Hotel Riu Jalisco — Hotel in Nayarit

Overall we enjoyed our stay, but the good ends.

The check in process was unlike anything I've experienced anywhere else. Unsure of the exact time we arrived due to jetlag but we were told our rooms wouldn't be available until 4:30 so all our luggage was grouped with many other peoples. A bit after 5 we were notified they were ready and we were able to go up to our room. For those few hours between arrival and completion of check in we along with many others loitered/ wandered aimlessly.

A massive disappointment for us by far was the kids pool area. Multiple of the slides have inoperable plumbing, some of the slides have deteriorating fiberglass and the biggest issue of all is the bricks all around. Rather than poured concrete, the ground around the pools is laid with brick, it is crumbling leaving a very rough surface that is painful to walk on barefoot and our toddler tripped on and busted her knee open. The other pools have missing and loose tiles and there is a raised section of one pool with a waterfall that is roped off? Looks like it may have been a hot tub?

The food in general wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The 'steak house' down by the beach was a big let down. The only steak option they served was called a porterhouse but was actually a very thin steak which is not inherently bad but makes getting a medium or medium rare steak difficult, to make the steak worse ours were very tough and difficult to cut or eat. (Even the second one they brought out when we sent one of ours back) I understand buffets are difficult to manage, especially when there is such a wide variety of foods within the same area. I would recommend they focus more on the quality of food served even if it meant presenting less choices.

The room we stayed in was nice, clean, housekeeping was fine, no complaints there. Just the design is what I found very strange. The room we stayed in was considered a family room, it had a king size bed which was fine and a bunk bed. Our daughter isnt even 2 years old yet but the shower situation would have been different had she been old enough to understand human anatomy. The sink area which is also where the closet is, was kinda just sectioned off from the room with an open walkway and the shower is beside the sink with just a frosted glass door. The only true privacy offered was for the toilet but that door was also quirky (push hard to fully latch otherwise when toddler comes and bumps into it, SURPRISE! it's not actually latched. Also the door knob was too close to the edge of the door so when opening/ closing from the outside you bang your hand on the door jamb.)

Depending on your kids age and when they go to bed, the 'entertainment programs' are too late to attend as the kids show didn't start until 7 and we tried to go one night once our daughter had adjusted to the local time but it just didn't work for us.

It seems like the employees are all very friendly and want to help you enjoy your stay and have a good time but the facilities are showing their age and lack of some necessary updates and repairs or even renovations in some areas. Only 2 of the elevators worked consistently and the other two hit or miss at best. When someone else in our group went to shower at the end of our last day there wasn't water for a little while because a pipe broke and the maintenance personnel were quick to fix it. For us, in our shower, it was slow to drain every time. By the end of the shower you would be standing in an inch or so of water. There is an irrigation valve in the grass right beside the sidewalk around one of the pools that was missing the cover and I nearly twisted my ankle as I walked past someone coming the other way. There are cast iron floor drains outside just in front of the step for the entertainment area between the hotel and the pools that can't sit flush with the tile due to rust jacking causing an uneven surface that I saw both kids and adults stumble on. Sadly, with all of this in mind, for what is considered a 5 star hotel I cannot give it more than 2 and won't be...

It's a very clean and beautiful resort. Considering this is a discount hotel, I was impressed with the grounds and how well everything is kept. The purple colour scheme in the lobby is a little dated, but that's not somewhere I spent a lot of time anyway. The rooms are also very clean and as modern as they need to be, so don't worry about what other reviewers have said. I've stayed at more expensive resorts that had rooms that weren't as nice.

Food: Most of it was very good, and some not so much. The Mexican restaurant was our favourite, while the Asian one was pretty subpar. The Italian and steak house were also pretty good, there were just a few items from each that weren't great. The breakfast buffet has lots of options as well, including some Mexican breakfast items if that's your thing. The only big turn off for me is that the juices all taste like artificial sweetener. There's also a snack bar on the beach that serves okay burgers, hot dogs and nachos. It would just be nice if there were some better options in between meals to get something to eat. When we first arrived after a long day of travelling, our only option was refrigerated stale sandwiches, burgers, dogs and nachos in the sports bar.

Bars: There are enough spread around that you never have to wait too long to get a drink, except if you're down by the main stage seeing a show, since that's where most of the guests will be at night. The quality can be noticeably different depending on where you go. For some reason, the lobby bar drinks always tasted off. I think it was something in the water, because I also noticed a few places that served fountain drinks that tasted like pond scum. Unfortunately, many of the drinks at every bar also have a very strong artificial sweetener taste that I really don't enjoy. I wouldn't say the bartenders are overly friendly, with one exception, but they're probably all pretty stressed out most of the time since they're constantly making drinks all day.

