RIU FLAMINGOS, Nuevo Vallarta

The hotel sits directly on a wide, sandy beach with strong waves suitable for swimming. Nuevo Vallarta North Beach is a 6-minute walk away. The nearby town of Bucerias - with its markets, restaurants and authentic Mexican atmosphere - is an 8-minute Uber ride or a walkable 30 minutes along the beach or a paved coastal path. Aquaventuras Park is 8 km away, and Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport is 12 km from the resort. The area is a gated resort corridor with security checkpoints, making it very quiet and safe for walking, but there are no shops or restaurants immediately outside the hotel entrance. Public transport (Uber, taxis) is readily available. Free on-site parking is available for guests arriving by car.

Rooms are available as double rooms (one king bed) and family rooms (two double beds or two sofa beds, sleeping up to four). All rooms feature air conditioning, a private bathroom with shower and hairdryer, a mini-bar stocked with soft drinks, beer and bottled water, a coffee machine, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box and a balcony. Some rooms have been noted as having beds that feel firm. The bathroom layout has a translucent glass partition for the shower area without a full door, reducing privacy during use. Rooms at the far ends of the building require significant walking, as the only elevators are located centrally. The building has a lift and non-smoking rooms are available. Family rooms can be adjoined if booked as a set. The overall room atmosphere is modern and clean post-renovation.

The main buffet (Chipotle) serves American, Italian, Mexican, Asian and international cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes local specialties, fresh pastries and made-to-order omelettes. Six speciality restaurants are available: Agave (Mexican, buffet), Sakura (Asian, buffet), Duomo (Italian, mix of buffet and menu-order), Steak House (menu-order), American Country (menu-order) and Pepe's Food - Grill and Tiki Taco - Taquería (lunch only). The speciality restaurants do not accept reservations and queues begin forming up to an hour before opening. The steakhouse has been mentioned as offering a rushed service. The late-night sports bar offers only microwavable hot dogs and burgers. There are also poolside snack bars serving tacos, nachos, fries, burgers and hot dogs, and the main buffet area has an outdoor section. Coffee bars with espresso machines are available in the lobby and near the beach snack bar.

The resort offers six outdoor pools, all open year-round. Pools 1-4 are general swimming pools with pool bars (swim-up bar in Pool 1), while Pools 5 and 6 are dedicated children's pools with water slides. Pool towels are available with a check-in/check-out system. The large main pool hosts daily activities such as water aerobics, water polo and volleyball. There is no adult-only pool and no hot tub. Pools close at 19:00. The fitness centre is free and includes basic equipment; a larger gym is available at the sister property Riu Vallarta. Spa/wellness packages are available (massage chairs and beach massages) but the on-site spa has been noted as only offering massage services and not a full spa facility. Entertainment staff organise kids' club activities (RiuLand), evening shows (Michael Jackson, Mexican fiestas) and live music. A nightclub (Pacha) is open until 02:00. The free-form pools include a 'display pool' in the central courtyard.

The property offers free Wi-Fi in all areas. Free public parking is available on site without reservation. A 24-hour front desk provides check-in and check-out services, and an ATM/cash machine is on site. Daily housekeeping is provided; mini-bar restocking may require a call. A laundry service is available for an additional charge. Facilities for disabled guests include wheelchair-accessible infrastructure (toilet with grab rails, step-free access) and a lift. Luggage storage is available. A barber/beauty shop is on site. The check-in process is smooth, and the Riu Class membership programme provides a 10% discount on online bookings and free airport shuttle for members. Accepted payment methods are American Express, Visa and MasterCard.