Currently researching all inclusives for our 10 year anniversary. Your videos are by far our favorites. Keep up the great work! We would also love to see some Costa Rica videos.
I have a RIU vacation coming up at Riu Palace Peninsula. Its been awhile since I stayed at a RIU property. Thanks for all your videos; I am a long time subscriber and love your content. Great editing skills. Cheers to a wonderful 2024 for you.
As you said .. for the money Riu knocks it out of the park in my opinion. Went to the Riu Playacar with my 23 year old son and we both loved it .. and the food .. liked it so much we are going back in October. Rooms I could care less about .. good bed and shower is all I need. But I guess I'm a no frills kind of guy. Love your videos .. keep up the great work!!
I stayed here in 2023 during march break and I loved it for the location, walking distance to coco bongo, ferry station, having a big grocery store diagonally across the resort, short bus rides to different places like the La Isla mall - The only thing was the food, I'd give it a 6-7/10....
James this place reminds me so much of Club Med. The rooms, food, parties are all on that level. Not that I'm wishing you lack of personal growth but I hope you are still doing these videos in 10+ years because it's going to be interesting to see how your tastes change as you get older. When I was your age this place would have been a good time. I'm much older now and I would RUN from a place like this. Now I happily pay $500-600 a night to stay at upscale AIs that are quiet with really good food, great rooms, beaches and pools. The other guests are very reserved and there are never more than a handful of party types who you can always find at the pool bar. Looking forward to your next adventure. Thanks for all your good work.
We are currently planning an anniversary trip to Mexico for the first time, and your videos have been so helpful. Your videos have covered everything I was looking to research, such as cancun vs playa, pools vs beaches, and the seaweed issue. Thank you and keep up the great reviews!
Hi James, so grateful you talked about the elevators, I am very claustrophobic so always need to know there is a quick way out😅 You are truly the best tour guide!!!😊
Love the vids. I've stayed here a few times and I think you were unlucky with the time of year. The tide was extremely high there, every time I've stayed I've played football on the beach with >14 people and the entertainment during the day is great consisting of dance offs, adult pool games and cocobongo dancers. I agree about everything else though. I'd like to see your party week back here 😅
Great review James! You lost us at slow elevators that can be such an annoyance!! Headed to FLL to jump on the Celebrity Ascent. We think it's right up your alley/style! Have a great Christmas buddy! 🎅🎄
Thx James 👌 Cool ideal for you : get a website to tabulate all of your hotel ratings and links to your videos. You could make money from adsense. Cheers 🥂 Hope to see videos of Costa Mujeres hotels soon 🤞
James!! when where you here? We were at the palace las americas Dec 7-13! Weather at the end there was a drag. Couple of things: caribe is an old resort just completly reno'd the outside pool area. don't like it. Old caribe and that crowd was nuts. This trip We hit the riu party at night a few times, it was really good. Easy if you wanna meet other ppl at rius. Honestly Riu Palace LA is the best, easy to walk to entertainment strip adults only. Congo bar, mandala are great! Keep Rollin my man!!
I used to enjoy RIU but now it's a just good enough. Over the last few years the food and drinks are just good enough. I will pass. Thanks for the review.
Only comment I have for RIU is Bland. We stayed in Riu Palace peninsula last year for 11 nights (travelled from the UK). It cost more than staying at the Royaltons/ planet hollywoods and for a couple hundred pounds more, we could have stayed at Live aqua (but didn’t know about Live Aqua at time of booking). You’re spot on about the food - very hit and miss. Staff are great but overall, not again in RIU. Keep the reviews coming as you do cover a lot in your videos.
I stayed at the RIU Cancun in 2022 and they didn't even advertise the Riu Party Caribe. We walked to the strip every night and the clubs and Coco Bongo was 🔥🔥🔥 the elevators were a hot mess. We paid $700 for 5 days including nonstop flights from DC. Price can't be beat. Would definitely return, but I wouldn't stay there with my man.
We stayed at the Palace RIU (next door to this one)... The drinks were so watered down that we never ever caught a buzz... I even tipped $2/drink! 😠We finally caught a nice buzz at the airport while waiting for our flight home at Margaritaville (how ironic)! 🤦♂
After going to 2 RIUs (cabo palace and antillas) have to side with you on pools and dinners overall. The only RIU pool I liked was the quiet back pool at RIU Sante Fe. The only good dinner I had was an Antillas Aruba restaurant. Good parties and good breakfast/lunch options at both. I would only ever go to another RIU if is was in a place where you could go out to dinner every evening. (VERY doable in Aruba)
I stayed at the RIU Cancun in 2018 and if the food at the Japanese place is anything like it was back then, it was the absolute best sushi I had ever had in my life.
