RIU Jalisco Nuevo Vallarta

"Problems from the start!! Arrived after 12:00 noon and went to check- in. Check-in bell boy asked if we needed help and then walked away - Did not receive welcoming drink while everyone else had one - Since check in wasn't until 3:00, we left our luggage with the front desk then returned at 3:00 and another bellboy did the same thing. We took our luggage to the room and housekeeping was still cleaning the room for another 40 minutes while we were waiting there. There was glass all over the floor from the previous guests. The liquor bar: Vodka dispenser was broken. After they were finally done we went to take a shower and found that the vent in the shower was just hanging out of the ceiling and the shower was clogging. So therefore we had to stand in the water that we are trying to stay clean from. Went to turn on the standing lamp and come to find out that the bulb was broken out from the socket. The next day we reported all of these problems to Gonzalo our Apple rep and he then reported it to the front desk. They told us it would be taken care of and to check back in an hour. We went up to the room then back to the front desk in an hour and they said nothing was wrong, I said yes because nobody even showed up!! They said they would send someone else but never did. We had purchased a $24 cigar, smoked half of it and left it sit in the ashtray in the room to smoke later. We came back to the room later that day and the house keeping had thrown it away. When we went to check out we never received a receipt or even a thank you for staying. Nothing was done or even given an apology by the hotel, just Gonzalo (which was great help!!). Very disappointed in this resort and will never return." - Jen from Akron, Ohio

"My friend and I loved our two weeks and we met many lovely Americans, very friendly .. The only bad point was the evening entertainment, which for such a fabulous hotel was very poor. Holiday camp or school like entertainment. You really must change this as it made the evenings very boring. I would love to return but that's the one thing that puts me off ." - Shirley from Torquay Deven, England

"First of all the rooms are not very clean the air conditining is very filty sending a lot of humidity in the rooms creating mildew on the draperies. Beds were always damp and smelly. It was College-break in the US, so a lot of youg people were drunk in the pool all day without ever leaving to use the washrooms. So I imagine they were just "doing it" in the pool. Also security is not doing their job these kids were noisey all hours of the night and the hotel is not sound proof. You can hear everything. As for the food, it looked ok but as the week went on we started feeling bad .When I got back home I started being sick with stomach pain and was sick for one week after taking blood test and lab test they found out I had the Salmonella virus. This is from eating infected food with people that do not follow proper care on how they handle food. Also the day before leaving, I was at the mens room and somebody from the kitchen came in he went to the toilet came out went to the lavatory he blue is nose into is hands then put water all over is head to wet his hair and did not even take the time to wash is hands. How filty can you get? I will never go back to this place which I think is an over paid and over rated hotel. Its like a 2 star hotel. I am also seriously thinking of never going back to Mexico. I lost almost 10 pounds after being sick." - Michel from St-Jean sur Richelieu

"We (myself age 39, mother age 69 and daughter age 15) stayed at the Riu Jalisco from March 28 to April 4, 2008. When we arrived at the airport we were greeted with our Sunquest representative just outside of the building. On our way to the hotel he explained that the resort was a very popular retreat from Mexican tourists so if we could bare with the weekend crowds, everything would be back to "normal" come Sunday (We arrived on Friday.) The 700 room resort was booked solid! Families, young adults, and couples of all ages all there to have a good time. With the multitude of guests and two tour buses arriving we decided to let things work themselves out and have a drink at the bar until our room was ready. Leaving our egos at home and keeping in mind this was not the Four Seasons (which we certainly could not afford a weeks stay with unlimited meals, snacks, drinks, activities, etc...:)) allowed us to simply fit in and enjoy being on "Mexican time." The hotel itself was absolutely breath taking. Our room was very nice, exceptionally clean and adorned with towel critters and a fully stocked mini bar. We had a lovely view of the ocean and courtyard, although this made early evenings a little noisy. We tipped our housekeepers well and they kept our room spotless. Other than the housekeepers the vast majority of the staff spoke fluent English and were very accommodating to our requests. We tried to use the little Spanish we new whenever possible and practiced the words and phrases that were introduced to us by the staff. Manicured resort grounds were lush and ever so beautiful. As an avid gardener I took home many new ideas. Occasionally one would spot one of the resident iguanas sunning himself on the grass or at poolside near the rocks. Food was abundant offering a large selection and good quality. Breakfasts selections ranged from freshly made fruit juices, fruits, homemade breads and doughnuts, made to order omelets, eggs, various meats, yogurt, Mexican specialties, pancakes, the best French Toast in the world, potatoes, etc...Coffee was really good. Lunch consisted of a huge variety of western typicals, salad bar, grilled meats and vegetables, tortillas, seafood, an array of desserts and self serve soft ice-cream, etc... Dinner service was outstanding with the most amazing buffets or sit down service options. Truly there is something for everyone regardless of how picky one is. Service was excellent and drinks were very good including the wine. Evening entertainment was always amusing and encouraged audience involvement from all ages. The beach was beautiful! Golden sand (literally flecked with "gold," warm waters, seaweed and rock free, gentle waves made sunbathing a swimming a favorite activity for us. We took in a couple of excursions booked through our Sunquest rep which both exceeded our expectations. The dolphin swim was amazing. The animals were so gentle and the pools crystal clean. The evening fiesta was a real treat and well worth the price. " - April from Ladysmith, B.C., Canada

