Hotel Riu Playa Blanca 5*

Our First Trip to Panama 🇵🇦 – Honest Review of RIU Playa Blanca It was our first time in Panama 🇵🇦. Overall, our experience at the resort was very satisfying. We never left the resort to explore the rest of Panama, so this review is based entirely on our stay at the hotel. Because of the weather and the El Niño phenomenon, it was extremely hot 🥵—which, honestly, was exactly what we were looking for. When you travel from Canada 🇨🇦 to a sunny destination, that’s what you hope for! We were actually lucky because many local employees told us that this July had been unusually sunny, with beautiful weather about 90% of the time. I learned that Panama has only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. During our visit, it was technically the rainy season. Although it is very humid, we experienced mostly sunshine. Be prepared for intense heat—around 39°C to 42°C with the humidex every day! 😂 We were also told that Panama’s dry season begins around December (not October), when temperatures remain warm but the humidity is much lower, making it even more comfortable. That probably explains why we saw relatively few Canadians during our stay. One pleasant surprise was the complete absence of mosquitoes. We came prepared with strong insect repellent but never needed to use it once. There were plenty of beach chairs available throughout our stay, and the coconut trees provide natural shade. Since this is considered the low season, about 80% of the guests were from Latin America—mainly Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina, and other nearby countries. Most preferred spending their time around the pools. Yes, some guests can be loud and occasionally play their own music on portable speakers at the beach. Fortunately, hotel security regularly patrols the area and will ask guests to lower the volume if it becomes excessive. As long as the music isn’t too loud, it is generally allowed. If you prefer a quieter spot, simply move farther down the beach and enjoy your day. One thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t the best time of year for swimming in the Pacific Ocean 🌊. The waves are often strong, and there is usually a noticeable undertow. The lifeguards frequently display the red flag, warning swimmers about dangerous conditions. They won’t necessarily stop you from entering the water, but you do so at your own risk, so please be careful. The buffet deserves special recognition. It is spacious and can accommodate many guests comfortably. We found the food to be excellent, with a wide variety available every day. Even during the low season, there were up to three different types of fish, seafood, and unlimited champagne 🥂. I was even surprised to find smoked salmon at breakfast! Unlike some reviewers, I prefer addressing any concerns directly with hotel staff during my stay rather than complaining afterward. Considering that hotels often operate with reduced budgets during the low season, I think the culinary team does an excellent job. After trying two of the à la carte restaurants, we actually preferred returning to the buffet—it really is that good. If your goal is simply to enjoy the best food, don’t feel obligated to reserve the specialty restaurants. The buffet offers more variety, excellent quality, and outstanding service. Please consider tipping your buffet servers. About US$5 per couple is greatly appreciated. They work incredibly hard and are always attentive with nothing more than a polite gesture to get their attention. If you’re looking for a romantic dinner, however, I highly recommend the Steakhouse by the beach. The ocean view, the natural breeze, and the generous portions make for a wonderful evening. I honestly doubt you’ll finish that enormous steak! 😂 The entertainment program is excellent for both children and adults. Personally, we preferred watching the evening shows from a distance while enjoying a local beer. One nice touch is that table service is available at the outdoor theatre during the performances. A few days each week, the pool bar hosts charcoal barbecues. Service begins around 11:30 a.m., but you’ll smell the charcoal grilling as early as 9:00 a.m.—a sure sign that delicious barbecue chicken is on the way. The main buffet opens for lunch at 12:30 p.m., while the beach restaurant offers a buffet lunch beginning at 12:00 noon. We tried both the pool barbecue and the beach restaurant, but since we’re beach lovers, we usually chose to have lunch by the ocean. My only real criticism My only significant criticism concerns the 24-hour Sports Bar snack area. While it’s convenient that it’s open around the clock, the snack selection could definitely be improved. Warm nacho chips with chili or cheese dip aren’t really enough as a late-night meal. The pre-made sandwiches contained so much sauce that, after sitting refrigerated for a while, the bread became soggy. Hot dogs were available as well, but we would have preferred fresh, made-to-order options such as pizza, grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches, or simple toasted sandwiches with mustard or other condiments of your choice. To be fair, it is primarily a sports bar with a small snack corner rather than a full cafeteria. Our room We stayed in Room 4041, and overall we were very pleased. The only maintenance issue was that some paint was peeling from the shower ceiling. We didn’t report it because it wasn’t serious enough to affect our stay. However, I believe this is the type of issue that should normally be identified during daily housekeeping inspections. Given the tropical humidity, occasional maintenance is expected. Perhaps the bathroom ventilation wasn’t functioning efficiently. Either way, it wasn’t the end of the world, but it’s unfortunate that a room would be assigned with such an obvious cosmetic issue. It may simply be a communication issue between housekeeping and maintenance departments. Would we return? Absolutely. This time we booked an Ocean View room. Next time, we’d love to try one of the Ocean Front Suites. However, we would probably return during the Canadian winter, which is also Panama’s dry season. We were told there are generally more Canadian, American, and European guests during that period, and that some of the issues we noticed—such as loud music on the beach or overly intoxicated guests around the pool bar—are less common then. Overall, we truly enjoyed our vacation and would gladly return. I hope this review helps anyone planning a trip from Canada during the Canadian summer. I also hope it provides constructive feedback for the hotel management as they prepare for the upcoming high season. Best regards.

The only reason this resort gets 2 stars is because of the beautiful warm ocean and the gorgeous beach. The room was disappointing from the moment we arrived. The shower and sink were filthy, peeling, moldy, rusty and every towel smelled strongly of mildew. The food was by far the biggest letdown. The restaurant options were poor, and even if you wanted to try one, getting a seat was difficult. The “Asian” restaurant served what was supposed to be ramen but was essentially spaghetti in broth. The quality and variety of food have declined dramatically. What was especially concerning was watching kitchen staff handle food with their bare hands in front of guests, without wearing gloves. It was very unappetizing to witness. Buffet is a joke!!! Restaurant seating is inadequate, customer service is almost nonexistent, and the property is in desperate need of remodeling and better maintenance. Every seat outside has bird poop no one cleans! We’ve stayed at Riu resorts before, and it’s sad to see how much the brand has declined in both service and food quality. Unfortunately, we would not return or recommend this resort.