 80s vibes/color scheme over a nearby Marriott resort. There are a ton of resorts in the area fyi. The food at Riu could be better but I was happy with my first all-inclusive resort experience. We trekked over to the other nearby Riu Resort (it looked like a pyramid?) and I didn't like it as much. It had an outdoor buffet that is a lil hot and uncomfortable and their welcome drink wasn't as good.

Hannah M.

It was okay...I thought the price to quality ratio was pretty on point. It's one of the cheaper hotels on the Cancun hotel mile but still maintains all of the amenities. The staff was super nice at check in and let me keep my bags in the lobby until the room was ready. The breakfast buffet was excellent and the lunch was good as well. The a la carte restaurants, as expected, were just okay at best. The quality of the food was mediocre and the service was nothing to write home about. The room was nice enough; nothing absurdly fancy but it was clean and big and had a nice view of the ocean. Really can't gripe too much. Would stay again for sure; it really is unbeatable for the price. The Riu brand is always pretty solid and this was no exception

Buffet app for Italian
Lisa W.

More like a 3.5. Riu Peninsula is not in the main hotel zone area/downtown, it's about 2 miles north. We came in Feb and it was raining on and off and also "cold" for Cancun, around low to mid 70s. Room: the room is definitely old. You can tell with the many layers of paint, furniture and at times old smell. It was super clean though. Our cleaning lady, Alexa was amazing. Spotless. The room was purple. The AC didn't work too well in the day, but in the middle of the night it would get super cold, then turn off and get stuffy. It's weird. The rooms were so noisy, paper thin walls. We heard everything from the upstairs and next door neighbors. Very loud bangs in the wee hours of the morning. Rooms come with a balcony and faces the ocean. Pools: 4 main pools. One adult, 1 long one, 1 infinity pool and one activity pool. The long pool with beach entrance was super cold. The activities one was a little warmer but on the cold side, and the affinity was super cold. It would be great if it was hot, but weather was on the colder side. No hot tubs! We had a 1 year old and it was too cold for him. One day weather got up to 76° and he enjoyed his time in the pool. The pool servers came around a lot, great service! They have burgers and hot dogs food at the pool. No pizzas though. Food & Drinks: the drinks were watered down, so just ask for shots. We took shots of "patron" and it was somewhat not too watered down. We felt buzzed after 3-4 shots. Normally it's 2 shots. Wine was the usual low end wine. -Italian (Venecia): love the appetizer buffet, the paella was great. Get the lamb chops! We got it every night. -Steakhouse: long wait, lobster was terrible- it was so rubbery and chewy, I think it made me sick. I also got the fillet and it was pretty decent. -Krystal: the food here is the worst. It was terrible. The crudo/yellowtail was plated on a puddle of soy sauce, it made it so salty. We ate one and it was too salty. They should have used ponzu. The lobster risotto was ok. Steak was ok. I would skip this restaurant. It was empty for a reason! -Mexican restaurant: the best restaurant there. We got the octopus, fried fish tacos, and the beef. All good! The ceviche was buffet style and we loved it. Also the tres leches cake was the best. -Buffet: best option overall. Only place for breakfast, lots of options. The omelet lady sucked though, the omelet was drenched in oil and she often didn't know how to cook it, so it looked like a mess. For dinner- very good options! -Cafe/sports bar: didn't open early for coffee, so you can go to the sports bar that is opened 24/7. It was great. Sports bar even had food (burgers, nuggets, hot dogs). Espresso bar. Cafe had cakes and desserts. Activities: a lot at night, they try to get you to go. There was always some kind of party of loud music until 11pm. Fun for adults. Not too many activities available for children under 3 years old. Over all, it was a pretty good experience, a 3.5 out of 5. It wasn't too bad, could use major room renovations. Door was paper thin. Also, a little far from downtown Cancun.

Room
Maya C.

