Riu Palace Riviera Maya, May 2007 - some photos

[playadreaming]

These are from almost a year ago, but I thought some might find them useful. This year we'll do a trip report a little more quickly

Front entrance to the resort


Lobby from the entrance


Another view of lobby


My daily view from the pool bar

[playadreaming]

A few of the courtyard

Gazebo in courtyard


Our room was on the third floor behind this palm tree


Behind the fountain is the outdoor section of the hotel's main buffet restuarant


Courtyard with my early morning coffee. There is water and soap on the walkway from the daily cleaning.

[playadreaming]

A couple more.
Infinity pool. Of course Kylee has drinks....actually she mostly drank diet soda.


Towel Cards. Don't lose! You get one pool/beach towel for exchange with card.


Another of infinity pool, with the very important towel shack in the background.


Pool is large with plenty of room.


Even with beach erosion, there was plenty of natural beach to enjoy.


Hammocks in the palms of the upper/man made beach. I'm sucking the gut in by the way. (In the background is the beach club for the Riu Lupita resort on the left, on the right is the Spa.)


Overlooking the natural beach at railing along upper beach.


To the south erosion was worse until you pass the resort that kind of sticks out.

[playadreaming]

Self portrait on the ferry to Cozumel. The ferry is modern with an air conditioned interior, but we sat on top. The view was great.


Me on ferry leaving Playa.


Arriving at Cozumel pier.


Us on beach at IB* Cozumel at the dive pier.


Kylee after a long day at pool while I was diving.


Kylee's eye candy She told me she was taking a picture of the Cozumel coast!

[playadreaming]

Here's a few from around Playa:

Dinner our first night in town. We went into Playa 3 out of 4 nights, but didn't take the camera most of time. Rookie mistake




Beautiful Church on 5th



Drugstore

[Tlyn]

Great pictures!!

[L&Bfrommi]

Tlyn, Thanks for the fantastic pictures! We're celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary on the 29th of April 2008 at the Riu Palace RM. Any hints or suggestions you'd like to pass along? we'd be happy to hear from you. Lee and Beth.

[L&Bfrommi]

OOOOPS! Meant to say PLAYADREAMING on that last post.

[playadreaming]

Originally Posted by L&Bfrommi

OOOOPS! Meant to say PLAYADREAMING on that last post.

First and foremost, congratulations on 25 years and have a great vacation What a coincidence, my wife and I were married April 29th, 2000! That's why we try to take a "couples get a way" around our anniversary each year.

The resort is great. The grounds are beautiful, and they prune, clean and basically keep everything immaculate. As a guest of the Riu Palace, you have access to all the Riu resorts in the area. There are five or so in the Playacar compound, and you also have access to the Riu resorts in Cancun (we've never been into Cancun, though.)

If you've never stayed at a Riu hotel, go to their website, riu.com , and get a riu class card. Print this out and take it with you for discounts on services at the hotel like spa, internet etc. Also get the hotel's email address, and email a week or so in advance with any special requests.

There is also a lot of info available on the Riu resort through :: Index - .

[Daddy4zack]

NOO WAAYY.. Our Anniversary is also April 29th.. We were Married in 1995.. So its our 13th Anniversary..

A&C

[playadreaming]

Originally Posted by Daddy4zack

NOO WAAYY.. Our Anniversary is also April 29th.. We were Married in 1995.. So its our 13th Anniversary..

A&C

Wow! Can't wait to meet you. Congratulations on 13 years, that is lucky 13 years I joked with my wife that it felt like 28 years today, but it is the best thing that ever happened to me.

[L&Bfrommi]

WOW TOO COOL! I dont know when you guys are planning to celebrate your anniversaries but if at all possible I'd be happy to buy you all a round of drinks if we meet up some where! Congrats on the happy years of marriage, it's good to see people actually staying married these days! If theres one word of advice I could give couples its this, never be affraid to compromise and come to a mutual agreement. Theres always middle ground and its usually the best piece of ground to make a stand on! And second, NEVER give up on trying! You'll be happy you didnt!

[playadreaming]

Originally Posted by L&Bfrommi

WOW TOO COOL! I dont know when you guys are planning to celebrate your anniversaries but if at all possible I'd be happy to buy you all a round of drinks if we meet up some where! Congrats on the happy years of marriage, it's good to see people actually staying married these days! If theres one word of advice I could give couples its this, never be affraid to compromise and come to a mutual agreement. Theres always middle ground and its usually the best piece of ground to make a stand on! And second, NEVER give up on trying! You'll be happy you didnt!

Great advice. Hopefully, I'll be able to follow that

[playadreaming]

Originally Posted by Tlyn

Great pictures!!

Thanks. I would ask if you're going to post pictures from your Vegas trip, but everyone knows not to take a camera to Vegas...you never want any evidence

[playadreaming]

A couple of other things:
The resort uses regular room keys, not cards, so we usually take one of the wrist keyholder things for when we are wandering around the resort. (Also good for the safe key.)

The safe is located in the closet and is small. Will not hold a laptop. Small electronics, cash, passports and such will fit. If you need a secure place to store larger valuables, I would suggest using a luggage lock and keep things locked in there. (Don't know if there is a safe available at front desk, but will check while we are there.)

The cups used for drinks at the pool bar are small so lots of people bring larger travel mugs. Not only does it cut down on trips for refills, it will keep drink cool and reduce odds of sand getting in drink if on beach. (If my wife would only let me use my bubba keg, I'd almost never have to get up.)

Tipping isn't required at the resort, but we always tipped the maids and bartenders. They work really hard, and you'll see the same faces morning, noon and night.

You might want to purchase some snacks in Playa or at the Playacar shopping center (especially for late night returns from town.) The sports bar is open 24 hours, but food is cold sandwiches and nacho chips.