Riu Palace Aruba: Is It Worth It After Its 2026 Renovation?
The 30-Second Version
- Best for
- Families and couples who want a lively all-inclusive on Palm Beach, with an adults-only option.
- Room to book
- Junior Suite Ocean View · Elite Club with a private pool if you are traveling as adults.
- Heads-up before you book
- Specialty restaurants that fill up, entertainment noise and a full charge if you leave early.
Rates change weeks ahead of time. Moving your arrival a day or two sometimes changes the final price quite a bit.
Contents
- What to know before you book
- What guests say
- Location and the neighboring resort
- Elite Club, the renovation's big change
- Which room should you book?
- Beach and pools
- Where to eat
- Spa, entertainment and Riu Party
- Excursions from Palm Beach
- What's not included
- Pros and cons
- Who is it for?
- Quick answers
- How to book without surprises
- Final verdict
What to know before you book
The practical details guests ask about most before paying, taken from the Booking.com listing and Riu's official press releases.
What guests say
The resort has 4.3 out of 5 on Google (5,197 reviews) and 7.9 out of 10 on Booking.com (556 reviews). These are cumulative scores that include the years before the renovation, so it is worth reading the most recent reviews too. Booking.com breaks its score down by category (October 2026):
Booking.com score by category (out of 10, 556 reviews)
Category scores are the ones shown by Booking.com and change over time. Google does not break down topics for this resort, so the critical points are summarized from the most recent reviews and carry no counts.
✓ Most praised
- The Palm Beach location
- Friendly staff and cleanliness
- Food variety and renovated rooms
✗ Most criticized
- Specialty restaurants that fill up (one guest calls the Italian one subpar)
- Too few beach umbrellas
- Isolated cases of slow service or problems with the assigned room
Location and the neighboring resort
The resort is on J.E. Irausquin Boulevard in Palm Beach, on Aruba's northwest coast. According to Booking.com it is about 5.6 miles (9 km) from the airport (Riu's official blog says 6.8 miles) and a 5-minute walk from the beach area; Riu's blog places it about 4.3 miles (7 km) from Oranjestad. Booking.com rates the location 9.2, and couples give it the same score.
One detail worth knowing: right next door is the Riu Palace Antillas, which is adults-only. They are separate resorts; the Aruba does welcome families. According to the reopening press release, Aruba guests can attend the Friday Riu Party at the Antillas. If you want an entirely adults-only resort, the Antillas is the one; inside the Aruba, the adults' space is the Elite Club.
Check the transfer options available for your dates, number of passengers and luggage, and organize your arrival at the resort.
Elite Club, the renovation's big change
The Elite Club is what changes the resort's profile the most. Inside the Riu Palace Aruba, which is family-friendly, the rooms with the best ocean views became this adults category: according to the official press release, 31 rooms with a private pool, an exclusive restaurant and a beach lounger area with bar service. On Booking.com you will find Elite Club suites with an ocean view and with direct pool access, all marked 18+.
It is a way to find some calm inside a large resort. If what you want is for the whole resort to be adults-only, compare it with the neighboring Riu Palace Antillas.
Which room should you book?
According to the official press release, every room went through the renovation. The lineup includes Junior Suites with partial or full ocean views, two-bedroom suites for families, Friends & Family rooms and the Elite Club categories. Riu's blog cites 570 sq ft (53 m²) for the family suite and up to 861 sq ft (80 m²) for the two-bedroom Junior Suite.
Pick your room in 10 seconds
Option 1 · Couples and families
Junior Suite Ocean View
For anyone who wants to wake up facing the sea without paying for the Elite Club.
A renovated room with one extra-large double bed or two double beds, according to Booking.com. The official site distinguishes partial from full ocean views; if the sea is what matters most to you, confirm which one you are booking.
Capacity: 2 adults, or families depending on the bed layout.
If you travel with kids and need two spaces, there is also the two-bedroom suite (up to 861 sq ft, according to Riu).
Option 2 · Adult couples
Elite Club with Private Pool
For guests who value privacy and don't want to share everything with the rest of the resort.
It adds a private pool or direct pool access, an exclusive restaurant and a reserved beach area with bar service, according to the official press release.
Capacity: 2 adults, guests 18 and older only.
There are few rooms (31), so check availability early.
Before you decide: compare the total cost of both categories over the whole stay, not just the nightly difference. An upgrade that looks small can add up over a week.
Check Options for Your Dates →Beach and pools
The resort sits directly on the beach. Riu's official blog mentions about 560 ft (170 m) of beachfront, four pools (including a main pool of 10,764 sq ft with loungers and drink service) and 75,000 sq ft of tropical gardens; Booking.com lists two outdoor pools, so the number depends on how the kids' pools and the Elite Club private pools are counted. The renovation reorganized the garden and pool area facing the sea.
For families, the resort adds the Riu Land kids club (ages 4 to 12, according to Riu), a kids' pool with slides and a baby pool. One recent Google review asks for more beach umbrellas, something to keep in mind in high season.
Where to eat
The renovation also touched the food: according to the official press release, menus, products and service pace were updated. Booking.com counts 8 restaurants and guests rate breakfast well (buffet and American options), although one comment misses more sweets.
Don Nicolás
The international buffet, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Krystal
Fusion cuisine, according to Riu.
Sayuri
Asian cuisine restaurant.
Milano
Italian cuisine; one recent review calls it subpar.
Steakhouse
The resort's steak restaurant.
Pepe's Food and Tiki Taco
Casual options: snacks and tacos.
Among bars and the café, the press release names the Daiquiri lobby bar, the Cappuccino café with ice cream, Barry's plaza bar, the Palm Beach pool bar and the American Country sports bar.