Just ok. The service was good, everyone that we encountered was very friendly, but I wouldn't return to this resort. Despite upgrading our room, I could see there was a lot of wear and tear. Our floor had cracks in the tile, which made for an eyesore as soon as you walked into the room. After seeing that, along with the rust in the door of the patio, I could just tell that the property was old and it's time for a remodel. The rooms, definitely give an older hotel that was maybe changed into a resort property and never fully renovated. The food was ok. Between the restaurants and the buffet, you can find something to eat. Drinks and food at the pool was terrible. The drinks were so bad and watered down at the pool, that we ended up going inside when we wanted a drink or to get something to eat. It's kind of hard to mess up burgers, but if it's burgers with absolutely no seasoning, it can be horrible. Overall, I wouldn't return to this resort.

Nette B.

Riu Palace Peninsula is located on the north side of the Hotel Zone. An all-inclusive adult only hotel. However, there are kids that I saw in the dining room, so I'm assuming they share the restaurants with another property. When we checked in, the front desk staff were friendly and informed us of everything we needed to know. TIP: There's a hotel /tourism tax you need to pay, so don't forget to pay it. We also got a treat with a welcome mango drink. The lobby is beautiful, and the room accommodations were equally as beautiful. It was clean and no maintenance issues other than water seeping out from the shower. I also liked that the floor was not carpeted. The view from the room was also breathtaking. There are 4 swimming pools and the beach to enjoy the sun. I've heard about seaweed in cancun, but luckily, there was none in some areas. The lobby bar is a must! Diego is the best! He knew our drinks after the first day. There's also a pianist in the evening. There are lots of chairs to sit on to enjoy. Now, as a foodie, the restaurants are ok. The worst Tamales and the Sports Bar. You would think being in Mexico that the food would be great. The sports bar food is awful. Dirty and no one cleaning up like the other restaurants or lobby area. If you want better food during the day, do the buffet. I personally enjoyed the Venecia Italian. That was the best meal we had. I really wanted to enjoy the Isla Mujeres Steakhouse, but the ambiance was not there. The Rib Eye was good but nothing fancy about the decor. The entertainment was fun at the Riu Stage and at the Riu All White Party. Some of the shows were meh, but the Michael Jackson show was the best. Overall, I'd return again. The majority of the workers we were in contact with were nice.

cabanas on the hotel poolside
Iqrah C.

I had an exceptional time here during my stay in Cancun. The RIU actually has multiple hotels within the parameters of the hotel zone and with access to one, you can also visit the other RIU hotels. I thought this was a cool feature, if you did not like food or the bar in one location, you could easily go down a few blocks to another entirely different hotel. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the lovely staff and given a complimentary drink, they immediately take your luggage out of the vehicle you came in and wheel it so you don't have to carry it as your checking in. Check in was seamless and the hotel complimentary upgraded my room to a sea view room which I truly appreciated. The exterior of the hotel is pretty cool actually and easily recognizable especially if you're driving up to it. I gathered all my belongings and went to my room. I was relieved I did not have to actually sit and wait for an additional 4 hours for the room to be ready, and the room was extremely clean and in amazing condition. It was a jacuzzi suite with a king bed. I liked the layout of the room, everything was literally one big open space and easy to get around instead of the usual layout which has many doors and such. I unpacked and settled in. You have a full minibar inside the room and there is liquor on tap as well. The room is also fully stocked with essentials. After showering and exploring the room and the breathtaking balcony view, I decided to check out the rest of the hotel. It's easy to walk around and you are literally right on the beach.There are many pools and mini bars on the property and the actual ocean itself which was an insane perk! I never realized it when I booked so it was a beautiful surprise. The hotel is extremely clean and theyre constantly cleaning it throughout the day. There is also a buffet on the first floor, as well as the restaurants, bars, and gift shop. During the day, you can sit within the hotel like the pool area or on the beach chairs, or you can take a swim in the beautiful crystal clear water. They also offer water activities such as jetski, boat rides, kayaking, and snorkeling. This is a separate private company not associated with the hotel, but the prices are reasonable and it is conveniently located right there so why not? I would recommend if you are interested in water sports. At night it is somewhat hard to get a reservation as the restaurants as they fill up quickly, there is about a 30 minute wait. The foos itself was good at the authentic Mexican restaurant, and I would eat there most often. The other cuisines are not as appetizing, but keep in mind you are in a different country so you cannot compare- I would recommend sticking with what you know or like. Also the buffet area you can get anything you want to be made for you. The bar and drink area is great, and the service is awesome. They clean the room once a day and offer 24/7 room service. You can order room service on the app or call down to the lobby. The room service is also pretty fast but the options are limited. Ideally if food is important, then plan your day and activities accordingly so you don't miss a meal at the hotel. You can also eat outside- there are restaurants in the area. The staff also responds to inquiries very quickly. Checking out was seamless, I was just sad to be leaving. I would highly recommend the RIU as a hotel to stay when in Cancun!

