Scores at a Glance
Centara Reserve SamuiHotel Riu Palace Maldivas
Overall
9.0
8.9
Beach
8.8
8.9
Food
8.8
8.8
Service
9.1
9.0
Rooms
9.0
8.7
Luxury
9.1
—
Value
8.0
8.8
Romance
8.9
8.7
Scores out of 10 — higher is better
Quick Stats
9.0
Overall Score
8.9
5-star
Star Rating
5-star
4.6 (2,047)
Google Rating
4.7 (1,161)
From $166
Price / Night (pp)
From $272
No
Adults Only
No
—
Kids' Club
Yes
Near coast
Beachfront
Near coast
Mid-size
Resort Size
Mid-size
15 min
Airport Transfer
60 min
All Scores
8.8
Beach
8.9
8.8
Food
8.8
9.1
Service
9.0
9.0
Rooms
8.7
9.0
Pools
8.4
9.1
Luxury
—
8.0
Value
8.8
7.4
Family
8.3
8.9
Romance
8.7
8.2
Nightlife
7.9
7.6
Quiet
—
8.7
Wellness
—
7.8
Remote work
—
Vibes
Yes
Romance
Yes
Yes
Lively
Yes
Yes
Quiet
—
Activities
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Water sports
Yes
Yes
Nightlife
Yes
Yes
Kids
Yes
Centara Reserve Samui
- 2 pools
- 4 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- Swim-up suites
- 15 min from USM
Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- 1 pools
- 3 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- Overwater bungalows
- 60 min from MLE
Pros — Centara Reserve Samui
- Official meal-plan evidence
- Luxury Chaweng Beach setting
- Excellent rooms and pool options
- Walkable dining and nightlife
Pros — Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- Strong guest ratings across TripAdvisor, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com.
- 24-hour all-inclusive model is straightforward and value-oriented for the Maldives.
- Modern rooms, including overwater suite categories.
- Guests repeatedly praise food, cleanliness, and friendly staff.
- Access to neighboring RIU Atoll adds activity and dining flexibility.
Cons — Centara Reserve Samui
- All-inclusive is optional and rule-based
- No clear kids-club evidence
- Busy beach context
- Exact main-entrance coordinate needs manual confirmation
Cons — Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- The modern built environment may feel less natural or boutique than older-style Maldives islands.
- Transfer logistics and inclusions need careful verification.
- Some activities are located on or shared with the RIU Atoll side.
- Not ideal for travelers seeking an ultra-secluded, high-design luxury resort.