Riu Caribe (formerly Gran Caribe) ***** AI

[Steve]

Riu Caribe

Post comments, reviews, trip reports and links to your pictures for Riu Caribe here.

Originally Posted by Travel Center

Riu Caribe offers 505 spacious guestrooms located in a nine-story building featuring a variety of amenities and services to satisfy the most discerning guest. All the tastefully appointed guestrooms offer breathtaking Caribbean views from your own private balcony or terrace. Standard guestroom amenities include private oversized bathrooms with marble décor, hairdryer and vanity mirror, central air conditioning, ceiling fan, direct dial telephone, color TV via Satellite, alarm clock radio, mini-bar and safe deposit box.

The all-inclusive privileges include all meals and beverages featuring an exquisite variety of international and local specialties as well as domestic and imported alcoholic beverages, nightly live entertainment ranging from spectacular shows to live music and dancing, daily poolside activities for adults and children coordinated by our friendly entertainment supervisors plus the use of the fully-equipped fitness center featuring Sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, lighted tennis courts, table tennis, beach volleyball, introductory scuba diving lessons, snorkeling equipment plus non-motorized water sports equipment including windsurfing, sailboats, kayaks and body boards

Located at Km5 it is a 15 minute bus ride away to downtown and 10 minutes to the main party centre. This hotel is bay side.

Check the links below for more information, availability and pricing with the following operators:

Best Day Cancun

Expedia

Cancuntravel

Travel Center

[cant wait to get there]

I have to say, I wish that I had been able to post about this hotel once we got back to TX. There are so many things that I know I have forgotten about our stay. But, the things I remember about it are so numerous, I know I won't be able to list them all. I'll write it as a numbered list:
1. The staff- They were so nice. We were in a group of 4. 1 couple, 2 single women. We ended up on separate ends of the hotel, and requested to be moved. The next day, they moved us to 3 doors down from our friends-who got a free upgrade to a room on the corner of the hotel w/ a wrap around balcony w/ a perfect view. We were SO jealous!
2. The beach is VERY clean, the water is VERY clear. In my opinion, it was perfect on our visit. Every morning at 5-6, a man was on the beach combing up the washed up debris. Which sucked b/c I like to go along the beach to find the little shells and glass that wash up...but, it made for a truly white sand beach.
3. The pool is very nice, w/ steps that you can put your chair on to lay out in the water. That was fun, and I have TONS of beached-whale-in-a-bikini photos to prove it!
4. The food was Ok. That's all I can say about it. Didn't have a chance to go to the reservation restaurant, b/c we always got up too late.
5. The fridge was always stocked, and if it wasn't, all you had to do was call.
6. There was a mini-bar on the wall in the room. Whiskey, Vodka, Rum, and of course, Tequila. Perfect!
7. I liked the step up tub/showers they had.
8. Every hour of every day, they were cleaning. That was the cleanest hotel I've ever seen. And everyone you pass says hello.
9. The bartenders inside of the hotel at the bar were funny. And they quizzed me on my spanish every day. LOL
10. The lobby was beautiful. The ivies hanging from the 3rd floor, all of the plants and water in there. I can't even describe it. Pictures do it no justice.
The thing is that we went when Riu first bought the hotel and renovated it, so, we got an awesome deal. Now, I've looked at the prices, and they're almost twice what we paid last June. So, I've been looking for cheaper places to stay.
Anyways...if you go, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. OH, and we weren't bothered ONCE by time share people. It truly WAS a vacation. Good luck!

[deeker]

we are coming to this hotel for a week -21st Apr

[benjibenben22]

ANY LADIES STAYING AT THE HOTEL? LET US KNOW! 6 ENGLISH GUYS COMING TO MEXICO FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! GET IN TOUCH!!!

[beer4jeannie]

Will be going to the Riu Caribe again this year in July and wanted to know if anyone knew how to obtain the Presidential Suite? We were on the 9th floor last year and realized that they had two of them. When we made our arrangements this year the travel agent could not bring them up. :?

[MarlyMar]

Didn't care too much for the food and our room was kind of small. The hotel staff was nice and the pool activities were fun and had a ball at the bar.

[becky]

just returned from a four night stay (jan 2006) our first time to cancun! excellent time! you guys know how to have a good time. staff was excellent VIP treatment. food & drinks great. Area working hard to clean up after hurricane. much damage. many business closed. but riu caribe was great. pool / landscape beautiful. don't need to leave hotel....great entertainment. much fun & sun. Did take a trip to town market 28? lots of fun. great place to buy things to take home. jungle boat tour on 2 person speed boats well worth the money! enjoyed everything about our trip....except coming home to 28 degree weather & snow. we will be back to riu caribe hopefully soon. Thanks to everyone there who works so hard to make everything so enjoyable! Louie at the bar.....who we got to know real well...& the entertainment staff excellent shows keep up the good work......

[Isabelle]

great to hear becky..... do you have any pics of the resort, pool and beach area?? i'm concidering this resort for my trip and would love to see how its looking after the hurricane. Thanks

[sunshinedrive]

Me and mi mujer are going on the 5th Feb. I will report back hopefully letting everyone know what a great time we had (1st timers!)
Bob

[Isabelle]

that would be great... and some pics would help to. There a pretty good chance that my trip wont be booked by then... but that might help me make a decision.

[andrewrodgers]

Got back from 2 weeks at the Riu Caribe on the 23rd..

