Riu Palace Aruba - All Inclusive

Great food all around and staff were generally friendly. The beach is beautiful and staff are typically attentive. An entire building was shut down and under renovation, with periodic jackhammering, sawing and other related noise right beside the main pool. There was dust and debris as well. We weren’t made aware of these renovations until it was too late to make alternative arrangements. Additionally, the resort is very dated and rooms are full of condensation, which makes tile slippery. Wait times at Milano’s restaurant were unacceptable. We arrived 15 minutes after doors opened (first come first serve) and were made to wait nearly 2 hours. I don’t think I’d come back for what we were charged.

This Riu Palace property is in the midst of a major renovation so I was nervous about staying here. I will say that it is in a nice location as it is walking distance to bars, restaurants, etc. Also, its on the beach which was very nice. However, even though our room was in the newer construction building the elevators kept skipping floors and lurching (very scary!) so much so we gave up and took the stairs for the last 2 days of our stay. Thank goodness we were only on the 3rd floor. The food was mediocre (especially the vegetarian offerings). The gym was closed so we had to use the smaller Riu Antillas gym which was crowded because guests of that hotel were using it as well. Our shower only got hot twice during our stay and did not drain properly as water backed up covering our feet. We came back to the room one day after breakfast and the ceiling vent had fallen out and was on the floor. Our television had one channel that was stuck on the same frozen picture the entire stay and we were only able to find two other working channels. We also saw several roaches on the ground floors and in stairwell and one of our friends saw one in their room! The staff was lovely and friendly. However, I think the Riu Palace needs a little more work and TLC before I would stay here again or recommend to other travelers coming to Aruba.

Great location! If you choose to go off the resort there are many restaurants within walking distance. Really good shopping thats affordable. Our all-inclusive was a good deal. The buffet was much better than the restaurants on resort with a plethora of options. Beach was fantastic although if you didnt get up teally early you may not get a set up in the shade. Many people would.throw their towels on chairs by the pool.or on the beach area and would.go eat breakfast etc., emsuring they had best locations. Pool was good.

There should be more restrooms available within the resort.

Yes, everything was perfect, except the noise and construction dust - because they renovate the main building & we had the room & balcony very near to the main site, so it was realy loud & often dusty during our vacation! The most beautiful is always the water, beach, also the pool & the arounds are very clean We were in Riu Palace for the 3rd time & like the stay very much!!! Hope the next time will be without any noise, dust & any renovations!!!

Originally our room was on floor 0 however we requested to move by second day as that room was musty smelling. RIU happily accommodated our move up to floor 9. We had a pool view with oven view. Most rooms appear to have oven view as the buildings are spread apart well. Thank you RIU. The main building is being renovated as is part of another building however that did not impede our enjoyment of the property. Milano and Krystal specialty restaurants were our favorites. The Asian one was not. We easily secured a table during the second seating. Buffet had very broad offerings for breakfast. Hidden gem was the newer sports bar at the end overlooking the beach. We arrived Sunday and were able to watch both NASCAR and the Broncos game. I was surprised. Each morning we were down at the beach securing loungers under Palapa’s by about 7:45. They fill up pretty quick. Poolside bar was quick and efficient and the bartenders were very cheerful. We used the Renova Spa at the adults only RIU next door as the spa at our “family” resort was being renovated. I’d highly recommend as the value is much better there in Aruba compared to Jamaica or Mexico based on my opinion. Note even though we were on the “family” side we were never bothered by kids and we could use the adults only amenities as well. Overall good value for our first trip to Aruba.

Very nice but with the renovation going on access to elevators was limited. Specialty restaurants were limited with their menus! The staff was excellent!

I was very surprised to learn that on the second day of my vacation we were told that we had to move to the new building. The elevator didn’t work , water was turned off and the a/c didn’t work. That situation was ongoing up to the time of my departure. The food was good and there was plenty of activities.