Just curious, what is your process to chose a resort to review? Do you have a list and pick the best deal available at the time? Also, it would be an interesting video to explain.
As always, great job James! Back in my party days, I'd hit the clubs like Coco Bongo every night. You know you're getting "old" when you spend the money for open bar and drink nothing for fear of roofies, and watching over the younger girls being the cool mother hen, and thinking "oh my god, if there's a fire we're all going to die" 😂😂😂. So much fun though back when I didn't care. I also try to hit a restaurant outside the resort (lagoon side typically) at least 2 nights and had some great meals. Looking forward to your next video!
Just went to Riu Jamaica, and I have exactly the same review. Food was mid at best ,beach was clean for dipping your feet ,drug dealers in the kayaks but super nice, everything is simple and beautiful
Hey James…is there an all inclusive on the beach on the cheaper side with a good casino loaded with a nice slot selection? Beach front gambling with all the foods you can eat and drinks you can drink sounds like my kinda heaven even if the food is not extravagant but decent and tasty and abundant lol
James, I think your videos are the "Coolist". I often recommend your videos to people asking me for MY opinion on where to go. I'm waiting to see if you have RIU Mazatlan on your list. It was a horrible experience, and I want to see if you have the same or much different. I'd be very interested. We know 2 couples who go there EVERY YEAR. 🤷🏻♂️ Also, you mentioned beach service was a rarity at a RIU. We had beach service at RIU Republica ALL 4 times we went there. 🏖🍹🍺🍸
Hi James, QUESTION: You said this property was rated as the "# 1 RIU property in Cancun." Where did you get that rating from?? Did you mean as a "Budget property"?? Only reason I'm asking is because I have seen better ratings for RIU PALACE LAS AMERICAS (Adult Only), and RIU PALACE PENINSULA. QUESTION²: How were you able to go to RIU CARIBE for the parties .... since RIU Cancun is NOT a "PALACE property" with no visitation privileges?? Thanks in advance and keep up the great work.
I feel like since the first two RIUs you visited and reviewed (RIU Republica Punta Cana, RIU Palace Baja California)...............the locations you have visited since have steadily gotten worse in my eyes and just don't hold a candle to the aforementioned two. RIU Palace Mexico was a much inferior clone to its Baja California counterpart, RIU Palace Punta Cana had a good crowd but otherwise just didn't really come together compared to before, and I'd say this is the worst one yet in large part due to its half-comatose daytime crowd, as well as inferior rooms. And don't get me wrong: I understand approximately $150/night for Cancun is a really convincing selling point but, then again, when you have a far superior $99/night option in Punta Cana, I know which option I'll ultimately favor. I'm DEARLY hoping you bump into another outright RIU gem from here on out to reverse this steady downward spiral.
would you say that riu caribe whos completely renovated in 2023 would be the best choice with 4 riu party at the hotel or riu cancun whos now a bit old but will be adult only in december would you say riu cancun is still better over riu caribe ?
I'm looking through photos of Hotel Riu Cancun and it looks like the bathroom is an open concept. With a bathtub next to the beds and the shower just separated by glass partition. I'm looking to go with my wife and 18 year old daughter.... is this the right place to go for a family that are a bit more modest and not exactly nudists around the house? Are all the Riu locations like this?
Hi do you know where you can book this resorts for $150 a night like you always showing? If we book it from Holland you can only book packages not resorts only..
I'm pretty sure Coolist mentioned in one of his videos, something about a resort fee from the city of Cancun is being charged? My wife and I want to make our first trip to cancun and are worried about all the hidden taxes, fees, and other hidden costs. Does anyone have a list, a link, or just some first hand knowledge to help us out? Do we pay these fees/taxes/costs in USD cash, Pesos, by credit card?
Currently researching all inclusives for our 10 year anniversary. Your videos are by far our favorites. Keep up the great work! We would also love to see some Costa Rica videos.
I have a RIU vacation coming up at Riu Palace Peninsula. Its been awhile since I stayed at a RIU property. Thanks for all your videos; I am a long time subscriber and love your content. Great editing skills. Cheers to a wonderful 2024 for you.
As you said .. for the money Riu knocks it out of the park in my opinion. Went to the Riu Playacar with my 23 year old son and we both loved it .. and the food .. liked it so much we are going back in October. Rooms I could care less about .. good bed and shower is all I need. But I guess I'm a no frills kind of guy.
