A Real Review & Traveling Tips for the Riu Santa Fe All-Inclusive Resort in Cabo San Lucas

My sister was turning 40 and I was at a loss as to what to get her for the monumental occasion. I thought about a trip to Myrtle Beach or another visit to Ft. Lauderdale to see on of our best friends. Then, I began looking at All-Inclusive vacation packages on Spirit Airlines.

The most affordable option that I kept coming across was Cabo San Lucas. I used the monthly calendar feature to find the cheapest departure and return flights, and settled on Sunday, June 2nd through Thursday, June 6th. 4 nights at the Riu Santa Fe All-Inclusive Resort bundled with flight cost $582.50 per person. We had 4 travelers and 2 rooms. This was cheaper than a cruise at this time of year!

I was nervous about booking the Riu Santa Fe, because of the very mixed reviews on TripAdvisor. However, I have realized that sometimes it’s best to find out for yourself, especially when traveling on a budget. Here’s what we experienced:

1. I booked round-trip ground transportation through https://www.allwayscabotransportation.com/ for about $40 per person. This was about half the price of a shared shuttle, and probably the BEST service you will find anywhere. We paid $165 total, and didn’t have to worry about getting to and from the airport. They load your luggage for you in a beautiful Suburban or Escalade, and then they quickly offer you beer or water while you enjoy the 25 minute ride to the resort. Here is why they are the best: There is a confirmation email that you will get with very specific instructions to keep going when you see the wall of Timeshare Salesman in the airport. They are the pushiest people you will encounter, and they will try to convince you that they work for the transportation company and/or the airport. They told me numerous times that I was going out the wrong door, and when I pushed past them anyway, I wanted to run and jump into our driver’s waiting arms. It is a very nerve-wrecking situation that I would not have known to avoid without our wonderful previously-booked transportation service.
2. We arrived at the resort around 11 am. I was a little nervous that we would not be able to use the amenities since we were far earlier than our 3 pm check-in. Not only were we issued our wristbands with full access, we were also told that our rooms were ready, and immediately given our keys. Even if our room had not been ready, we still would’ve received our wristbands and been allowed to leave our luggage with the bellhop service. The front desk staff was efficient, informative, and very kind.
3. The resort is huge!!! Luckily, the woman that checked us in gave us a map and drew us some arrows to our room and where to find lunch. Ask for a map if one is not offered to you. You will need it throughout your stay. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, so if you do get lost, you will enjoy the journey.
4. We received a standard room. It was perfect for us, as we do not require luxury on two teacher salaries (my husband & I are both teachers). My husband was thrilled to see the liquor cabinet that is stocked with 4 very full bottles of tequila, whiskey, rum, and vodka. The mini-fridge was stocked with Dos Equis, Pepsi, 7up, and waters. Plenty of selection to make a drink. This mini-bar is INCLUDED in your all-inclusive amenities, and is restocked daily.
5. There is also a balcony included with each room, and there are so many beautiful mountains in Cabo that even if you do not spring for the ocean-view, you will likely get a mountain-view from your balcony.
6. After getting settled, we needed to eat. We hit up one of the lunch buffets…which brings me to the food. The food is okay, edible, but just okay. We were not overly-impressed with any of the on-site restaurants. The emphasis here is definitely on feeding the masses, not necessarily quality. The Steakhouse that is open for dinner is probably the best option at the resort, but still nothing to write home about. No reservation is needed, but we found getting there at 6:30 pm was the best time to arrive to avoid waiting for a table. The views from the Steakhouse are exceptional though. It is oceanfront with beautiful views of the water and the mountains.
7. Let’s talk drinks….the drinks are strong! The bartenders are not shy about the amount of alcohol that gets poured in the cocktails. They fill up about half the cups with alcohol and the other half with whatever you request. The drinks were delicious and plentiful. Tip: Bring a lot of $1’s, because you will get a little faster service when you walk up with tip in hand. However, I never encountered an unreasonably long line even when I forgot my tip money in the room.
8. The views are incredible here. When you walk down to the main pool area, you are greeted with the gorgeous ocean, mountains, and infinity pools. We spent several of our days down at the pool staring at the sea. The drinks, food, pool loungers with umbrellas, and entertainment are plentiful until 6 pm at the pools. They run a tight schedule of entertainment and games at the main pool. Activities range from dance lessons, bingo, water aerobics, water polo (fun to watch or play), and people-watching. There is a wide age range of people to watch. Many 20-somethings in very revealing swimsuits that have had way too much to drink make for an entertaining afternoon to those of us past our prime.
9. The Ocean…getting in the water directly in front of the resort is dangerous. The undertow is no joke! I got carried in a few times, so I do not recommend getting in the water. However, you can take a 5 minute walk down the beach and be safe to swim in the water.
10. The peddlers on the beach are non-stop. You will have SO many people approach you to buy hats, sunglasses, swimsuit cover, and even “party favors” (weed). A simple “no”, and one will leave you alone, but another one will soon follow. If you go down to the Marina, expect it to be even worse. I had to say, “NO”, more times than I can count. I did not let this ruin my experience though. I did partake in a $30 one-hour beach massage, right in front of the resort, which was amazing! I saved over $100 by NOT paying for the beach massage offered through the resort.
11. There are several fitness classes offered in an outdoor pavilion that are great! My sister and I did a yoga class at 9 am that we both very much enjoyed. The instructor was nice and did not go too hard. I don’t exercise often, so I was scared that it might be too hard for me. It was not at all difficult and very relaxing.
12. The parties!!! The hotel offers four themed parties per week. They are definitely worth checking out. I am almost 40 and did not feel out of place at the White Party. I enjoyed dancing and watching the 20-year-olds turn up. The resort dancers, DJ, and other entertainers were incredible! You can check the website before packing to find out what the themes are: https://www.riu.com/en/hotel/mexico/los-cabos/hotel-riu-santa-fe/
13. The Michael Jackson show was wonderful! Granted, as a teacher, I have some moral hesitations about going to see anything related to MJ, but the impersonator was very talented. This was a relaxing, late-night activity that was well worth it.
14. Souvenirs – I found a little shop in the Marina Mall where there was a table of $3 tshirts. I bought 3 shirts. Great deal! Avoid spending more than $10 for a shirt, because there are several places to find them cheaper.