All the hotel staff including the reception, restaurants, entertainment and maintenance employees were very nice. The pool and beach were great, although the jacuzzi was not working. The room was perfect and always kept clean. The food could have been better and the drinks can use a bigger cup. The elevator was not working and several people some with kids got stuck in it for up to 30 minutes; that was not acceptable for a Riu. Lots of construction going on in the hotel and the surroundings but it was not a huge burden. The location is very convenient. Overall we had a good time.

The property is spotless, service is magnificent, food is excellent, with lots of choices if you’re using buffet, there’s also choices of restaurants if you prefer with reservations for dinner only. The beach is magnificent, but needs more umbrellas for all the guests, otherwise you need to get up early to get an umbrella .

Big beautiful resort. So much good quality food. We overate every single day. The options were endless. The beach was stunning, pools were comfortable. Long walks along the beach across each resort. Very happy we chose riu. This may be the best all inclusive we have stayed at. Rooms were clean. Staff was friendly. Aruba was a dream.

I like the location of property. Beach is beautiful and well maintained. Room service also delivered birthday cake since it was my birthday so that was very nice. The drinks and snacks throughout hotel were great and the waitstaff were extremely polite. The room cleanliness is not great. Our room smelled very musty, we found dead bugs in bed and the shower was not draining. I called reception to get shower repaired and was told they would be in room shortly. I left for dinner and came back 4 hours later and still not repaired. I called again and was told someone would come next day. We also tried changing rooms but were told we couldn’t do so until 2 days later. All restaurants were closed from 3-5 so our only option was room service, which took over an hour.

Clean everywhere, friendly staff, great food, great location on the beach and walking distance to town

The staff were very friendly and helpful. The cleanliness was outstanding and the food was amazing. Planning another trip to go back in December

We were in room 1224 and as soon as we stepped into the room it had a very bad smell. And it looked like the room was never vacuumed because there was a bottle cap and pieces of tags on the floor. When we walked into the bathroom the smell was a lot worse and we found out that it was all the black mold in the shower and right outside it. It was in the drain in the shower too and it was not draining properly. When I took a shower I was in a puddle. We called down to the desk and told them about it and they said they would send someone up. I'm not sure they did because nothing was ever done. The next day, I went down to the desk again to complain about the bad smell of black mold. It is very dangerous to be breathing that in and there was no getting away from it in the room. They ended up sending some guys up to take a look at it and all they did was spray it. The spray smelled nice while it lasted but then the bad smell came back. You can't just scrub black mold up. You need to use bleach and wear a mask while doing it and I'm not sure they understood what I was saying because they didn't speak any English. So the next day we complained again and they asked if we wanted to switch rooms and we said we would prefer not to since we were half way through our vacation as it was. Nothing ended up being done with the mold spores. Another issue was the tv. It was snowy at times and would turn back on after turning off. I loved the balcony though!

A property that is under construction should have either told people before they book it or not even open it. All we heard was drilling and hammering instead of the ocean and nature. As far as cleanliness, We had to change room because the first one was literally like a dirty motel. Then the other one was just ok. The blinds were dirty and the mirror was so old it was stained from within. Then we heard from other guests that they also had to change rooms because the first one they had had a dirty bathroom

Our room was very disgusting mold covered everything we ask for a new room. The new room was just as bad if not worse, black mold everywhere on the pictures on the wall on the fixtures on the wall, along all the molding in the room the worst part it covered the entire mattress The scariest part of all is they continue to rent these rooms out in that condition

Everything Was beautiful, rooms , facilities , food was amazing, pool and beach, entertainment, most wonderful place would love to come back.

