Hotel Riu Lupita

Hotel Riu Lupita is a large property with three-story units, painted pink and yellow, dispersed through jungle-like (and occasionally patchy and brown) grounds. Because the resort is older, palm trees and plants are extra lush and tall. Spanish-tiled water fountains and thatch roofs add a sense of place. The lobby is painted with bold pops of blue and orange. Colorful paintings of parrots hang on the wall near a cluster of wicker furniture topped with blue cushions. Built-in alcoves display large painted vases. The golf course is easily visible and adds green, artificial ponds, and manmade rock formations to the scenery.Families with young children and couples make up the majority of the guests. Wi-Fi is too slow and the location is too isolated to attract many business travelers.

One of the reasons prices are often quite affordable at Hotel Riu Lupita is that the location is less than ideal for anyone who doesn't want to take a shuttle bus to the beach or town. A rental car is a good option for those who want to explore the surrounding area, and parking at the resort is free. Expect a solid 45-minute drive to Cancun International Airport.

There are 300 rooms spread out over jungle grounds inside three-story, coral-painted, stand-alone structures. Guests on the second and third floors have to climb exterior wooden stairs that aren't covered and can be slippery in the rain. Inside, rooms sleep up to three people, though the Triple Rooms have bunk beds that aren't ideal for adults. All rooms come with liquor dispensers and minibars stocked with beer, booze, and soft drinks. Decor is simple: picture white walls, tiled floors, and worn dark wood furniture. Flat-screen TVs look modern but there's a charge for Wi-Fi, even in rooms that can't pick up a signal. Ceiling fans and a single photograph of green plants in each room add a slight tropical vibe.Bathrooms consist of vanity counters with single sinks and toilets tucked next to them. Walk-in showers are spacious, but past guests have complained about broken showerheads and a lack of solid water pressure. Toiletries include dispensers of shampoo mounted to the walls and Riu-brand soap. Towels look worn. There's a hairdryer mounted to the wall in each bathroom. Rooms overlook the patchy lawn, often crawling with coatis. They make look cute -- until they climb in through your open hotel room door looking for food.

One oddity at this property is the on-site dive shop, which can arrange scuba excursions and diving certifications -- but the beach is a 15-minute drive away. There is a free shuttle throughout the day to a private beach club, however. Comfortable sun loungers, a deep swimming pool, and a full restaurant are included here, and it's a pleasant place to spend the day. Some of the sun loungers are behind a small gate, meaning aggressive vendors aren't a problem.Features on-site include a small spa and salon (don't expect a sauna, hammam, gym, or hot tub, though) and a plethora of outdoor recreational facilities like tennis courts, basketball, ping pong, and volleyball. Bikes are available to borrow. The kids' club looks like many little ones have enjoyed the classroom's toys, face-painting, and dress-up clothes. There's a sand-pit playground and small outdoor pool with matching slides, too. Staff performs an evening show that's appropriate for families and organizes activities throughout the day such as dance lessons and bingo. Be weary of staff invitations to "parties" in town; they're really just collecting commission from bar owners.Shoppers can browse the on-site jewelry store or pick up beach gear and toiletries from the gift shop. While there's an ATM in the lobby for withdrawing pesos, the hotel won't change U.S. dollars.Guests get a free 90 minutes of Wi-Fi use in the lobby. It must be used in one session and is reportedly slow. There's an option to purchase Wi-Fi in the rooms, but past vacationers have complained that some rooms don't pick up the signal.

There are two separate outdoor swimming pools at Riu Lupita. The Main Pool includes a circular section with submerged sun loungers and an elaborate dolphin statue. A small section of the shallow water is gated off for little ones. Sun loungers and umbrellas line the pool, and there's a nearby bar under a thatch roof. The Relax Pool is just for adults; it's smaller and quieter. Hammocks hang between palm trees and there's a plethora of sun loungers and thatch umbrellas. Pool towels are free. Waiter service isn't provided.There's a third outdoor swimming pool at the beach club and a small pool at the kids' club with little waterslides.

The all-inclusive package at Riu Lupita mainly focuses around buffet-style dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The property tries to mix things up with live cooking shows and the occasional theme night, but past guests have reported low-quality food and little variety. Continental-style snacks are available daily until midnight, and (reportedly weak) local brands of alcohol and beer are served until 2 a.m. Guests can pay extra for premium brands. With advance reservations, guests can dine at Maria Bonita Mexican restaurant for dinner; men are required to wear long pants. There's also a grill and steakhouse at the beach club. Another option is the on-site nightclub -- it looks straight out of the 70s.