Rico and I were there in 2014. We had a nice time, and I quite liked it. Must admit, I was pretty much buzzed every day from 10:00 am onward, though.
We stayed the year after the nastiness with the local woman being beaten there. We found the security at the resort very good, and the staff trying very hard to make folks feel safe and looked after.
We researched it on trip advisor before we went. We found the resort to be very much the way it was described on tripadvisor. I wrote a review there soon after we got back - I've copied it below.
I can't really comment on 3 star vs. 5 star. Maybe it used to mean something, but it's tough to see any kind of objective standard being applied. You have to get dressed to go into the restaurants, even the buffet. There were plentiful loungers, the place was spotless, staff were omnipresent and cheerfully available. Our bartender in the main bar was a well-trained professional. A bunch of young women painted gold came on to our bus to hand out drinks, help carry luggage and get us checked in. There were mimosas and finger-sandwiches and stuff waiting for us at check in too. Hopefully that helps you decide on the star rating. There really wasn't any shampoo in the shower. But I found the all-in-one body/hair wash was good enough for me.
*****
There's not much I can say about the Riu Emerald Bay that hasn't already been written here, so I'll keep my review short.
The hotel is beautiful, check-in and check-out are quick and easy, service is great, loungers are plentiful. It's a tad off the beaten track - like others have said, its about 15 minutes outside of city's Golden Zone. There really will be a liquor dispenser in your room. All rooms are ocean-view. There will not be any shampoo in your room (hint, there's a dispenser inside the shower that dispenses bodywash/shampoo).
The a la cart restaurants aren't any great shakes - its pretty much the same as in the buffet, just in a smaller, more intimate setting. The food in the buffet though is pretty good all round. Plus, there's an ice-cream machine at the lunch buffet.
This is Pacific-side, so expect rough surf and red-flags at the beach most days. You can splash and paddle at the beach just fine, but I wouldn't recommend full on swimming. The surf is rough and the riptide is strong.
All in all, I loved the place and had a wonderful vacation. It was good value for money and I would go back in a heartbeat.
Tips: get a massage down at Lulu's (2 for $45 - negotiate the price and currency in advance!) Visit Mr. Lionso's for a sunset supper (all drinks are 2 for 1)
Stayed February 2014, traveled as a couple
Last edited by annasuave; 02-05-2017 at 08:36 PM.
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