This hotel needs major renovations. It’s not only extremely outdated but it is falling apart. Leaks everywhere and mold all over the building. It’s a safety hazard at this point. I am not sure what the people in charge are thinking but if nothing is done, this place will legit fall apart or worse- seriously injure people. The food and alcohol was so so bad. We ended up going out to eat most of the time because of how bad it was. The only positives were the location and the staff. The staff was super nice and friendly. The beach is beautiful. Aruba itself is such a beautiful place and the restaurants and downtown is great. We will be coming back but definitely not staying here again, at least not until the entire hotel gets renovated.

Thinking of spending your money ...my wise advice please don't stay here. This is by far has been the most expensive resort we stayed at with the cheapest and lowest quality of stay we have had in all these years. They only have buffet style food constantly every day. 3 other restaurants onsite that don't take reservations...if you are desperately hungry go at 5pm. The managers around are extremely rude. The staff avoids calling in a manager when in need. They work really well if you tip them otherwise forget about a decent service. The food quality is horrible and so was the customer service. The rooms were old and dirty. Hair all over the place. They only have 1 single pool in the entire resort and a small beach front. I suggest go to better islands that are welcoming and friendly.

Absolutely fantastic experience! We were a little hesitant because of the recent reviews but when we arrived we were welcomed with champagne and the check in was a breeze! ALL of the staff were so friendly, from the reception, to the restaurant hostess’ and the bartenders. Everyone was very kind and accommodating. We booked the junior suite, this was my worry because recent reviews said the rooms are dated and smelt musty. Our room was brand new, SUPER clean, and spacious. The food selection was better than most all inclusives I’ve been to. (I’ve been to over 15.) the location of this hotel was awesome. We walked across the street almost every night and went to a few restaurants on the strip. (Recommend Gianni’s and Smokey joes got the fish and chips) It was only about a 5 minute walk, so it’s super close. I found this resort to be super clean, which is my number 1 concern. We booked excursions in the lobby and it was quick and easy. I definitely recommend this resort and I will for sure be back. I also appreciated that there is no one hounding you on the beach to sell you trinkets. :) Thank you for an amazing stay Riu!

We really liked the size of the room and it had a lot of drawers which was nice. AC didn’t work great but we dealt with it. Bed was very hard, so much we woke up through the night trying to get comfortable. The beach and pool are spectacular with plenty of loungers for everyone. The staff were great and attentive. The buffet was the best we’ve ever seen. Entertainment was great with so many things to do between the shows, casino and the disco. Some areas of the resort definitely need tending to but overall we really enjoyed our stay and will return.

Beautiful resort however the food selections were horrible! Staff attentive, Beautiful grounds, very clean facilities. The ONLY complaints were the food and watered down spirits. We actually spent money on local restaurants and was pleased with their quality of food. I don't think I'll try all inclusive again. Also the fact that its 99 degrees and you have dress requirements for some restaurants is insane.

Black mold and mildew throughout my room. My throat hurts BAD. My mother found big cockroaches in her room. Outdated & rundown. Far from a 5-Star hotel. Food is not worth the all inclusive. The room service menu is an absolute joke. Rooms are freezing cold at night. On day 5 out of 7 and literally can’t wait to leave here. Outrageously expensive. The luggage attendant literally wouldn’t let me touch my suitcase because he wanted money for moving them. Couldn’t go to bed early because they have drunk karaoke night almost every night can hear the music with a pillow over my head. Wish I would’ve stayed home for the holiday . .Seems like management is fully aware and just gives generic responses to people complaining as I read the bad reviews with similar experiences to mine.

First off don't dare accidentally go to the Riu next door for check in. Horrible experience basically treated like trash once they found out our reservation was for the other side. Pointed towards a maze and asked to walk over. Room was decent but aged and with the new hotel coming up I would say much more a partial view ocean (638). Staff were just punching a time card, tips expected, however that didn't get you anything extra. Pool was well taken care of beach nice. Very few if at all waiters maybe 1 for every 200 chairs. Expect to get your drinks, in the smallest plastic cups think kindergarten. Smart people brought cups. No food allowed outside buffet. So no burgers on the beach or lunch at the pool chairs (they says for hygienic purposes). Very slippery stairs and ramps dangerous. We won't be back.

