Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Playa Matapalo, Sardinal Costa Rica
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#1 of 4 hotels in Sardinal
Location
4.3
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.5
Value
4.3
El Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica, con todo incluido las 24 horas, abre todo el año y está situado directamente en la hermosa playa de Matapalo. Nuestros huéspedes pueden utilizar las instalaciones del hotel hermano Riu Guanacaste, excepto la cena. RIU Palace es la categoría más elegante de la cadena hotelera RIU, con hoteles que cumplen los más altos estándares en términos de lujo, excelencia y sofisticación, creando una experiencia única. Su ubicación es ideal por su proximidad al Aeropuerto Daniel Oduber LIR (33 km) y Playas del Coco (18 km) e invita a explorar la zona. El hotel dispone de 538 habitaciones acogedoramente amuebladas con Wi-Fi gratuito y ofrece numerosas comodidades. Relájese en nuestro spa o póngase en forma en el gimnasio. 4 piscinas al aire libre, 1 piscina infantil. Animación diurna y nocturna, así como nuestra discoteca Pacha. Para los amantes de la gastronomía, ofrecemos estaciones de cocina en vivo en nuestro restaurante principal, restaurante japonés, italiano, de fusión y Steakhouse, así como 6 bares y nuestra pastelería y heladería Cappuccino.
#RiuParty en el Hotel Riu Costa Rica.
¿Te gusta disfrutar de las mejores fiestas durante tus vacaciones? ¡RiuParty está hecho para ti! Baila al ritmo de la música de los mejores Dj's y transfórmate con los espectáculos y performance que te ofrece cada fiesta. ¡Aprovecha tu Todo Incluido y disfruta de la mejor diversión con RIU!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Diving
Babysitting
Parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Fitness classes
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Aerobics
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Table tennis
Nightclub / DJ
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Airport transportation
Taxi service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Laptop safe
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Ocean view
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Family Resort
Languages Spoken
Spanish
Location
40Car recommended
Grade: 40 out of 100
112Restaurantswithin 5 miles
17Attractionswithin 5 miles
Playa Matapalo, Sardinal Costa Rica
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Solid resort, staff is helpful enough. Some can be a bit difficult if you don't know Spanish. Mainly here to rave about our private tour with Luis Alavarez available through Nexus. If you can, book a private 6 or 8 hour tour with him. He knows all the best spots and takes you off the beaten path of the normal tours. If you speak Spanish it will help but his English is great as well. Can't recommend him enough!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Make sure to have a Spanish translation ready for best experience!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Guest OTAs, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded today
Dear Noah E., We thank you very much for taking the time to leave your wonderful review and for staying with us. It is fantastic to read that you loved it. Thank you very much! We wish you a beautiful day. Loving Regards, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hotel's Favorite
I am a single mother who was travelling with my children aged 9 and 12 in Dec 2022. Since I was travelling solo I wanted to ensure that the place I chose was safe and the Palace did not disappoint! I would definitely go back and recommend Food - we all really enjoyed the food here. The buffets were HUGE and there is no way you couldn't find something enjoyable to eat - lots of selection and it was all cooked properly. We also tried the Italian and the Steak house and had no issues getting into either. Both were great and no complaints. At lunch time each day they had a different special snack bar beside the pool that was yummy. No one got sick (Whoo hoo) Resort - clean and well maintained!! Not far from the airport which was a huge bonus Room - no complaints! It was large, clean and the fridge was stocked daily. Coffee machine and liquor was supplied. Our view was of the garden area which was nice as you could see wildlife. Towels were always refreshed. Staff - all were friendly and made our stay so enjoyable!! When we checked in our room had 1 King bed vs 2 queens and when I went to the front desk the issue was corrected immediately even though I wasnt worried about it. Beach - its a public beach so yes, there are locals on it. All were friendly! We had no issues with the vendors either and a polite "no thank you" was all you had to say and they wouldnt ask again. Lots of chairs and shade as well. Bring down bananas and grapes to feed the monkeys that are to the left of the beach. Tip - they are picky about their food options and dont like strawberries lol. Waterpark - we loved having this option! so much fun and its right on property. Excursions - we booked an all day private tour with Wilton (first tent on the beach that you come to). It was a very long day but we had a fabulous time with our guide. We never felt un safe and would recommend. We also did the zip lining that was close by and it was perfect for my childrens ages.…
