My friend and I stayed at the RIU Santa Fe Spetember 5th through the 9th. We had a great time, met some nice people. The first thing I will agree with all the other reviewers is that the food is not the best. I am not a picky eater at all, but I was tried of the food after 4 short days. We ate at the Steakhouse one night and I had the rib eye. It was on the thin side but it was good. Did not eat at any of the other restaurant just stuck with the buffet. Other guest told us that the other restaurants were not good.

The rooms are clean and comfortable. My friend complained that the bed was too hard but I loved it. They stocked our refrigerator every day for us. The entire staff was very friendly and pleasant. The entertainment team lead by Eli was great! They had loco hour every day at 3:00 at the pool. The resort is very large and has two pool areas. The pool area facing the beach and ocean was more subdued. The other pool surrounded by the majority of the building was more active.

We booked free shuttle through the hotel's website. The day before we were to leave we were told there was a taxi strike and we would not be use the free shuttle to the airport. The hotel worked out some sort deal with the taxi service and we were shuttled to the airport at 9:15 am, even though our flight did not leave until 2:05 pm. As a matter of fact every one leaving the resort on the 9th had to leave at one time. All in all the resort went out of their way to make us happy and I have to give them credit for trying so hard to please everyone. The company that provided the shuttle service asked that you come to their desk to book your return trip to the airport. This is so that they can try to sell you some excurisons. They sold us a sunset cruise. The sunset cruise canceled and we were upgraded to the dinner cruise for no extra charge. Had a great time on the cruise and would recommend it to everyone. Eco cat cruise.

The beach was practically empty. The crowds were down the beach in front of the ME. This part of the beach was not that swimmable, but nice and clean. Much quieter than the beach on the other end near the Marina. I enjoyed it very much. RIU Santa Fe is great place in San Cabo Lucas for the price and would go back to stay.

My hubby and I stayed 4 nights Sept 4-8
This is our experience and opinions...
Resort, rooms, pools, locations all exceptional
Food pretty bad to us
Liked Buffet the best
Reservations not hard to get but we could only make 1 a day
We did catch them lying to us. Told us the only time Italian was open was Sunday. Not true.
Room was Ocean View -not true either it is Balcony Side View
Asked for a Ocean View and were told the only straight on Ocean views were suites. Not true either. Balcony view was awesome though!
Only beer they serve is Corona, didn't matter to us but did to some.
Beach not swimmable but you can swim further down. Hard to walk on sand though. Good exercise! Did see 2 ladies get rescued from waves and others knocked down. Be smart!
Very hot weather, make late reservations as you eat outside at Mexican and Steakhouse.
Booked parasailing for $35pp from vendor on beach in front of RIU.
Scary trying to get in boat from beach but Parasaling beautiful.
Please tip. These guys work hard and it was so hot.
Booked Arturo for airport transfers.
He met us at airport with our name on a sign. Had a nice air cond van with beer, soda water waiting. Had a laptop and gave us tips and info during ride. Stopped at grocery store for us and went in with us! He is the Greatest! He charges $75 each way. So worth it! He could not pick us up because of Taxis and he called to let us know. He does not charge in advance so we lost no money. Paid $60 to hotel bellman for taxi ride back to airport. Storm the morning we left, thunder, lightning, wind. Waves were awesome.
Felt bad for the people still there as I heard the storm lasted long time.
Resort is huge, we were in Bldg 7 . Pool bar closes at 6pm so you have to walk far to other bar areas.
Pools close at 8 so they can clean. It is understandable. They get pretty gross. Lots of babies in diapers gross!!!!
Not crowded at all. People of all ages and nationalities.
I did get sick when I got home. Went to doc and got some antibiotics. Been to Mexico lots and this was a first.
Tried taking the bus from front gate of resort. 70 cents. You go the wrong direction at first and the bus driver told us when to get off downtown. Stopped at Cabo Wabo. Not to much going on. Took a water taxi back with a tour of Lands Ends included. We have been before but boat ride was refreshing.
I liked that this property had no time share people!
We would not stay again only because of the food.
I stayed in Feb this year with my mom at Villa de Palmar.
Food and drink better there. You also get waited on at pool.
However they time share you constantly.
I will go back and try somewhere else as I do love Cabo!

My husband and I stayed at the Riu Santa Fe from 8/30/08 thru 9/06/08. My friend joined us on 8/31 thru 9/06.

After a long flight check in was a breeze. I even requested that my friend be in the same building with us and they happily accomated us. and a fellow passenger from our plane brought us an icy cold beer. I think thy beat the hostess to the punch.

I was not expecting much as far as the food goes but we all were very happy. There was so much selection.. tons of mexican food and other snacks. We did eat at the steak house one of the evenings. We all had a rib eye. It was on the thin side but that is the way I like them.. e were all happy.

We did activities on and off the resort. I found the staff to be very friendly and hard working! Lupita was my favorite... she was working at our favorite evening bar in the central courtyard "The Ole" bar. No matter what bar you were at it seems that the bartenders were happy to acomadate blended drink request. Try the electric lemonades or the blue oceans.. It seems like we had the same crowd for our evening meet ups at the Ole bar.. a couple of the nights we took a mixed CD we brought along with us into the disco along with the Ole Bar patrons. It was a lot of fun.

The entertainment staff is hard working and friendly. I even joined in on water aroebics on the days we were at the resort. It was lots of fun.

We had about a day and half with no air conditioner. It seems as if it effected the whole building including the palace. We were so happy to come back from the beach to cool rooms.

The resort is very clean rooms, grounds and pools.

The Riu Santa Fe exceeded our expectations and we would stay there again! We are planning a future trip to Playa Del Carmen and we are going to check out the Riu hotels there too.

Hola....we are here still in Sante Fe vacationing for 2 weeks, we have a couple of days left.

Don't listen to the critics. The food is great, plentiful, tasty, and a wide variety to suit all taste buds....and that is just the regular buffets. The specialty restaurants....had no problem reserving spots. With the variety of eateries, you can find a place to eat from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm.

The pools are clean. Our room is quiet. the bar and fridge always stocked.

Front desk was always helpful and tended to our needs.....one just needs to voice them to the appropriate people instead of complaining....no...whining....

We are a quiet couple. Lots of spaces to get away from partiers, kids, smokers. Lots of quiet areas to sit in the pool, loungers, and restaurants. Lots of pool side service.

Love the resort. We stay at a lot of AI, and this was a well deserved vacation spot. Geographically, it is beautiful. The rooms and grounds and pools restaurants are clean.

If all one does is complain, stay home, because you will never be satisfied wherever you go and you are irritating to be with. This is Mexico. Lock things up. Give tips. Treat staff and other guests with respect. Whine and complain, you get what you deserve.

We are definitely coming back.
PS>we have NEVER left the resort to eat anywhere else....didn 't feel we had to ....not bad for a 2 week stay.

WE LOVE SANTE FE AND LOS CABOS....