Just wanted to give a small review of our
first try at AI.
We are at the 4th. day at the RIU. We normally never do AI as we want the freedom to do what we want, when we want it.
But we are here waiting to sign on our house in Aruba, so for the few days we thought we would try it, and thought I could share our experience here.
The RIU Palace has a perfect setting right on the beach (Palm Beach). It is only one year old, so things looked good on paper.
The check-in part was a little confusing and time consuming, guess they are not used to guest who just make a normal booking directly on the website a few days before arrival. At least they were confused that we didn't have a waiver, but after a while they found us in the system.
The room we got was a Junior Suite with sea view terrace. Ok size, looked older than one year, but guess there is a lot of wear and tear. The big disadvantage of the room was that it was extremely damp. The floor is actually wet, the blanket feels wet and the air in the room is very moist. We tried with the AC on, with the AC off, with the terrace doors open and closed, but it didn't change. Ok we are right on the water, but never experienced this at any other hotel at the water.
Food and drinks. As mentioned we never tried AI before, so we were expecting the food to be less good, the drinks to be of lesser quality and the staff to be less accommodating than in places were tipping is a bigger part of their paycheck.
Food: The buffets were not a world class experience, but actually far better than expected and with good variation from day to day.
We tried to follow someone here's advice to book at the restaurants instead of the buffets, and tried the Japanese one. It was ok I guess, but nowhere near what a good a la carte Japanese restaurant would offer, we actually think the buffets are better.
(We did not experience any trouble getting a table as others have had, even though it is the Easter week).
The drinks are strong, but WAY below the standard you would get at other hotels, way too much artificial drink mixer in them and no care to detail at all.
The staff was the big surprise. Since most people don't tip all the time or ever, we did expect a more nonchalant service.
Boy were we wrong. Never seen such an over all level of service, happy people serving, very friendly. Accommodating but still at a peer level with the customers, and you could hear that with repeating guest they are like old friends. So if the attitude from the staff at the hotel is important for you, this is the place.
Regarding other facilities at the hotel: We didn't try much as we were here for other reasons than just doing the normal tourist thing. One thing we did watch from the terrace every early morning to our amusement, but at the same time astonishment, was how at first light you saw guests running....yes actually running to "reserve" their cabana on the beach or chair by the pool. These people was behaving like they were in the finishing 1/4 mile of a marathon and was deadly serious about their thing .
You will never see this at Eagle Beach, but it was fun to watch.
Conclusion: We probably will not do AI again, but that's just our preference. But the RIU is an impressive building, but with its flaws, but the staff almost makes up for any flaw on other things.
(We didn't bring our kids on this trip, but it seems like a very kid friendly place to stay).

Carsten