Escape to Paradise: Riu Santa Fe's All-Inclusive Cabo Luxury Awaits!
Escape to Paradise? Riu Santa Fe: Cabo's All-Inclusive Rollercoaster (Review)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your bland, cookie-cutter travel review. We're diving headfirst into the Riu Santa Fe – a supposed slice of Cabo luxury, and I'm about to spill the (slightly chlorinated) tea. Prepare for tangents, opinions hotter than the Baja sun, and a whole lotta "meh" sprinkled with moments of actual bliss.
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Arrival & First Impressions: The Accessibility Angle (and My Slightly Uncoordinated Self)
Okay, let's be real: I'm not exactly a graceful gazelle. I'm more of a "trips over air" kind of person, so accessibility is always a big thing for me (and, frankly, for anyone wanting a relaxing vacation). Riu Santa Fe claims to be on the up-and-up… and for the most part, they nail it. Elevators are plentiful (thank GOD, because I'm too lazy for stairs), and the public areas are generally easy to navigate, even when crammed with people. However, the wheelchair access into the main pools… that was a bit of a crapshoot. One ramp was a bit steep and another one was blocked a few times. But hey, at least they tried!
(Accessibility: Good overall, with minor hiccups in pool accessibility. Elevator, facilities for disabled guests noted.)
Right off the car (I mean, after the smooth airport transfer I purchased) you are confronted by the glorious hotel. The sheer scale of the resort is intimidating. And the reception is buzzing. Lots of people, smiling staff members, and a vibe that screams "party!" I'm already exhausted, but I can feel the vacation vibes seeping in.
(Services & Conveniences: Airport transfer, car park [free of charge] noted, but the initial overwhelm feeling is crucial.)
Rooms: My Cozy (and Occasionally Noisy) Fortress
The rooms? Standard all-inclusive fare, but perfectly functional. A/C was a lifesaver (thank you, sweet merciful air conditioning!), the bed was comfy enough, and the "sea view" (more like "partial sea-and-pool view") was passable. My room, like, most of them, was in great shape. This is the most important thing!
(Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Wi-Fi [free], and the usual suspects.)
I spent the first night wrestling with the blackout curtains (it's a power struggle, people!) and the second night, I'm convinced, listening to a mariachi band practice at full volume from somewhere in the bowels of the hotel. Soundproofing? Let's just say it's… aspirational. The tiny balcony? Great for people-watching (which is my favorite pastime).
(Room: Soundproofing - needs improvement, blackout curtains - good. Also, the balcony is great for observing the chaos.)
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (Mostly of the Predictable Variety)
Ah, the heart of any all-inclusive experience: the food! Riu Santa Fe offers a dizzying array of options. Let’s start with the basics:
Breakfast Buffet: A sprawling wonderland of eggs (cooked every which way), bacon (crispy! mostly), pastries (some surprisingly good, some… not), and fruit (the mango was DIVINE). My most honest moments here? Trying to decide between the churro station and the omelette line. Priorities, people! (Dining: Breakfast [buffet], Western breakfast, Asian breakfast. Note the emphasis on the chaos and personal priorities.)
Restaurants: There are a bunch of “specialty” restaurants. The Steakhouse (so-so), the Asian place (decent, but nothing to write home about), the Italian place (forgettable). The best thing about the a la carte choices is the waiter service, where you can sit in peace and enjoy the view. (Dining: A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Italian cuisine in restaurant. Noted disappointment and observation.)
Poolside Bars & Snack Bars: This is where the magic happens. The drinks are, let's be honest, STRONG. The pool bar is always hopping. And the snack bar? Offers everything from burgers to nachos to questionable hot dogs. Perfect fuel for a day of sun and questionable decisions. I may, or may not, have eaten an entire plate of cheesy fries one afternoon. Don't judge me.
(Dining: Poolside bar, Snack bar, Happy hour noted. Focus on the drinks and the guilty pleasures.)
- Staff training in safety protocol: The staff were very good at the safety stuff, lots of hand sanitizer and wearing masks. This is good, I feel like I should mention it.
(Cleanliness and safety: Staff trained in safety protocol, Hand sanitizer noted, with lowkey approval.)
Look, is the food Michelin-star quality? Absolutely not. Is it plentiful, readily available, and perfect for fueling a week of lazy days? Absolutely. The key is to lower your expectations, embrace the chaos, and find your comfort zone. And for me, that comfort zone was a plate of cheesy fries and a margarita.
(Dining: Buffet in restaurant, Poolside bar, Snack bar, and the need for a margarita, this is important!).
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: From Beach Bums to Spa Junkies
Okay, so you're not just here to gorge on mediocre food, right? (Although, I judge you not). Riu Santa Fe has plenty to keep you occupied.