Love your videos .. keep up the great work!!
Heck yah James your the best travel guy and love your All inclusive resort reviews!!! 👍🏼👍🏼🤘💪
395 days away till my wife's 40th at Excellence Punta Cana cause of your videos! always enjoy the reviews.
A full caribe experience is what I’m waiting for!
I stayed here in 2023 during march break and I loved it for the location, walking distance to coco bongo, ferry station, having a big grocery store diagonally across the resort, short bus rides to different places like the La Isla mall - The only thing was the food, I'd give it a 6-7/10....
That pool and view looks like the trip alone! 😍
Currently researching all inclusives for my 51st bday. Your videos are by far my favs!
James this place reminds me so much of Club Med. The rooms, food, parties are all on that level. Not that I'm wishing you lack of personal growth but I hope you are still doing these videos in 10+ years because it's going to be interesting to see how your tastes change as you get older. When I was your age this place would have been a good time. I'm much older now and I would RUN from a place like this. Now I happily pay $500-600 a night to stay at upscale AIs that are quiet with really good food, great rooms, beaches and pools. The other guests are very reserved and there are never more than a handful of party types who you can always find at the pool bar. Looking forward to your next adventure. Thanks for all your good work.
same here love. I totally agree
Another standing innovation from Mr. Coolist himself! Great video and an amazing channel on TH-cam!
We are currently planning an anniversary trip to Mexico for the first time, and your videos have been so helpful. Your videos have covered everything I was looking to research, such as cancun vs playa, pools vs beaches, and the seaweed issue. Thank you and keep up the great reviews!
Another great vid and reinforced that I’d never stay in a RIU 👍👍
James we need a Las Vegas Fontainebleau review!!!!!
VEGAS FOUNTAINBLUE IS COOLIST!!!
Yes, but not until it is completely finished, with all the restaurants open and the pool open.
Every Vegas TH-camr has already been there and already done that.
Meh
@@tomlivesay8407very true
Hi James, so grateful you talked about the elevators, I am very claustrophobic so always need to know there is a quick way out😅 You are truly the best tour guide!!!😊
Nice James! Although they have some flaws I really do enjoy RIU properties..they know how to party and have a good time
Please come back and stay at Kukulkan and go to Caribe for the parties! We must know 👍🏼 this was so helpful
He did go to the parties in this video they are at Caribe. Riu Cancun is more a party resort then Caribe
Wonderful video and lots of helpful info!! Thank you!!
Love the vids. I've stayed here a few times and I think you were unlucky with the time of year. The tide was extremely high there, every time I've stayed I've played football on the beach with >14 people and the entertainment during the day is great consisting of dance offs, adult pool games and cocobongo dancers. I agree about everything else though. I'd like to see your party week back here 😅
Really appreciate all the reviews you do. Super informative, saves us all time and potential disappointments
I'd like to see you go to a riu during March to see how the crowd is different
Another great review, James! This is 100% no longer my scene, but I will watch and enjoy whatever content you make.
Going in a few weeks I can't wait - can't decide between all the great places you showed!!
Hi James... I wanted to wish you a merry christmas and happy holidays. Keep up the incredible work my friend!
foam party looks fun
"Two meals away from an eating disorder"😂🤣 You're killing me!
Great review James! You lost us at slow elevators that can be such an annoyance!!
Headed to FLL to jump on the Celebrity Ascent. We think it's right up your alley/style!
Have a great Christmas buddy!
🎅🎄
that pool in alignment with the beach amazing
Love watching your videos❤
Thx James 👌 Cool ideal for you : get a website to tabulate all of your hotel ratings and links to your videos. You could make money from adsense. Cheers 🥂 Hope to see videos of Costa Mujeres hotels soon 🤞
James!! when where you here? We were at the palace las americas Dec 7-13! Weather at the end there was a drag. Couple of things: caribe is an old resort just completly reno'd the outside pool area. don't like it. Old caribe and that crowd was nuts.
This trip We hit the riu party at night a few times, it was really good. Easy if you wanna meet other ppl at rius. Honestly Riu Palace LA is the best, easy to walk to entertainment strip adults only. Congo bar, mandala are great! Keep Rollin my man!!
Welcome in cancun Nice video 🇲🇽👋
I stayed at Caribe last year before the remodel. I loved it!
Booked for Riu Cancun in July. I hope I’ve made the right choice!
Your content is Incredible!🔥
For that crazy low price it’s a steal.
Probably going to head down for spring break and work a bit while I'm there. How was the wifi?
