Riu Tequila, Playa del Carmen: an honest review from a 14-night family stay

We spent 14 nights at Hotel Riu Tequila in Playacar, Playa del Carmen, as a family of four — two adults and two kids, aged 4 and 12. Here is what it was actually like, beyond the brochure.

The resort itself

Riu Tequila is a classic mid-size all-inclusive: several pools, a swim-up bar, a kids' pool area, and direct access to the Playacar beach strip. It is not the newest or flashiest Riu in the area, and that is exactly why the price is friendlier than its neighbours. Our stay cost about C$3,200 for 14 nights, hotel only — roughly C$229 a night for the family.

Food

The buffet is the workhorse: big, varied, and genuinely good at breakfast and dinner. The themed restaurants break up the routine — book them early, because the popular ones fill up. With kids, the buffet wins most nights: nobody waits, everybody finds something.

What surprised us

The evening shows are better than expected — the Mayan-themed night and the live music evenings were real highlights, not background noise. The gardens and the coatis wandering through them gave the kids something to talk about every single day.

What to know before you book

Playacar is a gated community, so the beach walk feels safe and calm, but you are a 10-minute walk from Playa del Carmen's Fifth Avenue action. If you want wild nightlife at your doorstep, this is not it. If you want a relaxed family base with a good beach, it is exactly it.

Bottom line

For a family that wants a solid all-inclusive without paying Palace prices, Riu Tequila is hard to beat. Would we go back? Yes — and we are already watching prices for our next one.

Have you stayed at Riu Tequila? What was your experience?