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
8 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Jun 7, 2023
Dear tracybug, We appreciate your kind words. We are glad that you have enjoyed the services provided and to know that we lived up to your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Best regards, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
To start off with I am a fan of Riu resorts and always stay at them. Previously I have never been let down. This Resort has been the exception. Upon check-in they had not looked at my requests to have two double beds that had been made months ahead with customer service. Walking in the room humidity was high the air conditioner was not holding up. This unfortunately was the case with my friends rooms as well. There was a slight stain on the wall, which grew much darker over the next few days being that it was mold. The refrigerator had not been stocked at all and took several hours to get someone to come give us drinkable water and other items stocked in the fridge. I went out on my patio and when I closed the door the handle fell off in my hand, taking a few hours for maintenance to come fix. My safe was already locked upon checking in and I was told there was no manager that could unlock it until 10:00 p.m.. they unlocked it and we put our stuff in the safe only to find that it would not unlock the next day giving an error of b a t t. The manager finally came after I raised cane and found that the batteries were loose. The manager sent a bottle of wine to our room later to apologize for the problems we went to put it in the fridge only to find that the fridge had quit working. By about day four the mold was very dark on the walls and was beginning to cause us to have breathing problems we requested that they come and clean the wall and we're told that they would do that the next morning when they clean the rooms. The mold was never cleaned and we had a miserable experience coughing while we were there. The food and the experience throughout the resort was good the only problem was the rooms. The rooms themselves are very dated you can tell that they have slapped some paint over old rooms to try to freshen them but they need a complete revamp. If they did a remodel of the guest rooms this Resort would be excellent as the rest of the resort is wonderful just not your room.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: I would stay somewhere else in Costa Rica. Go to the Rius elsewhere.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Guest OTAs, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded yesterday
Dear Mark D, Many thanks for sharing your experience with us. We are very sorry to hear of the disappointment you experienced during this stay, since we want all of our guests to experience some fantastic and care-free holidays while staying with us. We value your feedback and will of course share it with the responsible team, as we understand that there is always room for improvement and as we sincerely hope that you would still consider staying with us in the future and give us a chance to deliver a more enjoyable experience. Best of hopes, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The resort was beautiful. The staff was very pleasant and helpful. The facilities are clean and personalized. I had a chance to go for my bday and they decorated my room with balloons and chocolate covered strawberries. Rooms included a dispenser for alcohol to self serve when not at a bar. Room service 24/7 (limited menu but good for snacking). The buffet was the best food. Restaurants get full fast, so get there early if interested. The beach and swim up bar are amazing. The resort is a 4min drive from a park that included zip lining, animal conservatory, paddle boarding, etc. I would recommend this resort to anyone traveling to the area.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Guest OTAs, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 2 days ago
Dear Bookerkd, we appreciate you taking the time to share your great review here! We are happy to know that you were so pleased with our service and we look forward to hosting you again in the near future. We wish you all the best, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel was really nice. Water was not pretty like Caribbean, it was cloudy. Employees was great. Food was great, they should organize the restaurant reservations better to make it fair to all. Overall trip was nice. Water bottles must be called in using room service. Limited 2 bottles per day.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Call water bottles in using room telephone. Find out exact times for restaurants for breakfast...