I am leaving tuesday for RIU and surprising my husband for his 40th also. I hear that it's 30$ (per day) to rent an umbrella on the beach. don't think you have to rent one for the pool. I'll let you know how we liked it when we get back.

I heard it was $20 for an umbrella on the beach. No charge at the pool. The RIU was nice for a weekend getaway. I wouldn't want to stay there for an extended period of time. But part of our problem was we had just gotten married in T & C and went to the RIU to unwind afterwards.

We stayed at the Sheraton for the last 10 years and loved it, it was sold to the RIU in May 2004 and closed for renovations. we were booked to stay there in June 2004, our agent moved us to the Radisson on Cable Beach - We loved it there ! We heared the RIU was going to have there Grand Openning Dec. 18-21 2004 so we wen....Sorry we did !!! A real Diaster, they werent ready to open. We went back in May and not much had changed. You start by trying to fill out the registration card that is in SPANISH [the RIU is a SPANISH owned company] you turn on the TV and 1/2 of the stations are in SPANISH, the rooms are nice [they didnt change anything, the help is still friendly. They booast of having 4 restruants but 3 of them only have 20 tables each in a hotel with 300 rooms - the 4th is a big buffet -BUT THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THE FOOD HOT ! hOPE YOU LIKE COLD FOOD.

STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU CHANGE TO THE RADISSON, You will not be sorry you did. Do not go all inclusive it's more expensive and you are limiting yourself to 3-4 restruants.