We recently stayed at the Riu Palace in Aruba and overall had a very enjoyable experience. We were in the newly renovated building, and the room was absolutely stunning — modern, spacious, and beautifully designed. Because one of the resort’s buildings was closed for remodeling, the property felt relaxed and never overly crowded, which we really appreciated. The beach area is one of the highlights — wide, pristine, and perfect for long walks. We loved the boardwalk that runs along the strip, making it easy to stroll and take in the scenery. The location is also fantastic, with plenty of restaurants and shops just a few minutes’ walk away. We also walked to Eagle Beach, which also has beautiful views. While the resort itself was lovely, the food at the à la carte restaurants was somewhat underwhelming and a bit bland for our taste. By the end of our trip, we found ourselves sticking mostly to the buffet, which had more consistent options. That said, the staff were excellent — always friendly, attentive, and eager to help, which really added to our overall stay.

It is hard to go wrong at the Riu Palace Aruba. It has a great location on Palm Beach, close to the friendly restaurant-lined street outside, and we found the food and rooms typical of the Riu Palace franchise. The lobby does look tired and I hope Riu uses a different interior designer in the upcoming remodel instead of the purple Miami Vice situation that currently exists. Staff were very accommodating and overall we had one of our best vacations ever!

Grounds well kept, pool was very clean as well as all outdoor patios and etc. Food was good, hotel was clean and staff friendly and attentive. Walking distance to Noord.Not far from Orangestad and the market at the port.

First time at a Riu ??? fabulous time. Food was incredible at every meal. Buffet outstanding. Massive pool. Staff beyond friendly and helpful. Awesome sports bar. Great evening entertainment. Beach and water the best. White sand clear wonderful salt waters with staff constantly cleaning and attentive. One safe happy island for sure ??. We will be back ✈️

Rooms were clean. The food was top notch! The air-conditioning was great. We went during Halloween and the decoration of the main buffet was over the top! If you have trouble with stairs, this is not the resort for you! One wing of the resort is finished being renovated. The middle section was under construction while we were there. The third wing will be addressed in the new year.

Aruba Ariba! I could go on and on but the highlights - the place was spotless.. the one staff member laughed at me every morning because as much as I tried I couldn’t avoid always catching her mopping and walking on her wet floors.. IYKYK lol Our room was spotless and well serviced every day. The food was good but with only 2 A la carte a night they were pressed for spaces (off season maybe), staff in the Buffet seemed a little light - they looked to be run off their feet but always were polite and had smiles on. Perfect beach - one gentleman raked and picked up after people all day. My husband started cleaning the beach because it was hard to watch - that was a criticism of the guests not the staff. Pool life was hoppin’ and they didn’t hold back on the liquor either! My husband had a bit of a medical emergency and the front desk handled it great - had a doctor to our room in 2 hours. The entertainment staff were amazing too. Lovely Island filled with lovely people!

Very nice resort. The service was exceptional. Our room was spacious and clean, although a bit tired. The construction noise was a bit much at times. The daytime music was blasting, im guessing to compensate making it less than restful. I would have like some food service closer to the pool and beach. And would have preferred to make dinner reservations at the a la carte rather then first come, first served.

The whole experience was excellent. 4th time there. Only one bad experience . We left behind an item in the hotel by accident. The Nexus agent at the airport told us that they located it and it would be delivered to the airport within the hour. Unfortunately 3 hours later ( due to a plane delay) the item was never delivered. Riu hotel and Nexus staff never contacted us . Sad.

The Riu Palace is never a disappointment!!! However it is under partial construction but overall, the service, people were amazing and super friendly. Most importantly, a very very clean hotel. Third time visiting and definitely NOT MY LAST!!!?

at our pool bar ask for a mix drink no machine to mix , i go next door at the pool bar they had all the drinks that i ask for, all the mixers and great service so i tip them , we had our 10 year old with us so we had to stay at the palace, next door the food was better the resort was cleaner it had washrooms at the pool area not at the palace we have been to Aruba 4 times now all we have stay at both one more the kids rui land had times on monday and tuesday not open it was open on wed thur and fri only Riu i think it time to change.

We've been to Aruba many times but this was our first time at the Riu Palace. The accommodations were somewhat disappointing. We had booked a junior suite and the first one we were given was on the ground floor with a 'garden view' which turned out to be a construction site for the neighboring resort. We asked to be moved and the following day we had a suite on the 7th floor overlooking the pool. It was just okay - very dated and extremely noisy. Turns out one of the Riu Palace towers was also under construction and they played the music at a volume loud enough to drown out the jackhammering all day. It would have been nice to have somewhere quiet to relax. Most resorts I've been to have had quiet pools and/or library areas for reading. Even the lobby was very noisy. On the positive side, the meals in the buffet and the alacarte restaurants were outstanding as was the service. Aruba is still our favorite island.

40% of the resort is closed. A major building is under construction and all we heard was jack hammering all day. We ended up leaving the resort and going to Joia Iberostar. We should have been notified of this when booking. Horrible experience and what a hassle to switch resorts! One elevator was closed down, and on our first day there the other elevator also wasn’t working. We walked from the seventh floor just to leave to get breakfast. Food selection was also very limited. Brutal!