After reading the reviews, I was so nervous to stay at the Riu Palace. But I’m so happy I did. From opening the doors and greeting us with champagne it was so nice. Check in was a smooth process. Our room was clean and smelled good everyday. We headed to the bar, and the drinks were good but I only drink martinis but they did not disappoint. The food was good. We ate somewhere different every night and each restaurant was good. The Japanese and the steak house were the best. The hotel is within walking distance to shopping, restaurants, and south beach night life. The beach at the hotel is breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful. The hotel staff was friendly and accommodating. I can’t complain about anything this was an amazing stay and vacation in Aruba. I would definitely return.

Room was beautiful & very clean. We did have a broken TV and water on the floor after a rain storm but maintenance handled them both within minutes of being notified. All the staff were amazing. Food was okay...just okay. We enjoyed being able to visit both the regular & adult sides of the Riu. The pool was beautiful & clean & drinks were flowing. There were many activities & lots & lots of music. We liked that security was always working & didn't allow outside people in.

This beautiful resort is filled with charm. From the tropical sea life location to the all-star customer service, this place is sure to make your vacation a blast. The rooms are nice and spacious, cozy with wonderful living etiquette. Our view is beautiful as the pictures show. The food was excellent, and everyone was nice and attentive to our needs. There was a slight water leakage in my room initially, but it was taken care of shortly after its announced. Highly recommend for any family!

Great hotel with awesome service. Its location is close to the restaurants and shopping places in the Noord, basically walking distance. Beach is somewhat small and busy at times. Housekeeping people are nice and try to accommodate to guest's needs. There are few restaurants on the hotel premises with great food choices. The all inclusive package gets access to all hotel restaurants.

I booked a oceanfront view by paying extra for it and they gave me a room with the view of the buildings roof mostly ,I can barely see the ocean or the beach. Even upon requesting they say they don't have any rooms. I would expect better service for premium upscale resort definitely.

We've been going to the Riu Palace since 2007. Our go to spot now. We were there in May 2022 with our Daughter , Son in law and our 2 youngest Grandkids, It was there 1st trip south and they had a blast. Hotel is excellent, clean, great beach and great service. Water is safe to drink on the Island and its also very safe to go out at night. We've gotten to know the staff and they are amazing. Very friendly and definitely service oriented. Already planning a Nov. Trip this fall. I highly recommend this resort.

Stayed here in December and absolutely loved it! I have been to Aruba multiple times but have never stayed at the Riu. It was definitely one of the nicest all-inclusive resorts I have been to. The rooms were a little dated and could use an update but all in all the resort, the restaurants and the beach were incredible.

Great resort! I celebrated my 45th birthday here. We had a group of about 25 people come. The staff was more than amazing. They were attentive the entire trip. They even surprised me by singing happy birthday and giving me a personal cake at dinner. Food on the resort was good, pools were great, beach was nice. There are shopping areas, restaurants and bars/clubs in walking distance so grab a partner and go explore. The resort has a club as well and had a show on one of the nights. Lots of places to sit outside and relax. Rooms were clean and spacious and I loved the view. I had a partial beach view. I also went snorkeling it was awesome. I travel often and Riu is one of my favorite resorts to use. I definitely recommend this resort.

It's a nice property right on the beach. The rooms are spacious and have a fabulous view from my balcony. It's a kid-friendly all-inclusive but the beverage and alcohol selection is very limited unless you go to the bar. The food is not that great.. And the lines to get into restaurants are long.. It's nice but I'm not sure if I would stay here again. Edit: Please be advised that this is an older property and as such, there are many maintenance issues. My brother and my cousin both had maintenance issues, which were addressed promptly without issue. Not so with the leak that developed on day 4 (initial review was written on Day 3). It took 2 days before anyone came to address the leak. We thought it was fixed but it was worse. On our last day, we spoke with the manager, who offered a room change..as we were heading for our last night on the island..we opted not to change our plans and we were given information on filing a complaint. I did and am still waiting for resolution. Aside from the leak (see video), we had a great time. I was determined to enjoy Aruba...I definitely would not stay there again..

