Riu Palace Aquarelle - All Inclusive

The staff made this stay memorable, with warm, sincere greetings throughout the day and outstanding service wherever we were. We appreciated the buffet and specialty restaurants, the drinks brought to us by the pools and beach, and the Cappuccino bar and Daiquiri bar. Getting around the hotel was easy, too. We were welcomed with a lovely smile from the reservationist and a rum punch. My request for a high floor was met, and our top-floor oceanfront room looked over the pools. From the balcony we could hear the entertainment. We had a wonderful time at the RIU Palace Aquarelle, and I'd happily vacation at RIU hotels again.

I took my gluten allergy seriously, and this was one area where the resort needs to do better. Food labels were often inconsistent or wrong: some items were marked as containing gluten when they apparently didn't, and labels changed from day to day. Staff kindly tried to help by finding a chef, but there didn't seem to be a lasting solution. There was a small gluten-free area with bread and cookies, plus a gluten-free chocolate cake on request that was delicious. The GF chocolate chip cookies were excellent but hard to find. More variety, and gluten-free choices at the cappuccino bar in the lobby, would help. They had desserts there, but no gluten-free ones. The other issue for us was the beach. It's private and beautiful, with white sand and lovely water, but both the sand and the water were extremely rocky, likely after recent storms. Some spots could be dangerous. A young man badly cut his foot playing beach volleyball. Bring water shoes if you plan to go in the sea. Not every section was rough, but it's something to keep in mind. We also would have liked more daytime entertainment for adults around the pool. There seemed to be a lot for kids, and we did enjoy Friday's foam party, but a DJ or light daytime activity at the adult pool would have made a better balance with the quiet and kids' pool areas. Otherwise, we were very impressed. This newer RIU exceeded my expectations after I had found some older RIU properties dated, and felt closer to the standard I look for in an all-inclusive, like a Royalton-style experience. The design is stunning, the rooms are beautiful, and the resort is very clean with a modern, luxurious feel. The food was great overall, and we enjoyed most meals. Service was excellent and staff were very friendly. We'd recommend it and come back.

The beach was beautiful, and I loved the spicy jerk sauce at pepes. Lunch at the buffet was the same every day, though, so a little variety there would be nice. The entertainers were awesome and always got everyone involved. The night shows were great, especially the Michael Jackson show. I'd definitely go back.

The staff made the vacation for me. They were kind and friendly, and they remembered us. The restaurants were incredible, especially the steakhouse, and there was plenty to do at the resort. The place looks beautiful and very new, and our room was comfortable. It felt like a magical trip, and I'll definitely return!