Riu Palace Aruba - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

9538 reviews

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  Beautiful Aruba, but a Disappointing Honeymoon Stay at Riu Palace

  My husband and I booked an all-inclusive trip here for our honeymoon from November 3–10. Our travel agent made sure the resort knew it was our honeymoon ahead of time, but unfortunately, we didn't receive any of the special in-suite accommodations or amenities we were told we would get. The Room & Housekeeping: While the suite itself was nice, the shower leaked badly and flooded the bathroom floor every single time we used it. Housekeeping consistency was also a major headache. Every single day of our week-long stay, we had to call and request basic items. One day we had no washcloths, the next no hand towels, then no coffee, and the following day no drinking water. Gift Shop Experience: The most disappointing part of our stay was the resort gift shop. We went in to find nice outfits for a special dinner after already purchasing family souvenirs. Upon entering, the staff was openly rude—I actually overheard one employee comment to the other that we had "cheap souvenirs." When I requested to try a dress on, I was treated as if I was a major inconvenience to them. We ended up spending well over $300 on our outfits anyway, despite the incredibly impolite service. Dining & Overall Thoughts: On the positive side, the breakfast buffet was great. However, we really didn't care for any of the other restaurants on the property. We absolutely loved Aruba and will definitely be back to the island, but we will not be staying at the Riu Palace again.

  Nov 11, 2026
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  Can’t get a response 😳

  Communications with the hotel are terrible 😣 I have not even arrived and takes 3 days to get a response. The real issue is I booked a Jr suite (elite) that only offers a King bed. The response from the front desk is we will note your request upon arrival. This room only offers a king bed and that is why I paid more. Waiting to hear back again, before I cancel and go to the Divi or some other hotel. The reviews are not good at the Riu and we may not even make to our December trip.

  Nov 06, 2026
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  3/5 at best. Rough around the edges

  Service was around the edges- especially at the Steakhouse restaurant. I want to enjoy this place, but my father and I felt very disrespected by the service/seating at the Steakhouse today, and we have only had adequate service at Japanese and Italian. The male Steakhouse manager refused to answer the question of approximate wait time AND refused to tell us how many would be seated ahead of us…so my handicapped father waited 85 minutes for a table. Passed the point of hunger and annoyed I stomached a terrible striploin served as a “petit filet mignon” and offputing lobster. Buffet isn’t bad thankfully

  Nov 06, 2026
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  Don’t go to the Sportsbook.

  Having a good time overall BUT if you are planning on watching NFL Sunday in the Sportsbook go somewhere else. The casino was overrun by Bingo players, games continuously changed in the middle of games, and then we finally left before our game was over after a casino employee asked us to move because a bingo player couldn’t see the tv we were watching. Not a good atmosphere for a Sportsbook at all. We are here on a 7-day stay. If I would look to book again, I might have second thoughts because of this experience alone.

  Nov 01, 2026
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  10 Days at the RIU

  10 Days at RIU Palace Aruba – Great Staff, but Disappointing When We Needed Help We recently spent 10 days at RIU Palace Aruba, and I wanted to share an honest review, especially for anyone considering the Elite upgrade. ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN Our first impression was excellent! We were greeted immediately, our luggage was handled, and check-in was quick and efficient. Since we arrived early, they held our bags while we enjoyed lunch. The wristbands were surprisingly comfortable, lightweight, and durable throughout our stay. ROOMS & ELITE EXPERIENCE We paid extra for Elite and booked a ground-floor room with a private pool. Our friends booked an Elite ocean-view room, which was significantly more spacious. Our room was private but felt somewhat like an enclosed cubby, without an ocean view. All five of us traveling together agreed that our rooms never cooled down enough, especially at night. FOOD & DRINKS The food was good overall, but The Steakhouse was by far our favorite! We ate there three times, and it was consistently good. The Elite restaurant was fine but nothing exceptional. The buffet was always well stocked and very clean. The upgraded alcohol selection included several brands, with Grey Goose vodka, Bulleit Rye bourbon, and Buffalo Trace bourbon being our favorites. On two of our three Steakhouse visits, a well-dressed individual approached us to ask about our resort experience. I appreciated the attention, although I wondered whether these conversations contributed to the resort's positive reviews. POOLS & ENTERTAINMENT Be prepared for a party atmosphere! Music and activities begin around 10 a.m. and continue until approximately 6 p.m. By noon, the music is LOUD. The staff works hard to keep everything clean and guests entertained. We also visited the adults-only RIU Palace Antillas next door. Its pool was extremely crowded, and the swim-up bar was too busy for my liking. The smaller Elite pool, with its own bar and plenty of shade, was a nice alternative. BEACH & TIPPING Beach palapas are first come, first served. If you want a front-row spot, be prepared to get there around 5 a.m.! Although RIU promotes an all-inclusive experience where tipping isn't necessary, I found that having small bills made a difference in beach service. On one occasion, an attendant arranged two of our five chairs but left the other three stacked for us to set up. Similar experiences happened more than once. I appreciated the policy against bringing restaurant plates onto the beach, which helps keep it clean and reduces birds gathering around guests. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE – MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT Unfortunately, I needed medical attention on a Sunday evening. When I approached the front desk, I was told a doctor would cost $250 and wouldn't be available until the next morning. What disappointed me most wasn't the cost but the complete lack of guidance. No one offered information about where I could seek medical assistance that evening. Fortunately, my husband was able to find the help I needed off the property. For a resort with approximately 932 rooms, I believe there should be better after-hours medical resources or, at minimum, information about where guests can go for assistance. CASINO & EXCURSIONS We enjoyed the small casino at RIU Palace Antillas, which had a mix of older and newer machines and gaming tables. Our favorite experience of the vacation was a three-hour UTV tour with De Palm Tours! Our guide, Reggie, was fantastic. The equipment was excellent, gas was included, and the quoted price covered a two-person UTV rather than being per person. Buy goggles before departure for $10 instead of paying $20 at the stops, especially if you wear contacts! FINAL THOUGHTS – WHY I'M GIVING 3 STARS RIU Palace Aruba is exceptionally clean, and the staff throughout our stay were friendly, hardworking, and wonderful. We genuinely enjoyed many aspects of our vacation. Would I pay extra for Elite status again? Absolutely not. While some amenities were nice, they simply didn't justify the additional cost for us. Even though construction is complete, there is still sharpie construction writing on the walls of our room. 🤣 However, the reason I'm giving this resort 3 stars instead of a higher rating is my experience when I needed medical attention. I understand that a hotel isn't a hospital, and I don't expect front desk employees to provide medical advice. But when a guest needs medical assistance, especially at a resort this large, I believe staff should at least be able to offer some direction about where to seek help. For me, hospitality isn't just about good food, clean rooms, and friendly service when everything is going well. It's also about how guests are treated when something unexpected happens. That experience is ultimately what brought my rating down to 3 stars. RIU Palace Aruba has many wonderful qualities, and I sincerely hope management considers improving the guidance and resources available to guests who need medical assistance, particularly after hours.

  Oct 24, 2026