I am not the one to write a review, nor have I ever written a review, but I had too after spending $3,500 for not even a week. This was our first trip to Aruba and may be our last. We arrived and were greeted by great staff. When we got to our room, there was an overwhelming smell of mildew and the furniture was very old/outdated and stained. The tub drain was broken and the parts were left inside the tub. The room was dirty and still had hair on the floor in the bathroom from the previous customer. We had an issue with a light blinking in our room, which was taken care of very quickly, but they left a mess on the floor where the light was changed. Regarding the resturaunts, the buffet food was OK, but the outdoor seating had flies and birds everywhere. You CANNOT make reservations at the specialty dining resturaunts. You must go there before they open and stand in line with your entire party or you cannot eat there. Most of the beach chairs were broken, and forget about actually trying to find a spot to sit. Many mornings, all the chairs at the pool and beach were claimed by someone leaving their towel on them and not returning. Overall, Riu needs to update and catch up with the resorts around them. My wife and I walked down the beach and walkway to see the other resorts which were more up to date and would have rather spent a little more to not have that experience.

We had a really amazing experience with RIU Palace! Great pools and beaches, nice and really helpful staff, clean property, great food, incredible view!

Quartos novos

I enjoyed my stay overall. The food was good with a nice variety of options to choose from. The view of the ocean was beautiful, and the pool area was very nice and relaxing. The room was a bit outdated, and the floors were quite slippery, which was a little concerning. Still, a pleasant experience overall.

I recently stayed at the Riu Palace Aruba and overall, I would consider my experience average. The rooms were very spacious, which I loved, but the furniture felt a bit outdated. The hotel itself was extremely clean, and the location is one of its biggest strengths, it’s right next to most of the popular party spots and the busy beach area. You can easily walk, rent an e-scooter right out front, or take a taxi for about $15 USD. If you’re able to walk, I definitely recommend it to explore the area. As far as food, I can only speak on breakfast and the American Country Sports Bar since I did excursions during lunch and dinner and also had a birthday dinner off-site. The food I did try was just okay. The sports bar has very limited seating and they don’t allow take-out, so you may end up waiting for a spot. Room service was another downside. The menu was very limited with not much variety compared to other all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed at. I also wasn’t greeted with a welcome drink or offered help with my bags, although I noticed the group behind me received that service, which felt inconsistent. Overall, despite a few inconveniences, the stay wasn’t bad. The location and cleanliness were the highlights, but the food variety, room service, and small service inconsistencies kept it from being great.

Room are very outdated. Not the cleanest but the beach area is beautiful. Buffet restaurant doesn’t let you take out food because of “ sanitary” reasons. It would have been nice to go up to my room and eat on my balcony with the ocean view.

Our room was on the eighth floor and had a very large balcony overlooking the ocean and the adjoining property. It was clean, well stocked, and just beautiful. The staff was very friendly and quick to accommodate any requests. We ALWAYS love RIU!!

Good room, good staff. The air conditioning didn’t work that well.

Air conditioning in room was broke and after being pointed out was never fixed

Great beach access, good food options, rooms could use a refresh.

The Riu Palace was recommended by two family members who visited in the past. I traveled with my husband and toddler this October. Upon arrival we were confused as to why there was not a working elevator in the Lobby. We later found out that the hotel is doing renovations. Although we were not disturbed by any loud construction, the layout of the hotel is extremely inconvenient with a child. Service is slow. Buffet is great. A la carte restaurants were ok but repetitive, they need more variety. We stayed in the “old” building and it is fair to say the rooms were a 2 to 3 star at most. NO samples for soap, shampoo etc, were provided. Getting a hold of the lobby for missing towels took several attempts and the service is super delayed. Not only is decor very outdated but the rooms have a really strange card detection system and horrible AC ventilation. The room felt very damp and cold the entire trip. This hotel claims to be family friendly but the music from a private wedding events AND their shows every night was extremely loud. I had to complain many times to notice a slight improvement. This made it impossible for my child to sleep. The cribs are OLD, hard and tiny. There are just two showers on the beach for hundreds of tourists visiting this resort. They are going to have to make MAJOR improvements for us to return. Management pretends to ask you how your experience is going, but it seems very rehearsed. This was no where near a 5 star experience but Aruba is beautiful!!