The Pools: Several swimming pools for all kinds of people. The swim-up bar is awesome. The infinity pool with a view is worth the hype. Expect crowds, but it's all part of the experience. (Things to do: Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with a view, with an enthusiastic, if somewhat vague description.)
The Beach: The beach, it's lovely if you want it, but the ocean is rough. The waves are powerful. It's also a constant stream of vendors hawking everything from jet skis to massages. I lasted about 10 minutes before retreating back to the pool. (Things to do: Swimming at the beach, with candid, slightly cynical comments.)
The Spa: The RENOVA spa? I treated myself to a massage. It was… nice. Not life-altering, not mind-blowing, but a pleasant way to de-stress. The sauna and steam room were a bonus. (Ways to relax: Massage, Sauna, Steamroom, Spa.)
Fitness Center: I saw the fitness center. I did not enter it. Let's just say my idea of exercise is walking from the pool to the bar and back. (Fitness center: Mentioned, and then politely ignored.)
Activities: There's everything from water aerobics to themed nights to live music. The energy is infectious.
(Things to do: A smorgasbord of activities, with a slight lack of personal engagement.)
Cleanliness & Safety: Sanitized, But Not Sterile
Riu Santa Fe takes cleanliness seriously – particularly post-pandemic. Hand sanitizer stations everywhere. Daily disinfection in common areas. Staff trained in safety protocols. I observed staff cleaning all around the hotel.
(Cleanliness and safety: Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Staff trained in safety protocol. It is a major and very important feature.)
Internet: Wi-Fi Woes and the LAN Lament
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Sounds great, right? Well… it's a bit spotty. Sometimes it worked perfectly, sometimes it crapped out at the worst possible moment (like when you're trying to upload that perfect sunset pic to Instagram). The Internet [LAN]? I didn't even bother. Who even uses LAN anymore? (Internet: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, with a realistic assessment of its performance.)
Final Verdict: Worth the Escape? (Maybe. Mostly.)
Riu Santa Fe is a mixed bag. It's not perfect. It's loud, crowded, and the food is… fine. But it's also fun, convenient, and a relatively affordable way to experience Cabo. If you're looking for a relaxing, luxurious getaway, this might not be your top pick. If you're looking for an all-inclusive party palace where you can gorge on cheesy fries and drink margaritas by the pool, surrounded by other people who are also gorging on cheesy fries and drinking margaritas, then, hey, welcome home. I'd go back? Probably. But I'm also already plotting my escape route.
(Overall opinion: Mixed, with a focus on the fun and the flaws.)
XQ El Palacete: Fuerteventura's Hidden Gem? You Won't Believe This!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your bland, "arrive, eat, sunbathe, repeat" Riu Santa Fe itinerary. This is my Riu Santa Fe experience, unfiltered, unedited, and hopefully, hilarious. We're going deep, folks. Prepare for the beautiful mess.
Day 1: Arrival and the Glorious, Questionable Margarita Assault
- 1:00 PM: Landed in Cabo. Jet lag is already whispering sweet nothings of naptime in my ear. The airport smells like sunscreen and tequila - a potent combination. Found the shuttle, thank God. Navigating customs felt like trying to herd cats. I swear I saw a guy trying to smuggle a whole pineapple.
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at Riu Santa Fe. The lobby is… well, it's big. Like, casino-big. Checked in (smooth sailing, surprisingly!). First impressions: Pools are HUGE, the beach looks tempting, and I'm already sweating.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Margarita Assault Begins. First, the "Welcome Margarita" - suspiciously weak but I don't judge, it's free. Then, the pool bar. Five margaritas later… (don't even ask). I find myself convinced I'm fluent in Spanish, giving thumbs-ups to everyone and befriending a very tan German couple who seemed as bewildered as I was.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at the buffet. Oh, the buffet. A vast expanse of food, some of it identifiable, some of it a mystery. Ate a delicious, possibly undercooked, taco. Regret is a slow burn, but I didn't get sick, so, victory!
- 7:30 PM: Tried to watch the "Entertainment Show" (think cheesy dancers and outdated pop music). Gave up after 15 minutes and wandered off into the night with a vague sense of disappointment and a slight headache. The humidity is killer!
- 8:30 PM: Passed out. Like, full-on, clothes-on, face-down passed out in my king-sized bed. The end of Day 1.
Day 2: Sunburn, Beach Shenanigans, and the Sushi Debacle
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Sunburn. Not a bad one, mind you, a proud one. Breakfast at the buffet. Attempted omelet - failed. Settled for pancakes, which I drowned in syrup, because, vacation.
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Beach time! Finally. The sand is perfect. The ocean is that impossible turquoise you can't fake. I tried snorkeling. Saw a few fish, mostly just swallowed a lot of saltwater. Worth it! I found a beautiful seashell, which I am convinced is worth at least, like, a billion dollars.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at the… buffet again, no comments.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Poolside time. More margaritas. This time with a vengeance! I start a friendly competition of "who can stay in the pool the longest" with a bunch of Australians. I lost. Miserably. They are tough.
