RIU vs Iberostar
Two Mallorca-born, family-owned giants that anchor the value-to-mid market on both sides of the Atlantic. RIU is the volume champion: big, buzzy, 24-hour all-inclusive at prices that make a beach week attainable. Iberostar plays a tier up in feel: beachfront-only locations, a real sustainability program, and a ladder (standard → Selection → Grand) that climbs into genuine luxury.
RIU ranking · Iberostar ranking · RIU history · Iberostar history · How we score · Share as a post ↗ · Last reviewed July 2026
By the numbers
| RIU | Measure | Iberostar |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Resorts in our catalog | 19 |
| ★ 4.3 | Average guest rating | ★ 4.8 (better) |
| 98,998 | Guest reviews analyzed | 150,948 |
| $91–$335/night pp | Nightly rates | $72–$347/night pp |
| 5 of 19 | Adults-only resorts | 4 of 19 |
| 14 of 19 (better) | Five-star resorts | 13 of 19 |
| Aruba, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania | Where | Aruba, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Spain |
| 8.3/10 | Overall score | 8.7/10 (better) |
| 8.3/10 | Beach score | 8.7/10 (better) |
| 7.9/10 | Food score | 8.4/10 (better) |
| 8.3/10 | Service score | 8.7/10 (better) |
| 8.1/10 | Rooms score | 8.4/10 (better) |
| 8.6/10 | Pools score | 8.7/10 (better) |
| 8.1/10 (better) | Value score | 8.1/10 |
| 8.3/10 | Romance score | 8.8/10 (better) |
| 8.4/10 | Family score | 8.8/10 (better) |
| 8.0/10 (better) | Nightlife score | 7.7/10 |
| 7.9/10 | Wellness score | 8.3/10 (better) |
Chain averages across the resorts in our catalog. Individual properties vary, so tap into each ranking before you book.
Round by round
RIU: night for night it's hard to out-cheap, and the 24-hour inclusions (snacks, in-room liquor dispensers) squeeze real value from every hour. Iberostar costs more at every rung.
Iberostar: the beachfront-only rule means location is rarely the compromise. RIU's locations are usually good and occasionally great, but it's not doctrine.
Iberostar from Selection tier up: more à la carte depth and better raw quality. At the value tier, both lean on big buffets and do them competently.
Taste call: RIU is louder, younger at some properties, and proudly social; Iberostar runs calmer and more family-polished. Neither is boutique.
Iberostar, decisively: Wave of Change (plastic elimination, responsible seafood, coastal science) is the most substantive program among the big chains.
Of the 13 measures we call, RIU leads on 3 and Iberostar leads on 10.
The verdict
Maximizing beach-week per dollar, take RIU and enjoy the energy. Paying a modest premium for a better beach, better food, and a brand whose environmental record survives scrutiny, take Iberostar. And if the budget stretches to Iberostar Grand, you're in a different conversation entirely (see our adults-only rankings). As always, the specific property's scores outrank the logo.
The properties to shortlist
Want it property-level? Put Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas and JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar head-to-head, or open any two resorts in our resort comparator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iberostar more expensive than RIU?
Generally yes, tier for tier; you're paying for beachfront positioning and a more polished product. RIU's Palace line narrows the gap at the top of its range.
Which is better for a party trip, RIU or Iberostar?
RIU. Its pool scenes are livelier brand-wide, and Riu Republica in Punta Cana is a purpose-built adults-only party resort. Iberostar skews calmer and more family-oriented.