Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Riu Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts— Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 362 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 3 | 21 |
| Pools | 3 | 11 |
| Year Opened | — | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | — | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 5 | 26 |
| Included | 5 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 4 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 2 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 17 | 24 |
| Included | 11 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 6 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas
Pros
- Direct position within Corralejo Natural Park means the dune landscape and beach cannot be built out — the setting is permanent.
- Piano Bar with live music most evenings is a quieter, more atmospheric alternative to animation-heavy all-inclusive entertainment.
- Sparkling wine at breakfast is a Palace-tier inclusion that differentiates the dining program at a 4-star property.
- Four tennis courts for 372 rooms is an unusually generous ratio.
- Lobos Island and Lanzarote views from the beach and dunes are a specific and scenically valuable feature.
Cons
- Some room interiors show age — no confirmed major renovation date available. Manage expectations for room condition.
- Mini club for children only operates in August — families visiting other months get no supervised kids' program.
- Fuerteventura's consistent trade winds make the beach experience breezy rather than sheltered — not ideal for everyone.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
- The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
- All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
- 'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
- 15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
- Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
- Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
- Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
- Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
- The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.