Riu - Riu Palace Antillas
Aruba, ArubaAdults only
Guests consistently praise Service and Beach; Check-In Experience gets mixed reviews. Weak spot: No kids club or kids programming.
- 482 rooms
- Airport: AUA
Resort facts & overview
- Location
- Aruba, Aruba
- Audience
- Adults only
- Brand
- Independent
- Rooms
- 482
- Dining listed
- -
- Airport
- AUA
Riu - Riu Palace Antillas — adults only all-inclusive in Aruba, Aruba. Detailed editorial coming soon.
Food & drink
MixedFood is the resort's weakest link: the buffet has variety and the Italian and steakhouse pull their weight, but à la carte portions are small, menus rotate little, and low-quality complaints are frequent.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Italian venue called out for chicken parm and lasagna
- Buffet variety solid at breakfast and lunch
- Strong, well-poured drinks at most bars
- Steakhouse is the standout à la carte
Heads up
- Small portions at specialty restaurants
- Same burger/hot dog menu at pool daily
- Bottom-shelf liquor complaints
- Reports of guests getting sick
Dining details coming soon.
Beach
StandoutThe beach is the headline reason to book: soft white sand, clear turquoise water, no rocks or seaweed, and comfortable loungers on Palm Beach's best stretch.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Classic Aruba turquoise water
- Soft, clean white sand
- Comfortable beach chairs
- No sargassum or rocks
Heads up
- Beach service staffing feels thin
- Some areas left dirty by guests
Detailed beach reporting coming soon.
Pools
StrongPools are a genuine strength with a lively main pool bar, an Elite Club adults enclave, and bartenders who bring energy; just don't expect swimming after dark.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Pool bar staff sing, dance, and remember names
- Separate Elite Club pool for quieter days
- Swim-up bar in play
- Strong drinks poured at pool
Heads up
- Pool closes surprisingly early
- Repetitive poolside food menu
- Chair availability tight on busy days
What’s included
MixedPriced like a luxury property but delivering a solid four-star at best, with dated finishes, tired hallways, and food that doesn't justify the Aruba premium unless the beach alone is your target.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Beach and location genuinely premium
- Elite Club upgrade adds real perks
- Repeat guests say worth it for Aruba
Heads up
- Priced above comparable Riu properties
- Bottom-shelf liquor for the rate
- Dated decor, worn carpets, slow elevators
- Food quality lags the price tag
Package inclusions and upgrade access have not been collected yet. Confirm them for your room and dates when booking.
Amenities & activities
Couples
Good fitAn adults-only setup that clicks for honeymooners and anniversary trips when service lands right, though inconsistent front-desk treatment and occasional kids on property temper the romance.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Honeymooners treated like royalty
- Adults-only pool and beach zones
- Walkable to Palm Beach nightlife
- Repeat anniversary guests
Heads up
- Kids sometimes present despite adults-only billing
- Rude front-desk encounters reported
- Weak evening entertainment for date-night energy
Families
Not a fitMarketed as adults-only but kids do turn up, and a few families report happy multi-generational stays; still, there's no kids club, no kids menus, and it isn't built for children.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Family of 8 had a great time
- Beach is safe and calm for all ages
- Walkable to family-friendly Palm Beach
Heads up
- No kids club or kids programming
- Adults-only branding conflicts with kid presence
- No children's menu at pool or restaurants
Peace & Quiet
StrongThe vibe leans low-key rather than party, which pleases some and bores others: expect a mellow pool scene, thin evening entertainment, and the occasional Friday party as the loudest it gets.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Massive property with almost-private feel
- Elite Club pool is a relaxing enclave
- No foam-party rowdiness
Heads up
- Daytime pool activities described as boring
- Underwhelming nightly entertainment
- Pool closes early for an adults resort
What guests say
High confidence426 reviews · through Oct 2026
Read all reviews on TripAdvisor ↗Google ↗
Consistently praised
Recurring complaints
Watch-outs (recent)
Best suited for
What past guests say
“The hotel is very good. The only downside is that the floor around the pool is slippery, and when it's wet, which is normal around pools, you have to walk very carefully.”
★★★★★
“It was a nice experience- location was great. Service was OKAY, the hallways had a weird smell and the buffet was OKAY, disappointed at the limited options and hours. The hotel's restaurants dont accept reservations, so you have to stand on line to get in or wait hours. The pools also closed at 7pm which was super early in my opinion.”
★★★☆☆
“Damp/Mildew Smell In Rooms, Terrible HVAC, Waste of "Elite" Upgrade & Poor Service I genuinely wish someone had posted an honest review before I booked so I could have chosen a different resort. Knowing what I know now, I would have never stayed here. 1. SEVERE MILDEW & DAMP ROOMS (BIGGEST ISSUE): The worst part of our stay was the overwhelming mildew smell on the guest room floors (especially the 17th & 18th floors). All of the people in my group had the same issue so this is a Hotel wide...”
★★☆☆☆
“Food was terrible ! Staff were fantastic. You don’t get drinks brought to you on the beach resort very dated. Kristal restaurant was fantastic Italian disgusting. We ate out most nights. Buffet very basic. Would not come back.”
★★☆☆☆
★★★★★
Latest reviews from Tripadvisor
Loaded live from Tripadvisor when you ask — the newest reviews and the current rating.
Read all reviews on Google (4,511) ↗
Videos
Hotel Riu Palace Antillas Aruba, Adult's only | (HONEST Review & Tour)
Aruba All Inclusive Honeymoon: RIU Palace Antillas Resort Tour w/ Renovated Rooms
🔥 Hotel Riu Palace Antillas Aruba 🇦🇼 COMPLETE TOUR🏝️ | Beach, Food & Rooms Review 🍹✨
Ask Rosie
Have a specific question about Riu - Riu Palace Antillas?
Rosie answers from this resort’s guest reviews and our research — with quotes.
Know before you book
- Beach service staffing feels thin
- Some areas left dirty by guests
- Small portions at specialty restaurants
- Same burger/hot dog menu at pool daily
What you should know
What to Know
Restaurants are first-come, first-served with no reservations, so plan to queue an hour before opening for the steakhouse; the property is dated in spots and the elevators are a running joke.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Walkable to Palm Beach shops, dining, nightlife
- Elite Club package unlocks better bars and breakfast
- Off-season (May to Nov) means smaller crowds
- Palm Beach area feels safe at night
Heads up
- No dinner reservations, expect long restaurant lines
- Elevators slow and frequently out of service
- Key cards deactivate repeatedly
- Hallway carpets smell musty on some floors
- Ocean view and ocean front are not the same category
All photos
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Tripadvisor
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What we know
Everything below comes from data we collected: here's the inventory for this resort.Updated August 2026- Photos
- 5
- Review excerpts
- 20
- Dining venues
- Not yet collected
- Menus
- Not yet collected
- Room categories
- Not yet collected
- Videos
- 3
- Editorial lenses
- 8
We aggregate. We don't trap. Verify on any of these:
Where this data comes from
We tell you what we know, and what we don't.
- Last updated
- August 24, 2026
- Sources
- Google PlacesDirect resort media
- Completeness
- 50%
Source collection snapshot
These collection totals can differ from the items available on this page. Video totals include screened results; the inventory above counts published tours.
- 5 photos
- 24 videos
Still verifying dining, menus, rooms. If something looks thin, ask Rosie or ask our booking team and they can usually fill in the gaps.