In October 2023, we took our kids on their first trip out of the country to Mexico and stayed at a beautiful property nestled along the pristine shores of Bahia de Mujeres Beach in Costa Mujeres. When we booked this trip, we were just looking for a mini-getaway and some relaxation. Little did we know that this property and location would weave a tapestry of memories for our family.   

• Location: Mexico, North of Cancun, 30mins from the bustling City Centre
• Property: Riu Palace Costa Mujeres
• Duration: 7 days (not enough)

Accommodations: The hotel has 600 rooms in a few low-rise buildings, which gives the feeling of staying at a smaller luxury resort. Our family stayed in a Junior Suite with 2 Full Sized Beds. The room was a great size for our family of 4 and included a sofa, a mini fridge stocked with soft drinks, beer and water, as well as alcoholic beverage dispensers. The bathroom was a good size with double sinks and had a separate room for the toilet. It also had a separate shower and tub. Heads-up, the bathrooms are open concept, if that is a concern, you can ask front desk for a privacy screen. We had a partial view of the Ocean and a direct line of sight to the Waterpark from the balcony. One of our most memorable moments from this trip was watching the sunset in the evening from our balcony, truly a beautiful sight!

Food: lots and lots of food. This property has a lot of restaurants, 9 to be exact. Our favourites were the Steak Restaurants and the Grill Restaurant (try the lamb). They also had Japanese and Italian, to name a few. The buffet had a good selection of food; mornings included lots of fresh fruits, American-style breakfast options and local food. Tip: If you love plantain, go early! Lunch and dinner also had lots of great options, including a great selection of American-style and Mexican food options and a huge selection of pastries. Every morning, I would work out at the fitness center and then grab a vanilla latte at the Café/Bar, Cappuccino. In the mornings and throughout the day, you could get a coffee and a pastry, and in the evening, you could get the best mango margarita at the hotel! Not able to make it to the buffet or a restaurant? Not a problem! The hotel offers 24-hour all-inclusive services, including food options!

Beach and Pools: The property has five (5) pools, including a fun Waterpark for kids and water slides. The beach is beautiful and always has enough chairs for the number of guests. The property has adult pools and a large pool that is great for kids (bring floaties!). Staff regularly comes by for drink orders, which is a nice treat. 

Amenities: Forgot to pack something? This property had a great gift shop that offered just about anything you would need. The property also had an on-site Wellness Centre/Spa called Renova Spa. They offered various massages, nail, and hair services. Next to the Spa was the fitness centre, which had enough equipment to get a full workout. Want to try paddle boarding or jet skiing? These services are available for a reasonable fee.

Entertainment: This property is located about 30mins from the main strip of Cancun, so if you’re looking for more of a party scene, their neighbouring sister property, Hotel Riu Dunamar, offers that and might be a better fit for singles or couples without children. The entertainment team did a really good job of offering engaging and unique experiences every evening. Each night, there was a different theme; there was a silent party night (super fun), a foam party night, and a live salsa band, to name a few. On our last night, we went to Hotel Riu Dunamar and enjoyed their Neon night which was quite the event! If you do prefer to check out the clubbing district, I would recommend taking a taxi or going with the paid shuttles that can easily be arranged with the front desk.

Would I recommend travelling to Riu Palace Costa Mujeres? Absolutely yes, and we would return in a heartbeat. The accommodations, dining, activities and genuine hospitality of the staff added to our incredible vacation, or should I call it, our week in paradise! 10 out of 10 would highly recommend it!