We had a fantastic week! The hotel grounds and interior are very well taken care of and staff were friendly! Beautiful pools and gorgeous beach property with beach chairs and palapas. The hotel activities were fun for the whole family and included some activity rentals such as kayaking. The food quality and choices were amazing! Great location for walking to other hotels/shops and taking the bus to downtown.

My wife and I stayed at this resort Feb. 9 to 16, 2025 This hotel is located on Palm Beach. Palm Beach is a 5 out of 5. The food and beverage options and quality are very good 4.5 out of 5 The steakhouse was a 3.5, the Japanese and Italian was a 4, Krystal (fusion) was a 4.5 and the Buffet was a 4.5. The rooms are functional but dated. The could use an uplift/reno. The rooms in the main building had a musty odour. Overall I would rate the rooms 3.5 out of 5 The hotel was generally kept very clean. The rooms were generally clean. I would rate cleanliness 4 out of 5. The entertainment at night was good. I would rate that a 4 out of 5. The entertainment by the pool was good. I would rate that 4 out of 5. The grounds were very nice. I would rate them 4.5 out of 5. The service was very good. 4 out of 5. We would go back to this hotel

Check in was short but confusing. Room was stocked well and clean. Beach was close, beautiful sand and warm waters. Staff was most helpful and pleasant. Can not say enough about the restaurants, staff and quality of food. Entertainment was pleasantly exciting.

I have been to the RIU in Bahamas, and the Catalonia in Costa Mujeres. The food at Aruba Palace is similar to the Bahamas, very good. But the service falls short. It appears that the Palace, restaurants and buffet areas are understaffed. Beach papayas are difficult to secure, you need to be up at 7 AM to secure one.

The staff were very friendly and gracious. The hotel rooms are dated and the north building is not in good shape. Daniel was incredibly helpful in accommodating our room needs and making our stay enjoyable.

The hotel staff was great. The rooms are a bit outdated. The dinner dining options need an upgrade. The buffet dining restaurant was great. Love that the beach area is so close. The hotel needs more beach palapas to service the hotel guests.

I don't even know where to begin on what I have to say about this resort. Pure paradise. I have never been away to any resort where I did not find something to give feedback on. Not now. There is nothing I can say that is negative nor can I say that improvement is needed. The people are amazing and friendly and genuinely care about their guests. I have been recommending this resort to everyone I work with and my family. Thank you for making my stay absolutely enjoyable.

If you are looking for a beach holiday the hotel rooms / staff are great with great food and drink ! The beach and water are also most accommodating. Also a very safe resort to vacation too ! A true 5 star resort !

The rooms are ok need some renovation. The AC woudnt stop working which was very loud. The food was good and many varieties. Need more umbrellas and shade on the beach and the pool. Service is amazing

The hotel was beautiful and very clean. The speciality restaurants were very good, but the notice that they are first come first served was not the case for the Steak Restaurant. For this restaurant you had to go to the restaurant shortly after 5:00 and stand in line waiting to see if you could get a reservation. The wait was worth it as the meal was delicious with quite a few options. However, it was misleading in the material on how to visit this restaurant. I did find the food in the buffet sometimes a little cool when it should be hot. The bar tenders were very nice and friendly.

We had a wonderful time at this resort. The food was amazing. The room was clean and service was great. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. We had a room with Cinderella balcony would have liked one we can out chairs to sit outside but that wasn’t a big deal for me. The air needs to stay on with door closed or the room will sweat and feel even more damp. I would definitely recommend this resort and intend go back sometime. We get consistent service at RIU never disappoints.

I would highly recommend the Riu Palace Aruba. Such a beautiful location with amazing ocean views. The ocean is warm and not too wavy to swim in - very enjoyable swimming location. The resort is well run and very accessible. Many great restaurants with great food and wonderful staff. The room we stayed in was very comfortable with the largest bed I've ever seen! The entertainment staff was amazing too - such a nice variety of daytime and evening entertainment. The daily aerobics/Zumba sessions in the pool were a hit with me - so fun!! All of the staff were very friendly and helpful. By the end of the week, we felt like we'd made many new friends with the servers, bar tenders and entertainment crew. All in all - a great place to vacation (either as an adult couple or a family with children). Aruba is a very safe feeling destination. It's wonderful to be able to walk out of the resort and explore the area without feeling nervous. It was also great to sit on the beach and not be bothered by peddlers. All in all - a great place to visit!

