Arrived at hotel about 4-00pm to a very efficient and friendly reception staff. Had a lovely welcome drink before being allocated our room. My wife is a light sleeper on holiday so we asked for a quiet room. Allocated room 428 with view out over the pool and beyond. The room was fantastic, very, very clean and kept that way over our 2 weeks holiday. The Hotel was fantastic,I have never seen staff work so hard and be so friendly. Food was terrific and very varied. The staff in the restaurant were great and very hardworking.
Of the gourmet restaurants,we recommend the Sir Arthurs . It was brilliant. The Japanese not so good (although Sushi was nice)and the Steak Restaurant was outdoors so it was very warm, but steak was good. All the Staff at this hotel were great but special praise go to Willem,the waiter around the pool area, he was terrific,always had a smile for you and always had a relacement drink for you without asking.
Also Allen the guy who we ordered the drinks from in the lounge.He was the nicest member of staff we have met . He always seemed to have time to chat as well as advising you on some unusual drinks.
We read about smell in lobby.... The only smell we found to be was in the lifts about mid afternoon,and I think this was because of the heat and the water from guests who had been in pool. It did not bother us at all.
Overall I would go back to this hotel tomorrow and I do not usually say that.
Fantastic Holiday.... Just Go and Enjoy

My wife and I returned from the Riu Palace yesterday June 12th 2008. This is such a great hotel with a staff that really enjoys working there, and it shows all the time. The smiling faces of the employees is what makes this hotel what it is. The service never stops from check-in till check-out. We were given a welcome by Laura explaining all the hotel has to offer. She is just so great at her job, and she remembers everything, and is always genuinely
interested if you are having a good time or not.
We stayed at the Riu Caribe 2 years ago, and found it a little too "young" for us. The Palace had a nice mix of people in every age group. I can't imagine anyone coming here and not having a good time. The entertainment ever night in the nightclub was usually pretty good. The first karaoke night wasn't that good, but the second one was great.
The only complaint I might have about the hotel is that the hot water in the shower went from hot to cold and back several times every time i took a shower.
We went to the Cocobongo nightclub with the hotel group one night and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone in our age group(mid to upper 60s). The place was PACKED on a monday night and I was worried about the chances of getting out of there if anything were to happen. I was a building Fire Safety Director in New York City, and I didn't feel safe in there.
The group that ran all the games at the hotel are excellent at their jobs. They all sing and dance, and I really enjoyed the songs that Aaron did with several young children at the nightclub.
The food was good at ever meal, and the sliced bread in the restaurants is GREAT. The room we had(a Junior Suite overlooking the ocean was outstanding, and kept immaculate by the cleaning crew.
The color of the water and sky surrounding this hotel cannot be described. I've added a few pictures to show what I mean.

If you are looking for a wonderful hotel with fabulous food, great accomodation and staff that cannot do enough for the guests, then this is the place for you.
The hotel was real busy with everything from wedding and honeymoon couples to stag parties and college students. Everyone however was well behaved and enjoyed the service from the bar and waiting staff of the hotel.
The swim up bar was very good as was the pool area bar. In particular Diego who was always smiling.
The terrace bar in the evening was wonderful with a fabulous bartender Rodrigo who worked real hard to keep everyone happy.
The rooms were lovely and we had a great view of the ocean and main pool.
As for the entertainment staff they were as good as any you will find and the shows were great. Sergios volleyball games and DJ work were particularly good.
The restaraunts are amazing and the Sir Arthurs pumpkin soup and sea bass a must try.
We could find no faults in any way.
Go here, pay the extra it costs its worth the money.
PS WATCH OUT FOR THE CANCUN COPS. CORRUPT AS HELL AND ROBBING PEOPLE WHO THEY STOP DEMANDING MONEY FOR BOGUS OFFENCES. I WAS STOPPED AND I AM A COP. THEY ARE SCUM OF THE EARTH!

This was the second time I have stayed at the Riu Palace and once again I had a fab time the hotel & grounds are beautiful, the staff are fab from the waiters / bar staff through to the cleaners all greet you with a happy friendly smile every day! Even though you dont have to I would suggest a small tip to all of the workers throughout the holiday as they work so so hard & throughly deserve every penny they earn!

Cancun is such a beautiful place & the people are so so friendly and from what I seen Riu Palace looks like one of the nicest hotel their and what more can you ask for it is set on a beach overlooking the caribbean sea and nearly all suites have a sea view!

I am planning to return to the Riu in May 2011 to get married I loved the place that much!

The food / drink where really good at the buffet & the restaraunts! you would have to be extremley fussy or picky to moan about it .

I would highly recommend this hotel to anybody!