Hotel Riu Palace Antillas
The Riu Palace Antillas sits directly on Palm Beach, Aruba's best-known stretch of coast, and it earns its reputation as a reliable adults-only escape rather than a luxury showpiece. It leans on what RIU does well: a 24-hour all-inclusive, strong bars and a beach that delivers, with calm, clear water and guest-only loungers right outside. Repeat guests describe an easygoing place where you settle into a routine by day two, and the RIU Party, nightly shows and live music keep the evenings busy.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Adults-only resort right on Palm Beach, one of Aruba's calmest, most swimmable stretches of white sand, with guest-only loungers and umbrellas on the sand
- +Bar staff are a highlight: bartenders learn your drink by the second night, and lines at the bars are rare
- +All 482 rooms have been through a full renovation, with walk-in showers in place of tubs, glass-railing balconies, LED lighting and lighter, modern decor
- +Real dining variety for a week-long stay: Atlantis buffet, Krystal for fusion, Rimini for Italian, Malmok (buffet lunch, Aruban dinner menu) and the Palm Beach steakhouse
- +24-hour all-inclusive with 24-hour room service, premium drinks throughout the hotel and a complimentary 24-hour gym
- +Elite Club by RIU is live here as of October 2026, adding ocean-view rooms, a private lounge and pool area with its own bar, an exclusive dinner restaurant and restaurant booking through the RIU app
- +Exchange privileges with the freshly renovated Riu Palace Aruba next door, which reopened on July 31, 2026: lunch, snacks and drinks there, plus the Friday RIU Party back on since August 2026
Cons
- −Standard guests often have to line up in person for same-night a la carte reservations, while Elite Club guests book through the app, which some find frustrating
- −Rooms near the theatre pick up the nightly show noise, so light sleepers should ask for a room away from the entertainment side
- −Pool loungers get claimed with towels very early in the morning, and the main pool can feel loud and party-heavy in the afternoon
- −Some 2026 guests reported a damp, musty smell on upper floors and patchy air-conditioning, so report it right away and ask for a room change if you notice it
- −Aruba is one of the pricier Caribbean destinations, and rates here run well above comparable adults-only all-inclusives in Mexico or the Dominican Republic
- −Limited power outlets in the bedroom area, a frustration for travelers with several devices
- −It is a big high-rise, so rooms at the far end of long corridors can feel a walk away from the beach and main pool
Food is a strength by Aruba standards. The Atlantis buffet handles breakfast, lunch and dinner with live cooking stations, while dinner rotates through Krystal (fusion), Rimini (Italian), Malmok (an Aruban menu at night) and the Palm Beach steakhouse. Standard guests often queue in person for same-night reservations; Elite Club guests, a tier that is up and running as of October 2026, book through the RIU app and get their own restaurant, lounge and pool bar. All 482 rooms have been renovated with walk-in showers, glass-railing balconies and brighter decor, though a few 2026 reviews mention mildew smells on upper floors, and rooms near the theatre hear the shows.
It suits couples and adult friends who want a well-run, sociable all-inclusive on one of the Caribbean's sunniest, breeziest islands. Next door, Riu Palace Aruba reopened on July 31, 2026 after a full renovation, so the exchange privileges (lunch, snacks and drinks at the sister hotel) and the Friday RIU Party are back. Aruba costs more than Mexico or Punta Cana, but you get steady weather and an easy island to explore: Arikok National Park, the California Lighthouse, horseback rides at Gold Mine Ranch and snorkel trips to the Antilla wreck are all easy day trips.
Common Questions
Is the Riu Palace Antillas really adults-only?
Are the rooms renovated, and is there any construction?
How do the restaurants and reservations work?
Can I use the Riu Palace Aruba next door?
Is Elite Club worth the upgrade?
What day trips are worth doing from the resort?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Atlantis |
| Italian | Rimini |
| Steakhouse | Palm Beach |
| Caribbean & local | Malmok |
| International & fusion | Krystal |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Palm Beach3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Arashi Beach9 min drive · 3.7 mi
Alto Vista Chapel9 min drive · 3.8 mi
Casibari Rock Formation11 min drive · 5.5 mi
California Lighthouse11 min drive · 4.6 mi
Ayo Rock Formation14 min drive · 7.7 mi
More things to do (24)
- Eagle Beach · beach4 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Butterfly Farm · wildlife4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Druif Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Boca Catalina · beach8 min drive · 3.3 mi
- Mangel Halto Beach · beach20 min drive · 11 mi
- Bubali Bird Sanctuary · wildlife6 min walk · 0.3 mi
- Catamaran snorkel trip to the Antilla shipwreck · excursion10 min walk · 0.5 mi
- Sunset sail from Palm Beach · excursion3 min drive · 0.9 mi
- Divi Links · golf4 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Hadicurari Beach · beach5 min drive · 2.0 mi
- Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory · museum6 min drive · 2.7 mi
- Malmok Beach · beach7 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Atlantis submarine dive · excursion8 min drive · 4.0 mi
- Tierra del Sol Golf Course · golf8 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Philip's Animal Garden · wildlife9 min drive · 3.4 mi
- Oranjestad · town9 min drive · 4.3 mi
- National Archaeological Museum Aruba · museum9 min drive · 4.2 mi
- Fort Zoutman and Historical Museum · museum9 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Renaissance Marina · marina10 min drive · 4.4 mi
- Surfside Beach · beach11 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Hooiberg · viewpoint12 min drive · 6.7 mi
- Aruba Ostrich Farm · wildlife15 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Donkey Sanctuary Aruba · wildlife20 min drive · 9.3 mi
- Balashi Gold Mill Ruins · historic site20 min drive · 9.4 mi
Amenities
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Seaweed & sargassum
Aruba gets sargassum, typically worst April through September, and almost entirely on the windward east coast.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 4,151 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...”