Balcony suite view (family side of hotel)  Corner Room
Meme G.

Easy check-in process, friendly staff, things to do on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday! The parties are fire and there's plenty of room to let your hair down. Resort has a good amount of food options, but better quality at four out of possible eight places to dine. All bars are great and you can get tucked away at one at any given time! Ensure to download the RIU app, it has everything you need especially restaurant hours and room accommodations such as room service at any time meaning 24 hours a day. This was my fav part at 4am. Inside the hotel suite, the renovations are good to go. The hotel can look updated, but with the updated renovations, it expunges that. The staff are super friendly from the resort, personnel, in-house and outside. The bartenders are very entertaining as well so feel free to carry tip cash! During the week you can catch live music and great food as you can on the weekend but it's not as crowded. During the weekend (beginning on Friday) more guest check in and you'll meet great people but can navigate the place properly. Seagulls are very dominant! Watch your food at the pool grill and bar. Food is phenomenal. There are plenty of beach excursions and beach rocks to take beautiful photos on for those who are photogenic such as myself. Be advised, they do have associates walking around to take photos of you in which you can purchase later. Enjoy!

View from resort
Jenica A.

Great resort and price very reasonable! Huge good selection and staff extremely nice. Didn't encounter any issues during our stay! Traveled with teenagers and they loved everything especially entertainment beach and pools.

Dinner Buffet fish
Niqua L.

The food at this hotel is good and plentiful, avoid the oatmeal and rice pudding though.

The Property
James B.

I loved this place! I don't think I want to stay anywhere else ever again while in Cancun. Lol Everything about this place is great. The room, service, activities, the buffets and restaurants. Pools were a blast.. the swim up bar was a straight up Rager every time! "20 Baby Mangos Please!!" That was my order every time! I made so many friends with random people and staff. If you are in Cancun this is where you want to stay!!!!!

See all

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Yaron I.
48
17
22

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mike O.
5
82
189

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Thien H.
989
1090
6097

1 year ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Hannah M.
1503
1375
3509

1 year ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 1

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa W.
3669
3466
18470

1 year ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 5
Love this 2
Oh no 2

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 1
Love this 7
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 2

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Sama C.
4996
1011
13489

4 years ago

Helpful 89
Thanks 0
Love this 85
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Krista R.
4
124
256

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 2

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of J K.
0
1
0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 2
Photo of Ryan C.
26
475
9

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 2
Photo of Emad G.
0
14
23

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Hoff A.
0
106
10

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Neda D.
59
25
90

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 4

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 8

Riu Palace Peninsula Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Riu Palace Peninsula

Give them a smile and you'll get one back :) TIPS - this is a known location in the hotel zone.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Hyatt Zilara - Guest Room

Hyatt Zilara

(280 reviews)

$$$

Zona Hotelera

WOW This is our…read morefirst resort in Cancun and I don't think we will ever choose another one. FOOD Wow. We did our homework before our trip and saw Zilara Cancun had good/decent reviews about their food. Let me tell you, this is probably the best food I've had in a long long time. Top dishes for me are the octopus with mole and lobster tostada from Maria Marie. If you like/can eat seafood, trust me on this. The drinks are phenomenal as well. There are signature drinks at all the restaurants. Those are mostly hits but some are misses (depends on your taste buds) PRO TIP: sign up for alcohol tastings at The Den first day you get there. We did tequila and wine tasting. It was quite a unique experience. SERVICE I've never gotten treated like this in any hotel I've been at. Chef's kiss for sure. The bellhop/front desk usually can break your 20s/100s into 1s so don't feel the need to exchange pesos (unless you want to of course). The workers at the hotel (and around Cancun overall) takes USD PRO TIP: there are a lot of activities hosted by the hotel. Morning exercise classes are really fun and the night shows are just okay. The crowd is definitely on the older side that just want to come to Cancun and chill not party. From hearing the reviews, Zilara had the most amount of activities from various first hand reviews from our friends All in all, solid resort. You won't regret it!

