We absolutely love the RIU Palace Antillas Aruba! This was our second visit, we first stayed in 2019, and this time we returned to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary. Once again, the resort did not disappoint.
One of the things that stands out most is the consistently good food, exceptional cleanliness, and wonderful staff. I was especially impressed to see that many of the employees we met during our 2019 visit are still there. To me, that speaks volumes about employee satisfaction and how the resort is managed. The resort manager was also extremely visible throughout our stay. We saw him everywhere, throughout the day, personally checking different areas of the property and making sure everything was just right for the guests. He even took a few minutes to ask us how is our stay and what we thought of the food. That level of hands-on leadership was impressive and did not go unnoticed.
To my surprise and absolute delight, Manuel, the best omelette maker in the world, was still at his omelette station! Every morning, he made my omelette perfectly. He would see me coming and immediately start smiling because he knows I will not let anyone else make my omelette! Manuel, if you are reading this, you better not retire before we come back!!
John was another standout. He was an excellent table server, attentive, friendly, and genuinely interested in making sure we were enjoying our stay. We would see him at breakfast and lunch, and every day he made a point of checking on us and asking how we were doing.
According to my husband, Sebastian makes the best lemon drops in Aruba! Beyond making great drinks, he was incredibly personable and so much fun to spend time with at the bar. He helped make his days even more enjoyable.
Then there was Jose, who made sure our beach days started perfectly. Each morning when we came down to secure our spot, he would ask, “Sun or shade today?” and then make sure we had the best spot based on our preference. Those seemingly small touches are what make a vacation feel special.
Finally, we have to recognize Owen and Brian at the steakhouse.They are the absolute definition of people who genuinely enjoy what they do.
They made everyone feel as though they were the only guests in the restaurant. I remembered Owen from our 2019 visit because he provided that same wonderful experience then. Six years later, his warmth and commitment to excellent service have not changed.
What makes RIU Palace Antillas special is not simply the beautiful location, good food, or cleanliness, it is the people. When you return years later and recognize the same smiling faces, receive the same exceptional service, and feel genuinely welcomed back, it says something very special about a resort.
Thank you to Manuel, John, Sebastian, Jose, Owen, Brian, the Resort manager (he told me his name but I forgot), and the entire RIU Palace Antillas team for helping make our 27th anniversary celebration so memorable.
We love this place, and we will absolutely be back
