Hotel Riu Ocho Rios

lorikD4681ZD wrote a review September 2025

Weekend solo trip

I did a weekend trip solo and ienjoyed every minute of it.
From check in to check out everything was great
I booked an ocean view suite and it was amazing .
The swim up bar was great bartenders kept the vibes coming, for dinner I ate mostly from the Buffett and it was really good they had plenty options .
Entertainment was great I went to the neon party where I met other persons as well .
Over all it was a great weekend trip and I would definitely be going back again

Date of Stay: September 2025

shernetteg2017 wrote a review September 2025
Jamaica

Short staff! Lack of service.

This was our family weekend getaway to celebrate a birthday. We made our experience enjoyable, but there's so much going on in that resort. Checking in was very smooth, and the agent was very professional.
The ground and landscape were incredibly beautiful 😍. The room was ok.
Some staff were unhappy and grumpy. The locking of understaffed were evident. The service in the buffet was a disaster. The food line needs attention, and service utensils were left in platters of food along the line. Dirty tables everywhere. Guest has to clearing tables to get one to use. The staff were doing all they could, but it was just not enough. The Italian restaurant was good, we enjoyed our meal and the service was good.
When we were going for breakfast, we left the tags on our doors to get our rooms clean. We returned at 4:30 pm. to get a little rest before dinner, and our room was still not clean. Again, there is not enough staff to carry out duties. Entertainment was lit. We enjoyed it. Overall, it's a beautiful property but needs attention to details. Service is lacking in so many ways. Hopefully, it will be better next time.

Date of Stay: September 2025

Meander14123214660 wrote a review September 2025
Jamaica

Amazing birthday celebrated.

I went to Riu Ocho Rios for my stepdads birthday and it was amazing, our room was okay a 7/10 .Thank you Tamesha and Kevon at reception for your amazing service you made our check in very easy. And to my lovely girl Nadine you are one impressive lady you deserve to be a supervisor you serve everyone from the heart, and kept smiling while doing it all I know your job is though but you make my stay at Riu an amazing one I’ll be coming back just
To see you, you made my son smile so much just by being you thank you very much and I can’t forget Janet thank you too and that amazing brown bartender from the pool bar you know yourself my boyfriend loves your service you took really good care of him. The food was 9/10 the service was top notch. And most of the staff at Riu was pretty friendly. Thank you guys a job well done.

Date of Stay: September 2025

natashacO7579KL wrote a review September 2025

Boyfriend Birthday Celebration

I went to Riu Ocho Rios with my other half and my families it's was his birthday so we went to celebrate it. At front desk Kevon and Tamesha was so courteous and nice at buffet breakfast and lunch Nadine the waitress was so jovial and dedicated she made our day, she knows how to talk to her guest and make them feel at home , she even entertained us we love her she's fit for a supervisor position Nadine is a courteous lady she make sure we are well taken care of, I give her 100%. Kevon and Tamesha make sure we had a smooth check-in and got our rooms so we could rest assured on a long journey there. We we will be coming back soon, maybe in November, and we are hoping to see Nadine ,Kevon, and Tamesha and Janet too those people deserve a medal for their good work. This is my first time been at Riu Ocho Rios and it was not a bad experience the only problem was that some of the food wasn't good at all we were looking forward to see some seafood and there wasn't any, but overall our experience there was a 9/10

Date of Stay: September 2025

lisacG107BN wrote a review September 2025

Riu Ocho Rios

I just got back from a week at the Riu Ocho Rios, travelling with my bestie. I dont have any complaints! Grounds are beautiful and clean. We had an ocean view double bed room in building 3. Beautiful view. Cleaning was done everyday without fault.

The beach is very clean. All bars are great and the drinks are amazing. special thanks to Rojaye who made our trip extra fun. You can really feel the difference with workers who enjoy their job and interact with the guests.

main pool always has something going on, reggae pool by building 1 is more calm, still there is music and bartenders make great drinks. there is something for everyone here.

buffet food was good, always something to eat. the jerk chicken and sausage was my favourite jamaican food. specialty restaurants are ok. i’d only recommend the french and italian. the steakhouse was ok however the steak was so tough and fatty. if you’re a steak lover, you won’t enjoy it.

