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I was very disappointed with this resort. It advertises having two restaurants, but that's misleading. There is only one kitchen, and if you eat in the other seating area, the waiter has to leave and go to another building to bring your food. The food was poor in both quality and variety. The drink selection was also very limited, with very few liquor options available. Meal service was restricted to specific hours: breakfast from 7:00–10:00 a.m., lunch from 12:00–3:00 p.m., and dinner from 6:00–9:00 p.m. The main bar closed at 10:00 p.m., and the swim-up bar closed at 6:00 p.m., which was disappointing for an all-inclusive resort. Another major issue was the Wi-Fi. It was only available in the common areas and did not work in the guest rooms. Finally, I felt the customer service was inconsistent. The staff seemed much friendlier and more attentive to guests who spoke their language, which made us feel overlooked. Overall, this resort did not meet my expectations, and I would not recommend it based on my experience.

Best hotel stay ever..

The spectacular views from everywhere you stand at the hotel were breathtaking. By far the best views at any hotel I’ve ever stayed. The staff was so incredibly helpful at all times, from the start of pick up to drop off and everything in between was amazing. I have a gluten allergy and they made sure I was taken care of with different options if needed. The food was DELICIOUS. The villa was also beautiful and most importantly relaxing. The transport from hotel to las Catalina’s was so convenient and easy. I will remember this trip forever all thanks to all the staff! Thank you so much for making my personal gluten free birthday cake! Shout out to Glen, Sonia, Randy, Armando, Shailyn, absolutely everyone was amazing. I give props to every single staff member that works there. Thank you for your care and hard work dedication of making Costa Rica a humble experience. Pura Vida!

Overall, I would rate our stay at Rio Palace a 2/10. For the premium price, the level of comfort and service was far below expectations. Our room lacked a shower door or privacy curtain (there was evidence one had been installed previously), and many fixtures appeared damaged — not suitable for a family sharing a room. We also encountered ants and cockroaches. Dining was disappointing: although there are several on-site specialty restaurants, you cannot make reservations and must queue before they open (around 5:00 p.m.), often waiting 30 minutes just to secure a table; the food in these venues was mediocre. The buffet was better but also required waiting in line. Noise is a major issue — long echoing corridors amplify slamming doors and running guests, and staff walkie-talkies are routinely turned up loud, with announcements from early morning until late at night. Having stayed at many luxury all-inclusive resorts, I rank Rio Palace at the bottom: the property’s large size means thousands of guests competing for services, frequent lines, and an overall subpar experience.

The property was beautiful and well maintained, my only complaint about this is that there is still some trash on the beach every morning. The service is fine, the rooms very comfortable, and the drinks wonderful.

Beautiful property

Everything about this property was perfect! The staff was exceptional!