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Cancun & Cozumel Hotel, Resort & Villa Reviews Reviews
RIU Lupita Palladan 10/26/2004
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
Lovely, small, 300 room resort which has just undergone a 10 million dollar facelift when the RIU chain purchased it from Occidental group. It has not diminished in any way for being an off-beach location. Rooms are average size, with two double beds, full bathroom (tub, shower, sink, toilet), brand new furniture (dark mahogany), lots of drawers, colourful bedspreads, curtains and painting on the wall. Hair dryer, shampoo and bath gel provided. Patio or balcony overlooking either quiet pool, golf course, or pretty gardens. One buffet, one a la carte (Mexican), one central bar services the entire resort located by the large, main pool with dolphin fountain. Fully stocked fridge in each room containing 6 Corona, 4 Pepsi, 2 Orange, 2 Seven-Up, 2 soda water, 4 large bottles of spring water - all replenished every 2nd day. Beach towels provided in exchange for towel cards. Complimentary room safe. Key system to open the heavy mahogany doors. Very sound proof - couldn't hear the disco located within view of our balcony. Disco walls are carpeted and keep the sound on the inside (very loud when you are in there). The quiet pool is relaxing (our room overlooked this pool...Building 2023). One and two story villas painted in terra cotta or dark yellow surrounded by lots of greenery. Buffet service was excellent, food 5 star quality. Coffee urns on each table in the morning; specialty tea available. No specified seating; breakfast served from 7 - 10:30 am; lunch from 1 - 4 and supper 7 - 10 pm. Pool grill served hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos, salads, fries, popcorn machine. Drink menu provided. Corona beer served on tap. Each room had a liquor dispenser with four 40 oz bottles of rum, tequila, gin and vodka for personal use. Two theme nights (Mayan and Mexican) - excellent food, huge variety and top quality. Mexican a la carte beautifully decorated; 5 star quality and service. Air conditioned shuttle to the Playacar beach beginning at 8 am to 6 pm every 30 minutes and less than 10 minutes drive through the upscale, Playacar condo community. Five minute, $4.00 taxi ride to 5th Ave, the shopping district of Playa del Carmen. Evening shows where professional dancers from Cancun came; the RIU Lupita dancers are in training at the other resorts and performed the last night of our stay. Very friendly group who mingle with all the guests. Mostly Europeans from Italy, Spain, France, and Germany with a few British and Canadians during our week. The resort got fuller near the end of our week. We used the facilities of the Playacar, Yucatan and Tequila and asked at Reception for a pass to the Palace which did not include food or drinks but we could use the pool, nap in the hammocks and view the hotel. We loved the RIU experience. The beach was spectacular....saw a wedding on Saturday at the Playacar on the beach. Roped off area for swimmers; lots of activities on the beach and at the swim-up pool bars. No swim-up bar at the Lupita but didn't miss it. Lupita is a quieter hotel which was a lovely retreat from the loudness of the other RIUs. No better value for your vacation dollar in our opinion, especially when you can Stay at 1 and Play at 4 - all located in the Playacar area. Hot 34C all week with no rain during our October stay. An hour's drive to the Cancun airport. Having a 10:15 am flight meant leaving the Lupita at 6:15 am (argh) but they provided coffee before the departure so it would be a good idea to take some fruit and muffins from the buffet the night before if you have a departure before the breakfast buffet opens.
Marlene
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