Overall a pleasant experience at this all-inclusive. The pool and beach are fantastic, the service is mostly fantastic, and the food is really solid for a resort. The buffet is always consistently solid, and the Krystal gourmet restaurant exceeded expectations. The steakhouse was just all right. However, there are still downsides. The rooms are indeed a bit old, and our room in particular had three outlets that did not work. The humidity is also a massive issue, as the rooms are not equipped to handle the dampness beyond having the AC on. We basically had somewhat damp sheets each night, and sleep was not the best. Still, there was plenty to do, with an accessible casino, a quiet spa, and plenty of bars around. Riu Palace was all in all an adequate resort to spend 5 days relaxing.

When you arrive in the lobby, you can tell that it was updated. I wasn't a fan of the new decor. As for the room, to me, it was dated. It was nice having a kitchen with a large fridge in the room. As an all-inclusive resort, I found the buffet to have very good options and quality food. My wife loved the omelets in the morning. I like the 1st come 1st serve to the restaurants. The steak house was the best meal of the trip. My children enjoyed the Japanese the most. I wish there would have been more than 1 pool as a lot of small children would play around the pool bar since the water was shallower than the main part of the pool. There was never a long line at the pool bar. From the pool, the walk to the beach was short. I do think there should be 2 access points, one on each side of the pool. As for the night life, the shows each night were very amusing for the whole family. It is also nice to walk down to the business center only a couple of minutes away. I did find the service in the lobby was slow if you were sitting in the chairs or tables. It was normally quicker to go to the bar than wait for service.

The resort was incredible. The food was awesome. Even the buffet was sometimes better than the restaurants. The only complaint that I had, well actually three, were, they would not turn the overhead fans on at the outside smoking deck where they have entertainment in the evening. I asked four times to have the ceiling fans turned on and they didn’t, the next day I asked to turn the ceiling fans on and they didn’t. There were several people out on the deck that would not dance because it was too hot. The next complaint was I had a sink that was stopped up and it would drain extremely slowly. And last complaint was we ordered room service at 11pm and it took over an hour to get nachos. When we got them, the chips were incredibly stale. I’ve eaten stale chips before but these were so bad I couldn’t eat them. We tried to call room service to complain, and they never answered the phone. We finally called the front desk and they brought up fresh chips. About 15 minutes later. This is our second trip to this specific resort. And we plan on coming back next year. It is a beautiful place with fantastic food and a gorgeous beach. But everything is not perfect. But certainly enjoyable.

Google doesn't allow for lengthy reviews, so my advice is to find my review on TripAdvisor. This is a nice hotel but needs LOTS of updates. The food is okay for an all-inclusive, but nothing outstanding. The room we stayed in (1101) really needs some upgrades but the view is amazing!

Firstly I was apprehensive about going to this hotel having read some of the earlier recent reviews and it wasn’t until I took more time to read them and realised that there were multiple entries around the same time with the same theme, so maybe it was a group booking and each may have added a review. I don’t know but they certainly didn’t match our visit 17th – 24th September. On arrival we were issued room key to 143 a ground floor room with not a great out-look but wasn’t really too concerned as most of time a hotel room is a sleep area and somewhere to wash and change. It was really clean and within about 15 minutes had a call from reception / housekeeping asking if the room was OK and any issues. Nope it was fine, it was clean with fresh linen, towels a full fridge with bottled water. There are a couple of water marks round the AC grill and a small amount of rust on the lower shower hinge, but that is OK and acceptable. We went to the restaurant and gave over our room number and sat where we wanted to really, and again we had another person ask if everything was OK with the reception staff and room. Food and Drink were varied and plentiful all through the week, no issues and all readily available we also went to the al-la carte service, good well-cooked food including a nice steak. We were again (this was the 3rd night) given an anonymous questionnaire to fill out and on day 5 a random ask whilst round the pool, so there seems to be a big focus on getting it right. There were certainly plenty of staff in all areas from reception, food / drink and also general cleaning all the time. The pool is scrubbed every morning round the edges where sun-cream has settled and also tested each morning. Didn’t have 1 dirty plate, cup, saucer or glass during the whole stay, which is unusual and rare. Shout out to Luis who was our Breakfast host. The only area that let the holiday down really was the quality of the entertainment in the evening, and before people judge this comment! The staff work really hard all day and long hours starting round the pool and then into the evening trying to get people motivated and join in the activities. The pool aerobics was immense and I have never any hotel resort get so many taking part. It just lacked a little quality. No other complaints at all and have another 2 RUI holidays booked. We also used a RUI in Cape Verde last New Year and that was again a great experience. Nice walk to the local shops and bars all within about a 4-5 minutes walk. Actions you may to consider. The Pool Bar area states no Children but this doesn’t seem to get enforced and we had children climbing on the stools to jump off into the area and getting water into our drinks. Why not make the whole area around the pool bar and include the tables areas area as a boundary or just enforce no Children. The Security guard only monitors the people that enter the site from the beach where the shower is, and yet many people go and come off the beach by getting over the small wall into the small pool with the sunken tables. On 2 occasions we saw the flower pots get knocked into the pool. Many people non-residents also use the water run off point to clean their feet / shoes and in some cases children’s toys. Would make sense to put up a glass Balustrade along the outer wall to stop this issue without ruining the out look to the beach.

