17/01/2024
RIU PALACE KUKULKAN
Quick review on the Adults Only (18+) property located in the Hotel Zone, close to airport 25 min drive. Can walk to shops/aquarium/restaurants outside of hotel. Clean well maintained property opened November 2022, most rooms with garden or gorgeous ocean front/ocean views. Street view rooms tend to get noisy (esp. during night time). Building is build rather in a tight space, everything felt very close quarters. Room design at this Riu may not be to everyone’s liking with its open-concept bathroom. While the toilet was separate with its own door, the sinks and shower were open to the rest of the room and the tub was placed between the beds and the sinks.Very clean resort, rooms are basic with an open bathroom concept. Room fridge was always stocked and there is a liquor bar in all the rooms.
Staff is very friendly and attentive.
Beach is beautiful, not a big stretch and it was a bit wavy during our stay. Water is on a murky side. We were able to find chairs at the pool and beach no matter what time we went. No umbrellas or shade on the beach, RIU likes to keep the shading natural w/palm trees only. Plenty of covered shade anywhere in the pool areas.
The resort had a bar cart that occasionally came around to hand out beers and basic drinks poolside; the actual poolside bar was located on the other side of the swim-up bar. Not a lot of food options for lunch. Buffet or pool grill only. No restaurants were open for lunch only dinner. The poolside bar luncheon dining–Pepe’s Food Grill is just steps away where guests can get street tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, etc. Tacos are Delish!!!
The buffet was actually pretty decent. The desserts were good and they had a huge variety of options of things to eat. The four other a la carte restaurants do not require reservations, could be a hit or miss depending on food preferance. All the themed restaurants although aesthetically pleasing to look at felt a bit crowded and no bathrooms available inside.
Daily and nightly entertainment offered, but the vibe of the resort was more on a chill side. Relaxing getaway.
RIU now features a premium upgrade option calling it Elite Club with following perks:
Separate check-in/out. Check-in/out for all resort guests was done at the front desk. While there was a sign with a separate line to the front desk delegated for upgraded guests, I was directed to any front desk staff available for both check-in/out experiences; there didn’t appear to be any separate staff available for only Elite Club guests that I could see. There is typically a separate space or room just for upgraded guests along with some snacks or drinks for them as well. This resort did not offer that kind of privileged check-in/out experience.
In-room welcome gift. You receive welcome letter plus a bottle of sparkling wine on ice and two champagne glasses in the room.
In-room aromatherapy.
In-room snacks and upgraded in-room liquor. Riu resorts do not typically have in-room snacks, so this definitely was delivered with an in-room Kit Kat bar, granola bar, small container of Pringles chips, and a fruit bar. All Riu resorts, Palace and non-Palace upgraded resorts, have a cabinet with bottles of liquor available within all rooms. Elite Club upgraded in-room liquor included Johnny Walker Black whiskey, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Absolut Vodka, and Jose Cuervo Tequila Reposado
Best room location: ocean front or ocean view rooms
Access to premium drinks at select bars. The lobby bar is a much more likely possibility and served great drinks including a delicious chocolate martini.
Dinner reservations available at a la carte restaurants. I don’t know if this is true since I never asked. If you want to take advantage of this supposed perk I’d ask at the front desk or at the customer service desk.