We typically go to the excellence Cancun, but they didn't have two club rooms the weeks we wanted…read moreto go so we picked the Zilara and overall I'm glad we did. FOOD- I overall liked the food. I wish they would have advertised/told us the buffet had different theme dinners. They were our favorite for dinner. There were good dishes at each, but nothing phenomenal. I really liked the lunches they had set up by the pool. It was overall good and on par with my expectations for an all inclusive. BEACH- this is honestly one of the highlights. The resort had one of the best beaches and ability to get in the ocean. If you want to get in the ocean, this is the spot. SERVICE - this was the most disappointing. At Excellence you cannot breathe without someone asking if you need something. It took a long time for people to check on us and we tip well. Day 4 we finally found Humberto who was THE BEST! Find him and tip him well. ROOMS- they were good and I was happy with them! POOLS- the pools were fine. A little shaded. The most annoying part was the cabana situation. Some are free, some are always paid, and some are paid on certain days. I get up at like 6AM every day anyways so I got good cabanas but if you're not an early riser you're screwed. Overall, I'd return!!

Temptation Resort - Business cards

Temptation Resort

(181 reviews)

$$

Zona Hotelera

Service was excellent, friendly staff, activities were energetic and fun, and funny…read more.. The most important mention here is that , I have traveled alot, I know Service industry very well.... ***** WENDY ******at the main pool, might be the single BEST WAITRESS i have had ANTWHERE....her connection to customers is excellent, she quickly becomes in tune with exactly WHAT ,and WHEN the customer needs something, she becomes completely intune to this to the extent,WENDYS customers NEVER have to look for her or wait more than a moment...it was absolutely 100% A+ Customer service...WENDY was friendly, with a smile, engaging,and makes her Customers look for her assigned service area... If I was starting a business, I would want everyone to have her skill set, attitude, and instincts for customers needs....Give WENDY a raise and make her a trainer of wait staff...it'd be an investment that shows profit! Now...the food...bfast and lunch buffet was not good, bland, low quality meats...burgers at this resort are ALL CRAP...doesn't matter if u order room service or burger bar near pool...ALL BURGERS A CHEAP GRADE, and taste so bland it MIGHT NOT BE BEEF...(NO EXAGGERATION) restaurants on resort are better quality, small portions...

Absolute Scam Disguised as a Resort…read more Temptation Resort Cancun is hands down one of the worst hotel experiences I've ever had. Let's start with the food, atrocious. Everything tastes like it was molded out of Play-Doh and seasoned with Crayola wax. The so-called "fine dining" restaurants are a complete joke, serving Costco-sized samples and calling them entrées. The much-hyped She restaurant is especially laughable: terrible food paired with a cringe-inducing striptease show that's more uncomfortable than entertaining. The property itself looks like a glorified Motel 6--and that's not even my opinion. One of their own sales managers used those exact words. That alone should tell you everything. Apparently, this hotel was recently bought out while on the brink of bankruptcy, and it shows. They stripped benefits even from beneficiaries and replaced them with aggressive, nonstop upselling. They relentlessly push a "membership" that costs $70,000 for 80 nights, plus $500 every 7 days you stay. You'd have to be completely out of your mind to spend that kind of money on this dump. The crowd is extremely mixed, nothing curated, nothing upscale. Many guests are there to swing (not all, but many), which may appeal to some, but it's not my scene. No offense to the guests--just calling it what it is. Despite being a beneficiary, the only tequila they'd serve was Jose Cuervo and Hornitos. That says everything about how cheap and greedy this place is. Service is equally bad, room service is basically nonexistent. To make matters worse, this resort sits on the north side of the beach, where the water is murky, dirty, and completely uninviting. Definitely not the Cancun postcard experience you'd expect. This place is a total rip-off. If you enjoy hospital food, terrible service, aggressive sales tactics, nonexistent amenities, and being hustled constantly, then maybe this is the resort for you. Otherwise, save your money, your sanity and stay literally anywhere else.

