Can’t Go Wrong at Hotel RIU Dunamar

The Hotel RIU Dunamar is nestled on the peninsula of the beautiful Costa Mujeres beach in Quintana Roo, a short distance (18km) from Cancun. This all-Inclusive hotel is a spectacular hideaway for a family vacation and offers the best services for you to enjoy an unforgettable holiday. The perfectly landscaped hotel has 740 lovely, spacious and comfortably furnished rooms with mini bars, hair dryer, iron and ironing board and comfortable queen-sized beds. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the entire hotel, a wide gastronomic offer, a spa and gym, five outdoor pools, a RIULand Kids Club (age 4-7 & 8-12 years), a sports bar, day and evening entertainment, including a nightly show that features some impressive live acts. There are a couple of on-sight boutiques with some nice products that were not overpriced and of course, extra sunscreen in case you run out.

The overall vibe of the place is low key, chill and relaxed. The food is exceptional, and lovers of gastronomy will appreciate the live cooking stations at the main restaurant plus the Italian and Asian specialty restaurants, gourmet restaurant, steakhouse and six bars. There are multiple vegan and gluten-free options. The resort grounds are perfectly manicured, and the ground staff take great care maintaining them. Our ocean front room had a spectacular view that was especially nice at sunset. In the distance you can see Isla Mujeres and the tip of Cancun’s hotel district.

The beach is fantastic. Hot sand, palm trees and turquoise glittering water. It’s like a storyboard for a great cold beer ad. We spent your days hanging out, swimming and reading and made the occasional visit to the on-site water slide park. Tighten your trunks before letting go! One of things I love about RIU Dunamar are the perfectly situated beach bars near the pools with spectacular views of the beach. The bartenders make great margaritas, mojitos and caesar’s. You can relax here for an afternoon chilling while listening to reggae, Beach Boys, local Mexican music and some soft pop hits. You’ll definitely ease into the relaxation mode at RIU Dunamar — it’s unavoidable.

I got into a routine of spending mornings on the beach and in the water and afternoons were spent playing board games and cards with my kids at the beach bar. The staff make the pool area welcoming and go out of their way to entertain. They organize pool games, including a pretty funny foam party (a machine that just spurts out lots of foam bubbles). There are lots of alert lifeguards at the pools and the water slides. If people come down and don’t come back up instantly they are straight in the pool just in case. No chances considered!

Nights were low key, spent relaxing and reading or taking in the news or a movie back at the room. Our kids were usually out and about at night taking in the resort entertainment. We felt very safe and secure in all areas of the resort.

Midweek we took a half-day snorkeling excursion with local trekkers ScubaCaribe. If you have a GoPro, bring it! The staff are friendly, well trained and professional. They explain safety procedures and protocols before you step into the boat and double check life jackets and equipment to ensure a great experience. We motored alongside the coast and then jutted out offshore a couple of kilometres and began snorkeling. I felt very confident and safe with these guys, especially since my kids and spouse were with me. We saw turtles, lionfish, stingrays, shark (small), puffer fish, eel, grouper and some translucent type fish that seemed to effortlessly jet around. To protect the wildlife and the sensitive coral you are asked not to wear sunscreen and makeup. Be sure to bring a hat to guard against the hot sun and a towel to cover your legs on the boat trip back. You can wear a wetsuit if you like. Bring cash to tip the crew; they work hard to ensure that you’re safe, comfortable and have a great snorkeling experience.

Whenever I go to a resort I make sure I have 80 or 100 dollars for the week in small bills so I can tip the staff. You should do this as a courtesy even at an all-inclusive. It is much appreciated by the local hotel staff. There are lots of other day excursions offered at the resort or if you want to go into Cancun the hotel staff will arrange transportation for a small fee.

We were so into the resort relax mode that we were more than happy to stay put for our wonderful week. I could go on raving about the overall perfection of the RIU Dunamar resort or the friendliness of the staff, the great food, fun entertainment, beautiful pools and beach area with lots of lounge chairs, delicious drinks and great weather. But rather than do that, I think that I will simply return for another stay. It’s hard to find the perfect spot for a family vacation. But, I did . . . it’s the RIU Dunamar.

About RIU Resorts: 105 hotels, 19 countries

RIU Hotels & Resorts offers a wide variety of hotels in the world's best destinations. They have been providing guests with unforgettable holidays for over 60 years. At RIU you’ll find complete facilities where you can enjoy a host of exclusive services that characterize the company including large gardens, crystal-clear swimming pools, a wide range of activities and enjoyable entertainment programs for both children and adults, and an extensive gastronomic offer. With over 100 hotels, choose from a beach, urban, family or adults-only hotels and enjoy an escape to your favourite destination.

RIU’s aim is to make guests feel good and enjoy their stay with all the amenities on offer. The warmth of the facilities means that guests feel like they are right at home, in modern, comfortable and spacious rooms to suit all types of needs. All guests enjoy a selection of dishes prepared daily with the utmost care using the freshest ingredients.