We stayed at family’s side, have stayed at adults only side last year, thinking it would be quieter. Wrong. Ear splitting rap music begins at 10 AM, continues non stop until after 11 PM. “Drink yourself to oblivion “ atmosphere. Not enough seating on the beach, people jockeying for seats at 6:00 AM, several shouting conflicts on beach, “you moved my towels and took my seat!” Room clean. Food good, but I would never stay there again!

The rooms were very nice. The staff was outstanding! From the front desk to cleaning the rooms to the staff in the restaurants, they were all great! We tried the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Italian and steak restaurant, all were great. The beach was very nice. I can't think of anything here that we didn't like, we plan on coming back next year.

Went for a 5 day getaway Grounds were fantastic. Loved the pool, pool bar, beach and activities staff. White party was great!! Food and restaurants awesome! However the lobby decor was fair at best. Bad 80's theme. Lobby had a terrible smell much like septic. We booked a large ocean view room. Room was large, lacking furniture, it was VERY dated. Furniture was very old and worn. Balcony was extra large but not very welcoming with only 2 folding chairs. Drinks were watered down.

Honest review. We were a group of 38 who were there for my daughter’s wedding in October 2023. There were a lot of positives and a few negatives. Overall service was very uneven. I’d say it was either amazing or terrible. Nothing in between. The food overall it was excellent. The buffet was wonderful, and we tried the Italian, steakhouse, and Japanese restaurants, and they were all very good. The food at the wedding reception was also good. The rooms are nice, but the bed was a bit hard and the pillows very small. The pool area was lovely although the pool itself probably needs some maintenance on the tiles. The location was amazing. The views were exceptional. The beach was beautiful and overall everything was stunning.

Location was awesome. The hotel needs a lot of work. Place smelled of sewer. Our shower had mold. Buffets were awesome. Beach was fantastic! The employees were very nice and took care of you.

Great All Inclusive! I have been to many and this one was the best by far. Fresh food and variety of drinks. Pool area is nice and beach was clean. They could use more elevators due to the number of people here. Very nice staff that tend to your needs

We received key card a little bit later, at 3:20 because the room was not ready. We were extremely tired because our flight was at 6am. The room had a nice view but very noisy. We heard loud music from the pool. Diana, who was on the front desk gave us card keys, but never bothered herself with any explanation on how to get to the room. Our room is located on the left side of the main building. Instead of using bridge or ramp which connects parts of the building with main one, we used the stairs to carry our suitcases downstairs and no one even stopped us. How am I supposed to know where to go if I visited the hotel for the first time? Furniture in the room was extremely greasy. No idea what was applied. Door knobs were greasy as well. For some reason toilet flush intermittently. In addition, you can receive one beach towel a day using the towel card. You lose it, $20 charge. They give you bracelet to enter restaurants, $250 charge if you lose it. Be ware. Thankfully, Ms. Karol assisted us with changing our room. She is truly customer person. I appreciate her. Hope my review is helpful for vacation seekers.

