Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Playa Matapalo, Sardinal Costa Rica
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About
#1 of 3 hotels in Sardinal
Location
4.3
Rooms
4.3
Value
4.3
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.5
Sleep Quality
4.4
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Trendy
Languages Spoken
Spanish
Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Bar / lounge
Beach
Diving
Babysitting
Parking
Wifi
Fitness classes
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
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
Room features
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Laptop safe
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Ocean view
Suites
Location
Playa Matapalo, Sardinal Costa Rica
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 40 out of 100
40
122 Restaurants
within 5 miles
Reviews
4.0
7,473 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Despite its picturesque beachfront setting, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica has received mixed feedback from guests. While the service is often highlighted as friendly and the hotel is praised for its clean pools and lively atmosphere, many guests feel that the value is diminished due to costly services, outdated decor, and less-than-impressive dining options.
Rooms at this resort are frequently described as dated and sometimes musty, with a need for better maintenance. Additionally, while the hotel's cleanliness generally receives positive comments, noise disturbances from construction and loud music have been a point of contention for those seeking a peaceful stay.
Location
Secluded
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Efficient
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Detailed Reviews
The rooms were comfortable, it may be time for you to look at new matteresses they seemed worn. I wouild suggest a small laminated note card by the phone with extensions for room service, front desk etc. Had to look in handbook to find those. Or I think you can purchase phones with labels in place? All of our rooms had problems with the keys we probably went to the desk half dozen times to get new keys. I know my son had the same problem. The pool area was very well maintained and thought out. If anything the closing time of 6PM seemed very early we are used to staying a properties that do not close until 9PM. Your restaurants were great certainly ejnoyed the main buffet our favorite specialty restaurant was Asian but we enjoyed the others as well. Wait staff were always pleasant and offered assistance all the time. Transportation to and from the airport was a plus and much appreciated the vans were always clean the drivers professional and pleasant to speak with. Arrival was efficient and we appreciated bellmen help wth luggage for sure. Reservations were easy to work with much appreciated their assistance since we had six rooms. As an aside note I think you are missing out on a revenue source. Lounge chairs poolside seemed to be at a premium and we rarely found any, I would have been willing to pay a daily fee of say $5.00 per day to reserve a chair poolside, you could add location of chairs similar to how the airlines show seat arrangements, Or you could have room numbers on the chairs. Off the pool they could be first come first serve.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: March 2024
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.
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Mar 25, 2024
Dear Rick, We cannot thank you enough for your great feedback. We will pass on your evaluation to our lovely team. Wishing you come back soon. Kindest 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.
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.
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.
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These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
It's not a bad hotel; however, it is far from providing a 5-star experience. The value for money is not met compared to similar hotels in the region that far exceed it. The room doors often get stuck, the key cards frequently malfunction, and the safe tends to lock itself. The food is very good and varied, though not of 5-star quality. The pool cleaning staff often ask guests to move their chairs so they can clean during operational hours. The restaurant staff is very friendly, but it's evident they are overwhelmed.
When I requested a room change because the door was locking, my family and I had to search for rooms in different parts of the hotel on our own at night, without any assistance from the hotel staff. We also did not receive help moving our belongings, even though we were accompanied by elderly adults.
This hotel needs to invest in its infrastructure, the quality of its menu (food and drinks), and customer service. Guests are paying for a 5-star experience and rest. I am not completely dissatisfied, but I would prefer to spend my money on hotels that offer a better experience and facilities.
It is not a bad hotel, however, they are far from offering the experience of a 5 star hotel, the price vs quality ratio has not been met in comparison, there are similar category hotels in the region that far exceeds them.
The doors of the rooms usually lock, the cards to open them disfigure, the safe has to lock itself. As for the food it is very good and with variety although not of a five star quality. Swimming pool cleaning staff usually ask guests to move chairs for them to make the toilet at times where they are already operational. The staff at the restaurants are very friendly but obviously they are overcrowded.
