Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island
Riu Palace Paradise Island trades on one of the Caribbean's most recognizable addresses and delivers what the setting promises: a white sand beach with clear turquoise water right outside, an adults-only crowd, and RIU's 24-hour all-inclusive formula. For guests whose goal is beach time with unlimited drinks and no children around, the resort delivers on its core promise in a hard-to-beat spot, about 3 km from downtown Nassau and next door to Atlantis.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Straight onto the white sand on Paradise Island, with clear turquoise water and free loungers on the beach; the beach is the main reason people book and it rarely disappoints
- +Adults-only (18 and over) on one of the Bahamas' best-known resort islands, with a calmer pool scene than the family-heavy Atlantis complex next door
- +Six restaurants under one plan: Atlantic for buffet breakfast and themed buffet dinners, Tengoku for Japanese, Kulinarium and Krystal for gourmet fusion, Bahamas (buffet lunch that turns into a steakhouse at night) and the Parrillada Jerk grill for lunch and snacks
- +Soca swim-up bar in the pool, the Calypso bar with a stage for shows, a Capuchino pastry shop for coffee and ice cream, and drinks covered around the clock
- +RIU's 24-hour all-inclusive means late-night snacks and drinks are always available, with no midnight cutoff that catches guests off guard
- +Renova Spa with massages, treatments and a beauty salon, plus a free 24-hour gym and RIU Fit classes for guests who want some structure to the day
- +Location is genuinely handy: about 3 km from downtown Nassau, walking distance to Atlantis for a paid Aquaventure day pass, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
Cons
- −Room maintenance is a persistent complaint: mold on ceilings, dated furnishings, loud aging air conditioning units and slippery bathroom floors all come up, and as of 2026 guests say room quality varies a lot depending on where in the building you land
- −A la carte dinners need booking, and traveler forums report it is done through the RIU app only a couple of days ahead once you are on property, so the popular slots go quickly
- −The property is aging and smaller than most Riu Palace hotels, which disappoints guests expecting the scale and polish the Palace name implies; the last big makeover was its 2017 adults-only conversion
- −Bahamas pricing runs well above comparable Riu Palace stays in the Dominican Republic, Mexico or Jamaica, and the room condition does not always justify the premium
- −Adults-only does not mean quiet: bachelorette groups and birthday crowds book here, and the pool can get loud with the open bar
- −Beds and pillows draw steady criticism, so light sleepers should ask for extra pillows at check-in
- −No golf, water park or nature excursions on site: the nearby golf course costs extra, Aquaventure is a paid day pass at Atlantis, and downtown Nassau needs a taxi or water taxi
The practical experience has friction points that show up consistently in guest feedback. The rooms are aging, and the maintenance gap shows in mold on ceilings, loud old air conditioners and dated furnishings; recent guests say the luck of the room draw matters. Dining is broader than the hotel's size suggests: Atlantic runs buffet breakfasts and three themed buffet nights a week, Bahamas serves buffet lunches before turning into a steakhouse at dinner, Parrillada Jerk grills at lunchtime, and the a la carte dinners are Tengoku (Japanese), Kulinarium and Krystal (both gourmet fusion). Book those dinners early in the stay. Drinks run through the Soca swim-up bar, the Calypso stage bar and the Capuchino pastry shop, and service is inconsistent in the way aging large all-inclusives often are.
This resort suits couples and adult groups who want a Bahamas beach with everything included and can live with a property that is not brand new. It earns its value against Paradise Island's a la carte resorts, where food and drinks get expensive fast, but costs noticeably more than similar Riu Palace stays elsewhere in the Caribbean. Atlantis and its Aquaventure water park are a short walk away on a paid day pass, downtown Nassau is a quick taxi ride, and the beach and pools can fill a relaxing week without leaving.
Common Questions
How does the Riu Palace Paradise Island compare to Atlantis?
Can guests use the Atlantis facilities?
Are the room conditions as bad as some reviews suggest?
Do I need reservations for the a la carte restaurants?
Is the adults-only rule strictly enforced?
How far is the airport from the resort?
Restaurants (6)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Atlantic, Parrillada Jerk |
| Japanese & sushi | Tengoku |
| Steakhouse | Bahamas |
| International & fusion | Kulinarium, 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
Downtown Nassau (Bay Street)9 min drive · 2.6 mi
Cabbage Beach10 min walk · 0.5 mi
Fort Montagu6 min drive · 2.2 mi
Blackbeard's Tower8 min drive · 4.1 mi
Pirates of Nassau Museum10 min drive · 3.0 mi
Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre13 min drive · 4.2 mi
More things to do (24)
- Cable Beach · beach20 min drive · 8.2 mi
- Aquaventure Water Park (Atlantis) · water park4 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Junkanoo Beach · beach10 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Blue Lagoon Island day trip and dolphin encounter · excursion4 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Atlantis Marina · marina4 min drive · 0.9 mi
- Dolphin Cay (Atlantis) · adventure park5 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Nassau Harbour Club Marina · marina5 min drive · 1.7 mi
- Exuma swimming pigs day trip by speedboat · excursion5 min drive · 1.7 mi
- Rose Island snorkel and beach trip · excursion5 min drive · 1.7 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion5 min drive · 1.7 mi
- Montagu Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.2 mi
- The Dig Aquarium (Atlantis) · wildlife6 min drive · 1.4 mi
- Paradise Beach · beach7 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Bay Street Marina · marina7 min drive · 1.9 mi
- Fast ferry day trip to Harbour Island · excursion7 min drive · 2.0 mi
- The Retreat Gardens · nature8 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Parliament Square · historic site9 min drive · 2.7 mi
- Queen's Staircase · historic site9 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation · museum9 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Fort Fincastle · historic site10 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Straw Market · town10 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Heritage Museum of The Bahamas · museum10 min drive · 3.0 mi
- National Art Gallery of The Bahamas · museum10 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Arawak Cay Fish Fry · town12 min drive · 3.8 mi
Amenities
Seaweed & sargassum
The Bahamas gets sargassum, typically worst June through September.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 3.8 · 3,624 reviews
“We’ve just returned from a stay at the Riu Palace Bahamas and overall had a great experience. We did have a small issue with our room on arrival, but it was resolved quickly by the hotel. The room was clean with a comfortable bed and fresh sheets, al...”
“Wife and I went for our 3 year anniversary and had an amazing time. This was our first time out the country again since our honeymoon and we really enjoyed it. The staff (starting with our check in) all throughout the resort was really nice. Food was...”
“Great location for this property and beautiful beach. Downside was the constant clanging and banging next door at the old conference centre- not sure why they couldn’t have brought the work inside as the building was vacant. Food was good, nice varie...”
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