The property needs to be updated. Our room smelled like mold or mildew and was very damp.

Foram dias incríveis de férias no Riu Aruba. Check in rápido e eficiente, funcionários prestativos e atenciosos, hotel limpo e organizado, praia linda e maravilhosa na frente do hotel, realmente pé na areia. Quarto amplo e confortável. Dias leves e de muito descanso. Voltaremos em breve!

The facility was immaculate. The food was better than other “all inclusive” resorts I have visited. Unfortunately- the service was not very attentive. I had tried making room to room, room service and front desk several times and no one answered but a recording of a Spanish message that I had no idea what it was saying. It was very frustrating and almost feel as though they couldn’t be bothered once I told them. Their answer “ the phone is broken” SERIOUSLY!! In addition the idea of having to wake up at 7am or before just to put a towel onto a lounge so that you have your “spot” for the day is absolutely absurd. However- the cleanliness an location of this resort made up for all the frustration.

The staff was fantastic; from the bellhops at the front desk to the girl in the towel hut. Room was comfortable and clean. Housekeeping responded to our every request. Food was good with a variety each day. Only disappointment was the evening entertainment, needed more variety.

The staff was incredible!

I went to this RIU with high expectations since I recently came back from the one in Bahamas. This fell way short. It’s really the customer service. The check in process was horrible. I came in early around 1 and they said it was too early come back at 3. That wasn’t a problem until I came back at 3 and it was a whole group of people. I waited on line for 45 min and there were only 3 people in front of me. And when I got to the front, the lady left so I’m there standing there waiting now for someone to come back and give me my room. Luckily the second person I was with went to another line and a non front desk person found that our keys were already ready and gave it to us. Also they are doing construction, I wasn’t aware of that before booking. Rooms are definitely in need of update. Screws/knobs falling out, AC barely worked. And the food was sub par, the breakfast was the best. Lastly, it was my birthday and i was looking planning to go to the steakhouse specialty restaurant. I go there and it’s closed for a wedding. No one informed us ahead of time, I’m sure this wedding was planned in advance. Some positives were the entertainment, beach, and bar service. They really made my experience. And they also sent me a slice of birthday cake for my birthday which was really nice.

The hotel room was dirty, tv was staticky and impossible to see, room service only offered salad and sandwiches, alcohol was watered down, dinner was terrible. Staff seemed to be either really helpful or completely rude, especially the towel guys by the pool. I paid for an excursion (jet skiing) the instructor never showed up and I was left standing there. Restaurants were never available!! This is not what I was expecting staying at the Riu. I guess the good name and standards that Riu once held is no longer accurate and just another bad resort with a good name.

Our family had a great time and the manage Junior was very helpful

This is a great place to stay, views are nice, it's quiet and the staff were friendly yet professional. Loved my stay here and would book again.

Staff was very professional and courteous. Food was good. When we arrived, we were assigned to the old building. Many issues with the rooms we were assigned to. My mother was stuck in her room with no working phone to call for maintenance until we arrived to help get her out. When maintenance arrived, she was told there was a broken door hinge. Air conditioner was only operating with the fan. No cool air. Rooms were humid and damp. Couldn't wait to be reassigned the next day. Had many issues with the move from the old building to new building. Very poorly managed. Despite reaching out to the hotel prior to arriving, and being assured that we would not be affected by the renovations, we did have to move the day after we arrived. Day of the move the elevators to the new building were not working. Some customers were actually carrying their suitcases on their shoulders up the staircase. We did not have that option as I traveled with my 84 year old mother and aunt. We had to wait until the elevators were fixed. Needless to say the line was very long as many of us relied on one working elevator. The newly renovated rooms are beautiful, however the shower door in some rooms have a gap at the bottom. After showering, water ran out to the sink and close to the toilet. On vacation we had to clean up water on the floor after each shower. Last two days, water was turned off to the rooms for periods of time. Communication of the issues was by word of mouth. We all expected better!