When I requested a change of room because the door was blocked, at night my family and I had to search for rooms in different locations of the hotel without receiving any assistance from the hotel staff, we also did not receive it when moving our belongings even when I was accompanied by older adults.
It is a hotel that must invest in its infrastructure, in the quality of its menu (food and drink) and in the customer service/guest that pays for a 5-star and restful experience.
I'm not leaving entirely unsatisfied, but I'd rather spend on hotels that offer a better experience and facilities.
When I requested a room change because the door was locking, my family and I had to search for rooms in different parts of the hotel on our own at night, without any assistance from the hotel staff. We also did not receive help moving our belongings, even though we were accompanied by elderly adults.
This hotel needs to invest in its infrastructure, the quality of its menu (food and drinks), and customer service. Guests are paying for a 5-star experience and rest. I am not completely dissatisfied, but I would prefer to spend my money on hotels that offer a better experience and facilities.
It is not a bad hotel, however, they are far from offering the experience of a 5 star hotel, the price vs quality ratio has not been met in comparison, there are similar category hotels in the region that far exceeds them.
The doors of the rooms usually lock, the cards to open them disfigure, the safe has to lock itself. As for the food it is very good and with variety although not of a five star quality. Swimming pool cleaning staff usually ask guests to move chairs for them to make the toilet at times where they are already operational. The staff at the restaurants are very friendly but obviously they are overcrowded.
When I requested a change of room because the door was blocked, at night my family and I had to search for rooms in different locations of the hotel without receiving any assistance from the hotel staff, we also did not receive it when moving our belongings even when I was accompanied by older adults.
It is a hotel that must invest in its infrastructure, in the quality of its menu (food and drink) and in the customer service/guest that pays for a 5-star and restful experience.
I'm not leaving entirely unsatisfied, but I'd rather spend on hotels that offer a better experience and facilities.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: September 2024Trip 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.
I want to start with a big compliment to the resort. We were scheduled to stay for 5 days but, the morning of the 5th day, the airport closed. RIU allowed us to stay an additional 2 nights and charged us half price for our room which, of course, included food and activities. We all got to stay in our same rooms and didn't have to find housing elsewhere - there was no where else to stay since the hotels in Liberia were full. RIU could have charged us full price and we wouldn't have a choice but to pay so we were thankful that they accommodated us.
On to the review: The weather was a challenge - we were there just outside of rainy season but it rained or poured for most of every day. The cleaning staff did a great job of keeping the floors mopped and there were lots of Caution: wet floors signs. We would have liked to have more activities that were inside due to the rain. There was a bulletin board of activities posted but it was out near the pool - it would have been nice to have it in the lobby. There were also no descriptions of the activities so you weren't too sure what you wanted to try. Food: We very much enjoyed the food - great service by all waitstaff. The restaurants were excellent. although we never got to the steakhouse due to the rain and humidity - it is open air and we didn't want to be wet or hot. Portions were good and the buffet always had something new and delicious. The Japanese restaurant was EXCELLENT! Rooms: The housekeeping staff was good at the beginning but the service waned as the week went on. The rooms were nice (LOVED the rainshower ) but somewhat dated. Big jet tub in the middle of the room was used to lay out wet clothes.
The only reason that we would not return here is because there are a million other places in the world to visit but we would recommend this resort to others.
On to the review: The weather was a challenge - we were there just outside of rainy season but it rained or poured for most of every day. The cleaning staff did a great job of keeping the floors mopped and there were lots of Caution: wet floors signs. We would have liked to have more activities that were inside due to the rain. There was a bulletin board of activities posted but it was out near the pool - it would have been nice to have it in the lobby. There were also no descriptions of the activities so you weren't too sure what you wanted to try. Food: We very much enjoyed the food - great service by all waitstaff. The restaurants were excellent. although we never got to the steakhouse due to the rain and humidity - it is open air and we didn't want to be wet or hot. Portions were good and the buffet always had something new and delicious. The Japanese restaurant was EXCELLENT! Rooms: The housekeeping staff was good at the beginning but the service waned as the week went on. The rooms were nice (LOVED the rainshower ) but somewhat dated. Big jet tub in the middle of the room was used to lay out wet clothes.