Spa, entertainment and Riu Party
The official site and Booking.com list a spa and wellness center with massages and a steam room, plus a gym. We did not find the details of treatments, hours or what costs extra in official sources, so ask before planning a spa day.
In the evenings there is an entertainment program and, on Fridays, the Riu Party at the Riu Palace Antillas, the adults-only resort next door. If you want quiet nights, keep in mind this is a lively resort.
Excursions from Palm Beach
Excursions are not part of the all-inclusive. From Palm Beach you can combine a day on the water with a day in nature: a catamaran or boat trip, with options that include snorkeling, or a tour of Arikok National Park by 4x4 or jeep. Before booking, check what each activity includes, whether it offers pickup, its cancellation policy and whether there is space for your dates.
Catamaran and Boat Tours
Compare catamaran and boat trips from Aruba, many with snorkeling. Departure point, length and services depend on each tour.
Arikok National Park
4x4 and jeep tours, hiking and snorkeling in the protected park in the island's interior. Check each listing for pickup and entrance fees.
Check the tours and activities available for your dates.
What's not included
So there are no surprises on arrival, this is what falls outside the rate:
- Transfers to and from Aruba's airport
- Excursions outside the resort
- Spa treatments (confirm costs with the resort)
- Any charge the resort lists at check-in; only cards are accepted, not cash
Pros and cons
✓ What works very well
- Direct access to Palm Beach, the best score on Booking.com (9.2)
- Renovated in 2026: rooms, lobby, gardens, pools and menus
- Friendly staff and cleanliness, both widely praised in reviews
- Two profiles in one resort: family options plus an adults-only Elite Club
- Food variety and a well-rated breakfast
✗ What to know first
- The specialty restaurants fill up and did not always take reservations
- Value for money is the lowest score on Booking.com (7.3)
- It is a lively resort: entertainment noise is possible
- Few beach umbrellas, according to a recent review
- No cribs or extra beds, and a full charge if you leave early
Who is this resort for?
✓ Ideal for
- Families who want an all-inclusive on Palm Beach with a kids club and a kids' pool
- Couples who want privacy inside a large resort and value the Elite Club
- Travelers who want a lively base with the beach, bars and plenty nearby
✗ Not for you if...
- You want a quiet, peaceful resort: the entertainment and family atmosphere are noticeable
- You want an entirely adults-only resort: that is the neighboring Riu Palace Antillas
- You need to reserve a table in advance at every restaurant
Quick answers before you book
Is Riu Palace Aruba all-inclusive?
Yes. It is an all-inclusive resort from the RIU chain, with meals, drinks and snacks, plus daytime and nighttime entertainment.
What is the Elite Club?
It is the adults-only category inside the resort (guests must be 18 or older): 31 rooms with a private pool, an exclusive restaurant and a reserved beach area with bar service, according to Riu's official press release.
How far is it from Aruba's airport?
Booking.com puts it about 5.6 miles (9 km) from Queen Beatrix Airport; Riu's official blog says about 6.8 miles (11 km). The transfer is not included.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. Children of any age are welcome, and it has the Riu Land kids club (ages 4 to 12, according to Riu), a kids' pool and a baby pool. Booking.com says there are no cribs or extra beds and that kids 13 and older are charged as adults.
Is there an adults-only area?
Yes, the Elite Club. If you want an entirely adults-only resort, the neighboring Riu Palace Antillas is the one; guests at the Aruba can attend the Friday Riu Party there, according to Riu.
What restaurants does it have?
According to Riu: the Don Nicolás international buffet, Krystal (fusion), Sayuri (Asian), Milano (Italian), a Steakhouse, Pepe's Food and Tiki Taco. Booking.com counts 8 restaurants.
How many pools does it have?
Riu's official blog mentions four pools, including a main pool of 10,764 sq ft (1,000 m²). Booking.com lists only 2 outdoor pools; the difference depends on how the kids' pools and the Elite Club private pools are counted.
Do I need to book the specialty restaurants?
Recent reviews say they fill up and did not always take advance reservations. Ask at the front desk how the system works and arrive early.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 3:00 p.m. and check-out is until 12:00 p.m. Booking.com warns that the resort charges the full stay if you leave early, and asks for photo ID and a credit card at check-in.
Can I pay in cash?
According to Booking.com, the resort does not accept cash, only cards.
Did it reopen after a renovation?
Yes. Riu announced the reopening after the renovation in August 2026, with updated rooms, lobby, gardens, pools and menus. Cumulative ratings include reviews from before that date.
What ratings does Riu Palace Aruba have?
Google 4.3 out of 5 (5,197 reviews) and Booking.com 7.9 out of 10 (556 reviews), checked in October 2026.
How to book without surprises
- Pick your profile: a family room or the adults-only Elite Club; they are different experiences within the same resort.
- Get your transfer sorted ahead of time: it is about 5.6 miles from the airport and not included.
- Bring a credit card and photo ID for check-in; the resort does not accept cash.
- Check the cancellation policy of the rate before paying: if you leave earlier than booked, the resort charges the full stay.
- If you travel with a baby, confirm the crib situation with the resort, because Booking.com says there are none.
Final verdict — 4.3 / 5
The resort has 4.3 out of 5 on Google (5,197 reviews) and 7.9 out of 10 on Booking.com (556 reviews), checked in October 2026 and accumulated since before the renovation. Since the August 2026 reopening, the most recent comments praise the location, the staff and the cleanliness, while pointing to the specialty-restaurant tables and the entertainment noise. It works very well if you want a lively all-inclusive on Palm Beach, whether as a family or in the Elite Club; it is not for you if what you want is silence.
See Booking OptionsDiscover the Next Resort
▶ Watch the Video
The 10 BEST Resorts in Aruba (2026) — All-Inclusive & Luxury
@TopLuxuryHotelsOfficial