Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Riu Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 460 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 7 | 21 |
| Pools | 4 | 11 |
| Year Opened | — | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2019 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | Yes | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 14 | 26 |
| Included | 14 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 4 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 4 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 25 | 24 |
| Included | 19 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 6 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya
Pros
- 'Stay at 1, Play at 5' access effectively gives guests five resorts' worth of restaurants and pools for the price of one.
- Playacar's 2.5km proximity to Playa del Carmen is usable walkable distance — more practical than isolated all-inclusives.
- Colonial-style architecture is a genuine aesthetic alternative to the glass-and-steel format common to newer properties.
- Agave's grilled octopus on the menu is a more considered Mexican specialty than most all-inclusive 'Mexican nights'.
- Strictly no student groups or Spring Breakers — the atmosphere reflects this consistently.
Cons
- 45–60 minute airport transfer from CUN — longer end of what's typical for Riviera Maya properties.
- Four specialty restaurants all require reservations — book on the first day or risk missing preferred options.
- As a 2006 property with a 2019 renovation, the bones are older than Riviera Maya competitors that opened post-2015.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
- The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
- All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
- 'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
- 15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
- Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
- Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
- Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
- Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
- The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Summary
Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya offers more activities.