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Riu Cancun

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  • Blvd. Kukulcan, Km 8.5
     Cancun, Mexico 77500
    +52 (998) 8487151Website
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generowe
generowe
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
4
Reviews
4
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1-4 of 4
Editor Pick

Mexico's Party Paradise

  • August 7, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Absy_Baby from Radlett, United Kingdom
Paradise in Mexico! The Riu Cancun is an amazing hotel, the location is great, the service is great & the people/staff are great.

Location
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The Riu Cancun is in Cancun, Mexico. It is situated about 20 minutes from Cancun Airport. This is great as transfers are easy and not too long, especially after a 10 and a half hour flight. The airport is a reasonable size and very modern. The Riu Cancun is located in the heart of the resort of Cancun in the 'hotel zone', but not too close that all you can hear is constant music/noise/drunks from the hotel. The main club/bar strip is only a 5 minute walk from the front door of the Riu.

The Resort
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Cancun is known for its party atmosphere, spring break and that general 18-30's atmosphere. If this is what you think, you are completely wrong. Although Cancun has great nightlife it also has a quieter side to it. The clubs mostly cost an all in price for entry and free drinks all night (not very European, they don't like to bar crawl so much). This is great unless you decide you've had enough and want to leave, after $40-50 you'll think twice. Cancun is very safe and the locals are all friendly, saying hola and smiling, even those who ask if you want to buy any cocaine or ectasy will quite happliy take no for an answer and move on, no hassle. The resort itself is probably less suited to couples/friends who like walks and cafe/bar/restaurants to visit, as there are not many at all.

The Hotel
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The hotel is All Inclusive. With 4 1/2 restaurants to choose from. One Mexican, one buffet style with rotating themes, an oriental and a Grill and buffet housed in one space. The hotel also has 2 indoor bars and 2 outdoor bars. One nightclub again with a bar. All alcohol is free and you try drinking them dry.

The hotel is situated right on the beach front and has 3 pools, kids pool and many jacuzzi's to choose from (look out for the one on the smaller buildings roof).

All bedrooms have sea views. The hotel is the shape of a large V and all rooms are on the side facing the Caribbean Sea (none the other side). There are 15 floors in the main building and 6 in the smaller building. The hotel has a total of 569 rooms all are complete with unique amenities such as a mini-bar (fridge) and alcohol dispenser (bar) with Vodka, Whicky or Brandy, Tequilia and another spirit which is topped up every other day, as well as the Corona, Pepsi's, Sprite and Bottled Water in the fridge.

You get a safe key ($50 if lost) on arrival (free of charge) for your in room safe, a towel card that you must exchange by the pool for your towel and to return the towel ensures your card back ($20 if lost). There is also a Spa and water activities at extra costs. Although some watersports are free.

The Mexican people/staff in the hotel are great, over accommodating, friendly and very helpful. The guy on reception who checked us in asked where we were from and all holiday he called us the 'London Girls', which was nice to know he remembered us. Bar staff and restaurant staff will also ask your names, it is to personalize your stay, and it does.

The other type of people are the tourists themselves. American's you will love it, completely americanized and full of fellow americans. For those of you Europeans looking at this (like myself), it can be a bit brash and loud for our liking but in all is good fun, the American's are friendly and love to talk (even if it's too much), no-one can say they are unfriendly like us miserable sods from Europe.

The only complaint about the Americanism of it, is the hotel doesn't have enough outside for my liking, in terms of bars, the American's all sit inside in air-conditioned bars (great, except i'm in Mexico and it's gorgeous outside)!!

Cancun is a great central location for many things, visiting the Mayan Temples of Chichin Itza or Tulum, perhaps you want to swin with Dolpins? It is all possible here, i would definately recommend and go back (which i do not tend to do).
Editor Pick

Riu Cancun

  • June 28, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Trippin2006 from Toronto, Ontario
My husband and I have had the opportunity to visit many Riu properties in the past 10 years, and recently travelled to the Riu Cancun. The resort is typical Riu: gorgeous lobby, breathtaking grounds, magnificent pools, and superb accommodations. The Riu Cancun staff was always eager to please and catered to all requests without question. The hotel was fairly new, so of course all linens and in-room amenities were spic-and-span, but do remember that you get what you pay for, so tipping goes a long way.

The restaurants were again typical Riu style, with excellent buffets with a great variety of international choices. The a la cartes are good but not great, so if variety is what you crave, stick to the buffets.

The spa is outstanding, as it offers a wide variety of treatments and all of the associates are well trained and/or certified (usually not the case in most of the five-stars we have stayed in).

There is one downfall at this hotel: because of the size and position of this resort, the sun does start to fade behind the massive building around 1pm. This was not a huge deal, just an annoyance, as chasing the sun should not be an issue in a SUN destination. The ever-disappearing sun also affected the temperature of the pools, which were frigid to say the least.

All in all, there is one thing that makes this a five-star: its location. It is smack-dab in the middle of downtown Cancun, and you can walk to all of the clubs, restaurants, and markets within 5 minutes. Not to mention, ladies, it is directly across the street from the best mall in Cancun! This is very handy for pharmacies and sundry shops.

I would highly recommend the Riu Cancun if it is a consideration for you. You will not be disappointed. And just an FYI, it has a much better beach than the Riu Palace next door.

From journal Week at Riu Cancun

RIU Cancun

  • February 23, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by cmcintire77 from Effort, Pennsylvania
Spacious rooms with great views… you can open the sliding glass door to listen to the crashing waves as they lull you to sleep. Each room comes with a beautiful ocean view that is second-to-none, and the best part is that all rooms feature minibars (with a liquor dispenser) to mix your own drinks! The rooms also have air-conditioning, hairdryers, safes, and private balconies or terraces. Irons and ironing boards are available on request. The property's amenities include the three pools, swim-up bar, children's pool, nightly entertainment, nightclub ( I closed the place 3 nights in a row!), and direct access to the beach. Most nights they also bring in local dancers on the pool stage, and vendors around the pool are there to sell hand made crafts and such. You can get a real good deal on gifts right there!

There is always something going on day or night at this hotel, and your so close to everything. The all-inclusive plan covers all meals and beverages, snacks, non-motorized water sports, and use of hotel facilities. Other optional dining includes Brazilian cuisine at Rodizio Brasileno, or grilled items at the steakhouse (advanced reservations are required). For an additional charge, guests can enjoy banana boat rides, bike rentals, parasailing, scuba diving, and waterskiing. This hotel is about 13 miles from the airport, and I do advise you to prepay for shuttle transfers to your hotels as taxi prices are not regulated! You're also across the street from Plaza Caracol (shopping center) and 7 miles from downtown Cancun, which you can take the public bus for about 60¢. Within walking distance, you'll find Coco Bongos and Dady'O nightclubs! This hotel is great for travelers of all ages, and has something for everyone. As a travel agent myself I recommend this hotel to anyone!

From journal Cancun After the Fact....

Riu Cancun

  • June 14, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by generowe from Toronto, Ontario
Riu Cancun

Best Things Nearby:
Shopping

Best Things About the Resort:
Facilities, food, and staff

Resort Experience:
They offer excellent facilities, friendly and helpful staff, and great food. There are comfortable suites with clean rooms and good nightlife entertainment. I would not recommend the Japanese restaurant, though. The activities offered are great.

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Very Good
  • Amenities: Excellent
  • Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
  • Family Friendliness: Very Good
  • Service: Excellent

From journal A Week in Cancun

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