Riu Palace Mexico - Page 2

care-bear · 08-06-2008

You all will have a WONDERFUL time. I stayed at the RPM in March and it was great! Nice people, good food, nice rooms. It was my first time visiting playa and now I am hooked!!!!
here are a few random pictures:

that walk way gets really slippery when its wet so if it is wet be super careful.

the last two are really blurry pictures of the buffet dining room

avagirl · 08-06-2008

Nice pictures! We will be there in a little over a week!

mon4rch · 08-06-2008

I just returned from RPM. The property is beautiful and the rooms are very clean.
This was my first and probably last trip to Mexico, but let me tell you all that I learned this past week. (Veterans will be bored but I hope to help the newbies.)
First, I packed way too many clothes. Here in the US I get very cold in air conditioned restaurants, etc. I NEVER got cold anywhere in Mexico, so no need to pack sweaters or jackets.
Second, men MUST wear long pants to dinner, even at the buffet (blue jeans acceptable), so come prepared. Women can wear anything, but most women dressed nicely. Sundresses, capris, slacks.
The mosquitos are quite annoying, make sure to pack bug spray.
As has been posted before, sunscreen is around $18.00 to $25.00 a bottle everywhere that I looked, bring some with you.
If you are going on any excursions, check in the shopping area across the street. We met a man named Angel at the information booth and he offered much better deals than the travel agencies in the lobby. Angel Rainbow Guides was the name of his company. My husband and I bit the bullet and did a timeshare tour so that our group of six could have a private van take us to Tulum. However, you do NOT have to do a timeshare tour to take advantage of Angel's services. The van driver, Alberta, was wonderful. He brought a cooler and told us to bring drinks of our choice. He stopped and bought ice, and iced our drinks. Our tour at Tulum was free but he got the tickets, did all the communicating with employees, gave us instructions, and took us to where we needed to be. Even tough we were only supposed to have him for 6 hours, he said that he would take us anywhere we wanted to go, and stay with us as long as we wished. He took us to some cenotes, helped us with our fins, etc., followed us around and carried all of our things. I almost felt like royalty. He was fantastic. I would highly recommend their services. You can email them at angelrainboguides@hotmail.com
Onto dinner at RPM: To get reservations at the restaurants, you are supposed to go to the designated area between 8:30 and 10:30. However, if you arrive at 8:00, you get a number so that at 8:30 you can get your first choice. I would choose any of the restaurants over the buffet for reasons that follow.
And, finally, the most important: The reason I will probably never visit Mexico again is that I spent 5 out of 7 days sick! 5 out of 6 of our party also got sick. (Diarrhea, upset stomach, and in my husband's case, vomitting) None of us used the water in our room so we aren't sure what caused it. (We even started soaking our toothbrushes in vodka hoping to kill whatever germ was causing our distress) When we went to the drugstore across the street there was a line of people wanting Imodium and they were sold out, therefore, we were not the only sick people!!! Pack Pepto Bismol, Imodium, Tums, and any other drug of choice to get you through this terrible situation just in case it happens to you. I went to the buffet by the beach and the dinner buffet the first night and could not enter either again until the last day. Just the thoughts of all that food and the smells were more than I could handle. I did go to the restaurants even though I really couldn't eat much at all, but all of us, thought they were good. If you go to Sir Edwards and you like chocolate, make sure to order the chocolate dessert. It was ice cream and some kind of cake with hot, rich chocolate inside. I managed to eat it :-) and loved it.
One more word of advice. We took lots of one dollar bills and tipped frequently. We tipped more at the restaurants. It was amazing to see how many people did not tip at all. I know that gratuities are supposed to be included in the all-inclusive, but... All of the employees work very hard, long hours, and greatly appreciate the tips.
The Riu really is a gorgeous place, I hope that all of you have fun. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me.
Mon4rch

jobob · 08-06-2008

It's a shame you all got sick but unfortunately it does happen on occasion. Our last trip to the RPM I spent three of my last four days in bed and most I could eat the first couple of those days were two or three crackers. The Manager was also sick about the same time as me but she told me it was the lobster she ate at a restaurant in town. Yeah right! A friend was also sick several days before me. Food? Virus? Who knows? But alas, we are going back

as it was the first time I've been really ill in 7 trips to Mexico. Trots, yes, all but one time but really sick? this was a first. My wife has never been sick or got the trots on any of those trips.

mon4rch · 08-07-2008

Jobob, have you always stayed at the Riu? I am wondering if it is their food preparation, water (which I tried not to use), ice? I talked to someone who stayed at an Iberostar and he knew of no one who got sick. While the Riu is beautiful, it isn't worth it to me to be that sick.

jobob · 08-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mon4rch

Jobob, have you always stayed at the Riu? I am wondering if it is their food preparation, water (which I tried not to use), ice? I talked to someone who stayed at an Iberostar and he knew of no one who got sick. While the Riu is beautiful, it isn't worth it to me to be that sick.