Solid video! Please review Breathless Soul Cancun ;)
Great to meet you in person at the RIU Cancun.
The best Riu buffet is in Cabo, hands down!! We preferred that over the a la cartes!
Love your honestly
Please make a video on RIu Caribe. I am going in May and it will be my very first time in Mexico and at an all-inclusive
Seems to be D. Bags and “wannabe tough guys” central at the parties. Too bad
Another great vid, James👍🏻
0:53 that elevator ride up is cool. Like Terminator.
Will you do the Margaritaville adult resort in Cancun. I'm going in June and would love your view on it.
Beautiful place.
I used to enjoy RIU but now it's a just good enough. Over the last few years the food and drinks are just good enough. I will pass. Thanks for the review.
Only comment I have for RIU is Bland. We stayed in Riu Palace peninsula last year for 11 nights (travelled from the UK). It cost more than staying at the Royaltons/ planet hollywoods and for a couple hundred pounds more, we could have stayed at Live aqua (but didn’t know about Live Aqua at time of booking). You’re spot on about the food - very hit and miss. Staff are great but overall, not again in RIU. Keep the reviews coming as you do cover a lot in your videos.
I stayed at the RIU Cancun in 2022 and they didn't even advertise the Riu Party Caribe. We walked to the strip every night and the clubs and Coco Bongo was 🔥🔥🔥 the elevators were a hot mess. We paid $700 for 5 days including nonstop flights from DC. Price can't be beat. Would definitely return, but I wouldn't stay there with my man.
We stayed at the Palace RIU (next door to this one)... The drinks were so watered down that we never ever caught a buzz... I even tipped $2/drink! 😠We finally caught a nice buzz at the airport while waiting for our flight home at Margaritaville (how ironic)! 🤦♂
After going to 2 RIUs (cabo palace and antillas) have to side with you on pools and dinners overall. The only RIU pool I liked was the quiet back pool at RIU Sante Fe. The only good dinner I had was an Antillas Aruba restaurant. Good parties and good breakfast/lunch options at both. I would only ever go to another RIU if is was in a place where you could go out to dinner every evening. (VERY doable in Aruba)
I would love for u to review Riu Palace Las Americas one of these days
I was there from dec 12-19 woulda just missed you when were you at the property!
Can you try the Ziva Cancun? Girlfriend and I stayed there a few years ago and loved it.
I stayed at the RIU Cancun in 2018 and if the food at the Japanese place is anything like it was back then, it was the absolute best sushi I had ever had in my life.
Just curious, what is your process to chose a resort to review? Do you have a list and pick the best deal available at the time? Also, it would be an interesting video to explain.
Have you been to RIU Palace Costa Mujeres? I’ve booked there but was looking for your opinion as the reviews are mixed.
As always, great job James! Back in my party days, I'd hit the clubs like Coco Bongo every night. You know you're getting "old" when you spend the money for open bar and drink nothing for fear of roofies, and watching over the younger girls being the cool mother hen, and thinking "oh my god, if there's a fire we're all going to die" 😂😂😂. So much fun though back when I didn't care. I also try to hit a restaurant outside the resort (lagoon side typically) at least 2 nights and had some great meals. Looking forward to your next video!
Is no one going to mention that breakfast? 😂😂😂
Just went to Riu Jamaica, and I have exactly the same review. Food was mid at best ,beach was clean for dipping your feet ,drug dealers in the kayaks but super nice, everything is simple and beautiful
Hey James…is there an all inclusive on the beach on the cheaper side with a good casino loaded with a nice slot selection?
Beach front gambling with all the foods you can eat and drinks you can drink sounds like my kinda heaven even if the food is not extravagant but decent and tasty and abundant lol
James, I think your videos are the "Coolist". I often recommend your videos to people asking me for MY opinion on where to go. I'm waiting to see if you have RIU Mazatlan on your list. It was a horrible experience, and I want to see if you have the same or much different. I'd be very interested. We know 2 couples who go there EVERY YEAR. 🤷🏻♂️
Also, you mentioned beach service was a rarity at a RIU. We had beach service at RIU Republica ALL 4 times we went there. 🏖🍹🍺🍸
Hell yeah
Question on the rooms closer to the pool. Which ones would those be? Not a fan of taking stairs. And don’t want to get stuck on a higher floor.
Hi James, QUESTION: You said this property was rated as the "# 1 RIU property in Cancun." Where did you get that rating from?? Did you mean as a "Budget property"?? Only reason I'm asking is because I have seen better ratings for RIU PALACE LAS AMERICAS (Adult Only), and RIU PALACE PENINSULA. QUESTION²: How were you able to go to RIU CARIBE for the parties .... since RIU Cancun is NOT a "PALACE property" with no visitation privileges?? Thanks in advance and keep up the great work.
