My husband and I stayed at the RIU Cabo from 11/17 – 11/24/07. I don’t understand what people were having problems with. First to say, we go out of the country at least twice a year for a total of 3 wks and have been doing so since 1995 so we have pretty much seen it all.

Check in was not a problem. Yes our room wasn’t ready but we just grabbed a drink and went out to check out the resort and find our room to see if we liked the location. It was 4th floor and we had a view of lands end. So I’d say pretty good.

Food - we tried all the specialty restaurants except the Steakhouse and we found the food and service to be good. As for the buffets if you can’t find something you like then you must be pretty picky. They have everything and yes sometimes it seems redundant but that’s just because you usually get to choose from every meat and fish group every meal. We didn’t have any issues with the food and no stomach issues all week.

Entertainment – If you have ever stayed at any RIU then you know their shows so some nights we didn’t even go as we had already seen them. They only have a one week run at this resort so if you stay for 2 weeks you will see the same thing twice.

The staff were friendly and the bar service was great. They can usually figure out what you drink after the first couple of times so when you go to order they already are one step ahead of you. Tip a little, it goes a long way.

There isn’t any shade on the beach so if you need to get out of the sun either bring something with you (we did) or you will have to sit between the activities pool and scuba shop with the lunch buffet right behind and above you. Pretty loud there.

All in all the RIU Palace was good. Remember you are on vacation just enjoy your stay.

I didn't start reading the reviews of the Riu Palace Cabo until a few days before our trip. Needless to say I went with an open mind and left 6 days later very happy.

First thing: When you get through customs at the airport, just keep walking. Don't talk to anyone until you get out the door unless you really want a time share.

Upon arrival we walked up to the desk and quickly checked in. In fact since we were with a group of friends they were happy to check us in together and met our request to move our rooms together on the same floor, and to our surprise right next to each other. A modest tip goes a long way. Be sure to leave a few bucks with the bartenders each day as well as your housekeepers and they will take care of any request you have. Nothing beats having a bartender or waiter have a drink ready for you each time they see you coming ! The front desk staff was quick to handle anything we required such as breaking large bills for change and calling taxis for the 5 minute ride into Cabo. There’s a small store in the lobby to buy the little things you left at home, and if you’re a smoker…$3.70 a pack for Marlboro Lights. What a deal !

Overall the food was good for a large resort. The breakfast buffet was great and very diverse. The Japanese restaurant was our favorite but the French was great too. The steakhouse was a letdown but was still decent. No problems getting reservations for 8 each night but we did eat late. If you’re in the early bird crowd, get in line early. Also we ate a couple of meals in Cabo which were both great and a decent price. The bars all had your run of the mill liquors like Absolut, Jack, and Cuervo but no high-end stuff. Beer is limited to Corona and Negro Modelo which was fine. The coffee sucks and is obviously instant, but hey, it’s still coffee.

The rooms, grounds, and pools were clean and well kept. The pool was pretty chilly but when it’s 85+ everyday that’s not a bad thing. The beach was fun and had a lot of options for activities like jet skiing, horseback riding, and boating. My one complaint was the entertainment choices during the evenings were a little dull. The nightclub was empty every night so we found ourselves either going into the city or just hanging out at the all-night bar playing cards and drinking. Everyone in our group had at least one spa service. My deep tissue massage was one of the best I’ve had. Some of the ladies complained about their specific services so you may want to stick to the basic massages.

Overall, great trip and a great hotel. I’ve traveled to a number of all inclusive resorts and this was my best experience so far. In conclusion, drop a few bucks to the right people every day and the service will be great. Treat people with respect even if you have an issue and it will go a long way to being resolved fast. I think a lot of the bad reviews come from the jerks of the world that treat everyone like crap. Don’t forget, you’re on vacation. Chill out, have some fun and treat everyone with respect and you’ll have a lot more fun!

After reading the bad reviews, I was a little nervous, but decided to go with an open mind. I have to say that this was a great hotel, with pretty decent food, excellent customer service, extremely clean, and great views. There were eight of us, and all had a great time.
Check in was a breeze, one of our three rooms was ready at 12:30, so changed into our swimsuits in that room, and got our vacation started. The other rooms were all ready between 3:00 and 4:00.
Customer service was above average. Did encounter a few employees that really didn't speak great english, but since we were in Mexico, was pleasantly surprised at the conversations we were able to have.
Our rooms were great. Always clean, no smells, great views, a minibar that was refilled daily. We left a note every day with a few dollars and got exactly what we requested. Heard one guest claim that he asked for a whole minibar of Corona, (with a $10 tip) and it was always there.
The food was pretty good. Some days were better than others. Lobster on a buffet? Lamb chops? NY strip steak? How can you beat that. Breakfast was the best! Yum, ... Misosas everday!
Never had a problem getting reservations for the specialty restaurants. The Japanese was the best, ate there twice, Mexican was pretty good. Didn't care for the SteakHouse all that much.
We went to the Activities pool everday. Water very clean, a little cool, but it was hot out and the water felt great.
Margaritas were a little weak, but we topped them off with the Jose Cuervo (brought to the pool in an empty water bottle) from our liquor dispenser.
The wine wasn't that great, but decided that the champagne wasn't too bad, and we pretty much never had an empty glass in any of the restaurants.
I don't know how anyone could rate this hotel a "1". We are avid cruisers, and usually travel on the better cruiselines, and were very happy at this location.
We all will definitely go back, Cabo is a gorgeous place to visit.

Ok here is the deal, this place is worth every bit of the money my girlfriend and I spent on it. When they say all inclusive, they mean it. OPEN BARS everywhere and food whenever you need it!!!! We had no problem getting alcohol at any point, there are no rules or regulations, just don't throw up in the pool, lol!!!! The pool is nice, water is a little murky, but what do you expect when you have a crap load of drunk people sitting at a poolside bar for hours on end and never getting out to go pee, you do the math. You do have to make reservations for the restaurants, and the food all around is pretty moderate, but not bad. Being a beer drinker, I loved the Corona tap at the buffet downstairs.

The funny thing is my girlfriend and I had never been to Cabo so we wanted to see the downtown nightlife, it was alright, but we had more fun at our hotel, it was free, the downtown scene wasn't. Another really cool thing is the bottles of free alcohol in the room, you can't beat that. We had it refilled and brought some of the bottle home with us. i think the limit you can bring back is two bottles, so load up. Oh yeah, one more thing, don't forget to tip, I realize you go to an all inclusive to not have to spend money, but tipping is just common courtesy, tip the bartenders and they will make much more worth your while, I swear. Have fun!!!!!!!