Hotel Riu Palace Antillas - Adults Only - All Inclusive

⭐️ 1 Star — Not What It Used to Be I’ve stayed at the RIU Antillas in Aruba five times, and this was by far my worst experience—not only here, but at any RIU resort. It’s honestly heartbreaking because I used to love this hotel, but it has declined significantly. The customer service was terrible, with several rude and unaccommodating employees, especially the manager, Maddie. On the second day of my vacation, I became extremely sick and believe I may have gotten food poisoning from the resort. I spent over 15 hours vomiting profusely every 10–15 minutes. When I explained this to Maddie, she was extremely rude, dismissive, and showed absolutely no sincerity or compassion. She did nothing to accommodate me or make the situation any better. I was also very concerned about hygiene. On our last day, after leaving breakfast, we saw Maddie come out of the lobby bathroom after being in the handicap stall for quite some time and walk out without washing her hands. I cannot say this caused anyone to get sick, but seeing this from a resort manager was extremely disturbing, especially after becoming so sick myself. The pool situation was handled terribly as well. Someone threw up in the swim-up bar, so it was closed with caution tape for the day. The next day, however, the pool was simply reopened and guests were allowed to swim without what appeared to be proper sanitation measures. There was also no alternative entertainment or gesture for guests because of the inconvenience. The entertainment is nothing like it used to be. We’ve stayed at many other RIU resorts that are significantly better, so I know what RIU is capable of. The Antillas has very little going on compared with the past. I also experienced a blatant double standard at the steakhouse. While leaving the pool, I asked to put our name on the waitlist and was told I couldn’t because I was wearing beachwear. I went upstairs, completely changed, and returned because buzzers are first-come, first-served. The same employee then gave a buzzer to a man wearing a swimsuit. If there’s a dress code, it should apply equally to everyone. After following the rules myself, this felt extremely unfair and honestly sexist. The food was disappointing as well. The lunch buffet had very limited options, and the steakhouse lobster was so overcooked and rubbery that it barely tasted like lobster. After five stays, I know exactly what this resort used to be, and that’s what makes this visit so disappointing. We’ve stayed at many RIU resorts that are far better, and it’s a shame to see the Antillas fall this far. I genuinely used to love this resort, but after this experience, I would never come back to the RIU Antillas again. It has fallen far from what it used to be, and I hope RIU takes these concerns seriously and makes significant changes to the customer service, hygiene, food, entertainment, and overall treatment of guests.

Hotel Riu Palace Antilles is the best option if you want to stay on beautiful Palm Beach without worrying about paying for every meal and drink. The white sand beach is stunning, and the calm, turquoise water is absolutely lovely. Dining Tips: Breakfast and dinner are served on the lobby floor, while lunch is on the pool and beach level. Because the restaurants operate on a first-come, first-served basis, you should show up right at opening. They will hand out beepers if there is a wait. The steakhouse by the pool is by far the most popular venue; people start lining up for dinner around 5:30 PM. Beach & Pool Tips: Chair reservations start as early as 6:00 AM. Beach staff will set up your chairs once you choose your palapa. Unfortunately, many guests save prime waterfront spots and don't return for hours, which can be frustrating. The swim-up bars open at 10:00 AM, and my favorite drink was the strawberry-banana slush! Pro tip: If you bring your own tumbler, ask the bartenders for two regular cups of your drink so you can pour them in yourself. Amenities: The Trade Winds convenience store on the pool floor carries all the essentials, but it is very expensive. We spent the most money there on sunscreen, so be prepared unless you plan on leaving the resort to buy necessities! Overall, it was a truly lovely vacation and a highly recommended stay.

What a wonderful stay at RIU Antilles! From the welcome and champagne reception by Thurston to a speedy check in. The rooms were spacious and clean with prompt luggage service. Fully stocked bar and refrigerator daily. Beautiful ocean view. The pool bar staff were fun and music awesome. The beach was not too crowded and I enjoyed Zumba in the water. The restaurants and buffet gave you an amazing variety of foods as well as different atmospheres depending on how I was feeling that day. You need to arrive early for your dinner reservations as it is first come first serve. Phenomenal experience overall.

We stayed at Riu Antillas during our recent trip to Aruba, and this was actually our second stay here, the first being about three years ago. I’m happy to say we still really enjoyed it! The resort was very clean, the food was good for the most part, and one of our favorite things is still the location. Being so close to the Palm Beach strip makes it easy to walk to shops, restaurants, and nightlife. This time we booked the Ocean Front Suite. While the view was beautiful, I personally don’t think the room itself was worth the extra cost. It felt more like a standard oceanfront room than a true suite experience. A few minor issues kept this from being a 5-star stay. The shower door wouldn’t close all the way, which caused water to get onto the bathroom floor. We also noticed some of the towels were stained, looked a bit dingy and quite a few had holes in them! I understand hotels use white towels and they go through a lot of washing, but it would be nice if housekeeping inspected them before placing them in guest rooms and replaced any that appear stained or worn. Overall, we had a great stay and would definitely return again. The location, cleanliness, friendly atmosphere, and overall experience continue to make Riu Antillas one of our favorite places to stay in Aruba.