Riu Palace Mexico or Riu Palace Riviera Maya

awesomeurban · 08-08-2010

We are booking a vacation in the next couple of days for the first of September (we need a quick vacation).. We stayed at the RIU Cancun a couple of years ago and loved it. This time we are wanting to stay in Playa/Riviera Maya.

Can someone tell me the differences between the two subject AI's? We are basically looking for someplace to go relax - lay on the beach/pool - drink - eat and do not much of anything. No major sightseeing or running around (excursions)....

In looking at all the pics of the two they look about the same. One main concern we have is we are looking for someplace a little casual. Don't have to dress up for dinner, etc....

**Shammy** · 08-08-2010

Try THIS thread. Or THIS one. Both are very recent. HERE'S another from late June.

As far as dressing up - they both have the same dress code requirements. Pants in the indoor dinner buffet (at the Palace Mexico anyway) and a la cartes (both) for men so as far as that is concerned, it wouldn't matter which resort you select.

awesomeurban · 08-08-2010

So men have to where shirts with collars to the buffet also?

Some friends of ours just got back yesterday and stayed at the Occidental (or something like that) and they weren't impressed. She said it had a man-made beach and it was very very small.

Thanks Shammy for your help

Mercy · 08-08-2010

We stayed at the Palace Mexico a couple years ago and enjoyed it there. Shammy is right, about the men having to wear long pants for dinner, and some of the ladies were somewhat dressed up. I personally did not get that dressed up, just nice capri's and a nice top. Hubby did khaki's and a polo.

Since the beach restoration, I think both have very nice beaches now. The Riviera Maya has a better pool area, if you like to lounge by the pool. We stayed mostly on the beach, but I may have been more inclined to sit by the pool if I had been at the RM. The Palace Mex. pool is on the small side.

The Palace Mexico is next door to the Riu Yucatan which you can use their facilites also. It seemed to be lively over there especially at the pool.

jobob · 08-08-2010

In the buffet you can get away with a t-shirt for dinner as long as it's not LOUD (lots of printing advertising etc). At the RPRM men can wear nice dress shorts for dinner in the buffet but RPM it's definitely long pants. We've seen many turned away that were in shorts. A friend who has also stayed at the RPM but usually different months than us said they allowed shorts in the steakhouse (open air, roofed) but I never saw that. The a la cartes at both require long pants. Not sure about collared shirts but I've never seen t-shirts in the a la cartes. I wear polo/golf or button down short sleeved shirts for all restaurants.
RPM is definitely the quieter of the two, some say "stuffy" I prefer "laid back" and we go there to totally relax. And the RPRM has a much better pool if that's what you prefer.
One thing we like about the Riu Palaces is the waiter drink service. You don't have to get up and go to the bar. And at the RPM, not sure of the RPRM, there is a waiter who brings around a tray of drinks to the beach. Daiquiries, margaritas, cervesas and agua.
And as has been said the RPM is next to the Yucatan and also across the street from the Tequila where there is a 24 hours sports bar (there is one at RPRM) and the Riu Disco.
Good luck in the decision making. We're returning to the RPM in Nov for our 8th time, weeks 14 and 15.

**Shammy** · 08-08-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesomeurban

So men have to where shirts with collars to the buffet also?

Some friends of ours just got back yesterday and stayed at the Occidental (or something like that) and they weren't impressed. She said it had a man-made beach and it was very very small.

Thanks Shammy for your help

They're talking about the Occidental Grand Xcaret. And I agree with their assessment!

Wouldn't be my choice. And - you still have to wear pants in the a la carte restaurants - that's a rule at just about every AI resort. I think the Catalonia Royal Tulum allows shorts for dinner, and it's adults only, decent price, GREAT beach. Might want to check into that one.

rainbow · 08-09-2010

...both the riu palace mexico and riu palace riviera maya have lovely beaches...but the palace mexico looks more like a natural deep beach with random placement of many palms...except for the days when the beach party is held, the beach tends to be quiet at the rpm...the rprm has a lively beach bar and rows of palms...each beautiful in their own way...

cbrund1079 · 08-11-2010

We have stayed at both they are pretty similar. We like RPRM because the beach does not have as much motorized water sport activity. At RPM you smell jet ski and boat fumes all day long.....not as bad at RPRM. You can't go wrong with either one and you can visit and use the facilities of all the Rius.

