Hotel Riu Palace Peninsula

We stayed at the RIU Palace Peninsula in November 2025. We’re fans of RIU Palace hotels in general, and, like the other properties we’ve visited, this one has its pros and cons. Check-in was quick and efficient, and we were accommodated in the exclusive adults-only villa section, which has its own pool area and speciality restaurant. There is no lift, although the bellboy carried our cases upstairs for us. The villa suites are slightly more spacious, with the usual huge bed, drinks optics and well-stocked fridge. The buffet was excellent, and bar service throughout the hotel was very good. There are also several speciality restaurants, although we feel the menus across RIU hotels have become a little tired. These days, we tend to stick to the steakhouse and Italian. Getting a sun lounger was never a problem, either at the exclusive pool or elsewhere around the hotel. The main pools were more family-orientated, so having the quieter adults-only area was a welcome benefit. For us, the main drawback was the busy atmosphere. This is a large hotel attracting plenty of families and younger adults. Guests of retirement age looking for a quieter holiday may find some of the livelier behaviour a little much. We also felt that some guests’ choice of clothing outside the pool areas was rather too casual for the surroundings. As we’ve found at other RIUs, the entertainment programme could do with a refresh. On the plus side, the grounds are spacious, with plenty of places to sit, enjoy a drink and relax. The location is convenient too. Although it isn’t right in the heart of Cancún’s hotel zone, you can walk to the livelier area or catch one of the inexpensive buses stopping directly outside. These are also handy for exploring further afield. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. You want for nothing, and the staff go out of their way to help. However, we’ll probably choose a fully adults-only RIU for our next visit, as we feel that would suit us better.

Our wonderful experience at Riu Palace Peninsula began before we even arrived! Customer Service Representative Violeta Garcia listened to our requests and took the time to check on us during our stay. Her thoughtfulness made us feel truly welcome and valued. A special thank-you also goes to Marcelo at the adults-only Elite pool. He was attentive, kind, and hardworking—we were never without a drink or a kind word. He made our time by the pool especially enjoyable. The service, food, and cleanliness are exemplary. This was our first visit since the renovation, and the resort is better than ever. Thank you to everyone who helped make our stay so special. We look forward to returning!