Stayed Nov.25-Dec.2. This was our 5th time here but the last time was 5 years ago. The resort grounds are very well kept as well as the lobby and general areas. Food was ok. Never went hungry. Beach an ocean are amazing. You can’t beat it but to get beach palapa and chairs be prepared to be out there in the dark at 5:30 am. For the pool by 7am.now for the rooms. We had a superior ocean or view on 6th floor. The rooms are very musty smelling when you enter. It took several days for it to subside and your sheets always feel wet. . The curtains have mould on them as well. There is rust in the showers. Both of our sinks were also plugged and took forever to drain. This place is very humid so don’t leave patio doors open or everything will be soaked. Now for the entertainment team. They work hard and were excellent to watch. Servers around the pool were slow and no service to the beach so you have to walk to get drinks. Sometimes they filled our mugs and other times they would only give us 1 drink in a plastic cup refusing to use our mugs which is totally ridiculous. First off we are saving dishes by bringing our own mugs. Secondly it’s a pain to have to walk from the beach to the pool bar every time you want one. We took a cab for $14 to tres tapis to snorkel with fish and turtles. Well worth it. To be brutally honest I’m not sure I will return to this resort because of the awful state of the rooms however would definitely keep coming to Aruba. Also it was our 25th anniversary and my adult son was in our room and they gave us 3 separate beds and didn’t do any little gestures to acknowledge our anniversary. Last of all the hall was cluttered with cots and room service trays that took a long time to get cleared. This place definitely needs improvements

Hotel needs upgrades. Room was not satisfactory. Breakfast/ lunch was good. Dinners horrible. We ended up going out for dinner because food quantity and wait was terrible. Wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone. Beaches are beautiful. Pool was okay. Lots of people at pool bar throwing their cups in pool causing hazards. Need staff in pool cleaning up cups, and mint from people’s mojito drinks. Overall 4 out of 10 for resort and 9 out of 10 for Sunwing Airlines

The Riu Palace grounds were amazing. Food was excellent. Only thing is the rooms need updating and some love put into them. With all the newer resorts there, Riu needs these updates. Staff were pleasant for the most part

Though older, this hotel is elegant, grandiose and beautiful inside and out. The rooms (I've stayed in a couple) are spacious yet warm and cozy and well laid out. The beach is well maintained, clean and free of vendors. The beach is also very beautiful and the sea is always warm. The Hotel offers a wide variety of tasty food delights to suit all and the staff at this hotel, in every department, provide a warm and welcoming friendly service twenty four hours a day and they are outstanding. This is my second stay at this hotel and it won't be my last.

the grounds, pool and beach front were beautiful, however, the hotel buildings are showing it's age, rooms need to be renovated, we were lucky to receive a renovated room, however, it was located on the second floor with NO elevator, we asked to be changed because of my hip issue I couldn't do 14 days without an elevator...second room was horrible! it had a horrible musty smell, we were ankle deep in water in the shower every single time it was used as it wouldn't drain properly, in addition one of the bathroom sinks had draining issues as well and we were constantly finding drain flies in the shower and bathroom area, they sent someone to fix the issues, we were then asked if "things" were fixed :( !!...we were moved to a third room, this room didn't have the musty smell thank God, but the glass shower door was missing, but a shower curtain had replaced the door, but fell off the wall as the pole wasn't long enough to have proper tension against the shower walls and was assisted with cardboard to fill in the additional space that the rod didn't fill in...the lock hinge on our patio door fell out and couldn't lock our door (we were on the first floor) the air conditioning unit didn't go higher than 21*C and was very cold, had to wear my down filled jacket a few nights over PJ's we also had to shut it off completely, we found too many dirty dishes in the dish stacks in the dining room..for the price you are paying, there were too many stupid issues to deal with

When we arrived they were doing construction on the inside of the gym. Then they were taking a jackhammer to the balcony above us during the day while at the pool. We moved over to the pool in front of the bar and then they were doing repairs there for the rest of the week. (Removing tiles off seats and tables.) Also now moving outside of the gym to repair the walkway and remove tiles (jackhammer or reciprocating saw) lots of noise and dust. Rather surprised they would do so many repairs during, what I would consider the popular tourist season.

One thing I have to say is that the resort needs a renovation. The shower door wouldn’t close fully, some of the dresser drawers wouldn’t close and were left open for our entire stay. The bar fridge was leaking to the point that there was a big puddle of water in the entrance for two days. Big change in three years!

Food was amazing, quite a variety at buffet. Staff were very pleasant and very efficient. Very clean resort, staff constantly cleaning. Location fantastic, huge beach area, access to hotel next door.

Food selection and quality was excellent. Staff very helpful and accommodating. The resort needs some renovations as it seemed a bit worn down. Also they need to manage the reservations of umbrellas by pool and beach better. Too many unused lounges wth reserved towels. Entertainment by pool was good but could use a bit of quiet time in afternoon

Where do I begin? Such a beautiful resort with amazing friendly staff. I have never met more accommodating people. Our Sunwing rep took care of us when we needed him the most. We met one particular bartender, Nelson, who will be a friend for life. The resort is very clean and looks just like you see on YouTube. We will definitely be going back!

We stayed at the Rio Palace Aruba first week in dec. The room and resort overall were very clean. Housekeeping was on the ball. We dined at the buffet restaurant the entire stay. Food was well prepared and more variety than we could sample in the one week stay. We found the staff courteous and helpful the entire time. The beach was clean and always groomed. No sargasum. If you like to use palapas, you will need to reserve one early. They go fast. We did a couple of trips off resort. Wish we had more time to do more. Will have to go back to complete the Aruba experience. It truly is One Happy Island.

We had an excellent time. We will go again, but will stay 2 weeks next time. Very safe island. We had to complete a health app regarding covid 19. Very little masks were worn.Weather was beautiful the whole time.

