All 24 open, scored RIU resorts, ranked
There is no single best RIU for every trip. These lead the list on one fact each:
Highest beach scoreHotel Riu Palace Aruba9.2 out of 10.Photo: It's All Inclusive
Highest guest ratingHotel Riu Palace Maldivas4.7 out of 5 from 1,294 reviews.RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Highest pool scoreHotel Riu Gran Canaria9.1 out of 10.RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Answer any of these, skip the rest. Tick must-have and a resort that cannot confirm it drops out. The full ranking is below.
Choose an answer to see matching resorts.
Each answer is checked against one recorded fact: whether children are welcome, sea conditions, snorkeling from the beach, the evening atmosphere, the airport drive in minutes, and the room categories each resort sells. A fact that is not recorded never counts as a match; it shows as Confirm. Resorts that meet more of your answers come first, then those with fewer clear misses, then fewer to confirm; ties keep the recommended order of the ranking below. Room types are categories you book, not features of every stay. Beach conditions and seaweed change with weather and season. Palmprint scores are not part of the match.
Michelle's Picks come first; the rest follow by our score and guest ratings.
24 RIU resorts shown. Sorted by Our picks.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Strong guest ratings across TripAdvisor, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com.
Keep in mind: The modern built environment may feel less natural or boutique than older-style Maldives islands.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: New or rebuilt in 2024.
Keep in mind: Wind exposure can affect the stay.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Excellent Playacar beachfront
Keep in mind: Seasonal seaweed risk
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Strong Nungwi beachfront setting.
Keep in mind: Neighboring resort noise can affect quiet.
Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar is a 24-hour all-inclusive on the Nungwi coast, for people who want the island's best swimming beach and a swim-up suite. It has 100 rooms, three pools with a swim-up bar and three restaurants, on the northern tip where the water stays clear and the tide matters less than it does further round the island. Riu's plan runs around the clock, which is the other reason people book it. Guests praise the beach and the clarity of the water, the pools and the swim-up bar, the staff, and the rooms and suites. The complaints are music carrying over from the Riu Jambo next door, buffet crowding at peak hours, specialty restaurants that do not always stand out, and confusion about whether the resort is adults-only. The thing people wish they had known is that it is family-friendly under current policy, whatever older listings say, and that a quiet room is worth requesting. The plan covers the buffet and the a la carte restaurants, the snacks, the 24-hour drinks and cocktails, a minibar and Wi-Fi; the spa is extra, the premium labels depend on the rate, the water-sports menu is worth confirming, and the airport transfer is free only for RIU Class members, with other guests paying for the hotel's shuttle, reported at around 80 US dollars one way. The Jr Suite is the value and the Superior Ocean Suite is the room for the view. Anyone who wants silence should ask for a room well away from the neighbouring resort.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: A wide choice of pools.
Keep in mind: The resort is not directly on a sandy beach.
Photo: It's All Inclusive
Why choose it: True 24-hour all-inclusive with room service, minibar and liquor dispenser.
Keep in mind: Beach and pool design receive mixed guest commentary.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: A short airport transfer.
Keep in mind: Smaller beach
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Beachfront setting on Agadir beach.
Keep in mind: Some guests still report room noise, maintenance, or bathroom/privacy quirks.
Hotel Riu Palace Tikida Agadir is a 456-room resort on Agadir's long sandy bay, refurbished through 2025. The all-inclusive here runs 24 hours, which is the practical difference between this and most of the Moroccan coast: five restaurants, six bars, a swim-up bar and room service at any hour, with the minibar and gratuities in the rate. Outdoor pools sit among lake-style gardens with Balinese beds, and a heated indoor pool covers the cooler months. Dining is more varied than the size suggests. The buffet does live cooking and two themed nights a week, and behind it sit Krystal for fusion cooking, Marrakech for Moroccan, a steakhouse and a casual poolside room. Families get RIU Land and a kids club, both included, and non-motorised watersports come with the rate while excursions and the spa do not. Agadir Beach is walkable from the door with the promenade close by, and the water is Atlantic rather than lagoon-calm, though the bay is gentle and shallow along the main stretch. Our samples run from 310 to 383 dollars a night for two, and the fair way to set expectations is by what this is: a large, busy, convenient beachfront resort rather than a small luxury one. The complaints reflect that, with room noise and maintenance the most frequent, sunbeds competitive at peak times, and the food positive overall without being uniformly five-star. Ask for a room away from the entertainment if you sleep lightly, and raise any room problem on the first day rather than the last.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: A short airport transfer.
