keisari
Jun 27, 12, 5:24 pm
My family and I traveled to Cancun and stayed at the brand new RIU Palace Peninsula; it just opened up at the end of May.
Some members stayed for 7 days and some of us for 4 days.
The hotel is brand new and apart from some water coming through the corridor windows it is in perfect condition; nice rooms, sparse but nice, great a/c, nice showers and jet bath tubs in every room.
The food was very good, not excellent but very good; actually the buffet food was better than the restaurants. There are several bars and drinks are plenty and quiet good. They had some nicer liquor apart from the usual brands: Chivas Regal, Don Julio tequila, Cointreau and Baileys.
The service was impeccable; service is just excellent; very attentive and willing to do anything to make you comfortable and to accommodate your needs. In fact that was the BEST part of the entire stay.
The problem is that 8 out of 10 members of our family either got sick while still there, on the way back or immediately upon returning to the US. I have to add that there were 4 physicians, a nurse and a medical student so we are very conscious of what we eat and cleanliness in general. We did not eat anything outside the hotel and did not do any side trips/tours.
I found several grave problems with the food:
1. During buffet meals adults would put their fingers inside the serving plate to "taste" the food
2. Children sticking their fingers in ice-cream and the chocolate fountain
3. While serving themselves, many people put down the serving utensil in the food plate instead than on the small plate next to it; therefore contaminating the entire plate
4. The bar tenders grab ice with a scoop but then throw the scoop back in the ice bin. They also end up touching the ice while they put it in the glasses.
5. I saw one server in the restroom leave without washing hands; just got them wet and dried them on his pants.
I think this hotel has the same problem as many cruise ships.
If you don't mind getting sick (most likely Norovirus infection) or if you have a very strong stomach, this may be a great place for you and your family. Otherwise beware. I don't have any experience with the other RIU hotels or other all-inclusive hotels in Cancun.
Some members stayed for 7 days and some of us for 4 days.
The hotel is brand new and apart from some water coming through the corridor windows it is in perfect condition; nice rooms, sparse but nice, great a/c, nice showers and jet bath tubs in every room.
The food was very good, not excellent but very good; actually the buffet food was better than the restaurants. There are several bars and drinks are plenty and quiet good. They had some nicer liquor apart from the usual brands: Chivas Regal, Don Julio tequila, Cointreau and Baileys.
The service was impeccable; service is just excellent; very attentive and willing to do anything to make you comfortable and to accommodate your needs. In fact that was the BEST part of the entire stay.
The problem is that 8 out of 10 members of our family either got sick while still there, on the way back or immediately upon returning to the US. I have to add that there were 4 physicians, a nurse and a medical student so we are very conscious of what we eat and cleanliness in general. We did not eat anything outside the hotel and did not do any side trips/tours.
I found several grave problems with the food:
1. During buffet meals adults would put their fingers inside the serving plate to "taste" the food
2. Children sticking their fingers in ice-cream and the chocolate fountain
3. While serving themselves, many people put down the serving utensil in the food plate instead than on the small plate next to it; therefore contaminating the entire plate
4. The bar tenders grab ice with a scoop but then throw the scoop back in the ice bin. They also end up touching the ice while they put it in the glasses.
5. I saw one server in the restroom leave without washing hands; just got them wet and dried them on his pants.
I think this hotel has the same problem as many cruise ships.
If you don't mind getting sick (most likely Norovirus infection) or if you have a very strong stomach, this may be a great place for you and your family. Otherwise beware. I don't have any experience with the other RIU hotels or other all-inclusive hotels in Cancun.