Renova Spa — Local services in El Tezal

I’m extremely disappointed with my couples massage. It is our honeymoon so we booked a moonlight gazebo couples massage for 7 PM online. We were called by the spa and told the latest appointment they offer is actually 5 PM, which is not what we wanted and not what’s advertised. We reluctantly agreed. When we went, it was the opposite of relaxing.

The gazebo is situated in a public spot and is not private at all. It is surrounded by merchants on the public beach trying to sell their goods including we heard them trying to sell weed and cocaine (illegal drugs). There were also other guests and tourists from other resorts coming up to the gazebo and asking our masseuse several questions about price and we felt violated due to the fact that we were not clothed and it was drawing attention to us. The pool is right beside the gazebo, and there is loud music and rowdy drunken guests screaming and shouting. On top of the loud music, the resort had a band playing over top of the club music in the pool. The towels that were placed over us for modesty were so hot due to the fact the sun was streaming into the gazebo (which wouldn’t happen if it were a legitimate moonlight massage). We were overheating, sweaty and overall felt nauseous from being so hot. This was an extremely uncomfortable experience both physically and mentally. We do not feel relaxed and considering the price we paid expected much more privacy and relaxation. The only positive is the masseuses themselves were really nice and simply doing their job. This is an embarrassing blemish at an otherwise...

This review is for the Spa facilities and amenities, NOT the massage (massage was good). One of the things I enjoy doing the most on vacation is having a Spa day. I booked a massage for the four of us (Hubby, 18-year-old daughter, 15-year-old son, and me), paid $600 USD! I'd hardly consider this place a "Spa". What a rip-off. The "hot and cold" pools are really "warm and warm" pools, both are the same temperature, one has stronger jets. No sauna. The showers don't have shampoo or conditioner. There isn't lotion, q-tips, a hair dryer, a mirror area to get ready afterwards. Nothing. The staff are constantly coming in and out of the already tiny changing area, weaving around you while you're trying to undress or dress. They don't give you time before the massage to shower if you'd like to and the whole experience just felt very rushed. Halfway into my "relaxing" massage someone in the room next to mine started going through a cupboard or moving furniture or doing something loud and disruptive for a spa setting. If you want to enjoy a real spa, save your money, go...

Beware! Reading through some of the reviews, I think my experience is a pattern. Bait and switch scam for sure. The package I booked through the Riu app was not what I received. I was treated like I was an idiot because the description in the laminated book at the spa was different than on the Riu app (which I did not see until afterward because I was required to go through the app). The app still has not changed the description. I was sent back and forth between the hotel and the spa, each blaming the other. Clearly, the spa and hotel are aware of the problem and do nothing to fix it. I requested a refund, and they refused to...