This was a GREAT trip for any teacher or budget traveler. Below is a breakdown on the total cost and a few savvy tips will follow:

Airfare & All-Inclusive for 4 nights: $582.50 per person (this price included a checked bag for 2 of our 4 travelers)

Tip Money (varies): We brought about $30 per person

Ground Transportation: $40 per person

Souvenirs: $9

Total for the entire trip: $662

TIPS:

1. Consider booking during the Summer. Winter is peak-season in Cabo, so Summer rates are cheaper.
2. Spirit Airlines packages are a really affordable option. You do get what you pay for with Spirit sometimes. We got delayed twice on the flight to Cabo, but the flight back was good.
3. Bring $1 bills. There is no need to change any currency in Cabo. Everyone accepts US dollars, and they are worth more, so exchanging your money is not a smart option anyway.
4. Use a transportation company. Navigating through the Timeshare Salesmen in the airport is the worst, and if you have not already arranged your transportation, you will not know who to trust. This company is WONDERFUL: https://www.allwayscabotransportation.com/
5. Bring a large YETI cup. The bartenders will fill it all the way up for you, so you will save yourself trips to the bar, which means you save in time and in tips.
6. It is easy to book excursions on the beach and really affordable. You can get a water taxi to the arches for as little as $12.
7. All taxi rides cost $14 and can be available to you in seconds. The hotel will have one radioed for you at the “Valet” stand. Anywhere that you want to go in Cabo is exactly $14. Uber is available but not allowed to pick you up inside the resort, so you will have to walk out of the resort if Uber is your preference. They are a little cheaper.
8. You can walk to the marina from the resort, but it will take you awhile. It is at least a mile through the sand to get to the marina. We taxied there but walked back. It was a great walk until right before you get to the resort, because the sand becomes a little more course and there is a steep hill that the resort sits on from the sea. It was a workout!
9. Remember, I am a budget traveler. Many of the reviews that you will find about the resort are not great, but I loved it! I don’t expect luxury, so this resort was perfect for Middle-Class people like myself and the three other travelers who were with me. It was a great balance of relaxation and partying that was well within my financial means.