Past 5 trips since 2003 we've been at the RPM. It wouldn't be the ice or water if you used what was served in the restaurants/lounges or bottled, that's all purified. Room tap water is not potable. I've heard of Iberostar and most other resort's guests getting sick. But it's not to say it's the resort food preparation, although it could be. One person, staff or guest, comes into the resort and is sick and can quickly pass it around. Most times you hear that someone was ill it's because of too much sun, too much unfamiliar food, too much liquor, too many pina coladas (coconut is a natural laxative) but I know my last experience and I'm sure yours was not due to the above. I figured mine was from food that I ate at Mexican night in the buffet but it could have been something like the Noro Virus being passed around.
While we were there this last trip we met many other guests who we knew from prior trips and they were not sick. And as I said my wife wasn't. Luck of the draw.

rainbow · 08-07-2008

...i've stayed at the riu yucatan 5 times, and at the riu palace mexico twice...usually with a small group of friends and family...no one has ever been ill, and i have a notoriously sensitive stomach...we drink the water in the dining rooms and use the ice...there have been a few limited cases of the "trots" but we've always been able to give a nod to an overindulgence of one thing or another, and a few doses of pepto bismol took care of it!...do watch out for the coconut milk...it is a natural laxative...

rayinpa · 08-14-2008

Will be there Aug 29 - Sept 2. CAN NOT WAIT!!!

clfsean · 08-14-2008

I've done 2 Rius in PdC & a Barcelo in Cancun.

Never had any problems with the food/beverages in any of them except the Barcelo Tucancun in Cancun was just God awful. Taste & variety wise...

I got H.Pylori near Chitzen Itza eating at a tour group spot.

Otherwise I can't wait for my next trip back!

Mercy · 08-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobob

Go for a walk south along the beach past the Sandos, visit the other Rius and have breakfast or lunch in them just to see how they compare. A friend who just returned from the Riu Yucatan said you can now walk the beach to the Riu Palace Riviera Maya and do that one day. Try the pools at the RPRM but be sure to take your RPM beach towel with you because you can't exchange your towel card at the other Rius.

Jobob... If you stay at the RPM, you can go to the RPRM and use the pool? Can you eat/drink there?

rainbow · 08-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercy

Jobob... If you stay at the RPM, you can go to the RPRM and use the pool? Can you eat/drink there?

...if you stay at either of the riu palaces, you can use all the services and drink at all of the bars at all of the playa riu's...you may eat breakfast, snacks and lunch at any of the riu's, but you are asked to take dinner at your home resort...

jobob · 08-15-2008

As Rainbow says. but if you're staying at either one and you'd like to have dinner at the other just ask the maitre'd or Public Relations Manager. They're very accommodating especially if not at 100% occupancy. While at the RPM we were invited by the RPRM Assistant Manager to have dinner at any of the RPRM's restaurants. We ate at the Mexican but unfortunately didn't enjoy it, food or service. It was one of the very few times we have not tipped at a Riu restaurant.

08-06-2008	#16 (permalink)
care-bear lost on fifth Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: white bear lake, minnesoooootaaaaa Posts: 23	You all will have a WONDERFUL time. I stayed at the RPM in March and it was great! Nice people, good food, nice rooms. It was my first time visiting playa and now I am hooked!!!! here are a few random pictures: that walk way gets really slippery when its wet so if it is wet be super careful. the last two are really blurry pictures of the buffet dining room

08-06-2008	#17 (permalink)
avagirl beachaholic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hanover, Pennsylvania Posts: 321	Nice pictures! We will be there in a little over a week!

