Upon entering the lobby of the Riu Palace Las Americas we were very impressed with the elegance of the architecture.  Its as if you are in a old-world European palace complete with the most brilliant marble floors, huge pillars, carved statues, archways, and very large hand-woven Turkish rugs.

Our room was spacious and complete with very nice amenities.  The beds have gorgeous headboards and are quite large.  Families will appreciate this...a good portion of the rooms are set back from the main hallways in pairs.  A door can be closed from the main hallway.  What this means is that you can get two rooms from your family and have them blocked off from the main hallway, in effect having the same thing as a large suite! 

The Riu Palace Las Americas has full use of the Riu Cancun which is adjacent to the property.  However, those staying at the Riu Cancun do not have use of the Riu Palace Las Americas so you do have exclusivity while staying here.  This gives you an even larger array of activities, pools, and restaurants.  If you have children and want them to use the children's club it is located at the Riu Cancun and is just a short walk.

The outdoor and beach areas of the Riu Palace Las Americas are just as palatial as the lobby.  When we first walked out to the pool areas were were amazed by the very Greco-Roman style of the architecture.  The pools and outdoor restaurants were surrounded by pillars and statues. 

Those familiar with Riu resorts will appreciate the many dining options available.  We have wanted to see Riu increase the number of restaurants at their properties and they accomplished this with the Riu Palace Las Americas.  The buffets were excellent and the options varied each day.  Each of the a la carte restaurants served excellent cuisine and the service was equally as superb.  We especially liked the 'Tio Pepe' tapas restaurant.  The outdoor buffet at the east end of the property is a beautiful area to sit and enjoy an incredible view of the Caribbean and Isla Mujeres.  Cruise ships passed by a few times while we dined in this restaurant!

Overall, we found the Riu Palace Las Americas to be an excellent choice for those wanting to be at a more upscale all-inclusive property in the Cancun hotel zone.  The north-zone location is such that you are not in the hustle-bustle of the mid-strip area and yet you are close to the well-known shopping plazas and great night clubs.