Hotel Riu Ocho Rios - All Inclusive

To me it felt like a prison compound. The security discourage you from leaving the property. When I went outside and got dropped back by my friends at nighttime to ensure I am safe, the security were hostile, telling us my friend and her mom must step out the car, only me and the driver (my friends cousin) can drop me to the lobby. I was shocked. I can with certainty say they would not have asked us this if we were white. When my other friend came (Jamaican) they were also hostile to him as we tried to organise a day pass. I am British Jamaican and have spent a lot of my time in both countries and feel very safe and happy in Jamaica and yet you're made to feel like the locals are dangerous and outside is discouraged. It's neocolonialism at it's finest and I'd never stay here again.

Riu Ocho Rios use to be a nice welcoming resort some how after 4 years it's down graded we had a beach front upgraded room however so disappointed to see how old the furniture are not attractive room not romantic room or drapes the side table falling apart the couch is super dirty they cover it with a sheet when you sit in the chair it rolled off and rolled my wife on the ground no flat sheet or pillow case we had to call for them also no blanket had to call to get all of that a high turn off one person from front desk is super pleasant professional and helpful Elicia all others are grumpy dining room staffs are very pleasant hardworking and professional. Especially Tajmamia and all inside servers not the same for the ones outdoor they are grumpy food is cold limited salty food greasy and over sweetened porridge or hot chocolate worst I have seen it Island routes drivers are nice the service rep. from Island routes Sidia she is very rude unprofessional aggressive lied all the times misleading and we almost missed our fight she is never around you have to send whatsapp msg only don't answer phone she lied constantly she is very miserable when she called rude tone hang up on me Riu Ocho Rios nice beach no umbrella for beach bleach smells so strong in hallways Bellhops are very nice and pleasant also very helpful Jermaine is super helpful all of them actually entertainment is good especially white party I could go and on.

This hotel is poorly managed. Lock on patio door broken, bathroom shower door broken and the water seal on the shower door is gross! Mildew all over the seal on the shower door. There was no iron in the room and one chair on the patio. Christmas Eve dinner was all buffet and chaotic. Long lines and not enough seating. I spoke to the manager of Guest Services who assured me that he would get an iron and a shoot the room. He spent time typing it on a computer but nothing was done. He is ineffective as a manager. Towels are old and discolored This would be a much better hotel with better management

Stay Dates: December 25, 2025 – January 1, 2026 We have stayed at several RIU properties in the past, but unfortunately, RIU Ocho Rios does not measure up to the brand's usual standards. While there were some bright spots, the resort requires significant attention to maintenance and service. Pros: Beautiful Beach: The natural scenery is stunning and was a highlight of the trip. Service: Certain staff members were exceptionally hard-working and polite: Jodiann, Temika, Kevan, Chavez, and a supervisor named Leightan (sorry for any misspelled names) Dining: The food was generally good, though quite repetitive. Room: We enjoyed having a partial ocean view. Cons: Check-in; The front desk was extremely disorganized and slow. The staff appeared indifferent to the long wait times. Additionally, the bus shuttle played uncensored, loud reggae for nearly two hours, which was not the most welcoming experience. Room Maintenance & Layout: Despite a 2019 renovation, the rooms felt unfinished and poorly designed. The "open-concept" bathroom lacks privacy; the toilet area is cramped, and the shower and sink are separated from the sleeping area by only a thin, dirty curtain. Basic amenities were neglected—our fridge was never properly restocked despite reporting it, and tissue boxes remained empty. Cleanliness Issues: Common areas were often littered with dirty plates, cups, and garbage, particularly on the walk to breakfast. The beach also had significant litter (straws and plastic), making water shoes a necessity for safety. Lack of Beach Shade: There are no umbrellas provided and very few shady spots on the beach. Inappropriate Entertainment: As a family resort, the entertainment was disappointing. Some activities were highly inappropriate for children, such as a "twerking contest" on Christmas Day and staff asking women their bra sizes during New Year’s celebrations. Staff Attitude: Most bar staff were unfriendly and gave guests attitude. At the Italian restaurant, a waiter sat my family at a dirty table and simply said, "This is your table," saying it will be cleaned soon. We expected much more from a RIU property. Unless significant improvements are made to service and facility maintenance, we would not recommend this location

A location that you wouldn't anticipate being so forgotten. The upgrades need upgrades at this point. Many concerns from cleanliness to non functioning AC. Liquor and beer choices were few compared to other RIU resorts in the country. The staff is well trained and respectful other than that, this location needs a lot of love. More than a one Love song by Bob Marley

