Riu Palace Punta Cana - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3898 reviews

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  RIU PALACE PUNTA CANA

  I gave the RIU Palace 4 stars which is a bit high for my review but i cant leave 3.5 . I found this resort to be Very Underwhelming. Which i guess can be a good thing if your looking for small, very low key place for your trip. For me I was disappointed. As a solo traveler in our group, I had to pay top dollar for a very high single supplement rate at this resort. Staying here at the "Palace" was also a significant extra cost up as opposed to staying at just a RIU. For me it was definitely not worth the extra cost to stay here. I found the hotel to be one of their smaller properties. As I have found in all the RIU 's i have stayed at it was kept very clean and tidy. Public areas, restaurants, pools and the rooms were clean. Getting your fridge refilled was lacking in the rooms tho. The restaurants were very small with very limited seating and limited time open. The portion sizes were along the lines of rations as the portions were so small. I know cost control is important in this industry but not at the expense of the guest who paid a lot of money. The buffet was probably one of the smallest buffets I've been too with limited items. We ate most of the time at the steak house as it provided actual portions that filled you up. Out of stocks were also common in the restaurants and the bars. I do have to state that what food we ate regardless of portion sizes that i mentioned earlier the food was quite good. No complaints on that. A couple people in our group did mention their dissatisfaction with the quality of the food through room service tho. Again the steak house was a winner here. Good food, good portions and good service. Servers were very professional here. Lines were long to get in. The bars were tricky. Very inconsistent in liquor brands available depending on which bar you were at. Best bar was the lobby bar (coincidentally the furthest to go to get a drink) as it had more of the higher end brands of liquor. Unfortunately its quite a walk in order to get your preferred brand. Ordering specific brand drinks from servers was impossible as they just brought you whatever and was quite frustrating. They have a serious problem of over pouring the liquor also. Some drinks were just 95% straight alcohol and undrinkable. Most staff were polite. I found the restaurant servers to be the best. Entertainment definitely could be a little more exciting at the theatre stage in the hotel. Riu parties are located down the road of the main resort at a separate location. The beach is beautiful . One of the nicest white soft sand beaches i've been to. Very clean. Beautiful sand and beautiful blue waters and no rocks.. Fairly large number of beach vendors also. They were a nuisance but usually a polite no thanks did the trick. Some were aggressive tho like the iguana guy who goes around with the iguana and lets you take pictures with it and then demands money. You will know who he is if he comes around. He likes to frequent the beach front bar later at night. All and all, no problems. Food was good. Hotel and rooms were clean. Just very underwhelming atmosphere, but for some that might be good. I just don't feel i received the value for my money. Would I stay here again ? That Depends. - As a solo traveler definitely not as the extra costs do not justify the expense. - In a group as a couple i possibly would but only after consideration of other resorts first.

  Apr 12, 2026
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  Wonderful family vacation with some suggestions

  Had a nice relaxing stay at Riu Palace. Loved the beach, pools, landscaping, splash park, food, and entertainment. Very helpful and accommodating staff. Only critiques/suggestions are the following: -Rooms need to be renovated. Sofabed and furniture were getting shabby, bathroom also wasn’t as tidy as expected -Designate smoking areas. People were smoking constantly outside and our younger children especially didn’t enjoy the smell -The website stated no spring breakers permitted but we saw numerous spring breakers at the resort. In general they were behaved but some could be a bit rambunctious

  Apr 12, 2026
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  Family vacay

  Great vacation. Food was good. Staff were pleasant. Loungers were usually available any time of day. No problem getting shade. Great spot to travel with kids...they loved the Waterpark slides.

  Apr 11, 2026
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  Great Vacation with Some Frustrating Service Issues

  We recently returned from our stay in Punta Cana and overall had a good vacation, but there were some notable concerns worth mentioning. On both Day 1 and Day 7, the fire alarm went off around 4:00 AM and continued for over 30 minutes. These appeared to be false alarms and were very disruptive, especially for our family. Unfortunately, there was no communication or reassurance from staff during or after these incidents, which made the situation more stressful than it needed to be. We also experienced an issue when our six-year-old wasn’t feeling well. We were told fresh bedding would be provided in the evening, but it never arrived. This lack of follow-through was disappointing, particularly given the circumstances. We also experienced some frustration with the back-and-forth between RIU Vacations and RIU Hotels when trying to get assistance prior to and during our stay. It was unclear who was responsible for helping us, which made resolving issues more difficult than expected. Clearer communication and coordination between the two would greatly improve the guest experience. That said, there were definitely highlights. The food overall was good, and Chef Wilson deserves special recognition as a fantastic morning chef—he truly stood out. The Spanish restaurant was excellent and one of the best dining experiences of our stay. The beach was absolutely beautiful, and swimming in the ocean was a highlight of the trip. The main pool area was enjoyable as well, although it seemed understaffed at times, and there were often not enough towels available for guests. The buffet offered good food but felt a bit small for the number of people, and the atmosphere among staff seemed low. Additionally, communication at the front desk was sometimes challenging, and we didn’t always feel a strong sense of attentiveness or care. Despite these issues, we still had a great stay and made some wonderful memories. With a few improvements in communication, staffing, and guest services, this resort could truly elevate the overall experience. Given the disruptions and service concerns we experienced, I would appreciate consideration for additional points or compensation applied to our stay.

  Apr 10, 2026
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  Beautiful Spot in Paradise

  This is our 3rd time staying at this RIU and we recommend it. While it’s a bit dated, the service is impeccable and it is a beautiful open aired resort where there always a breeze. The “family” pool is very large with lots of shaded (if you prefer) seating and the other “party” pool separate along side an additional volleyball pool. The beach is stunning and the ocean lots of fun to swim in. The waiters make sure you are well taken care of and there is ample food available all day. The buffet is good with many selections and the waiters outstanding! Our room was comfortable and always kept clean. The kid’s program is good as is the entertainment. All in all, it’s a nice place to stay for the price.

  Apr 09, 2026