Had an amazing stay at the Riu! Our first room was not ideal, but front desk was super accommodating and switched it for us day 3. We were much happier. Cocktail bar, coffee bar and the pool were some of my favorite features. Beach access is super convenient and has plenty of palapas available for shade. Staff is INCREDIBLE. So sweet and fun - excellent at what they do from wait staff, hostesses, bartenders, front desk and housekeeping. Location- can’t beat it- in center of everything. Food - breakfast was my favorite. Lunch was good, decent amount of options. Dinner we ate out mostly, but the one night we ate in was excellent. Drinks were excellent! Amenities are hard to top. We will definitely be coming back next year and staying at the RIU. Thanks for an amazing stay :)

The bed linens specifically the pillows smell of sweat horrible which makes one believe the entire facility may leave a lot in question. We were forced to sleep in towels because staff insisted the pillows came new right out the box instead of washing them properly after each guest visit. Horrible guest service. But for this flaw and room being directly over the live band stage, staff is nice.

BELIEVE THE BAD REVIEWS. Absolute scam!! We booked an ocean view suite for 3 nights. The moment we walked into the room, a mildew smell was choking us. We reported this to the hotel and someone came in and started spraying a deodorizer to cover it up. We refused to stay in this room and were moved to an area with no ocean view and no elevator!! Now we are trying to get a refund for the price difference for the ocean view room we did not stay in and the hotel will not provide one. We spoke with other patrons at this hotel and they also said they had mildew smells in their rooms. This is a known issue that the hotel is doing nothing about and now has the audacity to keep our money and try not to refund us for the room we couldn't stay in. Beware if you book this hotel!!! Absolutely horrible.

My husband and I just left there for our honeymoon. The food, the drinks, the service, THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING! We have cried because we are no longer there. So we have booked our next trip already!! This place was like a castle. Any and everything you could imagine it could be. The entertainment by the pool and at night was usually very very good!! I recommend staying here. The employees are the most accommodating people!! This place is absolutely amazing and cannot wait to return. See you soon🥰

Loved the experience ! The room was beautiful ! Had great views of the beach and ocean! We stayed in the Ocean view suite with the jetted tub and it was amazing ! The customer service was great, staff were very helpful but there is construction in the morning. I will say if you are one to be in your room past 10am you will be annoyed lol. However, all in all it was a Great experience.

My husband and I loved the resort! Staff was very friendly, helped with anything you needed. It is an adults only which was perfect for us. It has great views, great pools, and right on the ocean! We would go there again!

Loved the hotel and area. Casino was small but well maintained. Our beds were the only complaint..... room # 604... Beds were hard and made sleeping difficult. Check in and checking out was smooth. San Nicolas restaurant was great, servers were polite and fast.

This is the 2nd time in a year we have chosen to stay here. Last April my husband and I were here for the first time. We returned in January with another couple. The staff was amazing and so friendly. Always a greeting or a laugh. We had great food at the buffet and at several of the restaurants. We did feel crowded or rushed. We met some incredible people working here. I would love to name them but I will save that for the actual resort review. We have gone through some of the other resorts in the area and they don't compare. We will be back!!!

Very nice resort. Beautiful striking building. Tasty lovely meals. Super good variety always in buffets. All the workers where amazing except for a receptionist which was quite standoffish since the first moment on arrival. We were a 7 ppl group so I guess was too much to handle for her. The other downside was the ongoing construction on the resort. We were far away in our rooms from it but the path was filled with construction powder and was quite loud. This plus a room door not closing properly made us second guess the choice. All other staff was wonderful though I must say and they had nice stores on site and a spa but was fully booked always. Also room service is super limited and veeeeery slow!

Had a great experience. Food was good and rooms were clean and modern. The beach was beautiful. Customer service was great. My only recommendation is the drinks . The alcoholic beverages were not so tasty. It did not matter what I ordered. Other then that , I would definitely recommend and return .

We stayed here in Nov 2017, the food choices were very good and we enjoyed the activities. Our room was large and beautiful. The pools were awesome and the beach was perfect. We'll be back again.

Very clean hotel and room was kept neat and very clean. Food selection and service not so good. If your hungry at dinner time, might want to order everything on the menu. Amount of food served was very small portions. Breakfast was good, service at restaurants and buffet not so good. Otherwise decent hotel and beach if your looking for a quick getaway.