"My wife and I along with two other couples stayed at Riu Jalisco. The food was sub-standard, the rooms had a great musty smell, the beds were very hard and there was not insulation between the doors so that you heard everything going on outside the room including the ice machine.The bars were only open at certain times, and there were not enough bathrooms. This was supposed to be a 5 star resort - I rate it a 3 star. We stayed at Riu Ochio Rios,in Jamacia, it was a 5 star resort. After this experience we will never stay at the Riu resort chain again." - Jamie from Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada

"When booking this 5* hotel - we thought we were paying for clean non-smoking room. Upon arrival this did not happen. We were put into a dirty room, someone had slept on the bed, washroom/shower was filthy, and it reeked of smoke. Complained, next room was clean too look at, shower would not drain, it took 5 days of complaining to have this fixed. Sheets were changed only once, the day before leaving, this leaves me to believe that I may have slept on dirty sheets. Throughout the resort we drank out of plastic glasses, not disposible nor glass PLASTIC. A la Carte restaurants did not exist - there was a Chinese and steak house but they were both buffets as were Breakfast and lunch. We found "crawlies" in the oatmeal. When reported it, we were met with indifference. Had to search for towels and toilet paper. Patio doors were left opened after the maids cleaned the room. While changing American money over to Pesos we were short changed at the front desk. Complained to the Sunquest Rep. No help from them. Tried to speak to the manager of the hotel....never called back after about 5 requests/calls, we just gave up. This was our 4th time to a Riu hotel. After these experiences it will definitely be my last. After all the trouble Canadians have been having in Mexico, I would have thought they would have a much more amenable staff. Security should have been priority. This is definitely a 3* hotel not a 5."
- Caroll from Ottawa, Canada

"This was our second time at the resort. It is lovely. The rooms are nice, the beds too hard. We stupidly hid our safe-key in our room. We came back from the pool, only to find the key gone from its hiding place.We went to the front desk, they were not too concerned and said they would send someone when possible. After one and a half hours and 2 more trips to the desk, still no one. One of our traveling companions went to the desk and threatended to get loud if no help sent. Someone was down in one minute. They drilled open the safe, and the money in my wallet was gone.They charged us $50 to do this. We went to the front desk to make a report and lo and behold they had the key there in an envelope with our room number on it. They would not tell us how they got it. Of course they were not liable because we left the key in the room. The worst part is they seemed so unconcerned and not at all surprised by this. We did get our $50 back but they tried to charge us again when we checked out. Didn't work. The very next day we were talking to someone at breakfast and she asked us if we had heard about thefts in the hotel. We told her our story and she told us of readig reviews of theft at this hotel after booking her stay. I would like to caution anyone who stays there to always keep the key to the safe with them or just keep the money with them.

I did find most of the help there very enjoyable. They all seemed to be happy and helpful, except the front desk who did not seem to ever know what was going on with each other. Even though the food was not exceptional, none of the 15 of us got sick and there was such a variety at the buffet that it is hard to believe someone could not find something they liked." - Andrea from Cleveland, Ohio

"My g/f and I were looking for a vacation in Mexico; came across a really good deal for Riu Jalisco...read the reviews and with mixed feelings we booked. I have no idea what these people were complaining about....this place is awesome!!! The beach was very clean as was the resort...only two a la cartes, but they were both done well. The buffets were well stocked and clean; the staff was very helpful. The only thing I could come up with to change was the gym....definitely under-stocked. I would go back to this place in a heartbeat, no ifs. " - Fazil Hussein from Madison, Wisconsin

"We were very disappointed in our stay. After we got into our room (which had a very musty smell) we noticed that there was no key for the safe. We went down to the front desk and asked for a key. They told us that there was no key available at that time and that we should come back in the morning. The next day we went down again...still not key. They told us someone would bring one up when it became available. To make a long story short, we had all of our cash stolen. We had it hidden in with our clothes. When we reported it to the manager, we were told that if it wouldve been locked up in the safe it wouldve been insured. They kept telling us each day that someone would let us know something. We still, a month later, have not even received "Im sorry". The resort itself is nice. They did keep everything very clean. The food was good...but not great. 4 out of the 6 of us got sick. The beds were like concrete. The "king" and "queen" beds are actually 2 small beds pushed together. They make each one separate too, so no cuddling unless you want to lay in a crack. The pool areas are beautiful...the "adult only pool" always had children in it and it was FREEZING cold. We enjoyed the beach area the most. Although, you have to walk forever to get to a restroom. If you do stay here and cannot get a key for the safe, make sure to have the front desk hold it for you! We learned the hard way!" - Shannon from Madison, Wisconsin

"My wife and I only ate at this resort. We contracted food poisoning. I estimate between ten and twenty percent of the hotel guests experienced similar symptoms, costing them 1-2 days of vacation and great discomfort. The hotel staff appeared indifferent to the problems they caused." - Ray from Vancouver, B.C., Canada