Well here I am back in Mazatlan. Visited last year and the Riu was still under construction. It's been open since June and here are some of my observations. Located directly on the beach, it's a tall 22 storey resort where every room has an oceanview. Let me correct that, almost all rooms do. The first few floors have views of restaurant pool tops and palm trees, but the remaining rooms are all unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.

Two pools, one for the quiet side of you and the other for the more of the party in you. Lots of loungers by the pool and the beach. Need a drink? there's a trolley service that circles the pool area with a complete selection of drinks that they will mix up for you at your lounge chair, now that's service, or if you need the excercise you can walk or swim to the pool bar.

Dining facilties include an Oriental Restaurant, Mexican restaurant, Steak House where reservations are required. The main buffet restaurant is free seating and no reservations are required. Hotel has a 24 hour sports bar and with internet access $3US for 15 minutes of access, or if you bring your own laptop there's free WIFI in the lobby. There's a Kid's Club, with swings a small climbing wall, indoor activities room with games, pool, water slide, and a mushroom fountain plus kids sized loungers to relax in.

You'll find a long beach great for walking, hard packed sand by the waters edge, gradually giving way to soft golden brown sand. Lots of surfing going on slightly north of the hotel, about a 5 minute walk away on Playa Bruja.

Rooms all have self serve mini bars that are replenished regularly, in addition to the wall mounted liquor dispensers. In addition there are family rooms that hold up to 2 adults & 3 children perfect for those larger families or 2 story duplex rooms holding up to 5 people ( 2 adults & 3 children)

For those of you that need to relax with a good massage, try the Renova Spa or workout in the gym which is adjacent to the spa.

Feel like you need to leave the hotel and head towards the Golden Zone for some shopping or into Pueblo Viejo (the old town). Try the city bus, air-conditioned and it will get you there for 9 pesos or slightly under a dollar, and it stops at the entrance to the hotel. You can also take a taxi and this will cost you roughly $15Us to the old part of town slightly les to the Golden Zone.

Fore more info on Mazatlan read my blog here

Questions? you can email me at [email protected]