Hotel Riu Palace Antillas
Hotel Riu Palace Antillas is an adults-only all-inclusive resort in Palm - Eagle Beach, Aruba with 482 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Diving, Hiking, Horseback Riding and Nightly Entertainment. Travelers rate it 4.3/5 across 4,151 Google reviews.
Amenities
Traveler Insights(312 discussions)
The Riu Palace Antillas occupies one of the most desirable spots on Palm Beach, Aruba's flagship stretch of coastline, and it earns its reputation as a reliable adults-only escape rather than a luxury showpiece. The resort leans into the RIU brand's strength: solid all-inclusive value, strong bar programs, and a beach location that genuinely delivers. Guests who've stayed here repeatedly note it has a comfortable, easygoing energy — this isn't the flashiest resort on the island, but it's the kind of place where you settle in quickly and find your rhythm by day two.
Food is a genuine strength here, which isn't always true at Aruba properties in this price tier. The buffet features carved meats and fresh options that hold up well throughout a week-long stay, and the lobby bar crew has developed something of a cult following — staff remember drink preferences and deliver them fast. The pools are clean and well-serviced, and the beach access is seamless with free chairs and umbrellas. The rooms — long the property's weak point — are finally being addressed: a major phased renovation has already delivered 482 newly redone main-building rooms with new layouts, walk-in showers, LED lighting, and glass-railing balconies, with the full property expected to be finished by the end of 2026. Requesting a newly renovated main-building room away from the theatre wing is the smart play until the work wraps.
This property is best suited for couples and solo travelers who want a well-executed all-inclusive experience on one of the Caribbean's windiest and most reliably sunny islands, without the hard sell of timeshare resorts or the chaos of spring break crowds. Compared to the neighboring Riu Palace Aruba, the Antillas skews slightly quieter and has a smaller footprint — though note that the Palace Aruba is entirely closed for its final renovation phase during much of 2026, so the usual cross-property privileges are on pause and some construction activity next door is possible. The property is also slated to join RIU's Elite Club program in mid-October. Aruba's signature highlights — Arikok National Park, Gold Mine Ranch horseback rides, and the wreck diving off the coast — are all easy day trips from here.
Pros
- +Prime adults-only Palm Beach location — one of Aruba's most beautiful stretches of white sand with calm, swimmable water right outside your door
- +Bar staff are genuinely exceptional — bartenders memorize your drink order after the first night and there are never lines at any of the resort's multiple bars
- +Buffet quality punches well above typical all-inclusive standards, with carving stations featuring quality steaks that rival the specialty restaurants
- +Three specialty restaurants plus an international buffet give real dining variety throughout a week-long stay without feeling repetitive
- +The main building's 482 rooms are newly renovated — fresh layouts, LED lighting, walk-in showers replacing tubs, and glass-railing balconies address the dated-room complaints that dogged the property for years
- +Staff professionalism is consistently praised — front desk, pool attendants, and wait staff are all described as friendly and attentive
- +Pool area is well-maintained with free sun loungers and umbrellas at both the pool and beach, never feeling overcrowded relative to resort size
- +All-inclusive package is genuinely comprehensive — premium liquor, 24-hour snacks, and consistent drink quality without the watered-down experience common at competitors
Cons
- −The property is midway through a major phased renovation with full completion not expected until the end of 2026 — rooms outside the newly redone main building may still feel dated, and construction disturbance is possible depending on your room assignment and travel dates
- −Rooms adjacent to the resort's theatre hear nightly show noise, which is a real issue for early sleepers — request a room away from the entertainment wing
- −Specialty restaurants require lining up in person at 6pm to secure reservations, with no advance booking and limited menu choices of only around 6 entrees per restaurant
- −Aruba is one of the pricier Caribbean destinations, and nightly rates here carry a significant premium over comparable all-inclusives in Mexico or the Dominican Republic
- −Limited electrical outlets in rooms, especially in the bedroom area — a frustration for guests traveling with multiple devices
- −The adjacent sister property, Riu Palace Aruba, is fully closed for the final phase of its own renovation for much of 2026 (roughly spring through late summer), which means neighboring construction activity and no exchange visits between the two RIUs during that window
- −The property is large enough that guests in certain room blocks feel disconnected from the beach and main pool areas, with long walks to amenities
- −Wi-Fi quality is inconsistent — lobby and pool areas have decent signal but rooms further from the main building experience slow speeds
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“We had a fantastic week at the resort. The rooms are spacious and bright, the beach is beautiful, and the food in all the restaurants was excellent. We were also thrilled that the snorkeling right at the resort was fantastic. We thought we'd have to...”
“Amazing stay. The food is delicious at all the restaurants. All the rooms have a beautiful view of the ocean. There is a great area to snorkel just to the right of the hotel. Lots of marine life out there. We had a couples massage the first day we we...”
“We had a wonderful stay at Antillas. The rooms are exceptionally clean which means the most to me when staying at a hotel. The food was really good as well. The Asian night was delicious. The only thing I would recommend, start doing reservations. I...”