The exception was Saúl, who was working in the sports bar the week we were there, but may be found working elsewhere when you visit. He always remembered us and greeted us with a warm welcome every time we visited, and he's a brilliant bartender. I asked him to make something special for my wife and I on our anniversary, and he just came up with something on the spot, expertly mixing what was definitely the best drink we had all week. We'd often go out of our way and pass other bars just so we could get a drink from him all week. Seriously, if you're going to visit this resort, find out where he's working and get your drinks from him. There's a reason I'm devoting an entire paragraph to him. He deserves it.

Beach: It was exactly what I was hoping for. Very clean water with absolutely no signs of rocks or seaweed, and the water was much warmer than I expected from the Pacific Ocean. It wasn't overly crowded, and we had no trouble finding a lounge chair at most times of the day. However, we visited in May, so it might be busier during the winter months. There were some locals walking around and selling things, but none were ever pushy or aggressive, so that really wasn't an issue.

There are a few negative things that need to be addressed, as they affect everyone who stays here. The first is the nightclub. This is clearly a family resort, but they still feel the need to have a club directly in the centre of the courtyard. There were several nights I was kept awake until 2am by a few dozen screaming drunk people leaving the club. 95% of the guests who are sleeping at this time shouldn't have to deal with this amount of noise. They either need to move the club, close it much earlier, or deal with rowdy guests. The other issue is with scheduling. Many listed events just didn't happen or started 30-45 minutes early, making it impossible to plan your day. They need to tighten things up so guests are getting what they pay for.

Overall I'd give this place a 3.5-4 star rating. We had a few hiccups, but it was mostly a great vacation, and we'd definitely visit this...

Honest Review of Riu resort - First-Time Visit

We visited Riu Jalisco last week for the first time, and I wanted to share an honest review for anyone considering this resort — hopefully, it gives you a clear idea of what you’re getting into.

Arrival & First Impressions Our experience started poorly. On our first night (Friday), there was a loud party — which is fine — but there was zero supervision afterward. At 3 AM, drunk guests were roaming the hallways with loudspeakers. We heard people vomiting in the halls, shouting, and playing loud music. No hotel staff were present to manage the situation, and we didn’t get any sleep on our first night, which was incredibly frustrating after a long trip.

Room & Management Response The next day, we went to the reception to complain. Our room faced the resort’s front yard — the noisiest area. We asked to be moved and were told we already had the best room, despite our safe and toilet being broken, and receiving two twin beds instead of the king we requested. They tried to assure us that the noise was a one-time issue. However, Saturday night was just as bad, with teenagers partying, yelling, and vomiting in the halls. Again, no staff supervision. We complained again, and only after speaking to a manager did they move us to a 6th-floor room facing the ocean. That room was significantly better — cleaner, quieter, and more enjoyable.

Dining Experience The resort advertises multiple à la carte restaurants, but this is misleading. You can’t make reservations, and most restaurants are just glorified buffets. We were never able to get into the steakhouse — it was always “fully booked,” but we later discovered a huge 4 PM lineup just to get in. The Asian restaurant was a huge disappointment — we couldn’t even eat the food due to its poor taste and quality. We ended up eating at the same buffet all 7 days. The Italian restaurant had four options, two of which were already available at the buffet.

Food variety was lacking, and everything felt repetitive by day 3. I’d rate the food 5/10 — mainly due to false advertising and lack of quality options.

Lobby & Atmosphere The lobby had no charm. It felt bare, dull, and filled with smoke from people smoking just outside. There was no relaxing area to enjoy a coffee or spend time. Compared to other resorts, the lobby was very underwhelming.

Family-Friendly or Not? While many guests had kids, I wouldn’t recommend this resort if you’re looking for a relaxing or more adult-oriented experience. The lack of supervision and rowdy atmosphere made it far from peaceful.

Facilities & Cleanliness This is where the resort does well. The grounds, public areas, and bathrooms were kept very clean. Staff were always tidying up and maintaining the space. I’d give cleanliness a solid 4.5/5.

Beach & Pool Area The beach itself was beautiful, but due to weather, we couldn’t enjoy it much. Unfortunately, there are no umbrellas provided on the beach — you have to pay $15 USD per day, which I found ridiculous for a supposed 5-star resort. Also, horseback riding is available on the beach, but horses leave droppings everywhere, making it unpleasant and unhygienic.

At the pool, getting a chair is a challenge. You need to reserve with a towel around 7 AM or miss out. The entertainment was fun but the area is overcrowded for the number of seats available.

Overall Rating & Final Thoughts While the resort claims to be 5 stars, I’d say it’s closer to 3 or 3.5 stars at best. One night, during what seemed like an inspection visit, the buffet restaurant stepped up its game with amazing service and food — which tells me they can do better when they want to.

Here’s how I’d rate the resort overall: • Food: 3/5 • Resort overall: 3/5 • Cleanliness: 4.5/5 • Building/rooms: 3/5 (some repairs and upgrades needed) • Entertainment: 4/5

Unless you’re paying less than $1200 CAD for the week, I would recommend looking elsewhere. You can find much better experiences for the same or slightly...