Riu Palace Macao review: the quick answer
- What it is: a 476-room, adults-only (18+) Riu Palace on Arena Gorda Beach, fully renovated and reopened by RIU in September 2023.
- Best for: couples and friends who want a polished, mid-priced adults-only stay with free access to the RIU Party nights.
- Not for: travelers expecting gourmet dining, a secluded beach or a non-stop party hotel.
- Room to book: a Junior Suite Deluxe for value, or an Elite Club swim-up for a private pool and a reserved beach area.
- Watch out for: seasonal sargassum and busier restaurants after 8 pm.
Check Riu Palace Macao availability for your dates
Riu Palace Macao opened in 1994 as RIU’s first Riu Palace hotel in the Americas, and today it is one of the brand’s most thoroughly updated hotels in Punta Cana. RIU closed it for a full renovation and reopened it in September 2023 with redesigned rooms, new swim-up suites, a 24-hour sports bar and the first Elite Club by RIU in the Dominican Republic.
In this Riu Palace Macao review we look at what the renovation changed, which rooms are worth paying for, whether Elite Club makes sense and how the hotel fits into the RIU complex on Arena Gorda. Our analysis is based on RIU’s official information, its 2023 reopening announcement and recent independent guest reviews.
Is Riu Palace Macao worth it in 2026?
For most adults-only travelers on a mid-range budget, yes. The renovation removed the dated look that used to be the main complaint, the 24-hour all-inclusive covers premium-brand drinks and late-night food, and none of the à la carte restaurants require reservations. Independent 2025 reviews describe a relaxed, slightly older crowd, a sociable swim-up bar and good-value food rather than fine dining.
Where it falls short is ambition. The food is solid rather than memorable, the steakhouse gets the weakest feedback, and Arena Gorda is not seaweed-free in the warm months. If you want butler service and destination restaurants, the Cap Cana and Uvero Alto picks in our ranking of the best adults-only resorts in Punta Cana are a better fit.
As a rough guide, a detailed 2025 independent review found standard doubles from around US$200 per night in low season (May, June and September to November) and from around US$300 per night between January and April. Treat those figures as a starting point only.
What the 2023 renovation changed
This was the hotel’s second remodel in about a decade, after a 2012 update. According to RIU’s reopening announcement, it included:
- All 476 rooms redone in natural wood, beige and green tones with tropical plant motifs.
- 34 new swim-up rooms with a private pool, reserved for Elite Club guests, plus 22 more Elite Club rooms.
- A renovated lobby and restaurants, and a bigger bar-lounge with a second outdoor stage and a DJ booth.
- New venues: a 24-hour Sports Bar, Pepe’s Food (a poolside grill and burger bar) and a RIU Fit training area.
- A new wellness centre for the whole RIU complex, run by Renova Spa, with a large gym, beauty salon, two water areas, steam baths and up to nine massage rooms.
Expect a bright, modern interior rather than the heavy colonial décor of older photos online, and give the most weight to reviews written after late 2023.
Rooms at Riu Palace Macao: which one to book
Every category is a junior suite or a suite: Superior Junior Suite, Junior Suite Deluxe, Suite, Junior Suite Deluxe Elite Club and Junior Suite Deluxe Swim-up Elite Club. Rooms have a balcony or terrace, minibar, in-room liquor dispenser, coffee maker and safe, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. The buildings sit close to the sand, so even rooms without an ocean view are a short walk from the beach.
Our pick by traveler type
- Best value: Junior Suite Deluxe. Same new design, and the savings can go toward excursions.
- Best splurge: Junior Suite Deluxe Swim-up Elite Club, the only way to get a private pool here, with Elite Club perks bundled in.
- More space: the Suite, if you want a separate seating area.
Room service is included, but a 2025 independent review describes a short menu of salads and sandwiches. For a late snack, the 24-hour Sports Bar is the better bet.
Elite Club at Riu Palace Macao: is the upgrade worth it?
Elite Club is RIU’s premium service layer, and Riu Palace Macao was the first hotel in the Dominican Republic to offer it. Based on RIU’s announcement and recent guest reports, it includes:
- A separate check-in area and late check-out (guest reports cite 1 pm).
- An Elite lounge with its own bar pouring top-shelf spirits.
- An exclusive à la carte dinner restaurant and à la carte breakfast at the Italian restaurant.
- A private stretch of beach with its own bar serving premium drinks.
- In-room extras such as a premium liquor dispenser, extra minibar snacks and welcome sparkling wine.
The same 2025 review measured the surcharge at roughly US$120–180 per room per night on its sample dates. Our take: it is worth it if you are booking a swim-up room anyway, or if a reserved beach area with drinks service matters to you in busy months. If you will spend your days around the complex and your nights at RIU Party, a standard room delivers most of the experience. See how it compares in our guide to Punta Cana VIP club levels.
Restaurants and bars: no reservations needed
One of the best things here is that you simply turn up for dinner:
- El Patio: the main buffet for breakfast (7:00–10:30), lunch and dinner, with live cooking stations.
- Kabuki: Asian small plates and sushi, the venue reviewers praise most.
- Volare: Italian, served al fresco.
- Krystal: fusion cuisine in a beachfront setting.
- Steakhouse: the weakest link according to recent reviews.
- Pepe’s Food: poolside grill and burgers for lunch and afternoon snacks.
- Elite Club restaurant: dinner for club guests only.
