Riu Palace Baja California - All Inclusive - Adults Only

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

2856 reviews

• 

  Great Place to Relax

  We really enjoyed the Baja, the rules had changed a bit from when we used to be able to go to both the other Riu's when you purchaed a room at the Baja for specialty restaurants but now you are not allowed specialty dining outside of your resort. the tier system is not in place anymore. Overall the experience was great and we are going back this november and we are going to stay at the Riu palace this time.

  Oct 01, 2026
• 

  Baja California could use some minor updates

  This was my 4th stay at the Riu Baja California. I still love this place, but she is showing a little wear around the edges. The plugs in the guest rooms are unusable as the plugs fall out. Only 1 of 2 USB ports worked. My blackout drapes had multiple holes in them, not enough to interrupt my sleep thank goodness. Several tiles are missing on the 4th floor hallways. A new coat of paint everywhere is needed as well. The best part of this hotel continues to be the magnificent staff. The wait staff greet you every day with a smile so big and a warm welcome. The housekeeping staff is quick and efficient, leaving the room immaculate every time. Absolutely loved Guacamole restaurant this time, I went 2x!!! And Pepe’s Grill never disappoints for lunch at the pool. Hoping Riu invests in a little updating. I definitely will come back when they do!!! Meanwhile, I may try a new resort next time, just to see.

  Sep 29, 2026
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  Accountability issues with transfer service contractor

  I am obliged to write this review to raise awareness for other travelers, especially the ones looking to book through riu.com, since transfer is included. My wife and I travel to Riu destinations frequently. We started booking through riu.com, for a couple of reasons, including the free transfer they offer. For the transfer back, although you have to input all of your flight information, you are required to visit the vendor booth for their transfer contractor (who uses the opportunity to try to upsell you on activities). In Cabo San Lucas that is Travel Destinations. Usually we check in at the tail end of the trip, but this time we decided to do it early, about five days ahead of our return. The Travel Destination representative told us to be in the lobby at 9:15am. My wife repeated confirmed by repeating the time. We were in the hotel lobby a few minutes early, ready to go. No bus around, no other people waiting, which raised our suspicion. Somebody told us that the transfer left already. My wife and son ran to the area where the Travel Destination representative sits to ask him. The young gentleman they spoke to denied telling us 9:15am, and crassly told us we missed our ride, adding insult to injury. Customer service is apparently only exercised when trying to sell you some activity. My wife was nearly in tears when she returned to the lobby. We went to talk to hotel staff, and while they were very courteous and professional, they said they can't do anything, it's a third-party, etc. They handed us a card for customer complaints, to follow-up once we arrived home. So I did, writing an email, filling out a form, doing everything required by the process. Someone responded eventually, telling us that we missed our transfer, and that the transfer service showed our ride leaving at 8:45am. In summary, the Travel Destinations representative miscommunicated our departure date, asking us to show up 30 minutes past departure time, which lead us to missing our transfer. And then he lied to us saying he never said 9:15am. If you have to use their transfer service, get the departure time in writing, or take a video of them telling you when you have to be there. Riu won't hold them accountable. It's their transfer service only when you book and they promise some extra value, once it comes to accountability it's a fully separate entity that they cannot control. What a shame...

  Sep 29, 2026
• 

  Be careful here …

  I wish what I am about to write had simply been a terrible dream. It has been one year since this happened, and I am finally able to put into words what my fiancé and I experienced at this resort. We came here in September 2025 hoping for a magical, peaceful week away together without our children. Instead, our vacation abruptly ended after only two days. I left injured, frightened, confused, and with memories from that afternoon that I still cannot erase. My fiancé and I believe we may have been drugged while at the resort. Much of what happened became a blur, and even one year later, neither of us can fully make sense of how an ordinary vacation could have turned into something so frightening. What I do remember is the excessive physical force that I experienced. I was pushed and thrown to the ground with such force that my body was left covered in bruises, and my thumb was fractured. I was approximately 120 pounds. My fiancé stood there watching this happen and tried to protect me. He was then punched in the face and body. We were subsequently removed from the resort property. To this day, one of the most disturbing parts of this experience is that we still do not understand WHY. We were not, in our view, given a clear or reasonable explanation for why we were being removed from the property or why this degree of physical force was used against us. We were simply put out of the resort, injured and confused, without other accommodations and without an explanation that made sense to us. How does a couple arrive for a week-long vacation and, two days later, end up physically injured and removed from the property? Why was so much force necessary? Why were we being removed in the first place? Was someone trying to rob us? Were we deliberately targeted? Did someone put something in our drinks? Did someone want our room available to resell to another guest? I do not know the answers, and I will not pretend that I do. These are questions that have remained with us because we were never given an explanation that allowed us to understand what happened. We even left personal belongings behind, including two beautiful dresses and shoes that were still at the pool. At that point, however, our belongings were the least of our concerns. A year later, I am still dealing with the physical consequences. I have required ongoing treatment and surgeries involving my hand. I am a medical professional and business owner, and my hands are essential to my career. The continuing problems with my hand have affected my ability to work and function normally in my everyday life. After the incident, we filed a claim regarding what happened. Rather than feeling that our concerns and injuries were meaningfully acknowledged, we were told there was evidence supporting the resort’s version of events. If such evidence exists, I want to see it. Show us what happened that day. Show us what could possibly explain why this level of physical force was used against us and why we were removed from a resort where we had paid to spend our vacation. If there is video footage or other evidence documenting the incident, I believe we deserve transparency about what it shows. We are hardworking professionals. I have worked in the medical profession for approximately 20 years, and my fiancé has worked in his profession for approximately 20 years. We came to Mexico for a vacation—not confrontation. The photographs of my injuries speak volumes about what I physically experienced that day. What I wanted afterward was acknowledgment, transparency, compassion, and a serious investigation into what occurred on the resort’s property. Instead, one year later, I am still left asking the same question: Why did this happen to us? This experience has completely changed how I feel about travelling to Mexico. What was supposed to be a beautiful week together became one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I am sharing my experience because what happened to us should be taken seriously. No guest should leave a vacation physically injured, without an understandable explanation for being removed from the property, and still searching for answers a year later.

  Sep 23, 2026
• 

  Good times

  We thought this resort was okay. The courtyard is well manicured and decor is pretty basic. Loved the cactus. All of the hallways to get to the rooms are dark, long and dreary. Much of the area, such as the lobby and entertainment area/bars, are open air so it can be pretty hot and humid in the Summer months. The food was just okay at the buffet but I sure loved the guacamole. We did enjoy some of the food at the restaurants. The drinks were not that good outside of the Elite Club Lounge. If you can, upgrade to the Elite Club because it's air conditioned in the lounge and drinks were better and stronger. It was worth it for us. The iced caramel latte's are also great at Cappuccino! We were disappointed that our room (3135) didn't have hot water in the shower/bath tub and the rain shower head didn't work. The view from our room was gorgeous though, which was nice. We didn't feel like the staff at this resort were as friendly, fun or helpful as previous resorts that we have been to. We did have a good time here overall and it was a good value but will not visit this specific resort again.

  Sep 22, 2026