08-06-2008	#18 (permalink)
mon4rch sandflea Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7	I just returned from RPM. The property is beautiful and the rooms are very clean. This was my first and probably last trip to Mexico, but let me tell you all that I learned this past week. (Veterans will be bored but I hope to help the newbies.) First, I packed way too many clothes. Here in the US I get very cold in air conditioned restaurants, etc. I NEVER got cold anywhere in Mexico, so no need to pack sweaters or jackets. Second, men MUST wear long pants to dinner, even at the buffet (blue jeans acceptable), so come prepared. Women can wear anything, but most women dressed nicely. Sundresses, capris, slacks. The mosquitos are quite annoying, make sure to pack bug spray. As has been posted before, sunscreen is around $18.00 to $25.00 a bottle everywhere that I looked, bring some with you. If you are going on any excursions, check in the shopping area across the street. We met a man named Angel at the information booth and he offered much better deals than the travel agencies in the lobby. Angel Rainbow Guides was the name of his company. My husband and I bit the bullet and did a timeshare tour so that our group of six could have a private van take us to Tulum. However, you do NOT have to do a timeshare tour to take advantage of Angel's services. The van driver, Alberta, was wonderful. He brought a cooler and told us to bring drinks of our choice. He stopped and bought ice, and iced our drinks. Our tour at Tulum was free but he got the tickets, did all the communicating with employees, gave us instructions, and took us to where we needed to be. Even tough we were only supposed to have him for 6 hours, he said that he would take us anywhere we wanted to go, and stay with us as long as we wished. He took us to some cenotes, helped us with our fins, etc., followed us around and carried all of our things. I almost felt like royalty. He was fantastic. I would highly recommend their services. You can email them at angelrainboguides@hotmail.com Onto dinner at RPM: To get reservations at the restaurants, you are supposed to go to the designated area between 8:30 and 10:30. However, if you arrive at 8:00, you get a number so that at 8:30 you can get your first choice. I would choose any of the restaurants over the buffet for reasons that follow. And, finally, the most important: The reason I will probably never visit Mexico again is that I spent 5 out of 7 days sick! 5 out of 6 of our party also got sick. (Diarrhea, upset stomach, and in my husband's case, vomitting) None of us used the water in our room so we aren't sure what caused it. (We even started soaking our toothbrushes in vodka hoping to kill whatever germ was causing our distress) When we went to the drugstore across the street there was a line of people wanting Imodium and they were sold out, therefore, we were not the only sick people!!! Pack Pepto Bismol, Imodium, Tums, and any other drug of choice to get you through this terrible situation just in case it happens to you. I went to the buffet by the beach and the dinner buffet the first night and could not enter either again until the last day. Just the thoughts of all that food and the smells were more than I could handle. I did go to the restaurants even though I really couldn't eat much at all, but all of us, thought they were good. If you go to Sir Edwards and you like chocolate, make sure to order the chocolate dessert. It was ice cream and some kind of cake with hot, rich chocolate inside. I managed to eat it :-) and loved it. One more word of advice. We took lots of one dollar bills and tipped frequently. We tipped more at the restaurants. It was amazing to see how many people did not tip at all. I know that gratuities are supposed to be included in the all-inclusive, but... All of the employees work very hard, long hours, and greatly appreciate the tips. The Riu really is a gorgeous place, I hope that all of you have fun. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me. Mon4rch

08-06-2008	#19 (permalink)
jobob life=playa Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: B.C., Canada EH! Posts: 601	It's a shame you all got sick but unfortunately it does happen on occasion. Our last trip to the RPM I spent three of my last four days in bed and most I could eat the first couple of those days were two or three crackers. The Manager was also sick about the same time as me but she told me it was the lobster she ate at a restaurant in town. Yeah right! A friend was also sick several days before me. Food? Virus? Who knows? But alas, we are going back as it was the first time I've been really ill in 7 trips to Mexico. Trots, yes, all but one time but really sick? this was a first. My wife has never been sick or got the trots on any of those trips.

08-07-2008	#20 (permalink)
mon4rch sandflea Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7	Jobob, have you always stayed at the Riu? I am wondering if it is their food preparation, water (which I tried not to use), ice? I talked to someone who stayed at an Iberostar and he knew of no one who got sick. While the Riu is beautiful, it isn't worth it to me to be that sick.

08-07-2008	#22 (permalink)
rainbow beachaholic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 256	...i've stayed at the riu yucatan 5 times, and at the riu palace mexico twice...usually with a small group of friends and family...no one has ever been ill, and i have a notoriously sensitive stomach...we drink the water in the dining rooms and use the ice...there have been a few limited cases of the "trots" but we've always been able to give a nod to an overindulgence of one thing or another, and a few doses of pepto bismol took care of it!...do watch out for the coconut milk...it is a natural laxative...

08-14-2008	#23 (permalink)
rayinpa very sparkly Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside Philadelphia, PA Posts: 38	Will be there Aug 29 - Sept 2. CAN NOT WAIT!!!

08-14-2008	#24 (permalink)
clfsean toe in water Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 44	I've done 2 Rius in PdC & a Barcelo in Cancun. Never had any problems with the food/beverages in any of them except the Barcelo Tucancun in Cancun was just God awful. Taste & variety wise... I got H.Pylori near Chitzen Itza eating at a tour group spot. Otherwise I can't wait for my next trip back!

08-15-2008	#27 (permalink)
jobob life=playa Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: B.C., Canada EH! Posts: 601	As Rainbow says. but if you're staying at either one and you'd like to have dinner at the other just ask the maitre'd or Public Relations Manager. They're very accommodating especially if not at 100% occupancy. While at the RPM we were invited by the RPRM Assistant Manager to have dinner at any of the RPRM's restaurants. We ate at the Mexican but unfortunately didn't enjoy it, food or service. It was one of the very few times we have not tipped at a Riu restaurant.

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