Occidental Costa - Chicken Breast from the Seafood Restaurant

Occidental Costa

(81 reviews)

$$

Zona Hotelera

This is a AMAZING value all-inclusive resort…read more We arrived in the evening around 9:15pm, the check in process took about 40 minutes and we were able to hit the dinner buffet before it closed at 10:30pm. We got a ground level room with a deck facing the pool, it was clean and the mini fridge was stocked, it is restocked every 24hrs with water, snacks, beers and soda. The room did have a watery smell to it, but nothing that was a bother. The room's air conditioning worked great and there is a ceiling fan. There was shampoo and body wash in the shower. The shower head is adjustable so you are able to change the water pressure. The shower gets hot and stays hot. We used the gym all 6 days we were there, it has great equipment, 3 treadmills, 3 bikes, 3 ellipticals and weights. The only thing is the air conditioning doesn't work very well so be prepared to sweat! There were 3 restaurants on the property, Mexico Lindo, a seafood and an Italian restaurant. They all had amazing food, we ate at each one twice. You can also choose to eat at the buffet for dinner which doesn't need a reservation and there is a 24hr snack bar. The reason why I gave this resort 4 starts instead of 5 is the fact that you do have to be up at 6:45am if you want a reservation. However, when we were there, Mexico Lindo wasn't requiring a reservation. You also have to be up early if you want to reserve a spot at the pool or beach. Each guest receives one towel that you can exchange at the end of the day for a new towel or a towel card. If you lose your towel or towel card it is a $25 fee. There is a ferry right by the beach that you can take to Isla Mujeres which we did, it was $29USD per person which makes for a beautiful day trip. A lot of reviews say there is a gasoline smell at the beach, that was not the case. At times when the ferry left to Isla Mujeres it would linger for about 5 seconds then it'd be gone. It is a great beach. There is also free WiFi at this resort. The workers are AMAZING!! We had great service at the restaurants, bars, everywhere. They were all friendly and helpful. We never had an issue getting drinks at the bar and we went during Spring Break season.

Everything is terrible. Food is so bad. So so so bad. The attitudes of the staff suck. This place…read moreis better for Mexican natives because they don't speak English hardly at all and it's honestly more suited for people from here. The beach is terrible. I would rather sleep in my car.

Live Aqua Resort - View from one of the cabanas facing the ocean

Live Aqua Resort

(460 reviews)

Zona Hotelera

My spouse and I had an absolutely wonderful stay at Live Aqua. The property is stunning, the staff…read morewas exceptionally attentive, and the food was delicious. The spa was fantastic, offering step-by-step guidance through the dry sauna, steam room, and both warm and cool pools-such a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The hotel sits right on the beach with breathtaking views and features several pools, including one with a fun swim-up bar. Dining options were excellent, with several restaurants to choose from, including Mediterranean, Mexican, buffet, Asian, sushi, steakhouse, and American cuisine. Our room was fantastic, with a rainfall shower, comfortable beds, prompt housekeeping, 24-hour room service, and turn-down service. We also enjoyed live entertainment and a night club on the property, yet it remained wonderfully quiet when we wanted to relax. We loved the aromatherapy --it was such a thoughtful touch. The location is very convenient: close to a pharmacy, just across the street from a shopping mall with a mix of upscale and casual dining and shops, and only 10-15 minutes from Cancun's vibrant club zone. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Visited at the end of March to attend a wedding at the resort property. We scheduled local…read moretransportation which was a breeze coming from the airport to the resort. Our luggage was immediately checked in and we were able to check in even arriving early around 11 am. Our particular room was ready and we checked and our luggage was promptly dropped off. We stayed in an oceanfront room which had a beautiful view with a seating area inside and on the balcony. The room and bathroom were very clean and well stocked. I like the aromatherapy touch in the resort and in our rooms being able to choose which scent you wanted was very nice. I loved the separation of the toilet and shower by a wall and doors for privacy when using either. The water pressure and water temperature in the shower was great although there was some water draining from the shower during use. We would generally put a foot towel down to contain the water. The room was serviced twice daily so we were never without towels, etc. I also utilized the laundry service which was reasonably priced for three pieces of clothing and it was returned the next day. The staff was generally very courteous and helpful (we only had one less than courteous experience with a waiter at the Hidden Garden on our last evening). The food at the restaurants and by the beach and pool area was great - I cannot say enough about the fresh fruit and the grilled ribs and chicken so well seasoned and cooked with flavor. We ate daily in Siete for breakfast (the smoothie station you will need to go to first because it fills up because the smoothies are sooo good). We also dined at Hidden Garden where I enjoyed Indian cuisine which was delicious (but a small portion). All inclusive so it was nice not having to continually carry payment and only the gratuity needed for the staff. The last two mornings of our stay there appeared to be construction in the room next door or our floor which was disturbing - we did alert the front desk staff and it would generally stop around a certain time. Getting beds and chairs at the beach was generally easy but for the pool it was the hunger games usually having to place towels or bags on chairs early to 'reserve' them (there are no reservations for chairs only for the larger cabanas for an additional fee) We also experienced the spa which was amazing. Highly recommend visiting during your stay. The spa ritual is so relaxing and the couples massage in a combined room was great. Would definitely stay again. $$$