RIU counts eight bars, including the lobby bar, the swim-up bar, the 24-hour Sports Bar (sports TV and billiards) and the Capuchino café-pâtisserie. Without bookings, timing is the main pinch point: sit down before 8 pm to avoid a wait at the à la carte restaurants. RIU also lets complex guests use some facilities at sister hotels during the day, but exchange rules change, so confirm them at check-in.
Pools, beach and sargassum
The pool area is split into three spaces: an activity pool, a quieter pool and a social pool with the swim-up bar, all with submerged loungers. It is pleasant rather than spectacular.
The beach is the bigger draw. Arena Gorda is wide, palm-shaded and long enough for walks of several kilometres along the Bávaro coastline, and the water is usually calm with occasional waves. The catch is sargassum: like most of this coast, Arena Gorda can get seaweed in the warmer months. Our Punta Cana sargassum guide explains which months are riskiest and which beaches are better protected.
RIU Party, Splash Water World and the RIU complex
Staying here means staying inside RIU’s Punta Cana complex, and that is a big part of the value. The 24-hour all-inclusive includes access to RIU Party, the complex’s themed pool and night parties with DJs, performers and included drinks, for guests aged 18 and over. The venue sits next to Riu Bambu, a few minutes’ walk away. The themes are Jungle, White, Pink and Neon; in 2025 two ran as afternoon pool parties and two as night parties, so check the RIU app or front desk for the current week.
RIU also lists complimentary access to Splash Water World, and the complex shares a renovated casino, the Caribbean Street shopping strip (about 150 m away), a Pachá nightclub and the Renova wellness centre, where treatments are paid extras. If parties are the point of your trip, our guide to Punta Cana party resorts for bachelor and bachelorette trips compares Macao with the livelier options.
Who should (and shouldn’t) book Riu Palace Macao
- Book it if: you want an adults-only hotel with new rooms, walk-in dining, a beach steps away and the option of a big party night without staying at a party hotel.
- Skip it if: you want gourmet dining, butler service or a boutique feel, or a party around the clock (Riu Republica is the RIU built for that).
Riu Palace Macao vs Riu Palace Bávaro vs Riu Republica
Riu Palace Bávaro is the large, all-ages flagship next door with an adults-only Elite Club area. Riu Republica is the budget-friendly adults-only party hotel with its own water park. Riu Palace Macao sits in the middle: adults-only like Republica, calmer and more polished, and smaller than Palace Bávaro. Our Riu Palace Bávaro vs Riu Palace Macao vs Riu Republica comparison covers the details.
Pros
- Fully renovated in 2023, with modern rooms and public areas
- Strictly adults-only (18+) with a relaxed, social atmosphere
- No reservations needed at any à la carte restaurant
- Free access to RIU Party nights and Splash Water World in the RIU complex
- 24-hour all-inclusive with a 24-hour Sports Bar and in-room liquor dispenser
- Wide, palm-shaded Arena Gorda beach steps from the rooms
Cons
- Food is good value rather than gourmet; the steakhouse is the weakest venue
- Arena Gorda can get sargassum in the warmer months
- Room service menu is limited
- Elite Club surcharge adds up on longer stays
Getting there and budgeting for extras
The hotel is about 25 km from Punta Cana International Airport, roughly a 25–30 minute drive. Our PUJ airport transfers and E-Ticket guide covers shuttles, private transfers and the mandatory electronic entry form. The main costs outside the all-inclusive are spa treatments, excursions, shopping and tips; our explainer on Punta Cana all-inclusive taxes, tipping and hidden costs shows how to tell whether a quote already includes the 28% in taxes and service.
Make the most of a no-reservation hotel
Dinner at the à la carte restaurants is first come, first served. Eat before 8 pm on the nights you most want Kabuki or Krystal, and keep the buffet or the Sports Bar for RIU Party nights.
Our verdict on Riu Palace Macao
Riu Palace Macao is one of the most sensible adults-only buys on Arena Gorda in 2026. The 2023 renovation gives it genuinely new rooms, walk-in dining and a 24-hour bar keep things easy, and the RIU complex adds free party nights and a water park that standalone hotels cannot match. It is not a luxury resort and the food will not be the highlight of your trip, but for couples and friends who want comfort, a great beach and a party when they feel like it, it is strong value. Book a Junior Suite Deluxe unless the swim-up Elite Club rooms are what drew you here.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riu Palace Macao adults only?
Yes. Riu Palace Macao is designed for guests aged 18 and over, and children are not accepted. The RIU Party events in the complex are also restricted to adults.
When was Riu Palace Macao renovated?
RIU reopened the hotel in September 2023 after a full renovation of its rooms, restaurants and common areas. It added Elite Club swim-up rooms with private pools and a 24-hour Sports Bar.
Do you need reservations for the restaurants at Riu Palace Macao?
No. The à la carte restaurants are first come, first served. Tables fill up later in the evening, so arriving before 8 pm usually avoids a wait.
Can Riu Palace Macao guests go to the RIU Party?
Yes. RIU includes access to its RIU Party events in the 24-hour all-inclusive at Riu Palace Macao. The venue is a few minutes’ walk away inside the RIU complex, and guests must be 18 or older.
Is the Elite Club at Riu Palace Macao worth it?
It is worth it if you want a swim-up room with a private pool, a reserved beach area with drinks service and a quieter dinner restaurant. If you mainly want the beach, the pools and the RIU Party nights, a standard Junior Suite gives you most of the experience for less.