The only reason that we would not return here is because there are a million other places in the world to visit but we would recommend this resort to others.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: November 2024
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.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Dec 5, 2024
Dear Jane L., It is wonderful to know you enjoyed your stay. We strive for excellence, so we are pleased to read about the positive aspects. Thank you very much. Looking forward to welcoming you again. And we wish you, all the best! Kindest Greetings! 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.
good service, the food is fine but it could improve the quality and variety since even in the buffet the food was the same every day, the à la carte restaurants kept the same menu on the days we were and lack children's options so usually we should have always gone through the restaurant with buffet. The room and require paint retouching, the shower did not work, we must have used the type "phone" to bathe, and you can see damage to the doors and walls. The mattress of both beds very hard, making it difficult to fall asleep. The hair dryer did short circuit but I have to say they quickly sent someone and made the change. It is suggested to use orange juice and not pulps or packets of powder to prepare fresh. The pools lack a children's pra but we managed to find an area to enjoy with our children, the water park part is good but we did not intend to spend there every day added to one of those days was closed for maintenance. The staff always very attentive and with great willingness to give excellent care. The cleanliness of the rooms and facilities in general is very good.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Automatically translated
Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
First impressions very good, easy check in but no help offered to take you to your room which is unusual. Lobby bar very noisy but think that’s due to the building itself! Food and drink on offer 24 hours a day if you want it, albeit just snacks late at night but that’s all you need. Buffet restaurant typical AI, plenty of choice, you would not go hungry. We were not impressed with the steak restaurant so only went once. Italian became our go to as there was enough choice due to the main menu and their own buffet selection, this restaurant was also quieter. All the staff were lovely in all bars and restaurants, there was just one young waiter who kept telling us his name in the entertainment area as if touting for tips, he grated on us!! Grounds and pool areas very well maintained, although we agree with other comments that the walk to steak restaurant needs more lighting at night. Entertainment again, usual standard but they tried hard. Now to the rooms, very disappointing, in need of a serious refurbishment. Very tired, damaged glass tiles, very tatty furniture and very damp, you can smell the damp as soon as you enter the room, this may improve as they go into the dry season?We found the beds and pillows ok ,we slept well and loved being woken up to the sounds of the wildlife. We had a garden view and looked hard for monkeys but didn’t see any!! Location is isolated, not much to walk to apart from the Monkey Bar and we understand you can walk to the Eco Park but we didn’t try this. The Monkey Bar was worth a visit.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Dec 1, 2024
Dear Maureen398, Thank you for taking the time to provide us your feedback on your stay at our property. We are truly sorry to read of your dissatisfaction with some aspecta as we never wish for our guests feel any discomfort. We have noted your review to ensure we can work on improving our service delivery and offerings at the hotel accordingly. 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.
It was 37 of us in which brought their business $55,500 US dollars. We went there to celebra
te my friend 60 th birthday. The food was very bland. I lived a week off of mostly salads and fruit in which is not my usual diet. I couldn’t wait to get back to the US to eat. There wasn’t any good entertainment there so we ventured out on excursions in which was more money to there country. A birthday dinner was planned and the planner miscounted the guests. So we spoke to the manager and she accommodated us with 4 chairs but we needed 5 . They left me standing there for at least 30 minutes while they fed the other guests. After aggressively conversing with Juan and threatening about the reviews he reluctantly brought me a chair and tried to catch me up with the food that had already been served as an appetizers. I had to ask him for the appetizers that the other guests had received. Juan at Papagayo buffet had a very distasteful attitude from the beginning of service. During the dinner there was a serious invasion of huge raccoons jumping on tables where guests had previously sat to eat their leftovers off the plates. This was normal ritual for the animals they were comfortable and aggressively eating. They received better service than we did. Do not book excursions on the beach you will be disappointed. They’re not a professional company probably don’t have any insurance either. The Catamaran was a small yacht type of boat with the worse bath room the window was left open and the tissue paper was wet. I have never seen a rest room like this, it was so disgusting dirty and no running water to wash your hands. I held it until I hit the ocean. They served us BBQ chicken , fish and assorted fruit so with this being said it was running water near the food. The Arenal buffet was clean and professional service the food needed more seasoning.