We had beautiful weather. taxi services at the lobby brought us out and we always felt safe.

No vendors on beach as it is a private.

entertainment team is great! they go above and beyond to get everyone up and moving. Riu Party on Saturday nights are amazing. We had the Neon party. Shoutout to Miguel for always bringing the energy!!!

to summarize, i’d definitely revisit this resort with my friends. we all had a great time! please dont forget to tip your bartenders, maid and servers. too often people think all inclusive means they don’t need to leave a tip. the workers work long hours in the heat and deserve some recognition!

Date of Stay: September 2025

Dream34380500648 wrote a review September 2025
Laval, Quebec

Bestie trip September 2025

I went with my bestfriend and we had an amazing time. The food was great and flavourful always the beaches were gorgeous and the people were amazing. Special shout out to Rojay and Erol who took care of us during our trip and made sure we were always having a great time

Date of Stay: September 2025

Tkwoods22 wrote a review October 2025
Columbia, South Carolina

All-inclusive family fun

I had a four day stay here for a wedding. The scenery, atmosphere, food and vibes were as expected. All the workers were kind and helpful. Buffets open nearly 16 hours out of the day. Resort is right on the beach and they have activities regularly scheduled or you can opt to take tours. Family friendly and safe.

Date of Stay: September 2025

C4514IHdenises wrote a review October 2025

Compliment

I would like to acknowledge Calvin for his outstanding culinary skills and excellent service during my stay at the RUI Hotel, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. 
When I complimented him on his professionalism, he humbly replied: “When I make my omelettes, I make them as if for me.” That simple statement perfectly reflects his pride in his work and the genuine value he adds to the guest experience.
I would also like to acknowledge the excellent leadership of his restaurant manager, Natalin, whose guidance clearly inspires her team to deliver such high standards.

Thank you, Calvin, for going the extra mile and for making my holiday experience one to remember!

Date of Stay: September 2025

davidg282 wrote a review October 2025
Norwich, Norfolk, East Anglia, England

Very poor experience

Having stayed at this hotel and other RIU properties I had expected a much better experience than I got.
Arrival was poor I felt somewhat humiliated by the front desk staff who asked me basically to prove who I was despite having my passport and card. I was asked to login to my bank account and verify that the card used was mine. I had to show the transaction on my account and then they refunded the $1 charged. The excuse being that there is a lot of scamming goes on. Never in my time working in this industry have my team ever asked a guest to do that nor have I ever been asked to do that at any of the other RIU properties I have visited including this one last year. The member of staff was frankly rude and not welcoming.
I had requested the 2 rooms be near to each other but this was not possible as they were 2 different categories. I wasn’t offered the opportunity to upgrade the other room despite the hotel only being 70% full.
The room was not clean, bathroom glass was covered in scum and scale and the mirror stickers were not even straight. The water pressure was poor and the water kept going hot and cold.
The bedroom smelled musty and mouldy and the floor was slippy all of the time. The bed was hard and uncomfortable with only 2 pillows. The cushions were very smelly as was the extra blanket in the wardrobe.
The food despite there being a lot of choice was poor quality and like warm. Most of the meat and fish was over cooked and dry. Most of the time the buffet looked untidy and some dishes were empty and not re-filled. Breakfast was better although the temperature of the food was still an issue. One night at dinner my friend was refused service because he was wearing a sleeveless top despite looking very smart and respectful. Other diners were wearing strappy tops and dresses but a male can’t wear a sleeveless top? This is quite discriminatory frankly and outdated as a policy. It’s a resort hotel and not a very good one.. I get a dress policy for the speciality restaurants but not in the buffet which is more of a cafeteria than a dining experience. This was a humiliating experience and the member of staff did not handle it well. At this point I was ready to leave as it ruined the stay for me seeing my friend upset.
The bar staff struggled to make basic drinks and either they poured them so strong as if to say don’t come back or made them differently each time. I think I had 3 different versions of a blue lagoon. My gin and tonic was made with soda and then when replaced was too strong.. poor attitude from the staff
The entertainment was lacking compared to previous visit and in comparison to Aquarelle. The screen on stage is damaged and flickers and the sound quality is inconsistent. The only positive was the band who were good.
Departing was the best past of my stay and I won’t be returning or recommending the hotel. I will thing twice before booking a RIU hotel in the future and certainly won’t stay at Ocho Rios again. It’s a shame as in Ocho there are a limited number of hotels unless you are a couple so next time I will try the Moon Palace as I’m told they are a cut above this property .