A big shame I didn't get the experience that a lot of people talk about. I had an appalling experience. Unfortunately, my trip coincided with hurricane Melissa, so no amenities for children, was in lockdown and limited food. However, hurricane aside, the staff were extremely rude. I got sworn at by one, eyes rolled by others and received very rude service by all reception staff. Suitcase got thrown right in front of my face by transfer person, causing a wheel to break off. Room mouldy in many areas (inc. furniture). So bad that it transferred onto items left in the wardrobe. Was given weeks out of date crackers during lockdown . Was also given only food containing eggs during lockdown which meant that my 7 year old had nothing to eat during this period due to him having an egg allergy. Following lockdown, breakfast service had nothing he could eat. When asked for some cereal for him was told no. After explaining he has an allergy and he couldn't eat anything laid out because everything contained, was or was covered in egg, I was brought some dry cereal. When asked for milk the staff member was huffing and puffing like a bull. After about 15 minutes we finally got some milk. Third party used for airport transfer confirmed my pick-up but didnt show up, so nearly missed our flight home. Reception staff were not interested to help in the slightest. Acted like they were doing me a favour when asking for assistance to call the company. Unfortunately, the only response I received when raising my concerns with Riu was an apology. Very poor and unacceptable. Evidently their bottom line is more important. Wouldn't recommend based on my experience and wouldn't stay again. A complete waste of money especially given the amount paid for the hotel! On a positive note, waiting and bar staff were generally pleasant. And the hotel kept us with power using a generator. Other than that, a poor and disappointing experience

We stayed at the Riu Ocho Rios from Dec. 26–Jan 2 with our 2 teenage daughters. This was our 2nd stay - we had been here in March 2024 for a week and returned because we had enjoyed our stay then. After this week, however, our feeling is that we would not return. There were some positives - the weather was mostly great and the resort has a beautiful view right on the beach. Snorkelling right off the beach is amazing - no need to book a tour. Some of the staff were amazing, friendly and helpful and the New Year’s Eve meal and celebration were very well done. The Riu party and Steel Drum band were also great and we enjoyed ourselves while attending those evenings. Overall, however we’d say that this resort does not come close to measuring up to a 5 star (as claimed in some of their literature). I would hesitate to give it a 3 star rating at this point for the following reasons: Service: This place seems either understaffed, or not staffed with employees who care. We often waited in long lines for drinks, food etc. as there just doesn’t seem to be enough quality staff allocated to these busy areas. For example 1 omelet maker at breakfast, 1 person making the lunch special wraps, 1 place to get a good cappuccino in the morning - usually long lines. Staff don’t ask if you’d like another drink at dinner or lunch and it can take a long time to get even the first one. In many cases when you do ask for something the staff is not polite and it seems as though they are put out. This is not universally the case - but in many interactions we felt like they didn’t want to assist in any way. Rooms: Although the rooms are fairly spacious and the beds were comfortable, they are very dated. Furnishings are showing their age and there are very few areas to plug in anything to charge. The outlets by the bed are very loose and phone chargers won’t stay in. There are 2 USB ports in one outlet, however throughout the room trying to find a receptacle to plug something in is a challenge. Cleanliness: The beach is beautiful but often littered with straws, cups, garbage that is not cleaned very well. Cups and food garbage is often left on tables all day, even around the pool - waiting for a table to be cleared can take a long time. Again - it seems like they are either understaffed - or some of the staff they have could care less about cleanliness. Food: This time around we found that if you don’t get to the buffet immediately when it opened you were out of luck. Food trays were empty, selection was poor, food was generally very disappointing. This was the same for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many times if you got to the buffet, even halfway through, it was completely empty of anything worth eating. Food was also often luke warm at best and honestly not even close to what one would expect in a 4/5 star resort. Once food was gone - it was gone. There was no replenishing of foods, bread, Coissants, eggs etc. and if you did ask for more you were often met with a rude response indicating there was no more. The restaurants were decent but you have to sign up for them and it can be challenging to get a reservation to eat at a reasonable time. Even at the restaurants some of the food is terrible - steaks are fatty or tough, food isn’t replenished in the buffet portion of the restaurant, drinks aren’t refilled. Overall it was a huge disappointment - certainly didn’t go home having gained weight. Overall, the weather was generally warm and sunny (except for the last day), and the swimming / snorkelling right off the beach is really amazing. Some of the entertainment is great and some of the staff seem like they care (like Ms. D - she was amazing). If you are looking for service and great food, however - this is no longer the spot for you. We aren’t picky and we aren’t accustomed to being pampered - however we paid $15000 (Canadian) for our group of 4 this time around and we really do feel like we didn’t get our money’s worth. There has been a marked negative change in this resort since we were here in 2024. I’m not sure if it is due to the hurricane, staffing issues or supply issues. I realize that many on this island have gone through a great deal in recent months, and although the hurricane did not hit this region terribly hard, many of the workers that come from other parts of the island have had a very tough time. We are very sympathetic to this, but we would no longer come back or recommend this resort to others in its current state. Perhaps this Riu resort has allowed itself to become overbooked despite the challenges that Jamaica has faced in the last few months. In that case - it’s on them - and they should not have booked so many customers if they could not adequately serve them. We have been happy with Riu resorts in the past - this is our 5th stay at a Riu and we are booked to stay at the Riu Palace in Cabo San Lucas for March Break so we’re hoping that doesn’t disappoint

