Following Mauritius, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Dubai, the Mallorca-based group RIU Hotels & Resorts is finally setting foot in Thailand. Hotel Riu Palace Phuket, a five-star hotel with 504 rooms, opens its doors in September 2026 on Mai Khao beach, in the northwest of the island, 16 kilometres from the international airport. The group is bringing its 24-hour all-inclusive formula and its Elite Club by RIU premium service, a combination still rare in Phuket, where luxury is mostly sold à la carte. Here is what you need to know before booking.
- 🏨 The hotel · Hotel Riu Palace Phuket, five stars, the group’s first hotel in Thailand
- 📍 Where · Mai Khao beach, northwest coast of Phuket, bordering Sirinat National Park, 16 km from the airport and 40 km from the old town
- 🗓️ Opening · September 2026
- 🛏️ Rooms · 504 rooms in buildings of a maximum of four floors connected by covered walkways, including 49 Elite Club by RIU rooms, some with private pools
- 🍽️ All-inclusive · 24-hour formula: six restaurants (Chantra buffet, Ruen Siam Thai, Il Gusto Italian, steakhouse, Pepe’s Food grill, Elite table), seven bars, four pools, Renova spa
Mai Khao, Phuket’s tranquil beach
RIU avoided Patong and Kata, the busiest beaches in the south of the island, to settle on Mai Khao, a long strip of sand on the northwest coast, bordered by Sirinat National Park and its turtle-nesting beaches. The resort features approximately 700 metres of beachfront. Phuket International Airport is 16 kilometres away, making for a transfer of about twenty minutes, and the Sino-Portuguese old town of Phuket Town is about forty kilometres away. It is the ideal compromise for a resort stay: the Andaman Sea in front, peace and quiet all around, and the island easily accessible for excursions.
504 rooms and 49 Elite Club
The 504 rooms are spread across several buildings whose height is limited to four floors, connected by covered walkways that cross the tropical gardens. Interiors feature bright contemporary styles with Thai touches, and terraces overlook the sea or the pools. The real innovation for Phuket is the Elite Club by RIU: 49 rooms with an independent reception, private check-in, dedicated restaurant and pool, international-brand minibar, and aromatherapy service. The most sought-after rooms feature a private pool on the terrace, with direct access from the room.
Six restaurants, seven bars, and a 24-hour formula
The RIU all-inclusive experience does not stop at midnight. The resort features six restaurants: the main Chantra buffet with live cooking stations, Ruen Siam for Thai cuisine, Il Gusto for Italian, a steakhouse, Pepe’s Food grill, and a table reserved for Elite guests. Seven bars complete the offering, including a Sports Bar, Capuchino ice cream and coffee shop, a Lounge Bar, a Plaza Bar, and the Sabai swim-up pool bar. For families, this is the deciding factor: a pre-determined budget including meals, drinks, and entertainment, in a destination where à la carte bills add up quickly.
Pools, Renova spa, and entertainment
Four pools structure the estate, including one for children and a relaxation pool integrated into the wellness area, next to the Renova spa, the hammam, and a fitness room. An outdoor meditation space and a palapa dedicated to Thai massages remind guests of their location. RIU also applies its daytime and evening entertainment programme here, featuring live music and shows. On the environmental front, the roofs feature solar panels, and a rainwater harvesting system supplies garden irrigation.
What RIU is looking for in Asia
RIU owns about 90% of the hotels it operates and opens two to four addresses per year, a slow and asset-backed growth model entirely distinct from franchisors. Phuket is presented by the group as the “natural next step” in an expansion into Asia-Pacific that began in Mauritius and continued in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Dubai. Luis Riu personally visited the construction site to supervise the finishing touches. Thailand, where luxury hotel demand outpaces supply, offers the group its first high-volume Asian market. Discover hotel news in Thailand on La Revue des Hôtels.
Our perspective
Five-star all-inclusive has never truly taken off in Thailand, where large resorts sell the room and charge separately for everything else. RIU arrives with a proven concept perfected in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, alongside a well-chosen location. For a first family trip to Phuket, or for travellers wanting a fixed budget, this is the address to watch this season, especially the Elite Club with a private pool. Travellers seeking the Thailand of intimate addresses and night markets will prefer a boutique hotel in the south of the island; here, guests come for the beach, the formula, and the peace and quiet of Mai Khao.
Practical information
- Address · Mai Khao Beach, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
- Opening · September 2026
- Official website · riu.com
- Access · Phuket International Airport (HKT) 16 km away