We love this hotel. We were here 13 years ago and came back again. It's better then we remembered. Clean, beautiful, amazing beach and pool. The staff is so nice and helpful. Our room was in the main building on the 8th floor. It was spotless every day and we had a fantastic view. We loved the buffet and there was always something new to try. Can't wait to come back!

This hotel is amazing, very family friendly , clean and well kept. I would 100% recommend this hotel! The hotel staff was very friendly and welcoming! Food and restaurants are all amazing and very clean!

We are very impressed with the outstanding layout of the Rui Palace,the buildings the grounds,trees,,plants,big revolving doors the Greeting Staff was simply a marvellous start to a great vacation. Throughout our stay the restaurant staff, night entertainment, tours was indeed better than expected. Our vacation was indeed a time on earth spent as if was in Heaven. I give five thumbs up to the Pool , towels , and Beach services.

The hotel was fantastic, food was really good, hotel staff was terrific, really no complaints!!! I guess the only thing would be never got a map of the grounds we were wondering where the poolside bathrooms were and of course the buffets but we did end up asking! Easy to walk to restaurants and shopping

Amazing resort all around from the time you arrive until you leave. The staff are so attentive and caring, always making sure you have everything you need. Food was delicious, we couldn’t stop eating. Beach was beautiful and the best we have ever been to. We will definitely be returning ❤️

The place was beautiful the beach was beautiful water was blue and clean.the pools were. So nice and clean. The grounds were well kept. The staff was very friendley. The whole resort was just beautiful. We really had a wonderful time.Everything was amazing. I would go back. Would like to remain anonymous.

I traveled to the Riu in Aruba for the second time in less than 5 weeks. This time I traveled with a friend. I made it clear on booking that we would require two queen sized beds. What we got was a king and a child sized cot. I immediately went to front desk and was told that Sunwing was to blame for the error as there are no such rooms available in the class of room I booked. I was also told that there would be a significant resort credit in excess of $700 that turned out to be a handful of worthless discount coupons. Won’t be back to Riu.

We were very impressed with the staff at the hotel. They were friendly and attended to our needs in every way. The decor could be modernized, but it wouldn’t change our minds about returning. The view is amazing and the buffet / restaurants are excellent. One recommendation would be to add washrooms to the restaurant level of the hotel. As it is now, you need to go to the upper level. As pleased we were with the facilities, we found the check in with Sunwing confusing. It seemed as if we were doing it on our own. Also, having to take a shuttle bus to a satellite terminal added several minutes to our trip, there and back.

This was my second trip to this hotel and it did not disappoint, it was awesome. Very well maintained grounds and rooms and the people were outstandingly helpful and always ready with a smile. I will be back and recommend to all my friends. thank you, Mary Melanie

A well kept property overall. Pride in work ethic and in the resort is shown by all employees. Good restaurants, nice pool, attractive beach, good location. Our 6th vacation in 3 years at the Riu Palace!

Resort is located on a nice area of the beach. Small resort therefore everything is well located. Room were consistently clean very friendly staff. We will go back. Breakfast was good. Lunch on the beach restaurant had decent options

This is by far the nicest place I have ever been the hotel is beautiful the people are great meaning the staff food is fabulous and the pool and water at the beach are breathtaking Our room was beautiful and clean and comfortable dont have a bad thing to say it was just fantastic and will definitely be back and would recommend it to anyone thinking of travelling to Aruba

The room we had was spacious the grounds were always clean and the staff were great especially raul at the pool bar and Enrique at the dinner buffet were top notch.Food was abundant and very good great selection and the theme nights were good.

This was our first time in Aruba but it came highly recommended by a family member. We travelled with our young kids, 7 & 8, and we all loved it and had an amazing experience!!!! The beach was like nothing I’ve ever seen before! The grounds were well kept and clean, the staff was friendly and the island itself was amazing!!! We are definitely looking forward to going back!!! Highly recommend!

The food was very good. Hotel was clean and the staff were very friendly. Very close to town. The only thing I don’t like Is that I’m forced to write 200 characters in this box just to submit my review.

The staff is nice, helpful, friendly and attentive most of the time. The rooms are terrible, old, they smell, the standard rooms are terrible. Very bad circulation the floors are always wet and slippery because the air temperature doesn’t work properly. They need more entertainment around the pool. The beach workouts and yoga in the morning are fabulous she’s great. The food is decent. Always something to eat for breakfast and lunch but dinners suck. Food is repetitive and not tasty at all in the evenings not sure why. The place needs a makeover for sure and the food quality needs to get better. It’s ok but nothing special. This was our 2nd time first time was much better which was 8 months ago looks like the place is going down hill. Wouldn’t go back. Adult only next door so nice.

We enjoyed our week stay at the RIU Palace Aruba. The hotel was conveniently located on Palm Beach close to restaurants and shops. The hotel was very clean and the beach was awesome! The buffet offered a variety of food choices and was very good. We will be going back for sure!