Can't fault the hotel at all.. really enjoyed my stay there with my girlfriend.

There's lots to choose from in all the restaurants, there is 2 places to go for breakfast and dinner - lunch/tea is either the 1 buffet or the 3 a la carte's to choose from.
After about 10:30pm you have the Sports bar to get food from - they do snack like burgers, hotdog, sandwiches and nacho's. You can also get any drinks you want in the Sports bar 24hrs a day!

There were some superficial work being done to the hotel when we were there but nothing to spoil our stay. They were starting to make some "umbrella's" on the beach the last few days we were there and also they are doing something with the roof of the restaurant by the pool/beach - think they are going to put a thatch roof on it.

As previously mentioned there is always staff cleaning, sweeping and polishing and always give a friendly "hola" as you go past.

[Isabelle]

wow thats great to hear. How was the beach??

[becky]

The beach was fine. the area lost a lot of sand during the hurricane. it seemed like this hotel had about the best to offer as far as beach area. we talked to some other couples who were staying at the flamingo and they said they didn't have any beach at all. the water was beautiful at the caribe & they raked the beach every morning while we were there. They had lounge chairs on the beach....sand vollyball and work was in progress to put up the "umbrella" things. you couldn't walk down the beach very far past the hotel, it got rough & was rocky. I do have a few pictures of the pool/ ocean but unsure of how to post them......

[Isabelle]

if you want to email them to me.. i can post them for you

[bexchristiansen]

Thank you so much,

Have heard conflicting reports about this hotel, we have been moved here (we were originally in the crown paradise). We arrive on the 5th feb and really looking forward to it now i have heard your excellent report.

Can't wait, 2 weeks away from rainy manchester....see you soon cancun!

bex

[andrewrodgers]

Originally Posted by bexchristiansen

Thank you so much,

Have heard conflicting reports about this hotel, we have been moved here (we were originally in the crown paradise). We arrive on the 5th feb and really looking forward to it now i have heard your excellent report.

Can't wait, 2 weeks away from rainy manchester....see you soon cancun!

bex

I met a few people from the UK who were supposed to be staying at the Crown Paradise and had been moved to the Riu Caribe..

Must admit all the reviews I've seen of the hotel have been good and you won't be disappointed.

[sunshinedrive]

Hi bexchristansen. My wife and i (24/27) are also arriving at the Riu Caribe on the 5th too! Also from Manchester for two weeks. It's our 1 YR anniversary on the 5th so big celebration!!!!!
See you there!
bob

[omahairishfan]

Just booked today. Last minute deal out of Kansas City, Hubby & I are All excited

Debby

[TheBman]

My parents just booked the Caribe for March 11-18
Apparently they got some crazy ass deal

[Isabelle]

well i just booked for this resort today... i'll be there March 17-24th... can't wait

[captnk11]

Please post some pics of your trip when you get back, I am planning a trip for four guys in the late 20's early 30's and having a hell of a time trying ot decide between riu cancun, riu carbe, and grand oasis. We will be going sometime in June so if you have any suggestions let me know.
Later,
Brad

[Isabelle]

not a problem... i'll take lots of pics for you and let you know what the entertainment and resort was like.... 2 more weeks to go

[captnk11]

thanks! Have fun!

[ettenyl]

Originally Posted by captnk11

Please post some pics of your trip when you get back, I am planning a trip for four guys in the late 20's early 30's and having a hell of a time trying ot decide between riu cancun, riu carbe, and grand oasis. We will be going sometime in June so if you have any suggestions let me know.
Later,
Brad

From what my clients have told me, go for the Caribe or the Oasis Grand, since you can use all the Oasis properties when you stay at the Grand, but the Caribe isn't really near the other Riu properties, if I remember correctly.

[captnk11]

thanks I will keep that in mind

[Lashy]

I am scheduled to be there on april 15 thu 29th. Does anyone have any updates since Feb 1st thanks.

[TheBman]

My parents just returned Sat 18th from RIU Caribe and they said they actually preferred it over the RIU Cancun. Judging by their pictures I can see why. There was WAY more beach at the Caribe and it looked like the grounds were a bit nicer and more spread out as well.

[Sunnydaze05]

How does the color of the water on the beach compare to say, some of the hotels farther South? I know this sounds like a picky question, and we are far from picky folks...........we usually stay at the Melia Turquesa primarily because of the gorgeous torquoise waters...they have put off booking rooms thru my travel group until 9/1/06. at the Melia.I book thru worryfreevacations and the explanation of the hotel says its bay side.....
Does anyone that have stayed in both areas see a difference???? All we care about is nice staff, clean rooms, and good drinks ...but the biggy is the beach....we had to stay at the Catalonia after Wilma, which by the way is a heck of a deal, and quaint place, great for snorkeling...but has the blue water..rather that gorgeous torquoise like near the Melia T. We like smaller more laid back hotels compared to the Monster resorts and we are in our late 30's... yes, we party...but not like the breakers do...
I am contemplating...RIU CARIBE, RIU CANCUN and GOLDEN CROWN.
Any beach advise ?????????????Thanks guys....Steve this is just the best place ever for Cancun info!!!!!

[Isabelle]

The beach and the water is just amazing at the Riu Caribe. I was there just the other week (march 17-24th). Heres a pic overlooking the beach from the pool area. Hope it helps with your decision.

** image removed **

[Sunnydaze05]

Isabelle..............thanks looks great...thanks for helping me make up my mind!