The customer service I experienced during my stay at RIU Ocho Rios was poor. Unfortunately, several aspects of my visit were handled poorly and did not align with RIU’s stated commitment to guest satisfaction. After a long and exhausting flight, the check-in process was unacceptably slow and disorganized. Rather than being welcomed and efficiently assisted, I was met with delays (over 90 minutes delay checking in!) and a lack of urgency from staff. This set a negative tone for the stay, particularly given the expectation of professionalism at an international resort. Additionally, I was extremely disappointed to learn that I was unable to book a New Year’s dinner. This was a significant part of the reason for choosing to stay at RIU during this time. There was no clear communication in advance regarding availability, and when the issue was raised, staff displayed a dismissive attitude and failed to take any accountability or offer a reasonable solution or alternative. The combination of a late and slow check-in process, the inability to secure a New Year’s dinner, and the overall lack of accountability from staff directly contradicts RIU’s advertised values of care, quality service, and customer focus. As a guest, I expected understanding, proactive communication, and a genuine effort to resolve concerns none of which were demonstrated. I believe this matter warrants serious review, as it significantly impacted my experience and perception of the RIU brand. I hope this feedback is taken seriously and that steps are taken to improve customer service, accountability, and guest communication moving forward.

I was disappointment with the customer service I experienced during my stay at RIU Ocho Rios. Unfortunately, the issues I encountered were not handled in a manner that reflects the values RIU claims to uphold for its guests as a five star hotel. During my stay, there was a leak from the air-conditioning system in my room, which resulted in water damage and created an uncomfortable and unacceptable living environment with a pool of water left in the room everyday. This issue was reported, yet the response from staff was slow and dismissive. More concerning was the complete lack of accountability taken for the situation. No meaningful effort was made to resolve the problem promptly, nor was there any clear communication or follow-up to ensure the issue was properly addressed. The poor customer service I received, combined with the lack of responsibility for the water damage caused by the air-conditioning system, directly contradicts RIU’s stated commitment to guest satisfaction and quality service. As a paying guest, I expected professionalism, urgency, and care—none of which were demonstrated in this situation. I believe this matter deserves serious attention, as it negatively impacted my stay and overall perception of the RIU brand! Five stars needs reviewing.

We really enjoyed our stay at Riu Ocho Rios and would definitely recommend it. Overall, we’d rate the hotel 8/10. Pros: • The beach is amazing and extremely close to the hotel • A great choice of pools • The hotel is very clean • Staff are genuinely friendly and welcoming • Lots of bars with a good selection of cocktails • Breakfast at the Italian restaurant was very convenient for Building 1 and offered a great selection • Included water sports (kayaking and paddleboarding) were easy to access, and the staff were very helpful • The rooms are spacious, well designed, and offer plenty of room • Restaurants can be booked through the app, which is convenient; however, for later booking times we found food sometimes ran out, so it’s something to be aware of • Although the Asian restaurant is supposedly walk-in, it’s best to put your name down early—we were never able to get in. It would be much easier if this restaurant could also be booked through the app Cons: Although there seemed to be plenty of staff around, the hotel felt understaffed at times. • Food items, ice cream, and even basics like mint (no mojitos!) often ran out and were slow to be restocked. This was disappointing, though it may have been due to a particularly busy time of year • We repeatedly asked for tonic water to be restocked in the mini-bar and were told each time that the issue had been resolved, but it never was. It would have been better to be told they had run out, rather than being told it was fixed when it wasn’t. We tried to get our own in the bars but they wouldn’t give it out. Eventually, we stopped complaining as it was clear none was available Finally a huge amount of effort was clearly put in by all Riu staff for the New Year’s Eve celebrations. There was a martini bar, an impressive variety of food options, and even a restaurant set up around the pool. Sparkling wine was available, which isn’t usually offered, and it really added to the occasion. The fireworks were fantastic. Tip: If possible, avoid flying into Kingston Airport—it’s a long 1.5–2 hour drive to the hotel. Despite a few small issues, we still had a very enjoyable stay and would definitely consider returning.