I made the mistake of reading reviews in the days leading up to our trip and I’m not going to lie, we were nervous and worried we may have chosen the wrong place.
However, we had a great time and I think Riu Republica deserves a good review in the mix. You just need to know what you’re booking. If you do, there’s no reason to feel blindsided by the experience.
Firstly, it is adults only and there is a CLEAR party vibe. We did not select it for this reason and were a little apprehensive based on reviews. There is loud music blasting near the beach side pools from 10am on. There are young people having a good time, playing games, being generally jovial and rowdy. No big deal. On the far side of the resort, the crowd is much more tame, the music is a touch quieter, and it is more or less relaxing enough to read a book or take a dip in the pools without feeling like you’re on spring break.
We encountered some VERY drunk guests, but that is par for the course at an all inclusive resort. We did see one young man staggering so badly he fell and hit his head on a palm tree. We notified staff and they appeared to make a text or call. The people he was with carried him to the lobby. Really hope he was ok.
The buffets were great and I’m really not sure where the other bad reviews were coming from. For us, they were fresh, well stocked, had great variety, etc. Get there when they open for the best presentation and experience. My only gripe is that the desserts were nothing to write home about 😅 No cockroaches to be seen, but I am also of the mindset that you can’t control nature 100% so if you see a bug here and there, oh well. We were lucky I guess.
There were round the clock activities to participate in during the day (yoga, fitness, lawn games, beach volleyball, etc.) and night activities that were great (performances, dancing, bars, etc). The staff was attentive and polite and quick to ask if we needed drink refills, etc. one review mentioned that this resort seemed oriented towards Spanish-speakers and I would mostly agree, although the staff spoke enough English for us to communicate our needs. The front desk spoke English just fine. I know basic Spanish and I would encourage anybody to learn the basic is before going - it goes a long way and everybody gets a good laugh when you do your best 😅 My husband and I spent most of our time lounging, reading, and going to bed early, but the activities are there if you want them.
We booked our stay through a third and didn’t have included airport transport, however taxis are available 24/7, you just need to ask the front desk.
Overall it was a good experience and it is worth going for the price point. If you are mellow people, don’t let all the negative reviews deter you, just know that it is overall geared towards partying but you can also relax if that’s your vibe. The beach was nice and peaceful (no music).
Strictly L2026-10-08