RIU VALLARTA REVIEW AND WALKTHROUGH DECEMBER 2023

[@Montykoby]

Great review, me and my Mrs go in April for 2 weeks, thanks again

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Thank you and you’re welcome! Have a great trip, I can’t wait to go back!

[@sarinas19]

Great Review - thank you! Fam and I go in August.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

You’re welcome! I hope to go back another time

[@KardosoMedia]

nice! Heading back there again next month. RIU hotels are always a blast. Going to RIU Santa Fe in January as well for the first time. Thanks for sharing

[@clearlycoastal2102]

We really enjoyed the place as well! I’m actually headed to the Riu Santa Fe in December myself!

[@KardosoMedia]

@@clearlycoastal2102 Nice! It looks like a blast..Have a great time!

[@clearlycoastal2102]

@@KardosoMedia thanks you too!

[@jeancarpentier2595]

Really very good, We will stay from February 4 to 18. Your idea convinced us to choose this hotel

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Thank you very much! We really enjoyed our time there!

[@LUISNEVESable]

Will be there in two days 🥂

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Enjoy! It’s a great place!

[@cuongdo9958]

Would you recommend Riu Vallarta or Riu Cancun ? Thank you !

[@clearlycoastal2102]

I haven’t stayed at the Riu Cancun. But we loved the Riu Vallarta

[@RD-bn2qd]

Thanks for the Awesome review. Is the Steak House & Grill also part of the all inclusive or you have to pay separate?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

You’re welcome. It is part of the all inclusive

[@DanHoward-j9z]

Awesome review...thanks for the great video. Did you use a drone for the aerial footage? We are actually staying at the RIU Vallarta at the end of this December. I'm looking forward to the New Years Eve dinner spread that you showed. Question about the pools...I'm assuming that they aren't heated???

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Thank you! Yes I was using a drone for those shots. The pools aren’t heated but it was so hot out when we were there they felt great! The NYE dinner was fantastic

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Thank you! Yes I was using a drone for those shots. The pools aren’t heated but it was so hot out when we were there they felt great! The NYE dinner was fantastic

[@k.i.1700]

Thank you for the review! Looks like an amazing hotel. What made you decide on the Riu Vallarta vs. the Jalisco? Does Riu Vallarta provide shampoo, conditioner, and body soap?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Thank you and you’re welcome. We picked the Vallarta because we just really liked the look online and reviews/videos we watched. Yes the Vallarta had those things supplied in the rooms.

[@nashajiang]

Thanks for the review, a lot of useful information. We are going with family of 8 people, we booked it via an agent via phone call. Except the flight tickets, we didn have information how to get to the hotel and what rooms to have, are there shelters after we arrive Puerto Vallarta airport, do we have to call to book or request rooms before we go? Looking forward to hearing from you and thank you!

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Hi, we booked right through the Rio website and airport transportation was included. The shuttles are waiting directly outside the airport. Once you get through customs you will want to walk through the airport and go outside to find the hotel transfers. You will want to ensure that before you leave home that you have an airport voucher/code if you get it through Riu, I would call the agent you booked through to arrange this. When you get to the hotel you check in like any other hotel and get your assigned room at that time. Hope that helps, if you have any other questions let me know

[@lindawood1564]

I will be going there this month too, but I would like to know do we need to fill out any forms please, travelling from the United Kingdom as some people are saying yes and some are saying no. Thank you.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Any forms we needed for Mexico immigration we got on the plane while flying down to PV

[@lindawood1564]

@clearlycoastal2102 Thank you so much. I even went to TUI travel agency, and they didn't even know, thanks again, 😊

[@clearlycoastal2102]

@@lindawood1564 you’re welcome. We flew westjet from Calgary and they had the form for us. It was very straight forward form

[@lindawood1564]

​@clearlycoastal2102 did you have to pay any type of taxes whist in mexico and b4 leaving mexico please, T.I.A.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

@@lindawood1564we didn’t have any taxes to pay entering or leaving

[@elisahides6679]

Great review! We are looking at this resort for a larger family vacation after 14 ranging from age 16-82. What room category did you book? Also any problems getting into the a la cartes without the resos? Did you go into PV for an off resort day?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Hi, Thank you! We booked the double standard room. Before we had arrived I downloaded the RIU app and requested a high level room and a view. These were free requests so there was no guarantee but I was happy with what we got. The Ala carte were no issue other than the steak house. That one always had a line up and a few nights it ran out of tables. People would line up around 430-5 for a 530 opening. We found a lot of them weren't even dressed for supper but had come from the beach and just got a beeper and time for their sitting. Other than that everything ran smooth. We did go into Old PV one day and that was a lot of fun. We also did a zipline excursion with Vallarta Adventures and that was a lot of fun too. We would definitely go back!

