How it got the 5 star rating!!!
We stayed there from July 1st to July 8th 2005.
We’ve been in most of RIU resorts in Mexico and if this one would be the first one we would never go back to RIU.
I agree with all reviews that the hotel is beautiful but that almost ends the positive aspects of the hotel.

- The thing that made me really mad was that the hotel advertises as a 5 star and is worthy of no more than 2 +
They don't follow thru with their advertisement on travel websites.
- Can’t swim in the ocean. Huge 13 to 14 foot waves and cold water.
Hard coarse sand hurts to walk on without shoes.
- We got obscure pillow covers with blood spots.
- Wait in 1 to 2 hours long lines 24 hrs before dinner to reserve your table (all 4 restaurants).
Skip the Mexican and Stake House restaurant. It is not worthy 1.5 hour of waiting time to make reservation.
- No locks for the in room safes - you have to request it.
$50 extra charge at check out time if you do not return lock.
- So huge Hotel, only one-way to get to the beach.
- Cleaning of room and bathroom could be much better. No shampoo in bathroom.
- All activities on one side of the hotel only. If you are on the other side you must travel everyday to the other
side to see the schedule.
- Lousy activities during the day. No efforts to inform other guests to participate.
- The swimming pool towels should be accessible from 7AM to 7PM
Well, we were lucky if we could get towels before 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM was already closed.
- There were two ponds like areas that were foggy with brown bottoms that fed thru a waterfall into the main
pool area. The pools were full of food, bats, glasses and all other … staff.
- The food was bad. It's prepared hours if not days before being served then left out for hours.
- Dirty plates and silver wear.
- The people were nice but still...come on - hot tea in wine glass!

GOODS:
- Hotel is beautiful. Rooms are spacious, beautiful beach and grounds and the scenery was gorgeous.
- Most of the staff is nice, but can be blank in understanding and efforts, at times.
- The Japanese and Sir Lawrence restaurant are really good.
- Place has huge potential and can be turn around in matter of few weeks if the TOP RIU MANAGMENT does
the job and train properly resort staff.
- If corporate resort chain is well staffed, adequately paid and well trained, most likely all complains might vanish
in short time.

Good luck. Pleasanton, Ca -2005

We got back July 4th from Cabo San Lucas Riu Palace, and we loved it! I don't know what people are complaining about...
Even when we were there people where complaining about this as little as there not being any labels on the salad dressing! Get a life man!

Anyways, the property is very large and beautiful! There are two very large pools that face the ocean, and the water in the pools are cleaned nightly. The waiters are constantly walking around the pool and ready to take you drink order. And there are plenty of lounge chairs around, we didn't have any trouble finding them. One of the pools is more quiet then the other, so if you choose to have a quiet day, then the one on the right side when facing the ocean is the more calm one, the other is where the animation team hang out.

Food was very good, lots to choose from! We were told by one of the staff that the buffet, one night or the other has food from the 4 restaurants, so waiting the the very long line up is a waste of time. So we didn't and sure enough, they had oriental night, which had everything from the Japanese retaurant, they had cowboy night, which featured steak and foods from the Steak House, Italian night from the Italian restuarant, and Gourmet from the other once. Who's wants to spend vacation time in a line up!

We took the Day trip on the ATV tour. It was a blast... It cost us $55USD, and we left the resort at 3 and came back at 8pm. Be aware however that when you get to the check point they ask for $10USD insurance, and $3 USD for park entry.

We went horse back riding which was nice aswell, and they are always on the beach! So you can either book with them, or with your travel rep.

Lovers beach is beautiful, but you should only go for a few hours. We went for two, because there is really nothing to do. But take some really nice pictures.

Over all we had a very nice time, and would recommend the Riu Palace to anyone. Have a great time and be safe!

Let me just start by saying a resort this huge cannot be a 5 star resort!! It's just too many guest for each employee to accommodate/pamper. Therefore, get that out of your head first and you'll be fine.

The resort IS huge and absolutely beautiful! A lot of European influence definitely went into the design of this resort. I loved the open spaced bars and lounges.

I went there with my boyfriend who was visiting from Germany (stationed there) over the 4th of July and over all, we had a blast!!

The Jr. Suite ocean view room we got was amazing! Perfect view of the cruise ships coming in and of Los Arcos. The only glitch to this was that the first room they gave us was most certainly occupied. Eventually, it worked out for the best because we got a room with a better view.

They give you a lock and key for the in room safe at check in (they're supposed to anyway) and USE IT! Put all your stuff in there that is worth any value to you along with all your travel documentation.

It was definitely nice being able to sit on your private balcony and have a few drinks that you have prepared yourself with your own liquor dispenser and club soda in your room.

The mini bar was filled everyday in our room so that was nice, instead of having to wait every 2 days for them to refill it.

Most of the housekeeping staff did not speak much English so be prepared/patient for that. I speak Spanish so this was not an issue but I can imagine it might be for other non-Spanish speaking guests.

However, the front desk staff and bartenders spoke perfect English which is ultimately more important.

One very frustrating thing was that there are no pay phones any where in the resort. You have to walk up that long (very long) driveway to find one and hope that it's working. Or just pay the $10 to call the states from your room for about....hmmm..56 seconds. This also goes for ATM's, there is one next to the Corona store along that same stretch.

The pools are fabulous!! They're heated just enough to not let you freeze to death if it gets windy, but that's awesome seeing as to how hot is was!

