Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica
Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Sardinal, Costa Rica with 538 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Buffet Dining, Kids Club, Swim-Up Bar and Water Slides. Travelers rate it 4.3/5 across 6,306 Google reviews.
Things to Know
Atmosphere
Amenities
Traveler Insights(640 discussions)
Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is heading into the biggest change in its history: RIU announced in June 2026 that the hotel will close completely on August 31, 2026 for a comprehensive renovation and modernization, reopening March 13, 2027. That announcement also clears up a persistent point of confusion — some earlier reviews and listings described a completed 'spring 2025 complete renovation' here, but that appears to conflate this property with its sister hotel Riu Guanacaste, whose renovation RIU did finish. Guests staying in July 2026 describe Riu Palace Costa Rica as clearly showing its age, with the real renovation still ahead. The Papagayo Gulf location delivers Guanacaste's reliable dry-season weather, and the pool and waterpark area with animation team creates the lively social atmosphere that RIU properties typically execute well.
The operational track record leading into the closure is mixed at best. Understaffing complaints appear systemic rather than isolated, creating service delays across the property. The slippery tile is the most serious documented issue — multiple guest reports of slipping incidents on wet tile on pool decking and in showers represent a real safety hazard, and it's exactly the kind of thing the full renovation should address. The passport theft incident and non-functioning safe complaints raise security concerns for travelers carrying important documents, and overbooking incidents with guests relocated without advance notice have also been reported.
The practical advice splits by timing. Booking before August 31, 2026 means accepting an aging property with known staffing and safety issues in its final weeks before shutdown — go in with eyes open and low expectations for polish. Between August 31, 2026 and March 13, 2027, the hotel simply isn't available. From spring 2027, the fully renovated product could reset the equation entirely, and early post-reopening reviews will be worth watching. In the meantime, competing Papagayo-area properties like Planet Hollywood Costa Rica and Occidental Papagayo have their own issues but remain open, and Andaz Papagayo at higher prices provides more consistent execution than any of them.
Pros
- +A complete renovation is officially locked in: RIU announced the hotel will close entirely from August 31, 2026 to March 13, 2027 for a top-to-bottom modernization, so guests from spring 2027 onward get an essentially new property
- +Pool area with waterpark elements, animation team, and pool bar music creates an energetic, lively daytime atmosphere
- +Buffet with good meat quality, sushi station, and Italian options provides solid all-inclusive dining variety
- +Guanacaste International Airport is close — the Papagayo area transfer is one of Costa Rica's shorter airport-to-resort journeys
- +RIU brand reliability and operational consistency that independent Costa Rica resorts don't always deliver
- +True all-inclusive format — meals, beverages, and most activities covered with 24-hour service and no bracelet tier systems
- +Pool bars and swim-up bars function well and the animation team keeps the daytime energy active and social
- +Location in the Papagayo Gulf gives access to Costa Rica's driest and most sun-reliable climate zone
Cons
- −The resort appears severely understaffed relative to guest capacity, creating service delays that undermine the guest experience
- −Floor tile throughout the property is dangerously slick when wet — multiple slipping incidents have been reported on pool decking and in shower areas, a genuine safety concern
- −Security concerns include non-functioning in-room safes and a reported theft of passports — a serious issue that requires immediate attention
- −Overbooking incidents have been reported with guests arriving to find the hotel is overbooked and being relocated without advance notice
- −The property is showing its age — July 2026 guests describe dated facilities, with the complete renovation still ahead (Aug 2026–Mar 2027) rather than behind it, despite some listings implying it was already renovated
- −The hotel closes entirely from August 31, 2026 to March 13, 2027 for the renovation — no stays are possible in that window, and bookings in the final weeks before closure may come with pre-shutdown wind-down
- −The January-February peak season during the dry season brings high demand that further strains the already limited staff capacity
- −The slippery tile problem specifically is a safety issue that requires documented verification of management response before booking with mobility-limited guests
Common Questions
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Google Reviews
“Our family of 8 stayed at the RIU Palace. We had a wonderful time. The resort was immaculate. You would see staff constantly cleaning around the hotel and grounds. The bartenders and servers were excellent. You never had an empty drink or dirty plat...”
“We had a fantastic time at the Riu Palace. The hotel is huge and sprawling with phenomenal grounds kept sparkling clean. The location is remote and there is barely any internet access besides the hotel Wifi. We loved walking on the beach, visiting th...”
“Just stayed there this past week and it was a very good time. Agree, rooms are a little dated but they are renovating next year and I’m excited to see the outcome. The pools and beach were gorgeous! Staff were incredibly friendly and efficient (e...”