Riu - Riu Palace Aruba
Aruba, ArubaAll travelers
Guests praise the unlimited top‑shelf spirits, in‑room liquor dispenser, walkable Palm Beach location, and on‑site casino and entertainment options
- 450 rooms
Resort facts & overview
- Location
- Aruba, Aruba
- Audience
- All travelers
- Brand
- Independent
- Rooms
- 450
- Dining listed
- -
Why travelers love it
Guests praise the unlimited top‑shelf spirits, in‑room liquor dispenser, walkable Palm Beach location, and on‑site casino and entertainment options
Food & drink
StrongBuffet is the star with constant replenishment and fresh variety, including surprises like sushi-grade tuna; specialty restaurants are good but hobbled by a no-reservations policy that forces hour-long lines.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Buffet consistently fresh and varied
- Krystal and Milano specialty spots deliver
- Sports Bar and Japanese well-reviewed
- Cappuccino bar and mudslides a hit
Heads up
- No reservations at specialty restaurants means long waits
- Popular buffet items slow to refill
- Limited vegetarian options
- Repetitive after several days
Dining overview
The resort includes a buffet restaurant and four a la carte venues (fusion, Japanese, Italian, steakhouse) all included. Reservations required for a la carte dinner; dress codes enforced
Beach
StandoutPalm Beach out front is the resort's crown jewel: soft sand, calm leeward water, no wind, and free palapas and chairs. Universally the highlight.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Soft sand and clear calm water
- Sheltered leeward side, minimal wind
- Free chairs, umbrellas, palapas
- Adults-only beach zone if you want quiet
Heads up
- Not enough umbrellas at peak times
Detailed beach reporting coming soon.
Pools
StrongLarge main pool with a well-staffed swim-up bar and easy drink service, but it's the entertainment hub, so expect music, games, and a party vibe rather than serene lounging.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Big pool with active swim-up bar
- Plentiful drink servers around the deck
- Daily poolside games and activities
Heads up
- Constant entertainment kills relaxation
- Kids' pool closed for renovation
- Small drink glasses noted
Rooms & suites
450 roomsSpacious suites with minibar and liquor dispenser; categories include junior suites (partial, ocean, frontal), ocean view suites, jacuzzi suites, and two‑bedroom suites
Room details here are AI-assisted, compiled from the resort's own website and public sources. Categories and names change often — confirm the exact room when you book.
What’s included
MixedOpinions split sharply: repeat guests call it the best all-inclusive balance in Aruba, while others feel the dated non-renovated rooms, small drink pours and ongoing construction don't justify a 4-star Palm Beach price.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Renovated tower rooms feel genuinely upscale
- Palm Beach location saves on excursions
- Buffet quality punches above the price
- Repeat-guest loyalty runs deep
Heads up
- Older non-renovated rooms feel 3-star
- Elite Club upgrade seen as not worth the premium
- Drinks poured in small 4 oz glasses
- Construction affecting a resort at peak rates
Package inclusions and upgrade access have not been collected yet. Confirm them for your room and dates when booking.
Amenities & activities
Couples
Good fitPalm Beach location, updated junior suites and a solid spa make this a comfortable couples pick, though the family-side pool scene (loud music, drinking games) can intrude on romance unless you migrate to the adults-only beach section.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Renovated ocean-view suites feel luxurious
- Spa massages (Rebekah, Fernanda) praised
- Weddings and honeymoons well-executed
- Walkable to Palm Beach dining and shops
Heads up
- Family-side pool noise bleeds into romance
- Adults-only Antillas sister next door costs more
- Dining service inconsistent on honeymoon stays
Families
StretchBilled as the family side of the Riu duo, but with the kids' village and kids' pool closed for renovation and pool entertainment skewing adult, families with young children are landing short of expectations.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Safe, walkable Palm Beach setting
- Wide beach with free chairs and palapas
- Teens enjoy the daytime music and games
- Staff genuinely warm with kids
Heads up
- Kids' club and kids' pool closed for renovation
- Pool games feature shots and raunchy music
- Night entertainment not kid-oriented
- Long specialty-restaurant lines tough with kids
Peace & Quiet
MixedThis is the livelier of the two Rius: expect all-day pool games, music, and construction noise from the ongoing renovation. Peace-seekers gravitate to the adults-only beach section or the beach itself.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Beach walks and light path calm at dawn/dusk
- Adults-only beach section available for escape
- Spa is a genuine quiet zone
Heads up
- Drilling and jackhammering from renovation
- Loud music masking construction noise
- Repetitive pool entertainment all day
Features Renova Spa, gym, sauna, whirlpool, kids club (Riuland), casino, nightly entertainment, non‑motor water sports, disco and conference rooms
What guests say
High confidence362 reviews · through Oct 2026
Read all reviews on TripAdvisor ↗Google ↗
Guests praise the service, beach, location, and pool while complaining about value for money, kids and families, and rooms, and the resort is best for foodies, pool people, beach lovers, couples, and nightlife.
Consistently praised
Recurring complaints
Best suited for
What past guests say
“We stay at the Riu every time we visit Aruba. They never disappoint.”
★★★★★
“This is the perfect spot for an AI trip to Aruba. Close to shopping and dining, super friendly staff (shout out to Jonathan) and great rooms. The pools are perfect in temperature and cleanliness, and the restaurants on property didn’t disappoint. The buffet was unlike any we have been to. Five stars!”
★★★★★
“RIU Palace Aruba was definitely one for the books! 🌴☀️ The hotel was recently renovated, and it looks absolutely stunning! The food was incredible! We enjoyed the buffet so much that we never even made it to the specialty restaurants. The variety was endless, and the quality exceeded our expectations. The staff were warm, friendly, and attentive, always making sure we had a drink in hand. 🍹 One of the things I appreciated most was not having to wake up at the crack of dawn to secure a...”
★★★★★
★★★★☆
“We visited Aruba this past week and found a peaceful island with people who value tourism and make you feel comfortable and well taken care of. The Riu Palace Aruba Hotel is highly recommended, very well located with top-notch beaches. The staff is excellent, always helpful. The buffet meals are plentiful and very varied, with themed restaurants to suit all tastes and palates, and top-notch drinks. The room is comfortable with wonderful views. The resort is impeccably clean. The only...”
★★★★★
Latest reviews from Tripadvisor
Loaded live from Tripadvisor when you ask — the newest reviews and the current rating.
Read all reviews on Google (4,955) ↗
Ask Rosie
Have a specific question about Riu - Riu Palace Aruba?
Rosie answers from this resort’s guest reviews and our research — with quotes.
Know before you book
- Not enough umbrellas at peak times
- No reservations at specialty restaurants means long waits
- Popular buffet items slow to refill
- Limited vegetarian options
What you should know
What to Know
Specialty restaurants don't take reservations, so line up early or default to the buffet. Renovation is active through 2026, room quality varies wildly by building, and a few Elite Club and transfer policies have caused friction.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Request a renovated tower room, high floor
- Palm Beach walkable to outside dining
- Elite Club upgrade sometimes available on-site
- Weddings coordinated smoothly by on-site team
Heads up
- Line up 45+ minutes for specialty restaurants
- Active renovation means jackhammer noise
- Room A/C won't go below 21°C
- Airport transfer times clash with 14:00 checkout
- Isolated bed-bug complaint reported
Book a la carte restaurant seats at check‑in (otherwise you may miss your slot); beach palapas fill early so arrive before 7:30am; casino drinks cost extra; avoid booking between April 10 and August 1, 2026 when the resort is closed for renovations.
All photos
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 June 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
- June 23, 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
- 20 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.