We recently stayed at the Riu Resort in the Bahamas. Check-in and check-out were smooth, and the staff were consistently friendly and welcoming. However, the overall experience left much to be desired. Service was slow — we had to call multiple times for basic requests like extra towels, pillows, and to fix our in-room safe, which was never repaired.
The AC went out across the resort on our first night with no communication from staff. As a pregnant guest in 27°C heat, it was extremely uncomfortable and almost made us consider leaving, though it was resolved after 3 hours. We also experienced power outages on two days, one just before I was about to shower.
The food was a major letdown. The à la carte restaurants were unorganized, with underwhelming dishes — the lobster was rubbery, the steak lacked seasoning, and basic requests during meals were repeatedly missed. The buffet had little variety despite being marketed with nightly “themes.”
On a positive note, housekeeping was consistent when we left a tip and requested cleaning, and the beachfront was stunning and well-maintained.
While we loved the Bahamas and plan to return, we wouldn’t stay at this Riu resort again. Food and service are key parts of a vacation for us, and sadly, this resort didn’t deliver.