Head to head
Hotel Riu Palace MaldivasvsVilla del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta
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Scores at a Glance
Hotel Riu Palace MaldivasVilla del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta
Overall
8.9
7.8
Beach
8.9
7.9
Food
8.8
7.7
Service
9.0
8.0
Rooms
8.7
7.4
Value
8.8
7.5
Romance
8.7
—
Scores out of 10 — higher is better
Quick Stats
8.9
Overall Score
7.8
5-star
Star Rating
4-star
4.7 (1,161)
Google Rating
4.4 (7,788)
From $272
Price / Night (pp)
Rates TBD
No
Adults Only
No
Yes
Kids' Club
Yes
Near coast
Beachfront
Near coast
Mid-size
Resort Size
Mid-size
60 min
Airport Transfer
—
All Scores
8.9
Beach
7.9
8.8
Food
7.7
9.0
Service
8.0
8.7
Rooms
7.4
8.4
Pools
7.8
8.8
Value
7.5
8.3
Family
8.0
8.7
Romance
—
7.9
Nightlife
8.2
—
Quiet
6.8
—
Remote work
7.0
Vibes
Yes
Romance
—
Yes
Lively
Yes
Activities
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Water sports
Yes
Yes
Nightlife
Yes
Yes
Kids
Yes
Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- 1 pools
- 3 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- Overwater bungalows
- 60 min from MLE
Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta
- Full-service spa
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.
Pros — Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta
- Flexible room-only or all-inclusive booking model.
- Beachfront hotel-zone location with easy access to Puerto Vallarta.
- Suite-style rooms support families and longer stays.
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.
Cons — Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta
- Older property feel comes up in guest commentary.
- All-inclusive is optional and may not match a full luxury all-inclusive model.
- Vacation-club or timeshare pressure is a recurring concern.