I just got back from the Riu Santa Fe yesterday and I had the best trip of my life. The Riu Santa Fe is a beautiful hotel that can accommodate all types of trips and groups. I am a 19 year old who went to Cabo with 3 other college students. My trip would be classified under Spring Break, but through all the groups I met I found out that this hotel is perfect for whatever your looking for. We booked through the Riu website and got a great deal $1100 a person with round trip airfare and ride to and from the airport. stayed in 51**(2nd floor) no elevators. My review will be based on my experience by days, but I will only touch on the new things we did in each day.

Day 1- Checkin day
We got into the Cabo airport at 3. It took a half hour to get through customs and grab our bags. We organized our ride to and from the airport through the hotel. Make sure you have your confirmation form. We forgot ours, so it took 30 minutes to comunicate in half broken english and spanish to get our ride. Could have solved this problem by just bringing our confirmation process. Ride from the airport took 30 minutes in a full van. Checkin at the hotel was very fast and very organized. We got margaritas as soon as we walked in and one of the security guards cut roses for the ladies in my group. Everything about daily life at the Riu was explained. We were put in 2 rooms with 1 bed each instead of two doubles. We told the front desk and were fully moved within 15 minutes. Great fix and great service. Whole checkin process took an hour. We had dinner at the buffet. Food was great and there were a lot of options, there is beer and wine in all of the restaurants. After dinner we hit up the 3 evening bars (there are 8 total i will touch on all of them during this review) There are usually 3 bartenders at each bar at all times. Even so the bars can get crowded, but we had no problem getting to much to drink way to fast. (beware since the booze is free you always want to say "uno mas" (one more)) Somehow my friend and I got volunteered to go up on stage to compete in a married couples contest (we got second). There are kids shows on stage in the early evening and a more adult show later in the evening. All the guest were extremely friendly and welcoming. After my friends went to go to bed, i had no trouble making a bunch of friends in multiple groups that i would hang out with for the rest of the trip.

Day 2 - First real day at the resort
Woke up early and found the 24 sports bar (great for irish coffees early in the morning and for after hours partying between 2-6am) Had a few drinks and ate breakfast at the buffet. Good selection and good food. 10 am is when the 3 pool bars (all of them are also swim ups) open and was there for opening. Never had too much trouble getting served at anytime during the day at any bar. During the day i tanned on the beach (ignore the locals trying to sell you stuff they are everywhere in cabo and you can not avoid them) played tequilla volleyball in the resort pool. Hey it was an organized activity. Afternoon buffet also has a good selection and good food. In the evening we tried to go downtown but forgot IDs so we came back and checked out the night club, average at the club is 18. Most people try to head downtown so only the new people checkout the club. there is also a bar in there but there is only one bartender.

Day 3 -5 Full Days
In the evenings we went downtown to the nightclubs. Can get there by taxi for $2 a person. Cabo Wabo is not what it is was rated to be, but was still fun. The zoo and El squid row were mad houses and i enjoyed every moment of it. If you are young and full of energy at midnight make sure you go to all the clubs downtown. Had dinner at the Asain and Mexican Restraunts, both were decent. Also one evening we had dinner downtown at the restaurants right on the harbor. It was well worth it just bring a jacket so you dont get cold.

Day 6 - Last Full Day
If there is anything you really want to do during your day in Cabo this is your last chance so it will be a very full day. We checked out the Swap meet (flea market) for several hours and picked up souvenirs for our friends. Had a lot of fun negotiating prices. Also got a giant Henna tattoo on my shoulder (about the size of a book for $10)

Day 7 - Check out day
Check out was a breeze, we had all our keys and towel cards in order so it took 5 minutes. Your organized ride or cab picks you up right in front of the hotel and we did not see any other travelers have any problems with this. For going through customs make sure you do not lose your forms that you got on your way in or there will be a $50 charge at the airport.

Misc Notes
For an all inclusive resort at the price we paid food, booze and the hotel were amazing. The hotel is very clean, there is an entire set of the staff who are cleaning at all times. There is a smell of sewage when you really try to smell but it is unobtrusive. The smell comes from the unpottable water used to water the plants and the grass. Only really noticed it once during my entire stay, and it was when i stepped in a puddle in the grass. Security is great felt safe at all times. Restrooms are not well spaced, but didnt mind those trips too much. If you cant get a drink at a bar find a college girl in a bikini and her get the drink it might help.

Things I wish I did on my trip
Go downtown more in the evenings to the night clubs and checked out each of them. Go on a booze cruise during the day. Go para sailing, jetskiing, and go on a jeep ride.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me..
To the people i met on this trip, thank you for the time of my life. I was known by many names in Cabo but some of them were. If you remember me from the trip March 13-19 2008 please feel free to email me and we will catch up.

-Ben, Jew, The hebrew hammer, & Mouchi