te my friend 60 th birthday. The food was very bland. I lived a week off of mostly salads and fruit in which is not my usual diet. I couldn’t wait to get back to the US to eat. There wasn’t any good entertainment there so we ventured out on excursions in which was more money to there country. A birthday dinner was planned and the planner miscounted the guests. So we spoke to the manager and she accommodated us with 4 chairs but we needed 5 . They left me standing there for at least 30 minutes while they fed the other guests. After aggressively conversing with Juan and threatening about the reviews he reluctantly brought me a chair and tried to catch me up with the food that had already been served as an appetizers. I had to ask him for the appetizers that the other guests had received. Juan at Papagayo buffet had a very distasteful attitude from the beginning of service. During the dinner there was a serious invasion of huge raccoons jumping on tables where guests had previously sat to eat their leftovers off the plates. This was normal ritual for the animals they were comfortable and aggressively eating. They received better service than we did. Do not book excursions on the beach you will be disappointed. They’re not a professional company probably don’t have any insurance either. The Catamaran was a small yacht type of boat with the worse bath room the window was left open and the tissue paper was wet. I have never seen a rest room like this, it was so disgusting dirty and no running water to wash your hands. I held it until I hit the ocean. They served us BBQ chicken , fish and assorted fruit so with this being said it was running water near the food. The Arenal buffet was clean and professional service the food needed more seasoning.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Aug 26, 2024
Dear Hope F, Thank you very much for taking time to tell us about your stay. We do our best to provide an excellent service experience, therefore, it is disappointing to read that some aspects of your stay did not live up to your expectations. In regards to our food offer, it is unfortunate to learn, that regardless our chefs’ efforts, we could not meet your taste. In order to fulfil every guest expectations regarding food, our main buffet and theme restaurants offer a great selection of exquisitely presented local and international dishes which are prepared daily with the utmost care and using fresh ingredients. We regret that we failed to live up to your wishes and we do check daily our food offer, combining quality and variety catering for all tastes. Your review will be revised further, as we hope that you will give us another chance to host you and offer you the best stay. 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.
We arrived Monday Nov 27, 2023 and Departed Dec 4, 2023
Let's start with Sunwing, never fly with them again coming out of Toronto, Ontario or returning to the same,service slow confusing and very long no place to plug in our laptop on the plane.
Upon arrival at Liberia we were greeted with kindness and the staff very nice in taking care of our personal things with the journey to the Riu, Upon arrival we were amazed at the size of the resort. We checked in and our journey started.
Our room was clean and comfortable. We were on the courtyard side overlooking the pools and palm trees beautiful scenery we could see the ocean I believe most rooms can see the ocean from the vantage point we could see.
There are 4 main restaurants, Japanese(least favorite, Italian (second least favorite), Steak House (excellent), Fusion (excellent) this for dinner plus the buffet. We were advised to dress up for dinners at the restaurants in the evening so we brought proper attire yet at the Fusion dinner they were letting in people with bathing attire/shorts/women with wraps they were not enforcing their own policy we found this at the Steak House as well. By the way they serve surf and turf (lobster) their food was cooked to perfection by the way you wanted your steak cooked.
The pool side service was excellent. We want to thank Jeremy, Christopher, Edgar and the whole bar team staff for catering to our every wish for different beverages, creating special drinks and by the way they have latte's, cappuccino, espresso and you can have it anyway you like from the pool bar.
