Hi It's Sheri from CruiseTipsTV. Today we are going to take a look at the beautiful Riu Palace Hotel in one of our favorite cruise destinations; Cabo San Lucas.
Exterior
When you arrive at the entrance side of the Riu Palace you're greeted by solemn statue surrounded by tons of agave plants. On this side of the hotel, you really get the sense of how expansive this lush hotel is. The ocean side gives you a good idea of why they call this The Palace. In the center of the giant U shaped complex, you can see the decorative fountains and garden area.
We're on the quiet side of the resort, but the complex on the other side of the lobby looks nearly identical. There's more activity, music and partying on that side of the resort. Here's a quick look at the arch for weddings right on the beach, and now a different view from the infinity pool.
Lobby
The lobby at the Riu Palace is giant, and has a very regal feel. We loved the openness of design. The massive size of the area, and the layout makes you feel as if you're outdoors. There's a lovely breeze that blows through, and you can hear birds singing constantly.
There's a small market here if you have the urge for a little onsite shopping. There's also much art to be appreciated adorning the lobby.
When we checked in, we noticed that the front desk area has a nice, casual but professional feeling like a resort should. There was no sense that you were rushed, and the staff was eager to answer any questions. There's a beautiful courtyard here, which extends one level below the lobby and opens up to the sky. The lobby leads to the La Ventana Bar, which has plenty of seating overlooking the Sea of Cortes.
Room
We stayed in room 4041, which is a 4th floor room on the quiet side of the resort. The room overlooks the gardens, pool and the beautiful beach. There are two chairs and a handy drying rack on the balcony here. The sitting area holds a large dresser, flat screen TV and a small sofa bed. This room has one king bed and two sidetables, with additional drawer storage. The closet, complete with an iron and the safe and is here on the left. On the right, there's the coffee pot and mini bar, with liquor dispensers. The fridge is always fully stocked with beer, soda and water. The bathroom is a nice size, but there is very little storage, and the toilet is placed awkwardly behind the bathroom door.
Gym
The fitness center is in a stand-alone building on the quiet side of the resort, in the same building that houses the spa. Access to the gym is hidden just to the right of the spa check in desk. Once you're in you'll find nautilus machines and cardio equipment as well as a few mats and exercise balls, but there are no free weights. The good news about this facility is that the view is to die for. You can jump on a treadmill and watch whales spouting in the distance, or people watch on the beach. The not-so-good news is that the equipment here is in bad shape and some of it is out of service. Even so, hop on a working machine and take in the view.
Pools
This is the pool area on the quiet side of the resort. There's an almost identical pool area on the other side of the resort, where you'll find more organized activity and music. There's no restaurant poolside here at the resort, and if you try to smuggle food from the restaurant, changes are the seagulls will fight you for it. The infinity edge is a popular place congregate and enjoy your pina colada while staring out at Lands End. The Baja Norte bar serves this pool and the swim up bar. The bartenders here are always smiling and wont hesitate to customize your drink if you ask. The swim up bar is a great place to mingle with other hotel guests and soak up some rays.
Restaurants
The Riu really shines when it comes to entertainment, and restaurants
The Mar de Cortes houses the lunch buffet by day, and the Steakhouse by night.
Misaki is the onsite Japanese restaurant. A little secret for you- this place is open for lunch, and doesn't seem crowded at all during lunch hours. If you're tired of buffet dining, head here for a change.
Krystal is the upscale, adults only fusion restaurant that is open for dinner only.
San Jose is an Italian restaurant for lunch and a Mexican restaurant during dinner hours.
El Medano is the large and beautiful buffet restaurant on the property. It's chalked full of culinary goodies, and for a buffet it's quite good.
That's it for this episode. Check us out on Twitter @CruiseTipsTV. And please, if you enjoyed this video let us know by subscribing and clicking the Like button. Until next time, we will see you on the high seas.
