Chelsea Gillyard
Had a below-average experience at the Riu during New Year's. Every day was pretty chilly so I wouldn't go back during the winter again. My partner and I went to the beach the first day and couldn't get comfortable because of the cool weather but ESPECIALLY because every minute (not an exaggeration) there was someone coming up to us trying to sell us something. At first, it was okay and then it became too much to the point we didn't go back to the beach during the rest of our trip.The next few days we spent by the pool and Victor was an AMAZING host by the pool. He looked after us, remembered our order every day, and sometimes politely turned down our tips. He made the experience by the pool awesome. Other staff didn't even pretend to care about us. We were in a rush to grab breakfast before our transfer came to take us back to the airport on our last day. We put our bags in the wrong area, near the reception desk, because that is where the staff put them when we checked-in. The lobby staff saw us in a rush, almost running to grab breakfast, and they just shouted across the lobby "those bags go here" and pointed to an area near the main doors. We had to run back and grab our bags and bring them to that aera. They didn't even bother to help us.The pool towel station closes at 6pm so if you still have your towels past 6pm, you must bring them back to your room and then bring them down the next day to get them replaced with fresh towels. We thought that was ridiculous so we went to the front desk and asked them if they could take our towels in exchange for our towel cards back. We waited about 15 minutes to speak to someone because there were 3 large families traveling together, NONE OF THEM WEARING MASKS, in the lobby. When we finally caught the attention of someone, they told us that next time to remember that the line starts where the family was. We didn't want to be near that huge family because none of them were wearing masks and no one said anything to them so we stood to the side of the desk.There are a handful of other experiences we did not enjoy but I will give the resort 1 star for the impeccable cleaning services, 1 star for Victor at the pool, and 1 star for the food. It was decent and always replenished and fresh. The service at some of the locations made up for what it lacked.Would not return to this hotel and would not recommend to anyone. Will reconsider staying at any Riu in the future as well.
a month ago 
