Hotel Riu Palace Antillas

First time in Aruba and chose the worse hotel. Have to get up by 5 to get your palapas reserved have to tip for your seats cause they are locked up. They are not friendly and buffet is repetitive and steak house very unorganised had to wait in line for 1 hour and left. Safety is.not their priority. Will NOT go there again !!!!! Will stick to Punta Cana.

The best hotel to stay at as a solo adult. No screaming kids, great food, a fun casino , close to a tonne of shops and restaurants. The beach was stunning and so easy to get around. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Probably the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at. I was over whelmed with where to stay as there were so many options - but I definitely made the right choice!

My husband and I booked a long-awaited vacation hoping to stay at a 5-star hotel as “advertised”. We definitely paid for such an experience, over 7k for a week’s stay (Dec. 24-31). Comparatively speaking with other AI properties we’ve stayed at this hotel did disappoint. Our experience began with front desk staff member (Davidson) checking us in to our “reserved” sea view junior suite only to find out when we go up that the room has now view of sea but a wonderful view of cement roof. We immediately called the front desk to let them know our dissatisfaction. Whoever we spoke with (not Davidson) told us no problem, they found another availability but they had to make sure it was clean. Waiting for about 15 minutes for the callback, we went back to the lobby to see Davidson. Neither he or anyone else seemed to know who we had spoken with from the “cement view room”. Finally, after about 20 minutes he finds a room for us which is what we originally signed up for. Left a bad taste in our mouths for first impressions. With the exception of our cleaning staff (Nocha and Gloria), a couple of female bartenders (lobby bar- unfortunately lost paper with their names on it), and a couple of the ladies serving beverages where we ate breakfast, nobody else really impressed us. It seemed to us they mostly are resentful for having to serve others. Our massages were okay although overpriced for the experience , $360 for couple’s deep tissue massage. The beach area is rather small for as many people as they allow on it. The polabas are a commodity, especially if you don’t wake up on or before 6 a.m. to stake your claim by putting towels on them which signals other guests they are not available. But, the beach staff will take your “tip”, $20 to “reserve” one for you…not very classy. The lounge chairs are also reserved by putting towels on them…some folks had their towels removed from lounge chairs by other guests…we were two of the victims. You are allotted two towels per couple, they give you towel cards. If those towels mysteriously disappear, we did get an “inside tip” to go to front desk to receive more towels without being charged. As far as their restaurants, we enjoyed the French restaurant the most. No reservations for any of the restaurants, it’s first come first serve. We were dumbfounded when we heard from more than a few couples about their dismay after not being able gain entrance at the Steakhouse…their supposed most popular restaurant. We did get to dine there a couple of times, nothing to write home about considering all the fuss. Thankfully, we’re in love, enjoy each other’s company and made the best of it. If you’re accustomed to better than average, don’t waste your money or time. Overall, will not return to the Antilles. A new property is opening up next door which staff considers their competition. I’m sure they are right about that.

Stayed for a week with my mom and everything was a pleasant experience. The staff, rooms, location, and food quality/drink availability was amazing. The only note was that the rooms were a bit dirty ie: mold and/or having to leave notes to do certain tasks for the housekeeping like leave towels or fill the soap etc. The restaurants all had wonderful food choices. Typically at all inclusive resorts the food is sort of blah but the buffets and off menu restaurants offered well made and good quality selections. Beach was clean and soft sand, chairs available, pool had swim up bar although we were mostly on the beach. Not bothered by people walking up and down trying to sell things was a bonus! Short walk to town for shopping but also had shops onsite. Overall wonderful time and would stay here again.

My trip was to celebrate christmas in a different place then philadelphia. I had amazing time and christmas dinner was the best.