Kempinski Hotel Cancún - Fuzeball and ping pong

Kempinski Hotel Cancún

(209 reviews)

$$$$

Zona Hotelera

Prior to our arrival, we emailed the concierge for transportation to the hotel from Tulum. The…read moreemails were responded to in a timely manner and everything was as promised. Check in with Diego was a breeze. Although they did not offer us an upgrade, which could have been possible through our credit card partnership, he did let us pick a room from what was available. We picked 5044. The view was good, not a full ocean view but we did have a partial ocean view. The hotel and room were very clean. The staff was very attentive and anticipated our needs. I was very please with the hotel. It exceeded my expectations. If I ever return to Cancun, I would stay here again.

We recently stayed at Kempinski Hotel Cancun for six days. We have been coming to this property for…read moreyears, back when it was The Ritz-Carlton Cancun, and it has always held sentimental value for us. That history is the main reason we kept returning. Unfortunately, for the past two years, our experiences have declined significantly. The hotel no longer maintains the level of service and standards we once loved. The atmosphere feels different, the staff are not as welcoming, and there is a noticeable lack of attentiveness and care. During this stay, we had a particularly unpleasant two-day experience at the beach regarding the setup of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Rather than going into every detail, I will simply say the situation was handled poorly and left us very disappointed. What was most upsetting was that no meaningful effort was made to resolve the issue or make up for the inconvenience. Even after speaking with Guest Relations, who mentioned contacting the General Manager, nothing improved the following day. No accommodation or gesture was offered, which was surprising given the hotel's luxury positioning. It is also noticeable that the property feels quite empty during weekdays, except on special occasions or long weekends. Even then, the warmth and hospitality we once associated with this hotel seem to be missing. That said, I want to sincerely recognize Valenzo, who served us daily. He was professional, kind, and incredibly attentive. We never had to ask for anything, he would notice small details, like refilling ice before we even realized it was melting. His service was outstanding and he truly tried to make our stay better. Thank you, Valenzo. You made a difference. It is genuinely sad to see a place that once meant so much to us lose its standard. We hope management takes guest feedback seriously and invests in retraining staff to restore the level of service this property was once known for.

Grand Fiesta Americana - Our hotel room

Grand Fiesta Americana

(254 reviews)

$$$

Zona Hotelera

Excellent staff & service! From the greetings received upon arrival to the prompt handling of our…read morebags yo our room to the nightly turn down of our bedding. These folks do it all and with a smile! All-inclusive resort located right on the beach. Heated pools, various restaurants, spacious rooms. Would definitely iteitbstay here again!

