After primarily staying at Secrets all inclusive in the past, we decided to change things up and stay at RIU. It was definitely a more affordable option and while the facility was very nice, and the service was decent to good, we probably won't prioritize returning. Overall, it was an acceptable experience.
The service at the front desk and from the bellhops was good. Most of the staff were friendly, although there was a noticeable percentage who seemed to be just going through the motions and didn't appear overly thrilled to be there.
There were plenty of beach chairs available and there were very few vendors, unlike some places where they are literally lined up along the shore.
Although we didn't participate in the pool exercise/dance, we were impressed by the instructors. They put a lot of energy into their work! The bartenders at the swim-up bar also seemed to genuinely enjoy their job. We came in from the beach to grab a drink at a nearby bar and noticed how much fun they were having, so we ended up staying for a while to watch them mix drinks and joke around with the guests.