Seeing that they have $230-260 rate for 2 people RIU all inclusive on Bookit.com, wondering why they can be so cheap vs other sites? Travelocity is clost to $700.. Just curious. Anyone used Bookit?

Not sure on other hotels but the RIU is notoriously cheap, as they have 700 hotel rooms they can't fill. There are so many beautiful hotels & places to visit in CR, I'd choose somewhere other than the RIU IMO. Their environmental record at that hotel is a disaster.

Don't see any problem with bookit, except that sometimes they book you and cancel; maybe check with tripadvisor or elsewhere for reviews of bookit, then make sure the hotel has your reservation before you book?

Tully, I would agree with you normally. But that price makes is worth considering.

Thanks for suggestions on checking other review.

I used bookit.com for a vacation in Mexico last year - no problems at all. I did purchase trip insurance from a different site because it was a better plan and less expensive. I'd use them again without hesitating.

have used them for a decade personally no complaints
great pricepoints. costarica.bookit.com tabacon.com last
for me save $50/nt like $149for a suite with all day FREE hot
springs admission.

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I think we'll pass on staying in RIU this time but willd definitely price check using Bookit.

ShellD: Can you tell me what site you used for trip insurance?

I usually go to insuremytrip.com and do a comparison of the different policies. They offer a variety and depending on the type of travel (are we renting a car, flying, going on a cruise etc) it will depend on the type we get.

Instead of going through alternate sites and middle men I get the deals directly from the hotels: http://www.costaricabeauty.com/searc...p=1&s=1&d=1And I've never needed trip insurance. There are better options than Riu for better prices and you won't be supporting their destructive environmental record.

Instead of going through alternate sites and middle men I get the deals directly from the hotels: http://www.costaricabeauty.com/searc...q=&p=1&s=1&d=1

And I've never needed trip insurance. There are better options than Riu for better prices and you won't be supporting their destructive environmental record.

So what pray tell is RIU?

I didn't think we'd ever need trip insurance, but you just don't know. Last year when there was the fire at MIA airport, our flight was delayed causing us an extra night hotel at our own expense and then having to cancel our original flights and rebook on a different airline. The difference in price was out of our pocket. We were going on a cruise so we had to be in Miami before the ship left so the timing to be there was important. Trip insurance reimbursed us the full cost of all of our additional expenses, including the meals for the additional night we had in the hotel.

Also, my parents have had to put a claim in for a trip they had paid for in full, but then had to cancel when my mom found out she had to have an unexpected emergency surgery just prior to the trip.

I've learned it's better to pay the relatively small amount of insurance as compared to the price of the vacation, rather than lose money in the end and not have it.

Deb, it's a popular hotel.

Deb it's a 700 room behemoth, an AI, far from much of CR offers. To build this eyesore, they tore up mangroves, put in a fake beach, caused major environmental damage and ripped up pretty much of what wildlife would need to thrive in the area.

But what is the the full name...doesn't sound like it's my type of place either.

Riu is the full name of the resorts. There are Riu resorts all over...not just Costa Rica.
http://www.riu.com/en//home.jsp

Thanks schmerl...I'm not familiar with that group.

For trip insurance info and price/policy comparisons, check out www.insuremytrip.com.