Great views from the infinity pools and swim up bars! I just don't understand why they close them at 7PM? Trust me, this is something I'm trying to work on with them.

Jacuzzi’s...mmm...not at this resort. There are 2 "whirlpool" types of tubs IN the pools but they are most definitely not hot. Maybe because of the weather or the real ones were in the spa, I never found the spa. It was like no one new it even existed.

When I asked the staff, they pointed to the 2 women on the beach doing massages. OK???? So I go there, and they tell me I need to make an appointment at the spa first....And where's the spa again?? I found it odd that a resort that technically "has" a spa, doesn't provide a spa list with treatments and prices in your room automatically.

The food was o.k. for an all-inclusive. We didn't get sick (well, not necessarily) all I can say it that it usually takes a few days for your system to adjust to the way the food is prepared in ANY country. Therefore, I do not think the resort it self has anything to do with why people are getting sick. Too many daiquiri’s perhaps??? The fruit will do it to ya every time.

I liked that they had a display outside the main buffet dining room stating what theme the buffet would be for the next night.

As for the specialty restaurants, we were only able to get in to the Japanese one and it was on our last night there. Since you can only make reservations one day in advance, it makes it really difficult to get in. The maitre'd is only available to make reservations from 6PM -8PM (everyone starts waiting at 4!!)

I don't know about you but I'm not going to wait in line 2 - 3 hours just to eat at a different restaurant that really didn't seem too different then what they have in the buffet, AND I'm on vacation.

Oh and another thing, if you're out late and decide your hungry from too much dancing/drinking, you might as well pick something up downtown because all the restaurants CLOSE AT 10PM!!

No 24 food, drinks or snacks available as stated. No room service, with the exception of a continental breakfast that works kinda like the cruises do where you have to hang the list outside your door before midnight with a specified time for them to deliver on it.(another thing I'm working on).

Speaking of drinks, specify the liquor you want them to use for your drink (i.e. cuervo not generic) They have them, it's just not what they usually pour.

I'm a vodka soda person so you can really mess that one up (or can you???) but my boyfriend likes all those way too many different types of liquor in there drinks. He didn't seem to NOT like them so I guess where all good.

As for the "sewage" smell people are complaining about. I can tell you right now what that is.

Remember all those people horseback riding along our beach? Well the horses pretty much poop all along that beach ALL DAY LONG. So when the nice breeze picks up, guess what the resort is going to smell like??

The staff is very good about cleaning up the horse messes after they leave for the day. There's no sense in doing it as it happens cause as we all know, they're gunna do that all day so I don't blame them for waiting.

Activities, I also didn't see or hear anyone promoting anything. I really could care less about group activities anyways so I wasn't too disappointed. If that's your thing, it definitely is available, just ask.

The beach.....it's not for swimming..... it's Cabo. This is why the pools are so spectacular. If you're looking for nice beaches to swim at, go to Playa del Carmen or anywhere in the Caribbean.

As for things to do in Cabo. What can I say, there isn't much. To be honest, this was my first time in Cabo and well, I might as well have gone to Newport Beach. Very expensive.

Your cab ride from the airport to the resort will run ya $80. If your up for a tour, you can do the $14 per person shuttle that basically drops off everybody in the van at their resort, so you get to see some of the other popular properties. This is what we did but we lucked out, our resort was the closest one so we got dropped off first.

On the way back to the airport, the cab will be $60 (o.k.??) or you can also do the shuttle but it's a very "speak easy" type of deal and frankly, the guy we set this up with never showed up. We didn't pay for it so at least that was good. We ended up finding another couple that were also waiting for him and we just split the cab.

That's my advice, SPLIT CABS EVERYWHERE!!! Otherwise your trip into town will be quite costly every time ($24 roundtrip).

If you want to walk, you may do so at your own risk. The beach has a big incline and the sand is a bit rough so this is not that easy to do and it takes up some time.

The good thing is that at least if you do this, there are lots of cool authentic Mexican restaurants/bars all along the beach so you can stop and rest a bit before you continue to downtown (or never get there)

Downtown. I really didn't like it. Too commercial, NOT MEXICO AT ALL. When I go to Mexico, I want more of an authentic feel, not Ruth Chris steakhouse.

We did one of the booze cruises (the nice one) and that was great except that unlike all the other booze cruises I've been on in Mexico, they actually hand you a bill at the end of the cruise stating how much a 20% gratuity per person you owe them, instead of you choosing how you were served and how much you would like to tip. Obviously your going to tip but this makes it a bit awkward don't you think?

Overall, The Riu is beautiful! Just keep in mind this is a brand new resort and they are still working out all the glitches and are very under staffed.

If you can wait a few more months, I can probably guarantee the resort will be fabulous.

Just got back from a quick 4 day trip to Cabo San Lucas RIU Palace. I have been to three of the RIU last month I was at the one in Paradise Island bahamas and last year I visitied the RIU in Cancun. I have to say that the RIU in Cabo is by far the best. I ate everything in site and drank everything and never got sick once. The service by the pool was great, you didnt have to leave the pool. They came around with thier portable kegs asking for refills. The resort is in a perfect location over looking the famous Archs and beautiful medano beach. I defenetly recommond this to all locals that live in CAlifornia. The women at the resort were very beautiful as well. Plenty of eyecandy for you single guys. !!!