Riu Emerald Bay All Inclusive

Very disappointed, I like the RIU chain but this hotel in Mazatlán is terrible in every aspect, both in food and service, it was my first and last time, I wasted my money on this hotel, very bad experience. If you are considering it, think twice before coming to the RIU Mazatlán, I do not recommend it at all.

Good quality of food. Super friendly and pleasant staff, always responding to questions and requests in the best way. Entertaining recreational activities and shows with excellent quality artists. Pool cleanliness is not very adequate. They allow children in the adult-exclusive pool area; I did not find that appropriate. The elevators are slow and inefficient. Good hotel for fun and recreation, the water slide area is super fun. I do not find it suitable for exclusive relaxation vacations or honeymoon types where more peace and intimacy are sought.

We stayed at Riu Emerald Bay from June 20 to June 27, 2026. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children (5 and 10 years old). In general, we enjoyed our trip, but for our part, we will not return to this area for the sole reason that we are beach people. Beach/pools: We knew that the sea was rough in this area before booking, but I found it dangerous once we arrived. We then enjoyed the pool, but given that people mainly gather at the pool, the pools are more or less clean. There are A LOT of chairs, both at the beach and at the pool, but at the beach, it is very little shaded; I did not regret bringing my umbrella. There are also the Mariachi who are quite intense playing simultaneously in several groups and several songs; it is very cacophonous from 12 to 8 PM. The water parks were really appreciated by our children. Restaurant: Several restaurants on this site. The food is generally very good. After a week, I did not find it TOO repetitive. The only downside is that the à la carte restaurants are also themed buffets. We preferred the Italian and Asian restaurants, although the Mexican was also good. Hotel/Room: We had a room in the main tower; all in all, the room was very nice, but aging. It was, however, very clean. The rooms in this tower all have ocean views, and the view is truly magnificent. The hotel offers an app to pre-check-in upon arrival, reserve à la carte restaurants, and request services (mini-bar refill, towel request, etc.), which was also greatly appreciated. The major downside of this hotel is the elevators. A real nightmare of endless waiting, and when the elevator finally opens, it is full. Activity/Entertainment: We saw several hosts gathering people for various activities. For our part, we did not want to participate, but it seemed there was always a little something everywhere on the site. We only went to see the children's shows; they were good. Every evening, a member of the entertainment group stood near the restaurants to announce the evening shows. It is impossible to miss anything if that is what you are looking for. LANGUAGES: English is not understood by all the staff. Many only speak Spanish, which sometimes makes communication very difficult. For example, at the towels, the employee on site was not able to tell us that he was waiting for the clean towel cart to arrive in a few minutes; he tried to mime it to us. Tourists: I found the Mexican tourists very intrusive and disrespectful. They cut in line at the restaurant, talk so loudly (not to say scream) all day long, and leave plates full of food everywhere. A couple even moved our things (towel, bag, sandals, and clothes) off our chair to take a seat, while we were just next to the pool. They come in very late and yell in the rooms and hallways (I know that sometimes Quebecers can stand out too, but in this place, I assure you it was not the Quebecers who were disturbing). For my part, it was not a bad experience, but I will not return.