RIU Hotels vs RIU Palace vs RIU Plaza: What's the Difference

Hotel Riu: the classic all-inclusive resort

This is the core of the brand and the largest group of properties, found across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Spain. Hotels like Riu Caribe and Riu Latino in Cancun, Riu Bambu in Punta Cana, Riu Jalisco in Puerto Vallarta, or Riu Gran Canaria and Riu Costa del Sol in Spain follow the same formula: a large resort with multiple restaurants and bars, a beachfront or near-beachfront setting, and an all-inclusive plan covering meals and drinks.

Room categories, pool setups, and exact facilities vary by property and destination, so check the individual hotel page for specifics. Some Hotel Riu properties are adults-only (such as Riu Cancun and Riu Latino), while others welcome families, so confirm this before booking if it matters to your group.

This tier is the standard choice for a beach vacation where you want to eat, drink, and use the pool and beach without tracking a separate bill for every meal.

Riu Palace: the premium all-inclusive line

Riu Palace properties sit one step above the standard Hotel Riu line, generally rated 4 or 4.5 stars in the catalogue, with a stronger focus on design, room finishes, and service level while keeping the all-inclusive structure intact. Examples include Riu Palace Pacifico in Puerto Vallarta, Riu Palace Kukulkan in Cancun, Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana, Riu Palace Jamaica in Montego Bay, and Riu Palace Baja California in Cabo San Lucas.

Several Palace hotels are adults-only, including Riu Palace Pacifico, Riu Palace Jamaica, Riu Palace Macao, Riu Palace Baja California, and Riu Palace Kukulkan, which makes them a common pick for couples and childfree trips. Others, such as Riu Palace Aruba, Riu Palace Costa Rica, and Riu Palace Riviera Maya, are open to all ages.

Expect the same all-inclusive meals-and-drinks concept as Hotel Riu, but generally with more restaurant variety, more polished common areas, and a room product aimed at travellers who want a step up without leaving the all-inclusive format.

Riu Plaza: city hotels, no all-inclusive

Riu Plaza is a different category altogether. These are urban hotels located in city centers rather than beach destinations, built for business trips, city breaks, and stopovers rather than resort vacations. There is no all-inclusive plan: rates typically cover the room only, sometimes with breakfast as an add-on, and you eat and drink at restaurants and bars around the city as you would with any city hotel.

Because Riu Plaza properties are not part of this destination's current catalogue selection, check the RIU Plaza listings directly on the booking site for available cities and current details. The key distinction to remember is structural: if you're picturing a resort with pools, a beach, and included meals, that's Hotel Riu or Riu Palace, not Riu Plaza.

Riu Plaza suits travellers who want a well-located base for sightseeing, meetings, or transit, and who plan to explore the local restaurant scene rather than eat on-property.

Which one to choose

Pick Hotel Riu if your priority is a straightforward beach or resort vacation where you don't want to think about extra charges for food and drink, and you're comfortable with a solid, no-frills-to-mid-range property.

Pick Riu Palace if you want the same all-inclusive convenience but with a higher room and service standard, especially for a honeymoon, anniversary, or couples trip - many Palace properties are adults-only, so check that filter if travelling with kids.

Pick Riu Plaza if you're visiting a city for its own sake - culture, business, a stopover - and don't need or want a resort setup. In that case an all-inclusive plan would be wasted money and time, since you'll naturally be out exploring at meal times.

Families should check the age policy on each hotel page before booking, since Hotel Riu and Riu Palace both mix adults-only and all-ages properties depending on the destination.