Riu Playacar

We stayed at the Riu Playacar last week, which was our fourth Riu stay, including our Riu wedding (can you guess that we love Riu?!) Check in was great, staff very friendly and our room was ready within about 15 min of our arrival. We always celebrate our anniversary with Riu so we typically ask if it's possible for a top floor room and one with some privacy (not located near bustling families). Riu Playacar delivered (for a few days until the loudest family we've ever been in the presence of moved in next door). Our room was decorated for our anniversary and we we delighted to find a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Fredy was our room attendant and he was amazing - from how he set up our room, to the big smile and friendly "Hola!" every morning on our way out. The food was ok, we always managed to find something to eat. Though I do have to express a bit of disappointment with the steakhouse. The night we arrived for supper, there was a large party in attendance, so perhaps that had staff off their game. But service was slow, food was so overcooked some of it was inedible, and no one came back to check on us. We ate what we could and ended up leaving. I will also say the service at the breakfast buffet was not what I've come to expect from Riu. We're used to being greeted or at least acknowledged, we're also used to fresh, live cooking stations where you can get an omelet made to order. Playacar didn't have that. We also struggled to get service at all on a few mornings - having to wave staff down or yell out to someone just to get a cup of coffee. Each day we were also left to get our own cold drinks - water or juice. Again, none of this ruined our vacation, but being Riu fanatics, we've come to expect a certain level of service. That all said, I do want to give a huge shout out to the staff at the Italian restaurant. The service and food were so spectacular we ate there three nights for supper. If you do one thing on your trip to Riu Playacar, get the salmon at the Italian restaurant! The evening shows were nothing to write home about. Our favorite was the silent disco - always a so much fun. A few of the shows were pretty "meh" and it seemed a lot of guests agreed with us as we watched people leave during the shows. As far as bar staff, the absolute very best is Troy at the lobby bar. This man deserves a raise! By the end of night two, we felt like his regulars. He could be waiting on other guests, see us coming, give a smile and a nod and immediately start preparing our drinks on the side. And speaking of staff... Kenddell! I've never encountered anyone so personable, outgoing, over the top friendly, sociable in my life! He chatted us up on Day 1, and after our five minute conversation, he remembered where we're from, that we're in PDC for an appointment with INM, that we're learning Spanish (and he would let us practice with him). He even came up to us the evening after our appointment to ask how everything went - he had remembered it was that day. And the craziest part was Kenddell's ability to socialize with everyone like this. We would see guests run up to him and start chatting and laughing like they'd been friends for years. Honestly, he should be running the entertainment team. No one else on the team engaged with us in any relevant way the whole week - the entire team should be following Kenddell's lead. Imagine if every team member made every guest feel as special as he does! Please, give him a promotion! Otherwise, the week was good. The grounds are beautiful and so well maintained. The pools are clean, and despite some sargassum while we were there, the staff did an incredible job of keeping our section of the beach clean. Would we go back to this Riu? Probably not, but it's nothing against Riu. We're probably going to make our way back to an adults only/ Palace resort - we loved Riu Palace Las Americas, so that may be our next trip.

WOW WOW WOW Here now & What can I say we had a lovely warm welcoming. The staff are so polite and cannot do enough for you. Always happy smiling and they work long shifts in this hot hot hot weather The food is amazing and plentiful. There is an Asian and Italian restaurant which are beautiful. No need to book always seats available. No extra charge My partner is a fussy eater, but here is absolutely enjoyed every meal complimentary bar in the bedroom for those that like to have a drink in the room tequila vodka rum plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments in the freezer too. Lovely big comfortable bed. The hotel is immaculate clean and tidy one of the best things about it is they don’t allow smoking in the hotel.You have to go to a certain area. The wildlife that roam the hotel are beautiful. You’re able to go in the other sistering hotels have a drink and eat free of charge.. the entertainment from morning till night is fantastic. White night, neon night we had a tribal group visit which were amazing coconut party They all work so hard. Highly recommend Coco bongos we booked with Horatio in the hotel he was fantastic. We booked the Cenotes opposite the hotel with Carlos. We did a fantastic deal that was amazing again all inclusive The reviews about the service not being good staff not being friendly they must be writing on the wrong page. We’ve already booked to come back next I could write so much more. We tipped with dollars rather than pesos they get a little bit more for it. We are making amazing memories and have made some fun friends. The people at this hotel who’ve been 19 times if that doesn’t say something then I don’t know what does. GO BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED

Here at the moment, cannot fault the hotel, food or daytime entertainment. The only thing that’s letting it down for us is the evening entertainment. Compared to the other RIU resorts we’ve stayed in, it’s very poor.

This was our second holiday at this hotel. We were there from 15th April for 11 nights. Our room was in Block 6 which was perfect for us. I have to say I can't fault it. The room was nice, the staff were great and cleanliness inside and out of the hotel was spotless. A special mention for Nestor in the buffet restaurant although as I said all staff were great. We will return hopefully next year

We had such a fantastic two weeks at the RIU Playacar. Every day we participated in the Riufit classes run by the amazing Sol. The Riufun team , especially Angel , Kendall and Tina were so enthusiastic and brought such great energy to the pool and shows. When it came to the lunch buffet our favourite waiter Nestor kept our glasses fully topped up and always had a joke for us and a smiling welcome. At the reception bar the bartender Froy made perfect cocktails. This was our 3rd visit and we look forward to returning yet again in the future