Grand Fiesta Americana Cancun completely exceed my expectations. From the moment we arrived, the…read moreservice was warm, professional, and truly top tier. The staff was always nearby, attentively anticipating our needs and checking in seamlessly to ensure we have everything we could possibly want, creating a refined and personalized luxury experience throughout out stay. The property itself is stunning- beautiful ocean views, though it is an old property but is well maintained. Our room was spacious and had breathtaking views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The food was another highlight. With multiple onsite restaurants. Vina del Mar was perfect for starting the day- it serves breakfast lunch and dinner and offers mexican and international cuisine . Outdoor sitting was beautiful. All other restaurants would need reservations- and we tried Chianti Trattoria Italiana - serving Italian cuisine and had elegant atmosphere. La Joya- serving authentic Mexican cuisine with incredible presentation. With its prime beachfront location, relaxing pools, outstanding dining options, and exceptional service, Grand Fiesta Americana Cancun delivers a truly luxurious experience. I would absolutely recommend this resort and would love to stay here again.

Grand Oasis Palm

Grand Oasis Palm

(160 reviews)

$$

Zona Hotelera

Ignoring the beach sea algae and stomach bugs we got, there were so many issues with our stay…read more Buffet food was dry and low quality, restaurants require reservations but were all full regardless, broken elevators, showers with damaged plumbing, drinks were all watered down (both regular and alcoholic, you can taste it and watch them pour water into the OJ, for example), they aggressively sell you excursions and addons at check in like a pirate ship outing, pool towels are constantly unavailable and waiting on being washed, the gift shop only had minimal medicines in case you get sick, the required wristband to wear have sharp edges and it's easy for you and your kids to cut each other while playing at the pool, the bedroom drawers aren't secured properly and can easily slide out and fall on your kids feet, etc. They're helpful with bringing drinks at the meals and things like the swim up bar at the pool are handy, the beach hammocks are nice, and they did a good job picking up our bags at check in, but there's still so many issues and so I don't plan on coming back.

OMG I would say the worst, but it was some pleasant moments…read more We were he for a little under a week, and had to change our rooms 3 times; due to the air conditioners not working properly. The first night our room was like an oven. We changed the room and it was the same thing. The last room safe did not work or lock at all, so we had to lock our valuables in our luggage. While we were out on an excursion Items from our room was appeared to been searched, and missing. One thing that was the obvious was the my eyeglasses cleaning cloth, which was on the floor, that i always keep folded with the tiny spray, in its Velcro satin case. That's the moment when I discovered my son's Ray Ban's were missing. ( a birthday gift from his Nana) The best thing that about the resort was the coffee and me shop, and one restaurant that was RSVP only, that was still inclusive with the price of the room. I appreciate that excursion could be purchased on the venue. It's so unorganized when your purchases tour come to pick you up. We are informed to be in the lobby, there's so many people in the lobby, on different tours, that we were overlooked. Not only did our tour bus leave us, and we discovered within the SAME MINUTE, I'm talking seconds! They can not call them back to pick us up theirs no return or discounts, I had to pay another $120 for transportation ONLY to get to the park states over, otherwise I would have lost my money for two people. We manage to get there and rode our tour bus back to the resort afterwards. Mexico tours will definitely leave you at your hotel, jungle, or desert. And theirs no much phone reception. So have your ass outside on the curbs with a sign or your purchase records. I met a lady who always visit Mexico and was told that she always travel with her own fan. Like she brings a Carryon just for her fan only. This was a lesson learned. Service was friendly. They want to discord all your wristbands when you checking out. There was a cool night club on the venue that offered drinks as well. Overall I felt safe and irritated. I would selected a different resort on my next visit to Mexico.

Occidental Costa Cancún - Room with terrace

Occidental Costa Cancún

(35 reviews)