I think Aruba is beautiful but I didn't not think the resort was a 5 star at all. We had major problems when we checked in. We were there 2 weeks and the first week we had to call everyday to have housekeeping come and bring us towels so we can take a shower. They also didn't fill the fridge with water, we had to keep asking. There was always sand all over the floor because they didn't come to clean. We assumed they would show up everyday to clean but that wasn't the case. When my husband finally had enough and called the manager to complain then it got better. So on the second week they came to clean the room everyday. Another thing that was really disappointing was that during the 2 weeks we were there we didn't see anybody cleaning the beach. We saw someone picking up the empty plastic cups from the palapas but he would never go clean the cups and garbage that was laying on the sand and in the water. Because it's so windy in Aruba, you would think they would be more diligent with cleaning the beach. The one day my daughter and I were cleaning it up ourselves. We picked up a bunch of cups, a garbage bag that stuck under some sand in the water and a juice box. The one day I slipped on the sidewalk while going for a walk to the Riu for adults only. I tripped and fell and scraped my knee and all the way down my leg, I had quite a bit of blood running down my legs and my husband suggested walking back to our room because it was closer than going to the lobby. So we did, and my husband called front desk and asked if someone could come to our room with a first aid kit. They said they couldn't and that I'd have to walk to the front desk and someone would help me. I was extremely upset considering I was in allot of pain. When I got there they told us they didn't have a first aid room and would do what they needed to do in the lobby. Sure enough they started pouring rubbing alcohol down my leg while people were standing around and I had to try my hardest to not make allot of noise even though it hurt like hell. There were some other things that it's just too long to explain. Overall, we liked Aruba and how safe we felt walking around. The beaches are beautiful. We went to Palm Island for one day and it was awesome but if I went back I would not stay at the Riu. We're also non smokers and they allow smoking in the casino, all around the pool and even on the beach. It was disgusting. We paid allot of money for this trip and it wasn't worth what we paid. I really wish we would have picked a different destination.

hotel was spotless,grounds well maintained,public areas well looked after,rooms were beautiful,dining selection was a lot more than expected eg.carving station for breakfast turkey etc.great variety for all meals Hope you don't need them but free crutches,wheel chairs,scooters etc. Forth trip to aruba and our stay may 6 to 13 at Riu Palace Aruba was overall the best. Will return there.tripcental and sunwing were great Thanks to Wendy Van Zandwyk and Riu staff for being so helpful. bill & nancy

the resort is super clean and environmental friendly, which I was very surprised. The grounds are cleaned at least twice a day. Rooms are super clean, very comfortable bed and the shower was enormous and good water pressure. The food was to die, best food I've had at an all inclusive resort.

This was our first time in Aruba, and the Riu--amazing. The food was delicious, the fruit was always fresh. The grounds very spotless. We couldn't believe the detail to cleanliness. The flight there and back were on time and smooth. Great job O'Neil.

The resort was absolutely beautiful! The group of 10 loved the fantastic views from our rooms, the meals, the Caribbean Sea, the people that worked there and the entertainment. This is my 8th time coming to Aruba. Aruba is my favourite Caribbean Island and I have travelled extensively. I hope to return again to Aruba in the future.

Although we are "cruisers", we were pleasantly surprised on how beautiful the Riu Palace Resort was. When we took a look at the resort in one of your tourism books, we were very impressed. When we arrived at the resort it just looked the same as the picture. We enjoyed every minute of this vacation and would like to book again n the near future. In addition, I think we may book the Riu Adult resort the next time because it looked very impressive as well.

This hotel was beautiful! All the staff was so friendly. Exceptional buffet breakfast. Thoroughly enjoyed the speciality dinner restaurants and the ease with getting a table. Lovely clean beach, not too busy. Fun games in the afternoons at the pool. Interesting concept for adjoining rooms. They worked beautifully well with my grandchildren as we were able to leave our doors open and go back and forth across the hall while leaving the door to the main hallway closed. The rooms were very large and well appointed. Beautiful view from the balcony.

The Rui Palace offers everything you need for an all inclusive sun vacation. The perfect everyday Aruba weather means that the beach and pool are always the place to be! Great food and relaxing rooms made For a fantastic week with my family. It did not disappoint!

Coming in the foyer is spectacular, bars are very good, we were in the north side facing pool and ocean view room which was very basic. Pools were awesome’s. Weather was perfect no rain 30 degrees and above all week, one thing though, it’s very windy. The beach was a bit disappointing because the sand had a lot of broken shell in the sand which means that with the wind it’s very scratchy to the skin, water is turquoise and very nice. Amazing food all week at the buffet (Friday night buffet is not to be missed for seafood lovers), steakhouse restaurant is average, Italian restaurant is average, but cannot comment on the restaurant Crystal because did not go. Since this was a family resort I found the section for toddlers was very limited and the small pool was the size a bit bigger than a car tire. If I had kids of age 7 and older I would definitely go, but if only me and my husband, we would choose an adult only resort.

We found the hotel, room, beach and grounds very good. We had the dinner buffet once but went out for dinner all other nights. We had breakfast and lunch at the resort. Breakfast was quite good but the lunch was not fantastic. The wait staff were good. The one criticism that we have is that people went out in the morning very early to throw a towel or a hat on the prime spots chairs with shade on the beach. We rented for US$25 per day our own chairs and beach umbrella from a private contractor right in front of the hotel. The hotel should have a system for reserving chairs and umbrella's and charge a nominal fee for it to avoid this type of a free-for-all.