5 Stars Isn't Enough For This AMAZING Hotel & Staff! Genevieve & Flower Thank You for giving us the best Honeymoon! My husband & I stayed at this magnificent hotel for our honeymoon and both our birthdays on August 16, 2022 to September 6, 2022 and it was fantastic! Words cannot describe how perfect it was. We were welcomed by the amazing staff who was so respectful and always happy. A Special shout out to Genevieve & Flower who made our stay incredible. They went over and beyond for us we truly miss them and can't wait to return. They became like family to us. This is by far our favorite place and I recommend this hotel at 100% to everyone! Food was incredible, everything was well kept and clean, beach was breath taking! Thank You Riu Palace Aruba We Miss You!!!

The Riu Palace is a very nice resort. There are a few small things that stop me from rating 5*, especially when comparing to other resorts I have visited. For most people, this would be 5*, no doubt. My only issue is with the rooms. The beds are small. 2 adults are not going to be comfortable in those beds. I have 2 preteen kids and even sleeping with one of them was tight. We did ask for and receive a roll away bed which did help. Also, there are no blankets on the bed, only a sheet. There is 1 blanket in the closet, but we had to ask for extras so all 3 beds had one. Again, we got them without issue. Literally everything else was top notch. We ate at the buffet for almost every meal (because kids) and had no complaints. There were shows every night which provided good entertainment. The pool and beach areas are fantastic.

Highly recommend this property. On the beach location with everything you could ask for…very clean, all the staff was professional and extremely helpful. Shout out to Eli at the front desk for superior customer service! Top marks for all the amenities. food and drinks! We’ll definitely be back!

My wife and I stayed at the hotel for a week during Thanksgiving. The location of the hotel, proximity to the beach, and business area are good. The food was of good selection and quality. The staff throughout the hotel was amicable. Special thanks to Jessica Corona, the Public Relations manager, who promptly accommodated our plea to move us to the quieter side of the building, which is farther from the music venue. Also, front desk clerk Santana should be mentioned, who provided a blood pressure machine to monitor my health condition. Thank you, guys. You made our vacation very pleasant.

I stayed at the Riu Palace Aruba and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. The location on Palm Beach was breathtaking, with a stunning view of the Caribbean right outside my window. The resort was conveniently located just a short drive from the airport and Oranjestad, making it easy to explore the island. I was blown away by the luxurious accommodations at the Riu Palace Aruba. The rooms were spacious and well-appointed, with plush towels, comfortable bedding, and top-notch amenities. The room service was prompt and delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised by the gourmet food options available throughout the resort. It was a cut above the rest, offering a superior experience in every aspect. From the attentive staff to the first-class facilities, it was the perfect vacation. I highly recommend the Riu Palace Aruba to anyone looking for a top-notch all-inclusive experience. It truly lived up to its reputation as a luxurious resort, and I can't wait to go back!

I’ve been to this hotel twice, once in 2018 and then March 2023 and nothing had changed. Still amazing service, staff, location, and cleanliness. You have access to the palm beach strip and as adults you can use both Riu hotels. They have great activities all day and many food options. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. We plan to stay here every time to come to Aruba!

Awesome family hotel! Very limited kids club though, not to be relied on for supervision really. Pool is expansive (not heated, so chilly). Nightly shows were incredible. Room service was not great but restaurant selection excellent! Amazing views from every room.

Stayed there May 8-12 booked by Max Escapes. I can’t say enough about this place. The hotel was spotless. Our room was amazing looking directly over the pool and into the Sea. The staff was incredible so much fun dancing with the guests and interacting all the time. The food was great. The location was perfect we could walk into town to shop or eat at local restaurants. We did two great tours everyone on the Island was amazing. The drinks flowed all day and night. There’s not a bad thing I can say about this place and would 110% recommend it. Thank you RIU Palace for an amazing trip.

All in all it was really nice, great food, drinks and service. My low score is because it was our honeymoon and we never got anything in the room when we got there, but other honeymooners did. That left a bad taste in my mouth. You have to get up at 6am to get a palapa on the beach or a chair at the pool. The workers are amazing and so nice.

Marcelo and Rosemary are amazing, we miss them already. They made the experience fun. RIU is lucky to have them on staff at the lobby bar, such great people. The rooms need maintenance for sure. Outdated rooms but amazing views. The central location was great for exploring Palm Beach and the surrounding amazing beaches.

Very nice all inclusive. Food was good, not fantastic. The restaurant outside off the beach and pool was the best. Lobster was very good. Buffet had great variety. Sept, not too many kids and we'll behaved.