Zona Hotelera

I stayed at Occidental Costa Cancun - All Inclusive for a week with my daughter and friends, and…read moresadly, this resort did not meet expectations at all. We booked an oceanfront room with balcony, but the balcony was so small a chair couldn't fit. We later found out larger balconies are available for the same price, but you have to request them. Throughout our stay, we had to change rooms three times due to poor maintenance--even the suite we paid extra for had issues, including a stained jacuzzi on the balcony that took over 20 hours to fill. The beach is tiny, and the food was subpar across the board. The only decent meals were the fried fish at lunch and the Mexican restaurant. The Italian restaurant lacked basic dishes like spaghetti/meatballs and the steakhouse was disappointing. Drinks stop being served at 11 PM (even if you order room service)which is unheard of at an all-inclusive. There's no night entertainment or club, and room service is not included--if you do order it, it can take over 3 hours to arrive. The worst part was the constant noise at night. The resort is filled with rowdy, drunk college-aged guests, shouting and partying in the halls until 3 or 4 AM. Many of them would fill water bottles with alcohol before 11 PM to keep drinking all night, which created a wild, chaotic atmosphere--not relaxing at all. The staff experience was mixed--the bellboys and a couple of front desk male staff were polite, and some male restaurant servers were kind. But the female staff were often rude and dismissive. One refused to let us sit by the window in an empty restaurant, and another nearly denied us dinner because we arrived at 10:30 PM when the buffet closed at 11. This resort might look affordable, but you truly get what you pay for. If you're looking for a relaxing, clean, and enjoyable vacation experience, look elsewhere. Not recommended.

Total disappointment. 0/0!!…read more We checked into this hotel for a week. When we were having problems with the AC not working properly we called maintenance. We had the gentleman come into our room on three different occasions. After the third visit from maintenance we were offered to move rooms for the night. This was at 1:00 AM! The next morning I voiced my concerns to the supervisor Dariana and all I was offered was an apology and a late check out for the inconvenience. Worst all inclusive that Cancun has.

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa - The view

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa

(327 reviews)

$$$

Zona Hotelera

If you visit this place it is easy to see why we need closed borders. It is nicer than ANY hotel…read moreI've ever been to. And what used to be "the world's largest telephone booth" would dominate ANY hotel in the USA. The people are overly friendly as long as you are not doing shady things. And with billboards offering services directly to your room and a hospital system where you only go if you're sick. The "grey area" is a pretty loose term. The entire hotel is illuminated with L.E.D.'s. The space is immaculate. It was 1/4 mile from the room to the lobby. The ballrooms and convention spaces are like a stadium. (Indoors or outdoors). The public bus arrives every (2) minutes and are often full. It is approximately .50 US to go 30 miles downtown. Just looking at the creative ideas a child could write a book . "This ain't Tijuana". The malls and beaches are protected by federal soldiers and the streets have checkpoints every mile. They obtain your information and destination. If something is off a militia is on alert. In NOLA people go missing all the time. They get discovered weeks later. Would never happen in Mexico . A drunk guy might get out the box, but it is very controlled. These citizens are: smart, efficient, implemented, hard working, drive excellent, fast, diligent, and gracious. It's like walking through a museum. Being from a popular tourist town known for food, this place is VERY advanced. Instead of lounging and hiding these citizens WORK to pass the time. If you need anything just ask a bartender. "Tip and pay, you'll be OK!" LOOK at the photos!

Wonderful hotel! We stayed twice, three years apart and both times were fantastic!…read moreWe came here when my fiancé and I first started dating then again for our anniversary. Every single person that works at this property is out of this world! Kind, helpful and always going above and beyond to make things memorable! There's always a little bit of construction because they're renovating, so plan accordingly by calling with them to make sure the areas you want open, are open. The new speakeasy is super cute. We visited there one evening and have the best time and service! This isn't the same restaurant where you go to breakfast but at night is a Spanish tapas restaurant. Everything was fantastic but all the food on the property is really great! We especially loved to order lunch by the pool. All the cocktails are fantastic, even poolside! Rooms are standard JW with some of them recently updated with the others on their way to being updated. Yes, there is a sort of a musty smell in the air, but that's in most hotels. It's a very hard to keep those highly humid rooms from smelling a little musty. You just have to get over it and enjoy the time outside the room. Pools are super cute and the beach area is nice. There is an adult pool that is open during the day but wish it was open later! Lots of places in walking distance if you decide to venture out of the property but why would you need to! Easy drive from the airport and to the downtown or for departure to Isla Mujeres. We did not go to the island this time but last time we booked everything through the hotel and they made it super easy.

Riu Palace Peninsula - hotels - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...