Everything is beautiful with this resort, the layout is excellent. We were very happy with our room since. We enjoyed watching the sunset every evening from our room which was a bonus. Food was very good. People working at the resort were very friendly and helpful. The only disappointing thing happened was one of us got food poisoning. We found out later at the airport that more people had gotten sick.

This our second time at the RIU Palace, first time in 2011 and second time Jan 2019. We have been back to Aruba 8 times...best place to visit in Caribbean. The hotel has been renovated very nicely since our first stay. All 5 restaurants, outdoor theatre, sports bar and main lobby have been totally redone in modern decor. Most importantly the rooms in the left tower when facing the beach have also been totally renovated. We stayed in room 854 which was on the top floor last unit which had a Juliet balcony facing pool and ocean, then also a huge picture window facing the ocean. What a view and breeze! All new bathrooms and tiles, coiffured ceilings...no carpeting what’s so ever...no musty smell whatsoever! The food was very good for an all inclusive, service was very good. Specialty restaurants were unlimited and no reservation required. The Tapas restaurant only required men to wear long pants. Entertainment had a good variety and was well appointed with professional dancers and entertainers. Plenty of new beach and pool chairs. I also had a chance to go over to the RIU Antilles and requested to view a standard room. Rooms are older and hallways are musty and not renovated..the view from balcony is also not a clear view to the ocean. Spend the extra money and stay at the Palace. Only negatives are pillows are very small for king size beds and not comfortable. Also hairdryer is a wall mount and not very sufficient.

From the moment you arrive, you can feel the warmth of the staff. The resort is very, very clean. Spotless would be the word! Food is fabulous! Would go back in a flash! The pool area and the beach are very well kept. Everyone is always smiling and happy!

Very clean , very good service ,staff very helpful ,food a lot of choices ,show very interesting beach party was amazing with a good intertainment and good food would be nice if beach party will be at least a few times a week.I definitely will recommended to all my friends and my family and l looking forward to came back soon.

The rooms were exceptionally clean and spacious, the staff were friendly and genuinely concerned that everyone had a great experience. I do not eat meat and this resort had many, many options for me - I was never left unsatisfied!

This hotel , the ground, staff and entertainment was absolutely amazing. We are looking forward to visiting again in the future my husband and I thinks this trip was the best .we travel at least twice a year but this was the best location thus far. Thanks very much for your help

This resort was the best we have ever stayed at. The food, service and amenities were absolutely perfect. Our travel agent from trip central, Krista Shaver was AMAZING. She provided us with every detail we needed as well as requesting things for our honeymoon which the resort did for us. Best trip ever !

Hotel and pool grounds were amazing. Beach was beautiful. The halls in the building we were in wee strangely dark but rooms were bright, modern, clean and airy. Staff were all very friendly and the food is one of the best I’ve had at all inclusive resorts. Also really enjoyed not having to do reservations at the specialty restaurants!

Loved the hotel, rooms were clean, grounds were kept clean, staff friendly. Food was excellent, lots of selection at the buffet and the restaurants were excellent. The beach was beautiful, white sand, blue water. Weather was amazing, the constant breeze was refreshing

My husband and I returned here to Aruba after 25 yrs to celebrate our anniversary and the Riu Palace was absolutely breathtaking. The people in Aruba are so friendly, happy and always willing to make your stay as comfortable and memorable as possible. The food is very good, very clean, and if you choose to go off resort to eat, the convenience of restaurants are nearby. I loved the way the hotels along the strip connected with a lovely walkway. We visited all the resorts along the strip and we could not believe how much has changed. We will definitely return next yr to the Riu!!! Thank you Riu Palace for making our anniversary unforgettable!!!!

The tripcentral agent assured us the resort room we booked was newly renovated. even though i shared reviews on tripadvisor w her. we believed her. the rooms however were very old and damp. we paid an extra $500 to upgrade so it would not feel like we were sleeping in a dingy basement. i also reached out to her many times before we left w questions and got zero response. will not use tripcemtral again.

Aruba was beautiful, can't go wrong with a Riu. The palace looks so pretty on the strip, which you can walk along the path and enjoy the view and little shops. Rick is great and responds very quickly and is so helpful. The weather was a bit windy sometimes, so pack something cozy for some nights, the desert is also really dry, be prepared to get dusty and protect yourself from the sun if you go on any desert outings. Food was decent at the riu, plenty of options, exactly what you would expect of an all inclusive buffet. Amazing view

Aruba was a great experience with beautiful beachs and wonderful people. In particular, Riu Palace is a superior resort. It is a large well maintained property with clean rooms, great service, and a good selection of restaurants. The pool is large and clean, has a swim up bar with friendly service. The entertainment staff provided daily activities which were well received and had good partipation. This included beach volleyball which was also very popular. Overall, we really do recommend the Riu Palace.