Date of Stay: October 2025

Q3296ZPmariet wrote a review October 2025

RUNDOWN Riu Ocho Rios

RE: Resort stay 6 days in September 2025

Let me first begin with my previous stay at Rui Negril, many years ago. Everything about the resort was 5-star! From the workers to the cleanliness, to the music, to the food, all 5-star! This experience made me want to experience Jamaica again with a RIU Resort.
Based on the experience I gathered some friends, 4 who had never been to Jamaica and 1 who had visited once prior, 6 of us in total. We set our plan 1 year prior to visit the beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and of course I wanted to stay in what I thought would be a 5-star resort, RIU, Ocho Rios.
My experience at the RIU Ocho Rios was FAR from 5 star.
1. Check-in/out desk representatives always had an attitude as if they were doing me a favor. When I approached, they would ask: What you need help with? What can I do for you? Or just stare at me and wait until I start talking. Then when we are finished, ask me if I AM GOOD NOW? Like they are talking to their girlfriend or relative.

The staff is all under (seemingly) 30 and have little-to-no polished hospitality client service training. When I asked a question, one person told me to use the user name and password they gave me and “just download the app and read everything”. She did not attempt to answer my simple question at all. She just deflected me to the app.

Even the information desk staff was flippid and rude, they would finish their conversation with the co-worker before helping anyone standing in line, right in front of her. A Concierge would have been nice to speak with to assist with my questions and concerns I had about my room and your amenities. And age-appropriate activities for me. When I called down to the desk, after the 5th time of no answer, someone finally answered and when I began to speak, they hung up. I just avoided them and try to figure everything out myself. The front desk staff acted like they were doing us a favor to talk to us, or answer questions. The whole group was frustrated. One of my travel partners, didn’t even get the suite she paid for.

If we had the money to leave that resort and go elsewhere, we would have – but we spent thousands of dollars to be there at RIU Ocho Rios and thought we’d give it a chance.

Let me make note: the waiters and waitresses were all polite and I commend them all on their kindness. They showed the good side of the staff.