Entertainment crew pool side was fabulous, always having games to play.
Poolside also a bar-b-q each day serving sausages, roasted chicken, burgers(most of the time they were raw if you like it that way)
There are no washroom facilities close to the pools they should work on this we either had to go to the lobby which was quite the distance and lots of stairs or back to our rooms. We were lucky we were on the Lobby floor which connected to elevator and direct to the lobby lots of walking at this resort.
They do have a smoke area with tables,concrete benches and is in a secluded area and has signage that you can smoke in that area , or you had to walk down to the beach if you wanted to smoke. Otherwise no smoking within the facility.
They do have a pool with slides for adults and children you just had to find it.
We also suggest to remove the old square jacuzzi tubs within the room and possibly revamp the whole shower and toilet area bring it up to-date with some modern plumbing and vanity. We found the tub was a trip hazard if you were in the dark.
Television was ok they need to replace those as well they are tiny they are old.
No signage for the restaurants or bathrooms some seniors were walking around trying to find their way.
We will come back to Costa Rica but we will try another resort experience and fly with another airline that is not as slow and doesn't have so many technical problems.
Let's start with Sunwing, never fly with them again coming out of Toronto, Ontario or returning to the same,service slow confusing and very long no place to plug in our laptop on the plane.
Upon arrival at Liberia we were greeted with kindness and the staff very nice in taking care of our personal things with the journey to the Riu, Upon arrival we were amazed at the size of the resort. We checked in and our journey started.
Our room was clean and comfortable. We were on the courtyard side overlooking the pools and palm trees beautiful scenery we could see the ocean I believe most rooms can see the ocean from the vantage point we could see.
There are 4 main restaurants, Japanese(least favorite, Italian (second least favorite), Steak House (excellent), Fusion (excellent) this for dinner plus the buffet. We were advised to dress up for dinners at the restaurants in the evening so we brought proper attire yet at the Fusion dinner they were letting in people with bathing attire/shorts/women with wraps they were not enforcing their own policy we found this at the Steak House as well. By the way they serve surf and turf (lobster) their food was cooked to perfection by the way you wanted your steak cooked.
The pool side service was excellent. We want to thank Jeremy, Christopher, Edgar and the whole bar team staff for catering to our every wish for different beverages, creating special drinks and by the way they have latte's, cappuccino, espresso and you can have it anyway you like from the pool bar.
Entertainment crew pool side was fabulous, always having games to play.
Poolside also a bar-b-q each day serving sausages, roasted chicken, burgers(most of the time they were raw if you like it that way)
There are no washroom facilities close to the pools they should work on this we either had to go to the lobby which was quite the distance and lots of stairs or back to our rooms. We were lucky we were on the Lobby floor which connected to elevator and direct to the lobby lots of walking at this resort.
They do have a smoke area with tables,concrete benches and is in a secluded area and has signage that you can smoke in that area , or you had to walk down to the beach if you wanted to smoke. Otherwise no smoking within the facility.
They do have a pool with slides for adults and children you just had to find it.
We also suggest to remove the old square jacuzzi tubs within the room and possibly revamp the whole shower and toilet area bring it up to-date with some modern plumbing and vanity. We found the tub was a trip hazard if you were in the dark.
Television was ok they need to replace those as well they are tiny they are old.
No signage for the restaurants or bathrooms some seniors were walking around trying to find their way.
We will come back to Costa Rica but we will try another resort experience and fly with another airline that is not as slow and doesn't have so many technical problems.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Take a camera the view is great. Wi-fi worked no problems. Take your time exploring the area.
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.
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Dec 11, 2023
Dear 5star60, Thank you for providing your honest feedback. It is unfortunate to hear you weren't completely satisfied with your recent experience, as our policy is to make every attempt to please our guests. You may rest assured that we will share all your impressions with our management team for a proper follow up as guest service is our absolute main priority and we sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome you back again for a more satisfying experience. With our best wishes we remain, 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.