We had a wonderful stay at the Riu Palace Aruba last week. This was our 4th Riu Palace we have been to and it was the best stay yet The food,the grounds, the staff, and the location were all above expectations. The only one small negative was that the beds were a little hard for my liking. Would go back in a heartbeat !!!

We loved the hotel location. Beach was beautiful. The pool was lovely with ample chairs for everyone. Buffets were excellent - great variety of foods. Raul at the pool was always on top of out drink orders and had a great smile at all times.

i was pleased with the resort, the food was all good, rooms were clean, beach is great and the pools were good. The staff were very nice to work with if we needed anything at all. Best of all the weather was fantastic!.

Service was friendly but not over the top. The only negative comment that I have for this hotel is the LOBBY!! It is very outdated and since we get our first impression when we enter the facility through the lobby, I almost regretted picking this place. But once you exit the lobby, all was great. I also liked the proximity of this hotel to the little local strip of shops and restaurants.

Our stay was absolutely amazing. Check in was a breeze, we received our envelope and within 20 minutes, we were all settled by the pool. Our room was clean, spacious, and the best part was the ocean view from the window AND the balcony... Simply stunning. The cleaning lady did an amazing job every day and our fridge was always filled. At the pool bar, excellent service. Entertainment was great, both during the day by the pool and at night upstairs. Alex at the bar upstairs makes the best drinks. Jonathan and Mary at Riu Antillas were amazing too! They made it a fun night, every night. A very special thank you to the gentleman who took care of us at the buffet every night, and set up a surprise table for my boyfriend on his birthday. They sang him happy birthday and brought a cake out for him with candles. The food.. The steakhouse was awesome! The Italian restaurant was great too, the buffet has so many options and a different theme every night, food was delicious. The beach area is beautiful and very well taken care of, always clean. It's also a great location, we went for walks every day, on the beach and outside of our resort. Our stay was perfect, from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend this resort.

Great pool and beach Poolside waiters Raoul and Nelson were amazing. Rest of the staff could care less that you were a guest. Beds were comfy but pillows suck. Small and lumpy. Asked for new ones at front desk and never did get them. Room cleaning was hit and miss - short on towels, no water fill up in fridge. For a 5 star disappointing. Entertainment was mediocre. Acrobats were good but same performers each night with different costumes. Charlie's bar in st Nicholas was a blast. Rent a vehicle and take a tour. Weather was amazing, nice warm breezes. That's why you go to Aruba. For the price- double some other tropical locations- the RIU was disappointing. I would recommend going because of the weather not the hotel.

Very impressed with everything - from the room to the cleanliness. Every meal was a 10! The beach was perfect (although it would have been nice to have a bar at the beach). the pool area was always lively and the drink service was consistent. The staff was always pleasant and attentive. The shows were impressive. Great coffee! Well maintained grounds and extremely clean. Lovely place to unwind, relax and 7 days is just not enough. So much to see and do - it's an amazing island. Can't wait to go back!

The Rui Palace Aruba is a beautiful resort. We had the junior suite and it was beautiful. King size bed, sitting area and double sinks in the bathroom. Very clean. Large balcony with a view of the ocean. The food in the main buffet dining room was very good. A lot of variety. Salads and fruit very fresh. Specialty restaurants were disappointing. Staff were not friendly or very interested in serving you. The quality of the food in the Italian restaurant was the worst. Pasta was dried out and hard - must have been left out under a heat lamp too long. Meat was burnt. However the exception was the Steak Restaurant by the pool. Food was excellent as was the staff! Very friendly and they couldn't do enough for you. Beach was beautiful- white sand and clear water. The only problem was getting an umbrella. Went out at 6:00 am and had difficulty getting a spot. There has to be a better way! They need to provide more umbrellas. You spend all this money to be on the beach and one should expect (be guanteed) to have access to an umbrella without having to get up at 4:00am! Remember - we are on vacation. Also there was no drink service on the beach only by the pool.

We loved the view from our balcony! We spent most of our day at the beach in the ocean. We were walking distance to the Buttery Farm, the market in town and the Bird Observatory tower. Great Location!

Everything about this hotel was 5 star! Food was fantastic, drinks abundant, kind and extremely courteous staff! Grounds were immaculate and the beach was out of this world! A wonderful vacation and one that we will plan again!

My husband and I were at The RiuPalace Aruba January 14-21/17 for our honeymoon. The resort was absolutely amazing! Our room was very clean and we were very impressed with the size. The fully stocked bar with full size premium alcohol was awesome! All of the restaurants on the resort were great. We didn't have any meal that we didn't enjoy! The staff were very friendly and helpful, although I would have liked a little more of personality from all of the pool bartenders. They were extremely boring and didn't interact with the guests. :( The beach was amazing as well. The Rui Palace is so close to Palm Beach we could walk there everyday. I would highly recommend staying at this resort we would definitely stay there again!

My husband and I loved this resort for our honeymoon! Spectacular scenery and incredible food. Buffet was always fully stocked with delicious fresh food. We had a great room that the cleaning service took excellent care of. The staff was very kind and helpful. We will definitely be coming back!