[@Mattjohnson5192]

Looks great thanks for sharing! I only saw two umbrellas on the actual beach. Do you have to rent those separately?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

You’re welcome! For the umbrellas I believe people just moved some down to the beach. I didn’t see anywhere to rent them

[@Mattjohnson5192]

@@clearlycoastal2102 Thanks!

[@clearlycoastal2102]

@@Mattjohnson5192 you’re welcome

[@kathyledger1278]

We are headed there on Nov 11 and was wondering if there a place to put your luggage as we have a late checkout.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Yes there is. We had to do the same thing. The concierge takes care of it for you

[@kathyledger1278]

Thank you​@@clearlycoastal2102

[@user-yy2oh6lt6c]

I enjoyed your review...any water park for the kids?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Thank you! No there’s wasn’t a water park. Just a small slide in the toddler pool.

[@KevinStock-j1q]

Wondering about the rooms. Do all the rooms have balconies, even if you go with the base room or in the video it shows no balconies on the front or is that just a hallway. Thanks much.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Hi. Yes all the rooms and balconies on them

[@chokinonmilk1327]

Any way to find out which party (neon/white alternate weeks) is scheduled during our visit ?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Yes. If you download the Riu app and then look up the Riu Jalisco activities it will tell you what one is scheduled. I just looked up and tomorrow (Feb 23) is the white party!

[@tyrellt8774]

Thinking of going. How was it travelling around the hotel? Is it huge to walk around with all your beach stuff? Distance from hotel room to breakfast to beach and pool?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

It was really nice for walking around with beach stuff etc. everything was a short walk

[@jocelynbok7617]

What time does the nighttime show start?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

The main show starts at 9pm

[@susanslama9371]

Was 10 days too long? Also did you book thru the rui vallarta or a travel agent?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

We really enjoy the 10 days. We have done it two years in a row (different resort last year). We booked right through RIU on their site.

[@susanslama9371]

Thanks

[@clearlycoastal2102]

@@susanslama9371 you’re welcome

[@theresa4444]

Hi, would you say it is a h uge resort..like for accessibilty reasons

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Hi, I wouldn’t say it’s huge for accessibility, we found everything was pretty close together

[@travelmanMN]

I booked the Riu Peninsula in Cancun for my first trip outside of the US. I went solo mid February. I was able to get off the resort a few times. How easy or hard is it to get to Puerto Vallarta from here. Cure boredom etc?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

We found it really easy to get into PV from the resort. There was always cabs within minutes to get you into PV

[@darlenewinch6006]

Is the ocean in front of the resort good for swimming?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

It is, we swam most days. There was a couple where the red flag was out. Some people were still swimming those days. We didn’t when the red flag was up

[@anaarroyo3781]

How far is it from the shopping and Malecón?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

It was about a 45 min cab ride to the malecon

[@YoanaGeorgieva98]

What is the difference if you go to Riu Jalisco and Riu Vallarta? Aren’t they like on the same resort?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

They are very similar, the Jalisco is more of the party resort at night and the Vallarta is more laid back.

[@moncorp1]

@@clearlycoastal2102 ~ You have cross use privileges. If you stay at one, you can go to and use the facilities at the other.

[@gman4661]

Room service? Towel Cards? Beer wine and soda pop for lunch and dinner. No mixed drinks? No free umbrellas. $15 US for each beach umbrella every day? Washrooms around the resort and around the pool? $15 US for each Umbrellas. Drink service at the beach? Random?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Hi. There is room service, we never used it. You get towel cards for each person and we had new towels everyday. There is beer, pop and juice for lunch and dinner as well. There was no charge for beach umbrellas that I saw. We used the pool umbrellas and no charge for those. There were lots of washrooms around the resort and pools. Drink service did come around the beach and pools but I would just get our own drinks.

[@tiffaneyandcoxo]

New to the “all inclusive” thing. You mentioned “a la carte” restaurants, can you elaborate please. Thanks.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

@@tiffaneyandcoxo you bet. The a la cartes are sit down restaurants with specific culinary themes. There was Japanese, French, steak etc there. It has a menu to pick from as opposed to the buffet

[@coachcorbiere]

I was just wondering what’s the best solution for a family of 6?! Do they have adjoining rooms if we get two rooms or family suites?

[@clearlycoastal2102]

Hi, I’m sorry I’m not sure if they have adjoining suites for a family of 6

[@fivestartilellc]

Is it supposed to be Adult only? Because I see a bunch of kids in your video.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

The Riu Vallarta is kid friendly and that’s where we stayed. The Riu Palace in Puerto Vallarta is the adults only

[@clinthafliger3627]

Food quality?? We stayed at the Riu in the Bahamas and were very disappointing w/ the food quality not quantity.

[@clearlycoastal2102]

The buffet was average I’d say. We really enjoyed the a la cartes especially the steak house and the French ones