After checking into one of our rooms, found the smell of humidity and mold in the room overwhelming. Dirty sheets and dirty floor, like the room was never cleaned at all. The front desk did accommodate us and gave us new room. Overall, the stay was enjoyable and I certainly felt like I got what I paid for. For $137/night or something like the value was there. Can't expect The Ritz at that price. Before arriving we were sent two complimentary massage passes, which was a nice touch.
Like other reviews have stated, the decor is outdated, the food was slightly above average with a decent variety. The Steakhouse was good, but unlike other All-Inclusiveness we've stayed at, they did not have reservations at the restaurants which was annoying. If you didn't get in line around 5:30, you weren't getting in.
I thought the service was good, they were constantly cleaning the floors throughout the grounds. Poolside service was good and servers even came down to the beach to take orders. Our maid for the week did a great job, room was always cleaned before midday. Front desk were helpful and I didn't find one person in service who didn't speak English. So much for my Rosetta Stone subscription!
The entertainment was good and it was enjoyable to have live performances every night. The Queen cover band was fun and the other bands that played music were good also.
PROS:
Price/Value-you do get a lot for what you pay for.
Location-40 mins from airport and nice beach front with activities for hire (jet skis, catamaran/snorkeling excursions)
Lots of entertainment things to do: shows, water-park, poolside activities, spa, fitness center, beach
Tour companies on site to help book off property excursions.
Staff were genuinely nice and accommodating.
WiFi worked well on property.
Feeding the White Face monkeys bananas down by the beach was highlight of the trip!
Cons:
Construction-during our stay in August, there was major construction going on next to the hotel and they weren't afraid to start pounding away at 6:30am.
Decor, felt like I stepped back into a 1980's Patrick Nagel painting. (Although I think I heard that renovations are coming soon.)
Musty rooms (I get it, it's humid in the tropics, but the condensation throughout the room from the AC was not pleasant. I always felt wet)
TV (Not one TV in 3 different rooms we had could produce a clear image. Come on, it's 2024, welcome HDTVs)
Overall, I felt this resort did a good job in making sure that it was clean and that the guests were taken care of.
Remember when you travel, You get more Flies with Honey than with Vinegar.
Like other reviews have stated, the decor is outdated, the food was slightly above average with a decent variety. The Steakhouse was good, but unlike other All-Inclusiveness we've stayed at, they did not have reservations at the restaurants which was annoying. If you didn't get in line around 5:30, you weren't getting in.
I thought the service was good, they were constantly cleaning the floors throughout the grounds. Poolside service was good and servers even came down to the beach to take orders. Our maid for the week did a great job, room was always cleaned before midday. Front desk were helpful and I didn't find one person in service who didn't speak English. So much for my Rosetta Stone subscription!
The entertainment was good and it was enjoyable to have live performances every night. The Queen cover band was fun and the other bands that played music were good also.
PROS:
Price/Value-you do get a lot for what you pay for.
Location-40 mins from airport and nice beach front with activities for hire (jet skis, catamaran/snorkeling excursions)
Lots of entertainment things to do: shows, water-park, poolside activities, spa, fitness center, beach
Tour companies on site to help book off property excursions.
Staff were genuinely nice and accommodating.
WiFi worked well on property.
Feeding the White Face monkeys bananas down by the beach was highlight of the trip!
Cons:
Construction-during our stay in August, there was major construction going on next to the hotel and they weren't afraid to start pounding away at 6:30am.
Decor, felt like I stepped back into a 1980's Patrick Nagel painting. (Although I think I heard that renovations are coming soon.)
Musty rooms (I get it, it's humid in the tropics, but the condensation throughout the room from the AC was not pleasant. I always felt wet)
TV (Not one TV in 3 different rooms we had could produce a clear image. Come on, it's 2024, welcome HDTVs)
Overall, I felt this resort did a good job in making sure that it was clean and that the guests were taken care of.