Keep in mind: Food choices can feel repetitive on a longer stay.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Direct beachfront location on Arena Gorda Beach.
Keep in mind: Food reviews are mixed, with buffet quality and restaurant wait logistics mentioned in guest feedback.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Beachfront location
Keep in mind: Plan for a long transfer from Colombo airport (CMB).
Photo: It's All Inclusive
Why choose it: True 24-hour all-inclusive with large dining and bar inventory.
Keep in mind: Very large resort footprint and family-heavy atmosphere.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Bloody Bay beach
Keep in mind: Buildings dating from early 2000s need refresh in places
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Beachfront Agadir location
Keep in mind: Not a quiet boutique resort
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: True 24-hour adults-only all-inclusive model.
Keep in mind: Beach quality is not the top strength.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Infinity pools
Keep in mind: Noise can be a drawback.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Large renovated pool area and attractive garden setting.
Keep in mind: Not beachfront and not walkable to the medina.
Photo: It's All Inclusive
Why choose it: Prime Palm Beach beachfront location.
Keep in mind: Earlier guest research found mixed food quality; this has not been reassessed after the 2026 refurbishment.
Hotel Riu Palace Aruba sits on public Palm Beach and offers 24-hour all-inclusive meals, snacks, drinks and room service. The supplier reports a complete refurbishment of buildings A, B and C, public areas and guest rooms from September 2025 through July 2026. Families have RIU Land, daily children's entertainment for ages 4 to 12, a children's pool with slides and a baby pool. The 15 published room categories include two-bedroom options and Elite Club swim-up suites. Room capacity is unverified; confirm occupancy for your party before booking. Elite Club rooms and their exclusive services have a minimum age of 18. The gym, steam bath, relaxation pool, Renova Spa, casino and discotheque are at neighboring Riu Palace Antillas. Exchange access is for adults over 18, excludes breakfast and dinner, and does not include Antillas Elite Club facilities. Spa treatments cost extra. Our earlier guest research found mixed comments about food, room condition and value. Those reviews remain useful context, but they have not been reassessed against the completed refurbishment.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Adults-only all-inclusive on Palm Beach.
Keep in mind: Chair availability can be stressful during peak periods.
Hotel Riu Palace Antillas is an adults-only, 24-hour all-inclusive resort directly on Palm Beach. The supplier confirms 482 rooms, six restaurants, eight bars and three outdoor pools. The 120 m² pool, Elite Club Restaurant and Elite Club Lounge are exclusive to qualifying Elite Club guests. The last partial refurbishment is listed as 2021; Palace Aruba’s 2026 refurbishment does not apply to Antillas. Palm Beach is public, with a reserved hotel-guest area with sun loungers and parasols. Renova Spa and the gym are on site. Spa treatments cost extra; gym access, steam bath and relaxation pool are listed without charge. Pacha is on site; entry and drinks are included six nights weekly. Casino entry is free; casino drinks cost extra. Palace Aruba exchange access excludes breakfast and dinner. Four adapted Junior Suites (SJSM) have roll-in showers, shower seats and grab rails. At least one pool has ramp access, but no pool lift or wheelchair access to the sea is listed. All nine supplier room categories have unverified capacity. Confirm the exact category, bedding and occupancy when booking. Earlier guest research found mixed comments on food, maintenance, elevators and chair availability. These remain guest observations, rather than facilities verified by the supplier sheet.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Splash Water World
Keep in mind: Room-condition complaints
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Bloody Bay beach
Keep in mind: Party noise in some blocks
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Brand-new 705-room resort with modern rooms and large RIU-style infrastructure.
Keep in mind: Early reviews show normal new-resort inconsistency around service, expectations, and some extra-charge confusion.
Photo: It's All Inclusive
Why choose it: Excellent Paradise Island beach position.
Keep in mind: Food sentiment is notably mixed.
RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center
Why choose it: Beachfront Pacific setting.
Keep in mind: Recent food and service feedback is mixed to negative.
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These resorts stay out of the ranking until they open.
Opening April 2027Hotel Riu Palace Costa RicaSardinal, Costa RicaCheck that reservations are open for your dates and confirm the cancellation terms.RIU Hotels & Resorts, via RIU Brand Center