Our third time at the Riu Tequila, and it didn’t disappoint. Seeing the same staff that were there two years ago is incredibly reassuring as it’s a good gauge of how staff are looked after and happy to work there. And happy they are, always greeted with a friendly smile and can never do enough for you. Special mention to Rangel in the main restaurant for going above and beyond with making us feel special; Andrea in the Sports Bar, beautiful lady inside and out and an excellent drinks chooser when we said ‘surprise us’, and all the housekeeping staff who leave the room sparkling clean with a fun towel sculpture on the bed. The food is great, everywhere is clean, and day and night entertainment to suit all tastes. The hotel hasn’t slipped at all since our first stay in 2023. Added bonus was the Spider Monkeys! Never saw them on our previous visits. 100% recommend staying at the Riu Tequila for the hotel, location, beach and staff. Hope to go back again!
Rooms are spacious and clean. Some little bits like a wonky wardrobe door and little cracked plaster but nothing that would put me off rebooking. Beds are comfy, mini bar and coffee supplies plentiful, especially as you can use the app to order more whenever you need. Air con is good and the addition of a ceiling fan is great. Plenty of plug sockets and a hair dryer, iron and ironing board in the room.
So much to choose from! A trip to 5th Avenue is a must for some souvenir shopping and local eats and drinks. Walmart is a short taxi ride away for those fun bits you can’t get from home. The beach is lovely and a short walk or golf buggy ride away. Turning left out of the hotel entrance leads you to a small set of stalls, shops, a chemist and a 7/11 all a 5 minute walk away. Xcaret is a must too!
Felt completely safe as the hotel is in a security controlled complex. Though I also felt safe out and about outside of the gates. Just use your common sense with your personal belongings like you would going anywhere. Use ATM at your hotel for pesos as everything is cheaper in pesos, and you’ll need cash for tips that the local people rely heavily on: a little goes a long way. I wouldn’t use tapping to pay for things outside of brand shops (note that Walmart don’t take ApplePay but everywhere else does), cash always gets you the best deal.
The local shops and beach are walkable, even in the heat but further afield will need a taxi or other transport. It’s all flat but can be a little uneven so watch out for potholes in pavements especially as there are no street lights on at night.
Everything you could possibly want is on offer, from chicken nuggets and pizza and chips, to a full roast dinner, Italian to Chinese and obviously all the traditional Mexican fare, and all are mouth-wateringly yummy! Fresh fruit, salad, vegetables aplenty. Breakfast is great including all the usual cereal, sausage, bacon, hash browns etc to fried plantain, chorizo, eggs done every way you can think of and savoury hot meals for those still out of kilter with jet lag. The sweet toothed are well catered for at every meal with a vast array of tempting treats to choose from. There could be more vegetarian and vegan options as they are quite limited. Allergies are clearly marked but you do have to rely on other patrons not mixing the serving spoons, which I sometimes found tricky as I have a fish/shellfish allergy and was put off trying non fish dishes that were in the same area as ones containing fish. Drinks are varied and the fresh juices at breakfast are lovely. The choice of drinks in the bar are plentiful, anything you want is there (except energy drinks) the cocktail menu is a must to have a look at, including martinis, long drinks, shots and alcohol free options.
You will need pesos for tipping (not that any staff ever appear expecting of them). The hotel shop is open until 10pm but is more expensive than the local shops. If you plan water based activities, you’ll need water shoes so I’d say buy before you fly. Good mosquito repellent will be needed too. If you need medication the chemist on the upper level of the local shops is cheaper than the ground floor one. If you’ve forgotten anything, check the ‘swap box’ with the reps first as they have all sorts of bit to borrow, and you can leave anything you won’t need after your stay with them for future guests.