Remember when you travel, You get more Flies with Honey than with Vinegar.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Aug 27, 2024
Dear Abramsutes, Thank you very much for choosing us for your holiday. It is very disappointing to learn about this, since it is never our wish to make any guest’s holiday less than perfect. Needless to say, we appreciate you took the time to share your feedback, so we can inform the management department about your impression. 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.
Amazing staff that do what they can to make your stay as nice as possible, you have a choice of restaurants, we mainly went to the main buffet restaurant which had everything you would want to eat from salads to sushi, burgers, pizza, meats and the desserts were great, also 2 different types of soup.
The shows in the evening were very good, most people ate first then went to watch the show which finished around 10.30 so bars closed about 11 pm, good for everybody who likes to go to bed earlier and get up early.
The rooms were cleaned daily if that is what you want, very clean, comfortable, optics with gin, rum, vodka and whisky with a little fridge, ice machines on each floor, lovely balcony and good fan to keep cool, coffee machine with tea if you want that.
Overall an amazing hotel, you must remember that Costa Rica is a non smoking country and you cannot smoke anywhere in the hotel, there are 2 smoking areas outside if you really want to smoke, made me cut down and i enjoyed it.
There are 4 pools, some quieter than others, depends if you want to party or chill, also a lovely beach, you can walk along and see the monkeys playing, herons, exotic birds, also Monkey Bar worth a visit, just be careful of the prices, make sure you check price before you order, if you do not want to book trips at the hotel you can book with Prime Tours which is situated on the way to Monkey Bar, cheaper than trips with the company you booked with, less people and run by local people, i would definitely go back, made some good friends both other guests and staff.
The shows in the evening were very good, most people ate first then went to watch the show which finished around 10.30 so bars closed about 11 pm, good for everybody who likes to go to bed earlier and get up early.
The rooms were cleaned daily if that is what you want, very clean, comfortable, optics with gin, rum, vodka and whisky with a little fridge, ice machines on each floor, lovely balcony and good fan to keep cool, coffee machine with tea if you want that.
Overall an amazing hotel, you must remember that Costa Rica is a non smoking country and you cannot smoke anywhere in the hotel, there are 2 smoking areas outside if you really want to smoke, made me cut down and i enjoyed it.
There are 4 pools, some quieter than others, depends if you want to party or chill, also a lovely beach, you can walk along and see the monkeys playing, herons, exotic birds, also Monkey Bar worth a visit, just be careful of the prices, make sure you check price before you order, if you do not want to book trips at the hotel you can book with Prime Tours which is situated on the way to Monkey Bar, cheaper than trips with the company you booked with, less people and run by local people, i would definitely go back, made some good friends both other guests and staff.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: You do have to get up early to get a pool seat but as you go to bed early not really a problem,...
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.
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Responded Feb 8, 2024
Dear SmileyTunbridgeWells, Thank you for taking the time to give us your valued feedback following your recent stay at our hotel. We are very happy to hear that you had a lovely time at our hotel! We look forward to sharing another amazing experience with you soon. Have a lovely day. 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.
Yes you could fit an air mattress. Maybe upon check in you could upgrade but there is a sofa and a third bed already in the room I was in
All beverages included alcoholic and non alcoholic
Yes call the hotel and they will arrange for you. It is 35 pp round trip
…
"Less is more, you don’t need a lot of clothes here! It is sunny and warm every day!"Read full review
"Unfortunately Tui are not continuing using Costa Rica after April. Operational difficulties maybe as 12 hours from UK"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$372 - $535 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacasteGulf of PapagayoSardinal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
538
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingHOTEL RIU PALACE COSTA RICA - Updated 2025
Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica?
Nearby attractions include Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours (3.9 miles), Costour (4.3 miles), and Pura Vida Ride (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 Naans & Curries Coco Beach, Tandoor Indian Restaurant, and Tamaki.
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.