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Kimberly W., Thank you very much for choosing us and your valuable feedback. It is very rewarding to learn you enjoyed your stay. We will forward your observations for further improvements. We really look forward to hosting you again and we wish you have a beautiful day. Kindest wishes, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I don't have one negative thing to say about this resort, the grounds or the staff. The food was great and the bartenders made our visit fun! We watched 2 evening shows while we were there from Sept 8-12, and were very impressed, the dancing was spectacular! My favorite bartender was Gerant! He remembered me and my drink whenever I saw him and wanted a hug before we left for home. Sooo sweet! I have recommended this resort to my son for his honeymoon. My husband had a birthday while we were at Riu Palace, and we came back to a room filled with balloons, flowers and chocolate covered strawberries with a happy birthday note. They went above and beyond!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Kathy, Thank you very much for your fantastic review and for letting us prove that the positive reviews reflect the reality of our hotel. We are thrilled to learn your husband liked his birthday celebration. We will pass on your kind comments. And we wish you both, all the best! Loving Greetings, Kathy, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Beautiful beachside resort with great amenities, incredibly friendly staff and service, and amazing beachfront and views of the mountains and rainforest. We spent 4 nights at the Riu Palace and had an amazing time. The food and restaurants were great. The pool and bars were fantastic. The customer service were top notch. Riu Palace had everything we needed for a relaxing experience for our first time in Coast Rica. My only regret is we couldn't have stayed longer.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Cody L., The best compliment is reading you wished to stay longer. We are very grateful to you for having chosen our hotel, it is great to read you had a nice stay. We will let the staff their work is appreciated and you loved your stay. Looking forward to seeing you soon, Cody! Kindest wishes, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I highly recommend the riu palace, the ocean view jr suite was so romantic. The view was absolutely amazing, and pool Side bar is a great place to mingle with other guest while enjoying a refreshing cocktail
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Heaven G, Thank you for sharing your experience. We are very happy to receive a review like yours and we hope that, soon, you will give us the opportunity to welcome you again in one of our facilities and provide you with an equal or better experience than the one you had. We look forward to welcoming you with open arms. Yours faithfully, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I plan a yearly trip of about 20 people every year to different Resorts around the world.. For next year we have picked this resort and this has been The worst customer service I've ever dealt with. Just in case you decide to go as a group, just know that you will have to wire them the money and be responsible for everyone's payment that is going in the group. They are not even recognizing majority of my party as a group because some of us have chosen to pick different size rooms. I have never heard of such ridiculousness. I sure hope this place is worth the trouble that I am going through just to get on this resort. I'm Already exhausted and my trip isn't until next year!!!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Laquanda A, Many thanks for sharing your feedback with us. We regret to read that your first impressions has not lived up to your expectations. We sincerely hope that during your vacation we are able to change your perspective about our services. We wish you all the best, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We love staying at the RIU whenever possible but RIU Costa Rica's staff, entertainment crew and cleanlinesss was amazing! Every time we turned around, there was someone cleaning something, asking us if we needed anything and getting us involved in pool games and activitites. The entertainment staff remembered our names for the whole week (Leida, Sharkey and Chicken Little were the BEST) and always got us involved in games and activities! We would definitely go back!
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Jeannie S, Thank you so much for visiting us and posting this review. We are glad you fully enjoyed your stay, and appreciated the exceptional service. It would be great to see you again soon. Until then, all the best! Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Sardinal area.
PRICE RANGE
$280 - $479 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacasteGulf of PapagayoSardinal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
538
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Claim Your ListingHOTEL RIU PALACE COSTA RICA $193 ($̶2̶1̶5̶) - Updated 2023 Prices & Resort (All-Inclusive) Reviews - Guanacaste
Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Nearby attractions include Playas del coco (3.9 miles), The Monkey Farm (2.0 miles), and Playa Danta (4.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Conveniently located restaurants include Guayoyo Coffee House, Maracuya Beach Front, and Numu Taproom & Bistro By Chef Nicolas Devenelle.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and fitness classes during their stay.
Does Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica have airport transportation?
Yes, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Does Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.