Great review Ryan! Just returned from 1 week vacation there. Agree with everything you say...and tipping was a major bone of contention between hubby and me. I'm from a service background and heard they make about $6-7/hour so tipped - occasionally. At the bar once or twice a day - a few dollars (my hubby was there A LOT!), $2/day for housekeeping and guess what...she refilled the fridge ever day. (wink wink) I also left $5 for each a la carte restaurant. Hubby finally gave up and used his spending money at the casino, I used mine for tipping. You didn't mention casino (in fact no one ever does and I completely forgot in my many reviews...trip advisor, Sunwing etc.). Very, very tight slots! We reduced our spending each day and never ever came out with anything left. But music was our biggest complaint - there was no escaping it without going to our room, inside the hotel or away from hotel. And we read SO many complaints about this before we even went. You would think they would take that to heart and make some changes. We thought we wouldn't return either but finding an adult-only, on the beach, with this value...we are booking 2 weeks next year. Now that we are aware, we will plan our activities accordingly. Again...GREAT review! Thanks so much!
Nice job on the review. I have been here several times and can agree with your views. I would have thought the construction would have been done by now as they broke ground quite awhile ago. The noise didnt really bother us but i havent been there in 2 years. I also agree that they could use some more laid back music. Although tipping should be included in the price ,I also agree with the commenter who brings $100-$200 in small bills. Each year we have visited we have gotten to know certain staff pretty well. I dont know what the resorts compensate the staff but you could tell that the tips went a long way. Lastly, we keep coming back to Riu. Last year we decided to try something other than Aruba and went to an adults only in Cancun. It was ok (resort was newer) but nothing has compared to Aruba. We tried comparing other AI’S for our trip coming up and will be returning to this resort again. While it isnt the newest or necessarily nicest, we have yet to have a bad experience here. As far as value, they are all within a couple hundred dollars. Riu just seems to have more variety in dining, entertainment and one of the best beach areas. I stayed at Barcelo (Occidental at the time) which is a couple doors down, their beach seemed much more crowded and a few less amenities.
We are arriving on a cruise and are considering a day pass here. The ship arrives late so we wouldn't be arriving at the RIU until noon. Would there still be chairs available on the beach and at the pool by then?
I know the all inclusive say they include tips, but sadly they don't. The only tip the workers get is from the customers. Like you said, if you don't tip, you won't get the service.... So if you wan't better service, tip them......
Do they place a hold onto your credit/debit card upon check-in for incidental? If so, is it per day or one hold for entire trip? And is minibars in room additional charge if you drink it? Lol
How clear was the water and is it easy to swim? Is the beach easy to walk a mile or so on and can you connect to restaurants down the beach off the beach?
Are there ample loungers by the pool and on the beach available throughout the day if being under an umbrella or thatched covering is not something important to the visitor?
Yes I had no issues with the pool, the main thing with the pool was the construction noise but they might have made more progress on the building since then
The food over at the antillas was too good to leave behind but from other reviews I have read you can use their main cafeteria just not the ala carte restaurants
We stayed at Riu Antillas a few weeks ago and we did eat at the buffet at The Riu Palace for lunch. It was FULL of birds, which lessened as the more people came in, but it was creepy and I am a bird lover. Food was good but ambiance NOT like Riu Antillas...also lots of kids! We never ventured there again...plus...I don't think you can eat at their a la carte restaurants, just the buffet.
Hi. Question about the a La carte restaurants. Are they included in the all inclusive price? Can you order as many entrees as you want to eat or is there a limit to one entree per guest at dinner? Can you make reservations for each a la carte restaurant or is it first come first serve?
They are included in the price. For the amount of entrees I am not sure but I never left any of the places less than stuffed. Reservations for the restaurants are pretty much required especially the steak house when I was there which had the most people interested in it
As far as the chairs go at the beach I think you have to claim it early if you don't I found with most resorts you don't get a chair under the hut. Its unfortunate but you really have to do this
Directly, I did book with the site the 750 per day was two people all inclusive with the oceanfront suite so a little high but you can save more by choosing less expensive rooms
I love the RIU Palace Antilles and disagree with a couple of Ryan’s observations. One, tipping is NOT included in most all-inclusives including this one. You are expected to tip for good service. Also, about the beach chairs being reserved early in the morning…..this is true of every resort I’ve been to in the Caribbean. No matter how many signs the resort posts prohibiting it, chairs will be saved very early in the morning here and at every other resort.
I just came from Cancun and tourist are doing the same there. You cannot find a chair at the pool or the beach area because most of them looks to be occupied. People put a towel, or a book, or 1 shoe on top of the pool or beach chair and they never come back. I saw in Cancun same chair 2 days in the row with a book on top and nobody was there. This is rude and ridiculous behavior. Same thing in Punta Cana. People are very selfish.