2. Food: Most of the food was very blain/dry. Even the restaurants, the fish/lobster was very dry. I understand that food can’t be too seasoned to please the masses, but none of us can recall a pleasing food experience.
PLUS, A ROACH CRAWLED ACROSS OUR TABLE WHILE WE WERE EATING. I HAVE A PHOTO AND VIDEO TO PROVE IT.
3. Bar area: all the bars kept a sour smell as if they weren’t cleaned properly under the matts. Bartenders were addressing us with: What you want? You good? Another?
4. Pool Hours: My window was right above the LOUD pool and band, everyday, I had to leave my room at some point to get some quiet and walk to the completely other side of the resort to read or relax with lower sounding music. I could not enjoy my balcony in the daytime. Then when I wanted to come out for an early evening swim – ALL POOLS WERE CLOSED by 7pm. NOT 1 POOL OPEN for an evening swim or wade in the nice balmy evening air. They told me I had 2 choices, drink in the bars, or go to the show. OR go to my room; that I was not allowed to swim. I felt my schedule for relaxation was being governed by the resort.
5. Music: We came to Jamaica to hear the wonderful songs/music of all the current and great Jamaican artists. WE HEARD NONE. All the music was old American songs, with a reggae beat behind them. And every now and then a Bob Marley song. Guests like my group and others come there from all over the world to experience the authenticity of Jamaica and you serve us American has-been songs/music environment…how disappointing.
6. Furniture: the cushions are cracked at the edges and scratch your legs behind your knees. The chair in my room had a huge stain on it, and the pool table in the sports bar had HUGH stains all across the table surface. I have photos. The tiles in the elevators had cracks. Also room service tried to clean my room at 630pm at night, that is too late.
7. Lobby Etiquette: An element came into the resort for the weekend days that were “really young” and over drank. Some were carried to their room. Some were really overly sexualized in their behavior and wardrobe in front of the children. People are there to cut loose and let go, SO why isn’t there an adult only side…for this.
NUMEROUS nights people were laid out drunk sleeping on the lobby couches. Some slept all night, with no wrist band. Seemingly loitering on the property. It made an unsafe feeling for those days. Where was security?
Clearly there are little to no funds going into the upkeep of the RIU standard at that location. I will never go there again, nor refer anyone there. It even makes me wonder if the other locations are the same. What happen RIU? You had a forever guest in me until this.

Whether this email will cause any change of conditions, who knows, but after my group spending nearly $13 thousand dollars to come there, I could not be silent.
This letter speaks for the whole group of 6 travelers.

A Not Happy Jamaica Visitor,

Date of Stay: September 2025

jennifereS8827UJ wrote a review October 2025

Great great Place check out our vlogs on the Riu Ocho Rios on YouTube @akeenandjenn

We loved our stay, this was our second time staying here check out our vlogs on the Riu Ocho Rios on YouTube @akeenandjenn
Beach, food, rooms, people get a thumbs up from my husband and I

Date of Stay: September 2025

X7068QXconnieh wrote a review October 2025
Brampton, Ontario

Outstanding First RIU Experience – Relaxing, Beautiful, and Impeccably Clean (MAY 2024)

We stayed at this incredible RIU resort in May 2024, and from start to finish, it was one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. This was our first RIU experience, and we were blown away by the level of service, cleanliness, and overall atmosphere. It truly set a new standard for what an all-inclusive resort should be.

From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed into a stunning, well-maintained property with breathtaking views and a relaxing vibe. The entire resort is spotless — there were always staff members cleaning, maintaining, and checking in to ensure everything was just right. It’s obvious that keeping the resort pristine and guests happy is a top priority here.

The food was fantastic. There were endless options available throughout the day, and something for every craving. The jerk hut was one of our absolute favorites — full of bold, authentic flavor. The fresh fruit was top-quality and always ripe and juicy. Booking the specialty restaurants was simple, and each had a great atmosphere and even better food. Service across the board — from buffets to à la carte dining — was professional, friendly, and attentive. Buffet managers were constantly checking presentation and quality, and we really appreciated that hot food was actually served hot.

As big coffee lovers, we were especially happy to find that the coffee here was genuinely good — smooth and rich, just the way we like it.

Our room was clean, comfortable, and offered a breathtaking view. The bed was incredibly cozy, the minibar was restocked daily, and housekeeping made sure the room stayed fresh. Any time we needed something — more towels, extra items — it was delivered quickly and with a smile.

The pools are massive, sparkling clean, and the perfect place to kick back and relax. We spent a lot of time just lounging poolside, soaking up the sun without a care in the world. It was exactly the kind of peaceful getaway we were looking for.

This is hands-down the cleanest resort we’ve ever been to, and the staff’s dedication to guest satisfaction really stood out. Everyone went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing experience.

We’re so glad we chose RIU for this trip, and we’re already talking about coming back. If you're looking for a clean, well-run, relaxing resort with great food and top-tier service, this place is it.

