The RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas has set itself apart from other luxury hotels and sets a high standard for All-Inclusive Resorts around the world. Here is a little breakdown of the resort and its services.

Check In: Very fast and efficient while keeping things comfortable and relaxed. A waitress will offer drinks while you wait and the atmosphere of the lobby is of the utmost luxury and grandeur. Although we were 2 hours early for check in, our room was ready for us and we had checked in within 15 minutes of arrival.

Rooms: We stayed in the basic room on the fourth floor on the west side of the property. The room was immaculately clean and fresh. The decor in the room is Mexican classic with deep, rich woods and ceramic tiles which is hardly out of date. The A/C is not the coldest I have felt but as it cools down in the evenings it is not entirely necessary. If you would like it any cooler, you might want to try one of the ice hotels around the world. The room was cleaned twice a day and the mini-bar/fridge was restocked almost daily. There was plenty of hot water and fresh towels of all sizes. The satellite TV has more than enough English channels although you are in MEXICO where the official language is Spanish.

Property: The property is large but is easily accessible from all areas. Bars are located throughout the resort so you never have to wander too far to get a drink. The property is impeccably clean and extremely well-maintained. The staff are working 12-14 hour days to keep the resort beautiful and the guests happy. Pools are heated however the adjoining jacuzzis are the same temperature which is far from 'hot' (72-80'F). The property is so clean in fact that an empty cup/glass is usually picked up within 15 minutes.

Food:
* Room service is COMPLIMENTARY and you can order your breakfast the evening before by placing an order on your door handle before midnight. Room service breakfast is from 7am - 11am while lunch-like snacks are available 11am - 11pm. There is always food available in the bar on the lobby level 24hrs which include nachos, burgers and sandwiches...with a toaster , microwave and anything else you would need.

Main Buffets: Absolutely amazing. The food is great, everything is well prepared and absolutely delicious. The dinning room is well furnished and the place settings are above and beyond any other buffet restaurant. White table cloths drape your table and there are either flowers (breakfast) or lit candles (dinner) on each table. There is a wide variety of food with options for even the pickiest eater and the huge selection is perfectly laid out to avoid any confusion or traffic jams even at the peak times. The buffets seemed to be always open. There was usually 30 minutes between the time one restaurant / seating closed before another opens.
Recommendations: The guacamole is fantastic. It is at every meal and goes with everything. The freshest vegetables never run out and it is a free-for-all for salad lovers.

A la Carte Restaurants: Yes ! You are required to make reservations for these restaurants and they are available on a first come first serve basis. It is not this grueling process that other reviews describe it as. My girlfriend and I usually went after breakfast around 9:45 and sat out in the sun in the main bar. You have this beautiful southern view of the Pacific Ocean to your front and are offered drinks by waitresses while you wait for your turn. We never had to wait more than 20 minutes to make a reservation and it was an incredibly easy concept to grasp. Why some people feel like this process is torture-esque is well beyond me. We were on vacation.

Mexican: The restaurant encompasses an intimate setting, although the seating arrangements are a little closer than at the other restaurants. The service here is great and you are treated like royalty. The staff are really there to make your meal the most enjoyable as possible. The appetizers and desserts are set up in a buffet style in which you help yourself to as much as you
would like before and after your a la carte main course. The food is authentic Mexican prepared with only the freshest ingredients.
Recommendations: The black bean soup and the authentic chicken (pollo) mexicana main course.

Japanese: The restaurant has beautiful decor and top-notch service. There was no vegetarian option however, and the portion size was larger than any of the other a la cartes. There seemed to be little time in between courses although we may have been eating a little slower due to some chop-stick technical difficulties. The wine was inconsistent in that we received to very different whites. No one likes to enjoy sushi while mixing a sub-par Chardonnay with mediocre Sauvignon blanc. The sake was very good however, neither my girlfriend and I nor another couple felt great after eating here.
Recommendations: saki (cold) for sure and the shrimp and vegetable tempura

The Gourmet: This restaurant is hands-down a 5 star. It was an exceptional experience and we were glad that we waited for our last night in Cabo to enjoy it. Upon arriving at the restaurant you are given a glass of champagne while you are seated. The layout is perfect as there is more than enough room between tables without leaving a feeling of emptiness. This allows for a very intimate experience as although there are others around you, there conversations are a dull whisper and permit you to be drawn into the moment. The food here was superb. All dishes are intricately prepared and extremely fresh. There was an excellent pasta dish as a vegetarian option. The portion size is optimal and the duration between courses was perfect. The service and food in this restaurant is absolutely flawless.
Recommendations: The oysters Rockefeller to start and be sure to finish with the crepes Suzette they are truly a delicacy.

Staff: The staff are incredibly friendly, helpful and hospitable all the while displaying a gracious courtesy that will not soon be forgotten. They will really cater to your every need and make your stay that much more enjoyable. Bartenders remember your drink and how you like it prepared and do hint around at tips although they are appreciative when they receive them. Taxis take a maximum of 2 minutes to reach the entrance from the time you ask the front desk. It is $10 for taxi downtown.

Nightlife:
Hotel: The entertainment is average to very good at the RIU Palace. The entertainment staff are very good and do there best to get everyone involved. The table service during the entertainment shows is incredible as your drink never goes empty.

Downtown: Cabo San Lucas is a safe and fun city. It is tourist central so there are rarely any problems. There are many bars and clubs to go to and the service is only a few short notches down from that at the RIU.

Cabo Wabo - it’s the biggest club downtown with the most tourists. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is no cover charge. There was a live band playing the night we went and it was the placed for all the tourists to go. It looked like something we would see back home and didn’t really think it fit the Cabo San Lucas we wanted to see.

The Zoo Bar - A wildly decorated lounge that resembles the ambiance and service of a jazz club mixed with the Top 40 music of a massive club. Great service here and affordable prices as well. Some nights you might catch a deal on 2 for 1 drinks but if not try the ‘Flaming Shot’ for a real Zoo experience. Steer clear of the guy selling roses out front. He will give you a hard time and demand money or try to pickpocket you.

El Squid Rowe - This was where we fit right in. It is a busy place packed with tourists and locals a like with a sea of staff. This is the ‘fun’ bar with an MC that really gets things going. Drinks are reasonably priced and it is not hard to get one. Lots of good music and dancing on the tables/bars is encouraged. This is a must see in Cabo San Lucas. Let your hair down, get up on a table and shake it, I doubt you will be disappointed.