The property is clean, the staff is friendly and eager to please you. We loved having martinis at the Bon Bini bar after dinner. Wonderful stay at beautiful RIU Palace Aruba.

Foram dias incríveis de férias no Riu Aruba. Check in rápido e eficiente, funcionários prestativos e atenciosos, hotel limpo e organizado, praia linda e maravilhosa na frente do hotel, realmente pé na areia. Quarto amplo e confortável. Dias leves e de muito descanso. Voltaremos em breve!

RIU Palace Aruba was the perfect getaway! The staff was wonderful from time we got there until time we left. We had a partial ocean view room that gave us a great view of sunset! Room was very clean and mini-fridge was always stocked. If you go hungry, it’s your own fault. There was a good variety of food and drinks, and we didn’t have to wait to get into the theme restaurants. There is plenty of entertainment if you’re up for it, or you can relax and do your own thing. Just what we needed! I highly recommend RIU Palace.

Probably my favorite property. Absolutely beautiful location. I highly recommend.

Beautiful view of the water from our room. Nice friendly staff. Easy walk to many restaurants, bars, entertainment and shopping area.

Clean everywhere, friendly staff, great food, great location on the beach and walking distance to town

I recently stayed at the Riu Palace Aruba and overall, I would consider my experience average. The rooms were very spacious, which I loved, but the furniture felt a bit outdated. The hotel itself was extremely clean, and the location is one of its biggest strengths, it’s right next to most of the popular party spots and the busy beach area. You can easily walk, rent an e-scooter right out front, or take a taxi for about $15 USD. If you’re able to walk, I definitely recommend it to explore the area. As far as food, I can only speak on breakfast and the American Country Sports Bar since I did excursions during lunch and dinner and also had a birthday dinner off-site. The food I did try was just okay. The sports bar has very limited seating and they don’t allow take-out, so you may end up waiting for a spot. Room service was another downside. The menu was very limited with not much variety compared to other all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed at. I also wasn’t greeted with a welcome drink or offered help with my bags, although I noticed the group behind me received that service, which felt inconsistent. Overall, despite a few inconveniences, the stay wasn’t bad. The location and cleanliness were the highlights, but the food variety, room service, and small service inconsistencies kept it from being great.

My husband and I have stayed at The Riu Palace in Aruba 3 times thus far!! We love the convenience of walking to the shops and restaurants available in the area. We also love visiting the butterfly farm within walking distance from hotel. Overall this all inclusive resort is well worth the money- would highly recommend!

Great place to stay with amazing staff, close access to the beach and an easy drive to baby beach and downtown with enterprise car rental in the lobby. Only critique would be the food - good variety but I felt they could do better with their selection in chicken dishes and catering to other ethnicities ex. Indian, Mexican, Greek etc.

Property in a great location for walking and view of ocean. Staff were always accommodating. It would have been a more positive experience if we were made aware of the fact that the property is going through some upgrades/renovations and it was a little noisier than a normal RIU property that we have stayed in before was.

The convenience of the location of Riu Palace was awesome. Everything we needed was right there within walking distance. Restaurants, shopping, Casinos were all within a short walk. The property was kept very clean and well manicured. The roomwe stayed in was fairly clean but needed some minor upgrades. For example, the light fixtures on the wall were pretty oxidized and the metal was peeling I am guessing from the salt water, but wasn't a huge deal. We did have one instance where we lost power and air conditioning in our room for a short time. I called the fron desk and they said someone would be right up, but they never came. Luckily, next to the mini bar, there was a fuse panel and I found the blown fuse, reset it, and we never had another issue. The Wifi is very sporatic and I could see the modem turn on and off multiple times per day, and night up on the wall where it was located. The food at the buffet is good and has something for everyone. If you want to get into the restaurants on site, go early or you won't get in, as they are small and only offer 2 seating per night in which we've seen a lot of guests that were discouraged by this. We went out and had dinner in town when this happened to us 1 night. The satff was very friendly and accomodating. If you want a hut down by the beach, get there early or you won't get 1! They had entertainment every night and the drinks were endless! We had a great time during our stay overall and would go back again without a doubt.

