Hotel Riu Palace Palmeras

It's a good RIU hotel but not a RIU palace, having stayed at riu palace Mexico 3 times this is quite a downgrade. The Hotel: It's brand new, opened just a few weeks ago. There are 2 large salt water pools with enough seating for everyone. 1 buffet restaurant but only 1 specialty restaurant (Krystal fusion restaurant), I would have love to see the Italian, Japanse or the Mexican restaurant here also. However the biggest and most disgusting thing is that you're allowed to smoke everywhere around the pool and lounge/show area. So when you're just enjoying your Holliday you also get some free lung cancer from the people laying next to you which is nice. Rooms: We were first given an upgrade to room in a new building next to the main building. These rooms were larger but after staying here one night we found out the hard way that this is were they dumped al the families. Every morning we ware waked up by screaming (not even crying, but ear screeching screaming) at 6 which went on for 2 or 3 hours, so we asked if we could please be moved back to a smaller room in the main building which was done. The rooms are sleek and modern with a spacious bathroom, minibar and balcony. Service: The service here is focussed a lot on Germans, we were constantly spoken to in German whilst were Dutch and on Holliday in Spain. The staff speak beter German than English. The waiter in the restaurant often mixed up still with sparkling water. Also there is no one around the pool who takes drinks orders (in Mexico every 15 min someone came to ask if you wanted something to drink). However overall the staff is very friendly. Food and drinks: The buffet is much smaller than we were used to in Mexico, the quality is good. They could do something like themed buffets like in Mexico. Like one night an Italian buffer, other night Mexican etc. Moreover we were missing someone who makes omelettes to order and your not able to have a cappuccino at the restaurant, which is strange because you can get it at the bar just outside the restaurant (alot of people just went to that bar to get their morning cappuccino). The were very few signs at the buffet so you often didn't know what juice you were drinking or what was at the buffet. Also the pool bar was missing some essential things according to me like: ice coffees and milkshakes.The cocktail selection was also quite small, only around 6 basic cocktails(mojito, pina colada, tequila sunrise, etc) Overall it's a good Riu hotel but it's definitely not a Riu Palace.

for us it was a relaxing holiday, we have been there before and know the area, but we can see that the rooms need a renovation , we will be back ( the garten cafe need an upgrade) my opinion dont take the wall in front of balkony instead of glass

Nice staff and good facilities. Very good food selection with flexible eating hours. Drinks good for price paid . Quality of the food was very good wwith tables cleaned as fast as possible. Searve your own drinks including coffee. Coffee was served at the two bars.