Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

10734 reviews

• 

  Clean, well maintained, and reasonably priced.

  The resort was very clean and very safe. The walls were noise proof (but not so the glass patio doors). The food was slightly above average, but the dining experience were degraded by the loud and noisy atmosphere (no sound-deadening materials used). Plus the 45-60 minute wait to be seated at the steakhouse was not worthy of the time investment. My 12 ounce ribeye steak was thin and a bit chewy. The potato wedges and Caesar salad were great however. We tried another night and the ribs were again just a bit chewy. Perhaps it is unfair to judge against corn-fed beef here in the states? Evening BINGO was free and fun, albeit brief. The grounds were kept clean and well-trimmed. Just as you enter the beach you will find Erick (a vendor not affiliated with the hotel). He gave us a good deal on an early morning birding tour into the rainforest.

  Feb 04, 2026
• 

  Not planning on ever returning or recommending to others

  We selected this location for our 1 1/2 yr old grandson to enjoy. The splash pad was only open our first day. The food was horrible. Expect to have to walk a lot to get to and from your room to the pools, which was a lot for the great grandparents that also came on the trip. We booked a catamaran ride that would be safe for the little, 5 mon. along expected mother, and 80+ yr olds, we purchased a sail from 1-5pm ride. The lady expressed how we will have no lunch served and to eat before. We walked aways down the beach to the ship. Unknown to us, the excursion was also sold in 2 other resorts. We started with about 50 people. Some of the people said how excited they were for the sunset cruise. We didn't want that one, because it was very long and knew that the little one especially won't make it. We took off and after just getting around the cove, we started heading into a beach area. There we picked up the band along with 25-30 more people. We then found that, yes, this was the long excursion but was also the one we purchased; they put them together. Needless to say, it was not good. Also, the staff, minus the Mexican restaurant, were so slow and clueless at what was going on; no refills on drinks or water, closed pool, etc. I know that the resort is huge, but we only had our room cleaned once in the 6 day stay because the hours we would be gone they didn't get to the room; however the app worked great to get more towels. They didn't care. So on a positive, the deck off our room was amazing, large and faced the jungle, so we had monkey's in the trees most mornings. The beds were fantastic, and long enough, given some of us were on the tall side. Checking in and out was so easy. Otherwise, I would not recommend and am not planning on returning.

  Feb 02, 2026
• 

  Do not waste your money here

  Would never spend my money here or with another Riu after my experience at the Guanacaste location. FOUL and rude management, and poor business practice and policy provided ahead of our trip. Landed early and called the office to ask if we could arrive early to wait in the lobby until check in. Was told that was fine only to be stopped at the gate along with 10+ other vehicles at the gate and was told we would not be allowed through (even with proof of reservation) until 1:30pm. We took an Uber and were left waiting outside the gate (another mile plus away from the entrance). We had waited for 2 hours at the gate with no service on the side of the road, until an airport shuttle did us a favor to take us through the gate. Foul and rude attitudes by the guards, supervisor, and management. When asked about where this policy was stated or why ubers and taxis were not allowed through, we were dismissed by management and told “they do not have to disclose or provide proof of policy”. Was told they “receive complaints like this all the time”. Did nothing with our complaint or offer apology for the experience. If that’s policy, fine, but that should be stated clearly and communicated to customers. Imagine an emergency situation and you’re left stuck on the side of the road with no service in the middle of the jungle. There were babies waiting in hot vehicles and a line of cars told to wait down the road. Do not spend your money here. Would not ever waste my money on a Riu experience at any other location after the experience we had.

  Feb 02, 2026
• 

  Are we staying at the same resort?

  Back 2 months ago I selected this hotel for me and my wife and she got worried this was a bad choice. I wasn’t so sure either when reading all the reviews. If you average the December to mid January you probably end up with a 2.2 avg. but that is not at all what we experienced. We were there Jan 24-28 and this place is without a question a 4*. Everything is fine and I mean nice, pleasant, ok. The staff…the rooms…the full resort…the food. It’s all good. The beach is not white sand…but it was clean and being an advance snorkeller I can tell you there are tons of great fish on the vacant side (not by the Palace). We had no issues with the room. The food was good and varied. All my drinks had real fruit blended into it. You have the Diamante park right next door to do great activities. The ride though bumpy to Lib Airport is short for Caribbeans standards. I have been to all the regular destinations…MX, Dom Rep, Cuba, JAM over 18 times and experienced ‘rated’ 3.5* to 5* this place is a 4 for sure and can only be lower if the one rating got a specific unfortunate situation or is always in 5* and cannot relate. The only real con of the place is the restaurants with no reservation and people lining up. I did do the line for 40mins for the Steakhouse. That restaurant was good…not great, maybe a good 3.8*-4.0* if rated as a resort steakhouse. Its no Hotel Xcaret….but also not Cuba. Also every restaurant and buffet house wines were decent. The whole time I was there I never noticed people that would look like they were not enjoying themselves.

  Feb 02, 2026
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  Riu G!!!

  So far so great. Food 5/5, pools 5/5, entertainment 4/5. Even got into the steakhouse tonight. Service is really good except for the non existent service at the pool. Suggestion box: Towel cards are really not required.

  Jan 31, 2026