Caribe is not a palace hotel any staying at a non palace can visit any other non palace
I feel like since the first two RIUs you visited and reviewed (RIU Republica Punta Cana, RIU Palace Baja California)...............the locations you have visited since have steadily gotten worse in my eyes and just don't hold a candle to the aforementioned two.
RIU Palace Mexico was a much inferior clone to its Baja California counterpart, RIU Palace Punta Cana had a good crowd but otherwise just didn't really come together compared to before, and I'd say this is the worst one yet in large part due to its half-comatose daytime crowd, as well as inferior rooms. And don't get me wrong: I understand approximately $150/night for Cancun is a really convincing selling point but, then again, when you have a far superior $99/night option in Punta Cana, I know which option I'll ultimately favor.
I'm DEARLY hoping you bump into another outright RIU gem from here on out to reverse this steady downward spiral.
Would love you to do the Caribe now it's refurbed
Waiting. Not patiently at this time of day. 😁
would you say that riu caribe whos completely renovated in 2023 would be the best choice with 4 riu party at the hotel or riu cancun whos now a bit old but will be adult only in december would you say riu cancun is still better over riu caribe ?
Maybe you when you hit 6k likes and come back you can also add going to Rosa Negra 🎉
Do it again looks like a good party stay at Caribe next time to party on site. Make it a fan event and have people book same time.
i use to eat at the a la carte (choose an entree) and then head over to the buffet which was much faster, more variety and quantity
So you know, I clicked Like 6,000 times
I thought only Puta Cana and Cabo has Riu party’s! They are in Cancun now?
The RIU parties in CANCUN are horrible. They need a new DJ. The parties in Jamaica, Cancun, and DR are way better.
DR are just insane lool
Plum
Come back for a week and do a full review with coco banging!
I'm looking through photos of Hotel Riu Cancun and it looks like the bathroom is an open concept. With a bathtub next to the beds and the shower just separated by glass partition. I'm looking to go with my wife and 18 year old daughter.... is this the right place to go for a family that are a bit more modest and not exactly nudists around the house? Are all the Riu locations like this?
James were do you got this prices?
Where would u say is better Cabo or Cancun ?
Planning honeymoon stuck between Mexico or Jamaica cheaper the better what you think?
I am staying at Riu Danamar. I am hearing that we can go over to the Caribe. Is that true?
Hi do you know where you can book this resorts for $150 a night like you always showing? If we book it from Holland you can only book packages not resorts only..
Please stay at Riu Caribe and do a comparison to this hotel… I am booking one for 2025
How can this video have 17k views .. yet doesnt hit the 6K likes to do a video on Riu Caribe??
Stay at the RIU Palace Las Americas if you go back for the week. Highly recommend and you get access to all RIU Cancun resorts.
I assume the bed sucks. Most cheap hotels skimp on the most important thing
Excuse me, the Cancun hotel is the pool at the bar its front to the beach?
looks like a nice property the beach isnt the longest
what is the point of two feet of water? Insane shallow pool!
I dont think i have ever heard of an all-inclusive with great food.. have you?
Hi by chance do you know if your staying at riu cancun can you also go over to the riu palace las america to hang out there ?
What was the deal breaker? The beach? Or elevators lol
More reviews on Mid to High end adult only all inclusives. Atelier, Excellence Playa Mujeres, Beloved, Secrets Akumal, Hotel Xcaret.
I'm pretty sure Coolist mentioned in one of his videos, something about a resort fee from the city of Cancun is being charged? My wife and I want to make our first trip to cancun and are worried about all the hidden taxes, fees, and other hidden costs. Does anyone have a list, a link, or just some first hand knowledge to help us out? Do we pay these fees/taxes/costs in USD cash, Pesos, by credit card?
So its not good for family with kids ?
Help who’s been here recently? , two 27 year old women trying to go but stay within budget , is this a good move or no?
I've made the mistake of staying at the Riu in Cabo. Horrible is a understatement. rooms were atrocious and food was below prison level lol.
Any hotel in cabo sucks & over priced. Cabo has declined over the years sadly.
Need Xcaret review.
Can you go to Catalonia Costa Mujeres Mexico next pls pls
you have to review UNICO hotel in Riviera maya.
I’m confused was the deal breaker Thé elevator?
Yeah, the elevator sounds like it is slow