Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica (all-inclusive)

The Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is an all-inclusive resort is harmoniously nestled in the pristine natural beauty of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Perched on the enchanting Matapalo Beach, this resort offers a fusion of tropical serenity and adequate amenities, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking a memorable and hassle-free escape without an extravagant price tag.

After a spontaneous time at the Qantas First Class Lounge LAX,we boarded the red-eye flight on Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Liberia (LIR) airport. Our flight AS1330 arrived at about 6:30am, and the immigration process was a breeze. 

Booking:

We initiated our booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, taking advantage of the benefits offered by the Sapphire Reserve Card. This strategic choice allowed us to earn 10x points per dollar spent, kickstarting our adventure on a high note. The total cost for our three-night stay, accommodating 2 adults and 1 infant, amounted to $824, which, in turn, earned us a rewarding 8,240 points for future travel.

Checking-in:

The dimly lit lobby at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica (all-inclusive) is a welcoming and impressive space. The lobby is designed to seamlessly blend with the surrounding natural beauty, featuring large windows that offer captivating views of the lush gardens and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Though it was disappointing not having anyone to help with luggage, but we help ourselves out as we approached the front desk.

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We arrived at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica (all inclusive) as early as 8am and were pleasantly surprised to find that the hotel had a room ready for us that early. That level of flexibility in checking-in was a great touch from the hotel. The front desk attendant was quite friendly and professional, and even went above and beyond by personally getting our luggage to the room.

The Jr. Suite Garden View Room:

Our room at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica was spacious enough for our party of 3. Featuring 1 King-size bed, which proved to be more comfortable than i had initially imagined. Additionally, the room was equipped with a loveseat, a coffee table, and a dining table with seating for two. As part of the room was an hydromassage bathtub, which in my opinion was a bad idea.

There was a nightstand located on each side of the bed with personal reading lights above them. Located on each side of the bed above the nightstand is also power outlet, and light switches.

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While I have an appreciation for whirlpool bathtubs in hotel bathrooms, the placement of the bathtub at this hotel just didn’t cut it. The close proximity to the bed, and the absence of a privacy door for the bathroom, left much to be desired. Although this design may not pose an issue for solo travelers or couples, it can prove to be quite awkward for families or larger groups. The lack of privacy and the unconventional room setup were notable downsides, which is something worth considering when booking this hotel.

The room’s biggest drawback was the dated TV, which barely had any interesting channels, and also lacks the ability for streaming or casting from personal devices. Nevertheless, the room did have a balcony with two plastic chairs and a small table, which was a nice addition.

In addition to the room’s amenities, there was also a well-stocked mini bar featuring bottled water, sodas, and beer. Furthermore, the room boasted a liquor dispenser with a selection of four hard liquors, including vodka, rum, whiskey, and gin. These in-room provisions, combined with the abundance of food (more on that shortly) and other amenities available at this all-inclusive resort, truly added value to our stay. In retrospect, the $824 spent on this three-night stay was a fantastic deal, considering the wealth of offerings and the convenience that came with it. A coffee maker and assorted teas were also provided in the room.

Alongside the whirlpool bathtub, there was a walk-in shower which offered great water pressure, and a double-vanity sink. However, as mentioned earlier, the absence of a privacy door for the shower did impact the bathroom’s overall appeal, as it led to some inconvenience for us. But on a positive note, sufficient towels and bath products were made available in the bathroom.

The Hotel Pool:

The all-inclusive experience at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is further elevated by its four interconnected yet individually distinctive swimming pools. Each pool offers a unique atmosphere, providing a range of options for guests to enjoy. What’s more, there are plenty of umbrellas, lounge chairs and daybeds available, ensuring that guests have a comfortable and relaxing place to soak up the sun, take a dip, or simply unwind by the poolside.

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However, it’s the swim-up pool bar that truly stands out as a highlight of the resort’s amenities. The swim-up bar is an oasis of relaxation and fun within the pool area. Guests can wade into the refreshing waters and enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages without ever having to leave the pool. There are also watersport activities like volleyball, basketball, at the pool area.

Additionally, the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica offers a variety of water sports and recreational activities to keep guests entertained. Daily at the pool area, guests can partake in activities such as poolside volleyball or basketball.

The Playa Matapalo Beach:

The Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica (all-inclusive) is perched on the edge of the Playa Matapalo Beach which is a breathtaking and pristine stretch of shoreline located in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. This stunning beach, with its fine golden sand and crystal-clear waters, is stretched along the Pacific Ocean, offering a tranquil and idyllic setting.

Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and swaying palm trees, the beach boasts a serene and unspoiled natural landscape. It’s not uncommon to encounter local wildlife, such as howler monkeys and a variety of bird species, adding to the beach’s charm.

The Hotel Restaurants / Food:

The Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica’s all-inclusive package includes a variety of restaurants, each with its distinctive charm and cuisine. The high quality of food offered across all these dining venues pleasantly exceeded our expectations, making the culinary experience a highlight of our stay. In all honesty, I did put on some weight during these three days stay.

Breakfast at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is a delightful experience, served daily at the Arenal Restaurant. This restaurant offers a sumptuous buffet spread that caters to a wide range of tastes, featuring both international and local dishes. For those looking to add a touch of luxury to their morning meal, Arenal doesn’t hold back and is happy to serve champagne even during breakfast, making the start of your day feel truly bubbly. While Arenal remains closed during lunchtime, it reopens later in the day to provide a wonderful dining experience for dinner.

For the sake of this review, we made sure to dine at all the available restaurants during our three days stay here at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica. We had lunch daily at the Papagayo Restaurant, a dining venue which focuses on local Costa Rican cuisine, allowing guests to savor traditional dishes and experience the flavors of the region.

Craving Japanese cuisine? Tokio, the Japanese restaurant at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica, serves sushi and teppanyaki dishes, offering guests a tantalizing taste of the Far East within a captivating setting. However, our personal experience at this restaurant had its ups and downs.

Upon our first attempt to dine at Tokio, we were met with an extensive waitlist, which left us eager to try again. The following night, we made sure to be among the first guests to secure a table. 

In my opinion though, I found Tokio to be somewhat of a hype. While the ambience and aesthetics of the restaurant were undoubtedly inviting and created a pleasant dining atmosphere, I felt that the food did not quite live up to the claims. The flavors and taste of the dishes, could use some improvement.

If you’re in the mood for a more elegant dining experience, Krystal is a must-visit. This gourmet restaurant serves fusion cuisine, blending flavors from various culinary traditions to create a memorable dining experience.

My second favorite restaurants at the hotel was L’Anfora. Located adjacent to the hotel lobby, this Italian restaurant offers delicious Italian cuisine, and is open for lunch and dinner. The a la carte menu includes a variety of pasta, pizza, and other Italian classics. In addition to that, the restaurant also features a salad bar and a dessert station. The best part of the restaurant is its’ fine-dining vibe, and my favorite dish here was the delicate Garlic Codfish with Cream of Tomato.

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Other Hotel Amenities:

We joined one of the evening kids’ activities, and I must admit it was truly entertaining. RiuLand provides a special experience for young travelers, offering a range of activities for children to engage in. Witnessing the kids take the stage and compete while singing “Chu Chu wa, chu chu wa, chu chu wa wa wa” was both amusing and enjoyable. In addition, there are servers on standby here ready to take drinks orders from guests as part of the all-inclusive offering.

On the opposite end of the venue, you’ll find another area where events such as live music performances or shows are held.

The Splash Waterpark:

The Splash Water World at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica stands out as a top attraction of the hotel, and for good reason. This waterpark is a thrilling and family-friendly aquatic attraction, which is designed to provide guests of all ages with a fun and refreshing experience. Featuring a variety of water slides, splash pools, and other interactive water features, making it a perfect place to cool off and enjoy some water-based excitement during your stay at the resort.

An important tip for visitors to the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is to remember to use the keycards provided during check-in to pick up towels at the pool area before heading to the waterpark. It’s crucial to note that no towels are provided at the waterpark itself. Since the pool area and the waterpark are in different directions, it can be frustrating to discover that you need to return to the pool for towels after arriving at the waterpark.

Since proper information wasn’t given to us during the check-in process, we learnt this the hard way. Hence, we believe this simple but valuable tip can help you avoid unnecessary back-and-forth trips like we did. The waterpark is open every day from 10am to 5pm and closed on Tuesdays for maintenance.

My Verdict:

In conclusion, our stay at the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica (All-Inclusive), was a great experience. The fantastic amenities, extensive all-inclusive offerings, and the exceptional service provided by the resort made this vacation truly special. We particularly enjoyed the various dining options and the “Riu Party” theme parties, which added an extra layer of fun to our stay.

Though there were a few minor quirks, such as the room’s bathroom setup and the presence of dated TVs in the room, these were relatively small inconveniences in the grand scheme of our stay. Overall, the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica provided us with an all-inclusive experience that exceeded our expectations, and for $824, it was a steal for what was offered.

What do you make of this all-inclusive resort?