Restaurants need reservations or additional seating/staff.

Big beautiful resort. So much good quality food. We overate every single day. The options were endless. The beach was stunning, pools were comfortable. Long walks along the beach across each resort. Very happy we chose riu. This may be the best all inclusive we have stayed at. Rooms were clean. Staff was friendly. Aruba was a dream.

Requested late check out but not honored. Not much options for vegetarians. They should have reservations for restaurants but it is first come first serve. Not many relaxing launge setting

hotel was nice...nicer than other RIU's I have been to. was not pleased with specialty dining ....website spoke of 4 but only 2 were available and seating was filled early..leaving buffet as only option....which did not provide a lot of non-beef/seafood options. food could be better

Great food all around and staff were generally friendly. The beach is beautiful and staff are typically attentive. An entire building was shut down and under renovation, with periodic jackhammering, sawing and other related noise right beside the main pool. There was dust and debris as well. We weren’t made aware of these renovations until it was too late to make alternative arrangements. Additionally, the resort is very dated and rooms are full of condensation, which makes tile slippery. Wait times at Milano’s restaurant were unacceptable. We arrived 15 minutes after doors opened (first come first serve) and were made to wait nearly 2 hours. I don’t think I’d come back for what we were charged.

Overall food quality was 9 out of 10. Themed restaurants food quality - 10. Service was excellent. Great location to “downtown” restaurants bars and shopping. Our only negative about the property was mold in / around ceilings, especially the bathrooms. We will be back.

À la carte booking process is not efficient and extremely frustrating. Food at the À la Catre was a 2/10 at best So add service was hit and miss Food overall even at the buffets were okay.

We booked at the Riu Palace Aruba family area but they moved us to the adult property which is the Riu Antillas. Ala Carte restaurants were packed and long lines before they open for dinner. Some are not accepting 2nd batch of guests after first batch in line were seated. We ended up eating at the buffet in our entire 4 nights of stay except for one. We didnt get waht we paid for. No enough staff to serve at the pool and beach side for beverages unlike other Resorts. Staff are nice though and Aruba Island is beautiful. Wont go back to this resort unless they make changes.

Elevator was always broken or didn't work properly. Not enough elevators to accommodate all of the guests. Staff won't tell you what specials will be in the buffet restaurant. Italian selections subpar, Italian sauces were horrible. No creamers in bedroom for coffee machine. Staff can't explain the beeper system and reservation system for the specialty restaurants. Alcohol selection was low quality.

The Riu Palace was recommended by two family members who visited in the past. I traveled with my husband and toddler this October. Upon arrival we were confused as to why there was not a working elevator in the Lobby. We later found out that the hotel is doing renovations. Although we were not disturbed by any loud construction, the layout of the hotel is extremely inconvenient with a child. Service is slow. Buffet is great. A la carte restaurants were ok but repetitive, they need more variety. We stayed in the “old” building and it is fair to say the rooms were a 2 to 3 star at most. NO samples for soap, shampoo etc, were provided. Getting a hold of the lobby for missing towels took several attempts and the service is super delayed. Not only is decor very outdated but the rooms have a really strange card detection system and horrible AC ventilation. The room felt very damp and cold the entire trip. This hotel claims to be family friendly but the music from a private wedding events AND their shows every night was extremely loud. I had to complain many times to notice a slight improvement. This made it impossible for my child to sleep. The cribs are OLD, hard and tiny. There are just two showers on the beach for hundreds of tourists visiting this resort. They are going to have to make MAJOR improvements for us to return. Management pretends to ask you how your experience is going, but it seems very rehearsed. This was no where near a 5 star experience but Aruba is beautiful!!