08-08-2010	#1 (permalink)
awesomeurban sandflea Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2	Riu Palace Mexico or Riu Palace Riviera Maya We are booking a vacation in the next couple of days for the first of September (we need a quick vacation).. We stayed at the RIU Cancun a couple of years ago and loved it. This time we are wanting to stay in Playa/Riviera Maya. Can someone tell me the differences between the two subject AI's? We are basically looking for someplace to go relax - lay on the beach/pool - drink - eat and do not much of anything. No major sightseeing or running around (excursions).... In looking at all the pics of the two they look about the same. One main concern we have is we are looking for someplace a little casual. Don't have to dress up for dinner, etc....

08-08-2010	#2 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,502	Try THIS thread. Or THIS one. Both are very recent. HERE'S another from late June. As far as dressing up - they both have the same dress code requirements. Pants in the indoor dinner buffet (at the Palace Mexico anyway) and a la cartes (both) for men so as far as that is concerned, it wouldn't matter which resort you select. Last edited by Shammy; 08-08-2010 at 04:31 PM..

08-08-2010	#3 (permalink)
awesomeurban sandflea Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2	So men have to where shirts with collars to the buffet also? Some friends of ours just got back yesterday and stayed at the Occidental (or something like that) and they weren't impressed. She said it had a man-made beach and it was very very small. Thanks Shammy for your help

08-08-2010	#4 (permalink)
Mercy añejo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: MD Posts: 8,089	We stayed at the Palace Mexico a couple years ago and enjoyed it there. Shammy is right, about the men having to wear long pants for dinner, and some of the ladies were somewhat dressed up. I personally did not get that dressed up, just nice capri's and a nice top. Hubby did khaki's and a polo. Since the beach restoration, I think both have very nice beaches now. The Riviera Maya has a better pool area, if you like to lounge by the pool. We stayed mostly on the beach, but I may have been more inclined to sit by the pool if I had been at the RM. The Palace Mex. pool is on the small side. The Palace Mexico is next door to the Riu Yucatan which you can use their facilites also. It seemed to be lively over there especially at the pool.

08-08-2010	#5 (permalink)
jobob Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: B.C., Canada EH! Posts: 896	In the buffet you can get away with a t-shirt for dinner as long as it's not LOUD (lots of printing advertising etc). At the RPRM men can wear nice dress shorts for dinner in the buffet but RPM it's definitely long pants. We've seen many turned away that were in shorts. A friend who has also stayed at the RPM but usually different months than us said they allowed shorts in the steakhouse (open air, roofed) but I never saw that. The a la cartes at both require long pants. Not sure about collared shirts but I've never seen t-shirts in the a la cartes. I wear polo/golf or button down short sleeved shirts for all restaurants. RPM is definitely the quieter of the two, some say "stuffy" I prefer "laid back" and we go there to totally relax. And the RPRM has a much better pool if that's what you prefer. One thing we like about the Riu Palaces is the waiter drink service. You don't have to get up and go to the bar. And at the RPM, not sure of the RPRM, there is a waiter who brings around a tray of drinks to the beach. Daiquiries, margaritas, cervesas and agua. And as has been said the RPM is next to the Yucatan and also across the street from the Tequila where there is a 24 hours sports bar (there is one at RPRM) and the Riu Disco. Good luck in the decision making. We're returning to the RPM in Nov for our 8th time, weeks 14 and 15.

08-09-2010	#7 (permalink)
rainbow life=playa Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 734	...both the riu palace mexico and riu palace riviera maya have lovely beaches...but the palace mexico looks more like a natural deep beach with random placement of many palms...except for the days when the beach party is held, the beach tends to be quiet at the rpm...the rprm has a lively beach bar and rows of palms...each beautiful in their own way...

08-11-2010	#8 (permalink)
cbrund1079 into ruins Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 79	We have stayed at both they are pretty similar. We like RPRM because the beach does not have as much motorized water sport activity. At RPM you smell jet ski and boat fumes all day long.....not as bad at RPRM. You can't go wrong with either one and you can visit and use the facilities of all the Rius.

register to remove these adverts