This was our first trip to Aruba and we will definitely go back. The Riu Palace all-inclusive is great, it's located within walking distance from shops and restaurants. It has great beach with clear and still water, nice swimming pool and great rooms. Food was overall good. No worries about tap water like other places. Aruba is nice and safe, people are friendly and happy; although is a small island, there are plenty of interesting places to visit. We rented a car for half a day and we drove to California Lighthouse, Oranjestad and Baby Beach (highly recommended especially for snorkeling and children). We also took a horse back riding trip through the Arikok National Park and Natural Pool, on the other side of the island. The view from the top of the National Park hills is stunning as well as the sunset if you choose the afternoon tour. Overall, a great time and an amazing week to remember!

This was our first trip to Aruba and we will definitely come back. The Riu Palace all-inclusive is great, it's located within walking distance from shops and restaurants. It has great beach with clear and still water, nice swimming pool and great rooms. Food was overall good. No worries about tap water like other places. Aruba is nice and safe, people are friendly and happy; although is a small island, there are plenty of interesting places to visit. We rented a car for half a day and we drove to California Lighthouse, Oranjestad and Baby Beach (highly recommended especially for snorkeling and children). We also took a horse back riding trip through the Arikok National Park and Natural Pool, on the other side of the island. The view from the top of the National Park hills is stunning as well as the sunset if you choose the afternoon tour. Overall, a great time and an amazing week to remember!

We spent a fabulous 7 day vacation at the Riu Palace Aruba and it was great! The beach and the pool were fantastic! We had very nice, hot weather all week. The food was very good, we found the buffet offered nice healthy choices for lunch and dinner! The island itself is very beautiful with super friendly locals...i would return in a heartbeat!

HOTEL WAS CLEAN, ROOMS WERE BIG AND FOOD AND DRINKS WERE GREAT. BEACH AND POOL WERE SPECTACULAR. MY FAMILY AND I PLAN ON RETURNING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE WEATHER IS PERFECT, AND THE PEOPLE OF ARUBA ARE NICE. FELT VERY SAFE. ONE HAPPY ISLAND. PLUS THE BEST DRINKING WATER

Beautiful hotel, with friendly and helpful staff.... The food was excellent at all of the restaurants, including the buffet that had so much selection we could hardly believe it! Restaurants were particularly beautiful, and were kept immaculate! One disappointment was the departure time provided by Sunwing - 6:10 a.m. Since the airport doesn't open for traffic until 6:30 a.m. we were stuck on the plane for an extra 20 minutes. Concerning the beach, all of which are public in Aruba, we were bothered by having to get by 6:30 a.m. to secure a place with shade. Since we are beach people, not pool people, (because of all the noise and music at the pools) we were also unhappy with the loud radios on parts of the beach. Even a posted sign to "keep the radios at a low volume" would have helped! The premium paid for an ocean view was wasted, as our room was above a loud evening entertainment area. Overall, a good vacation.....

hotel was beyond expectations. Clean, spacious room with a great view. Housekeeping for the room exceptional. The beach is perfect, the pools are great, the people that proved services are always smiling, always show respect and attended to our needs immidaiatly.

The junior suites are really beautiful and spotless. The food is excellent in the buffet. We really enjoyed the Italian restaurant the best out of the four speciality restaurants. The only complaint I hAve is the beaches are not cleaned enough. There was dog feces on the beach every day and it smelled so bad we had to move to different spots. I heard this complaint from various people I spoke with. That is the reason I gave it a 4 not a 5 star.

The hotel is stunningly beautiful, great staff, fantastic beach and the food is top shelve. We were warmly greeted upon arrival and remembered by the staff at the front desk, they gave us a room with a view no extra charge. I would go back to Aruba Riu in a flash!!!

The grounds were clean and very inviting, the food was great no matter where we ate! We loved all the tropical drinks and the service was prompt and very attentive! We also loved our nightly walk into town...we felt very safe.

The beach was okay, the staff was amazing, but the smell of mould was bad in our room. Then to top it off they started construction in the building where we were staying in. The noise was unbearable, we did not relax at all, we could hear the noise when we were in our rooms and when we were laying near the pool.

My husband and myself just returned from Aruba. The grounds of the Riu Palace were great, the pool was amazing. Resturants were good, even the buffet was good. Enjoyed our breakfast every morning. The staff were good. But we didn't know that as of April 13th The Riu Palace is closed for three months for renovactions . So for the last two days of our vacation they started emptying some rooms. But the day we were leaving they had both elevators packed with furniture. So you had a long wait for the elevator. I was not happy! They should have waited till everyone had left. Everyone was out of there by 1pm to catch flights. The beach was beautiful. The rooms were NO 5 star, furniture was old ,broken. My friends sink in the room wasn't working. Enjoyed my time in Aruba ,the people were great, weather amazing. If I had know they were closing for three months I would have waited till renos were done. Travel agents should find out more about resorts.

Amazing beach and pool. Service was really good. Buffet was amazing. A la carte restaurant was just "ok " ( also a maximum of 4 reservations per week is allowed; and we didn't know that prior departure. our room was just ok, no king bed and furniture outdated. (But they are doing some renovations right now) Overall, we were really happy of our choice. Hotel has a really good location and the Aruba's weather was perfect!