Hotel Riu Ocho Rios - All Inclusive

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 This is quite discriminatory frankly and outdated as a policy.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 .

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

Due to the bad reviews I read prior to my trip, I almost changed hotels. I was concerned about the rude staff, cockroaches, overflowing/blocked toilets, sub-standard food, staff not treating black people well, all which I read in the reviews. However, my daughters persuaded me to stick with RIU Ocho Rios. I am so glad I did as I would’ve missed out on an amazing holiday. From the day we arrived to when we left my family had the best holiday ever. On arrival, we were offered a choice of cold drinks. Our room was ready immediately, as we arrived almost 4 hours after check in. The receptionist who checked us in was absolutely lovely, gave us a warm friendly greeting, explained what we needed to know, and how to find our room, in the family block. She tried to get a porter to help with our luggage, but due to so many arrivals at the same time, they were busy. However, on the way with our luggage we saw a porter on the way back to reception and he offered to help. The superior 2 bedroom family room was beautifully clean, smelt fresh, loads of towels and flannels for 5 of us. Huge wardrobes and large beds, with blankets if needed, plenty drawer space, clean terrace, the bathroom and toilet spotless. It was fantastic, after a long journey to be welcomed with a beautiful, clean, spacious room. Our housekeeper, Jually, was an absolute queen of clean. We adored her, lovely to chat to, always had a smile. We hugged her on our final day, as she was truly amazing. Mini bar, fridge always stocked, and anything I requested on the app was delivered promptly. The app is a great idea. I completed a survey in the app, and mentioned an issue with the sockets not holding the lead to my 4-way adapter, which I had to prop up with my travel kettle to stay in the socket. Within minutes maintenance was at my door to fix it. Honestly, the service was amazing, I didn’t have to visit reception or ask for things more than once to get something sorted. Many reviews complained about the walk to the family block, not a problem for us. For those with mobility issues it would be a concern. We use to cut through building 3 on our way to the dining area, which took you out of the sun, and a slightly shorter walk. I’m glad I requested ground floor, as no lift in the family block. I saw a family struggling to get upstairs with their luggage. I suggest maybe a slope is fitted, if not a lift. At the end of the corridor was an ice machine, which we used regularly. On 3 occasions I had senior staff knock on the door to check if we are happy with everything, which was appreciated. The food in the St. Ann’s restaurant was amazing. We didn’t like everything, but didn’t expect to, but we always found food we liked. We were always full and satisfied, that we didn’t bother visiting the speciality restaurants. We tried everything, we loved the Jamaican Station, as our background is Jamaican. We looked forward to our meals. The variety of soups were delicious, the vast choice of breakfast juices, types of fish, salads, bread, rolls, pastries. We wasn’t too keen on the desserts, the cakes were not great. We stuck to ice-cream, but found they were often too soft, melted. Not sure if there was an issue with the fridge. I have to applaud the dining room staff who have a difficult job, serving, clearing, cleaning tables and resetting them, and responding to the guests and their demands for service. They were pulled in every direction, and we need to be respectful and patient towards them. Finding a table can be an issue if you are not in the dining area within 30 minutes of opening. On one occasion I had to ask a supervisor help me locate a table. Pepe’s jerk chicken worth the wait. I never felt the need to tip, throughout my stay, as when staying AI, I leave my money in the safe. However, I made a mental note of certain individuals who provided excellent service, kindness and professionalism and tipped them at the end of my stay. Whether I tipped or not, every member of staff I encountered provided an excellent service. I loved the young entertainment team, they are an amazing set of individuals. They work hard to keep everyone entertained, always stopped to speak to you. They were outstanding. The beach bash was my favourite, Michael Jackson show, Latino night, the pre-shows and reggae band. I wasn’t keen on the Neon party, not my type of music, which I believe was techno, plus it was too loud. Wish I had ear defenders. The White party, more my type of music, but again excessively loud. The only complaint I have is some guests being disrespectful of the rules, coming to the restaurant unsuitably clothed, women in bikini tops, that at times just covered their nipples, almost bare bottoms. Guests taking food back to their rooms, leaving plates with remnants of food outside room doors covered in insects. There was a man in the sports bar topless, and when advised by the bar staff he need to put a shirt on, he responded I have a shirt, which he held up in his hand, but didn’t put on. Man trying to enter swim up pool bar with a plate of food, another climbing up on the table. In contrast the children were impeccably behaved. Overall, we had the best holiday and came away smiling, and reminiscing about the highlights, which were many. The staff had a major impact on our enjoyment and I am thankful to all of them. I only hope everyone else has the same experience.