- 6:30 PM: Got ready for dinner. Found out the hard way that the hotel's dress code is not for a swimsuit and coverup. Change of plans.
- 7:30 PM: Dinner at the Japanese restaurant (reservation required). I love sushi. Or, rather, I thought I loved sushi. The sushi was, let's be generous, an experience. I'm pretty sure the rice was holding a grudge against me. The spicy tuna roll was like biting into a fiery volcanic eruption. The waiter was very confused by my reaction. By the end of the meal, I was pretty sure I had developed a phobia of raw fish.
- 9:00 PM: Back at the pool bar, nursing a headache and a wounded ego. The Australians are back, laughing, and drinking something that looks suspiciously like battery acid. I join them. It's a vacation after all.
Day 3: The Pool Party That Almost Killed Me (Literally)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the… you know the drill.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: The infamous pool party. Oh. My. God. This was… intense. Loud music, inflatable flamingos, people flinging themselves off of things - you know. The works. I got swept up in the chaos. I danced, I laughed, I may have lost my sunglasses. I definitely ingested a questionable amount of tequila.
- 1:15 PM: I remember a moment of clarity. I am pretty sure I was attempting to do the limbo under a giant inflatable banana. I do not recommend this.
- 1:30 PM: I woke up a few hours later with a terrible headache and a weird taste in my mouth. I was a sun-kissed, tequila soaked zombie. Pretty sure I went to sleep at the pool. Thank goodness for sunscreen!
- 3:00 - 5:00 PM: Spent a few hours in my room, rehydrating, regretting, and writing angry texts to my future self.
- 7:00 PM: Had dinner at the steakhouse, which was an absolute delight. I savored every bite of my perfectly cooked steak, in a desperate attempt to restore some dignity.
- 8:00 PM: Ended up on the balcony of my hotel room, watching the moon rise over the ocean, feeling surprisingly peaceful. Maybe I'm becoming a different person on this trip.
Day 4: Boat Trip, Sea Lions, and a Sudden Yearning for Broccoli
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast, with a newfound appreciation for plain toast.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Boat trip to the Arch. This was THE highlight of the trip! Snorkeling around the Arch, seeing the sea lions basking in the sun, it was breathtakingly beautiful. The water was crystal clear, the sun was shining. I actually felt a sense of peacefulness. I saw a whale tail! Or maybe a dolphin. Definitely something majestic.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch. I decided to try the buffet. again, and suddenly felt an overwhelming craving for vegetables. Broccoli, specifically. There was no broccoli. There was not even a hint of broccoli. This was a crisis.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Decided to relax. Read a book I've been wanting to read for a while. Enjoyed some sun, even though I'm pretty sure I'm already bronzed enough.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at the Mexican restaurant. The food was delicious, the atmosphere festive. I ate a lot of chips and salsa and felt slightly better.
- 8:00 PM: Sat on the beach, listening to the waves. It was almost magical. Feeling grateful for this chaotic, beautiful, messy trip.
Day 5: Departure and a Promise to Never Drink Tequila Again (Until Next Time)
- 8:00 AM: Last breakfast. Sad face.
- 9:00 AM: Last swim in the pool. Trying to memorize every second.
- 10:00 AM: Check out. Said goodbye to some of the staff and friends by the pool.
- 1:00 PM: Landed at the airport.
- 2:00 PM: Feeling, well, a mix of exhaustion, sunburn, and profound satisfaction. Cabo, you glorious, tequila-soaked, sushi-challenged beast. I will be back. And next time, I'm bringing my own broccoli. And maybe, just maybe, avoiding the margaritas. Maybe. (Nah.)
This, my friends, is the truth. The beautiful, messy, imperfect truth. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
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Escape to Paradise: Riu Santa Fe's All-Inclusive Cabo Luxury Awaits! (Or Does It?) - The Unofficial FAQs
So, is this Riu Santa Fe actually *luxury*, or is it just... *fancy*? Because let's be real, my standards are high after that "luxury" glamping trip last summer. Spoiler alert: it was NOT luxurious. (And the bugs... don't even get me started.)
Speaking of food, is it actually good? All-inclusive food has a reputation, you know... like, "quantity over quality" is the motto. I'm a foodie, okay? And I get hangry. Very hangry.
The drinks! Tell me about the drinks! Are we talking watered-down, sickly-sweet concoctions, or can a discerning drinker actually find something decent? Because I *need* a good margarita. Or three.
What about the beach? Is it swimmable? Crowded? Beautiful? Give me the details!
Are there any activities? Or is it just… lounging? Because, while I *love* lounging, I also get bored.
Let's talk about the rooms. What are they like? Clean? Modern? Do they have balconies? Because I need a balcony. It's essential for reviewing my margarita consumption. For, you know, *research*.