Date of Stay: November 2024

Journey19430639576 wrote a review October 2025

I'll be back

Having read so meny reviees I went to this hotel with an open mind.Boy was we surprised the hotel is big and welcoming from the very first long drive down the palm tree road from the security entrance. Upon arrival treated with a choice of drinks , The reception staff were great polite and curious and explained everything they even set up our phones with the hotel wifi. The porter took our bags to the room he was again polite and always smiling.The room was as I expected it to be and our view was something else the balcony looked out onto the beach and the pools we were in building 2.
The food was good we aye alot in the St Ann's buffet and met alot of good staff who work realy hard to make your meal experience enjoyable.The table servers always rememberd you and sat you at the same table everyday if un occupied.They remembered your drinks and always asked polite if you wanted a top up. The chefs deserve a mention at the various cooking stations first class service with a smile.
The bars firstly the sports bar ,the staff are truly great I would come down every morning for rum cream latte coffees which they had recommended they would also fill up my flask with milk for the room they all new what I wanted when I approached them.Even my rum and cokes
All the other bars gave exactly the same service a big thankyou to all of you.
We would like to give out a special mention to the Lifeguards, the maintained men , the gardeners and the hotel security who all do a great job to make this hotel run smoothly.
Lastly the unsung heroes the cleaners we found the place to be spotless from room cleaning to general cleaning around the hotel areas.welldone all of you.
The entertainment crew put on a good show all day long and at night.They go out of there way to please you.I asked for a certain song to be played poolside and the DJ did it not once but when ever he saw me thankyou. Completions at poolside fun and also the games around the hotel thanks.

Date of Stay: September 2025

lisamO4397AZ wrote a review October 2025

Disappointing. Not felt welcomed

Been better to this hotel so wanted to go again but unfortunately not a good idea x staff not friendly don’t speak to you very rude. Food very repetitive couldn’t book up the specialality restaurants when open on certain days. So hardly ate any food. Entertainment very poor. Was informed about celebrating my 50 th while out there no interest from hotel to celebrate so didn’t feel happy as they was informed. Music all modern hardly and bab Marley. Didn’t recognise the music been played. So unfortunately want be goin back only best bit was beach and the weather. I got Married out this,hotel about 10 yrs ago and it was great. And wanted to share another great memory but it wasn’t to be big changes since last went not for the best 😞😞

Date of Stay: September 2025

FellowTraveler821015 wrote a review October 2025
London, England

The most breathtaking scenery. Vibe 10/10, entertainment 10/10

The best hotel that I have ever been to by far. The vibes, the spectacular view, the activities, it was never ending. My daughter did not want to leave. Definitely one for the family. You will never get bored as there are different activities everyday as well as parties for the family to enjoy on the weekend with different themes.

Date of Stay: October 2025

W9574PPcamiller wrote a review October 2025

Horrible place.

There is no room service, no robes, the towels are brown so who knows if they are clean, and if you have family who are not staying at the hotel they are forbidden from going in your room or leaving the lobby. The staff is rude. I asked housekeeping for a garbage bag. When she arrived she handed me the bag and watched me empty the garbage into the bag. Never again!!

Date of Stay: October 2025

Seaside52205156595 wrote a review October 2025

Worst customer service at an hotel in Jamaica we need to boycott!!!!!

Worst vacation stay ever!!! Starting at the reception the front desk manager Stacey was very unpleasant, my husband and I thought we were bothering here just our presence there was not wanted. Very very unprofessional. We were given our keys and no explanation on how to reach to the room, tried asking the bellman who was completely overwhelmed by the amount of people that were checking in and he was alone, so he started to say all types of profanities. We found our room with the help of a maintenance man called Basil who saw that we were completely lost and helped us. Please boycott this hotel until management give some communication and costumer service training to these employees.

Date of Stay: September 2025

K8458WHluked wrote a review October 2025

Sun sea and Mandem. JA is the best place in the world !

Best Holiday ever. I reached back home. 🇯🇲

Reconnecting back with my roots. Chilling with my peoples!🇯🇲 is in the DNA

Date of Stay: August 2025