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Location

The Riu Palace is located in Playacar, about a 20 minute walk (or a 5 minute cab ride) from the shopping area on the end of 5th. If you walk for 10-15 minutes further down 5th Avenida, you'll reach the downtown party scene which is highly recommended if you'd like a change of pace from the packaged entertainment you'll find at the resort. Late at night, you should take a cab back as you'll walk through some dark side streets to reach the resort.

Common Grounds and Beach

When you enter the Riu Palace for the first time, you might be shocked at how beautiful and stunning it all is. The grounds are immaculate and the lobby is decked out with beautiful chandeliers, art, and woodwork. It truly feels like you've entered a vast palace and as the Riu has 434 rooms, in a sense you have.

The lobby opens out into a sprawling courtyard which is lined with fountains, palm trees, and garden greenery. The majesty of the grounds is hard to believe unless you see it (take a look through our photos to get an idea).

It's a healthy walk out to the beach and pool area. The pool area is well maintained and you can, of course, get drinks served to you while you swim. Of course, some people prefer the beach area which is usually gorgeous and well-maintained, but we have heard reports that it can occasionally become a bit of a mess, especially after rain storms. There are two things to watch out for. The first are peddlers - the Riu Palace is located in Playacar and the locals know that well-off Americans often stay here. Expect to be solicited to buy things many, many times while out on the beach. The second thing to be aware of is that the beach area is owned by the Federal government and topless sunbathing is allowed. Watch out if you have kids.

Rooms

The rooms are clean and immaculately maintained and there are few complaints (as should be expected from a resort in this price range). There is always good water pressure and plenty of hot water, but be aware that the water isn't suitable for drinking or brushing your teeth. You should always use bottled water for these purposes. Also, the beds are very hard here, but you can always request a mattress pad for no extra charge.

Service

The Riu Palace has a reputation for great service. The staff will bend over backwards to accomodate your every need. Tipping is graciously and discretely accepted, but it isn't pushed upon anyone.

Food and Liquor

One advantage the all-inclusives have over the hotels in town is the wide variety of top-notch food you can enjoy, all of it included in your nightly rate. The Riu Palace provides the best culinary choices perhaps of any all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen, boasting eight restaurants to choose from. Among them are Brazilian, Japanese, French, Mexican, as well as a steakhouse. The restaurants typically offer expensive dishes once a week, including lobster and proscuitto.

In contrast to the wonderful dining options is a poor selection of alcoholic beverages. You'll be forced to choose from a selection of inferior wines, Corona, and weak mixed drinks. This is not a slight on the Riu Palace, however. It is unfortunately common practice in Mexico for all resorts to serve a limited selection of weak alcohol in order to keep costs down. The only solution for this is to take a trip into town and visit some of the many fine bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.

Entertainment

The Riu Palace offers four bars, including a piano and sports bar. There are plenty of activities to keep guests and their families happy, including ping poing, crafts, scuba lessons, wind surfing, volleyball, bingo, and so on. They also offer nightly bands and shows which wind down around 11pm.

There is also a gym which can be used by any guest, however it is small and there isn't a lot of equipment. You will find it very crowded between 5 and 7pm (it closes at 8).

Who Will Like It

The Riu Palace, as wonderful as it is, isn't for everyone. Those looking for a worry-free vacation where someone else takes care of all the details will enjoy it, especially if they have young children and don't mind the pricey nightly rate. On the other hand, those looking to experience Playa's vibrant nightlife will probably be bored after a few days here and would be better off staying in a downtown hotel instead.

Traveller Tip

If you're looking for a quieter experience, request a room on the Riu Yucatan side of the hotel.

• Trip Advisor Review
• Yahoo Travel Reviews

Whether you already have a good idea of where you want to stay, or whether you’re one of the few who are starting from scratch with nothing more than the idea of visiting Mexico, you’re in luck. We’ve brought together reams of relevant information for you, including this guide to saving money on hotel bookings written by a former travel industry executive.

This and Bali are two of the hottest places to be after 11pm. You should expect a long line, an expensive cover charge, and a big crowd. Santanera attracts mainly young visitors from all over the globe, so come prepared to meet people and have fun!