Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Mammee Bay Road, Mammee Bay Jamaica
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Avg. $221 /night, 12/3 - 12/4
$256
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$128
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About
4.0
#1 of 3 hotels in Mammee BayLocation
4.3
Rooms
4.1
Value
4.0
Cleanliness
4.3
Service
4.0
Sleep Quality
4.0
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Ocean View
Location
Mammee Bay Road, Mammee Bay Jamaica
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 55 out of 100
55
Sangster Intl Airport
49.2 mi•
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Norman Manley Airport
43.8 mi•
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Rental Cars
92 Restaurants
within 5 miles
Reviews
4.0
12,935 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Hotel Riu Ocho Rios garners appreciation for its cleanliness and diligent housekeeping, with guests also commending the warm service provided by the staff. While the range of amenities including beaches and entertainment is generally praised, some guests feel that the hotel does not offer value for money, pointing to costly extras and service inconsistencies.
Rooms are noted to have maintenance and cleanliness issues, and the vibrant atmosphere is a hit, although the mix of music and noise levels received mixed reviews. Its location offers scenic views, yet the distance from the airport is a drawback for some.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Unkempt
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Satisfactory
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12,935Reviews2,163Q+A100Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
+1
Hotel's Favorite
We are recently back from a two week stay at this hotel.
The first thing i would like to point out is that some of the negative reviews on here appear to be incorrect and unjustified.
As a brit, i wouldn't normally tip unless the service is outstanding. We never felt pressured into tipping, and it was at our discretion. We never tipped for drinks and tipped only once in the buffet restaurant due to our table size. If you want to tip cool, if you don't, that's also cool. You still get the same level of service with or without a tip. We would at times tip at the restaurants because the service was good and attentive..
The hotel complex is huge with its own stretch of beautiful beach, which has an abundance of deck chairs and at least one beach bar. The beach has a number of bored life guards, and the water isn't deep. You are able to stand up at all times.
The beach is also good for running on with a lap from the water sports area to just past the blue bamboo around 0.5km. The gym is small for the size of the hotel, and the two treadmills are annoyingly taken up by people walking. Why they can't walk around the resort or the beach and leave the treadmills for the runners? i don't know probably a unfair assessment. The gyms made up of some weights, a machine or two and medicine balls. We skipped the gym being unable to get on a treadmill. We opted for circuits and runs outside. There's a fairly long path next to the gym perfect for incline runs or power walks.
The airport transfer was up to 1.5-2hrs. It would be worth looking at club mobay and private transfers to speed this process up. TUI premium isn't in effect when you get to Jamaica. It's a separate system called club mobay..
The pools have been split into two sections.. The two infinity pools, one of which is a swim up bar, are on the far left of the resort, and this is the more relaxed side. Not as many children, stringent rules for the pools, etc. Although extremely loud parties did ruin the peace and quiet on two occasions, it can't be helped, of course, and we simply moved away from them. The other section is on the right of the resort and is made up of two more pools, but here you find daily entertainment, and it's a lot busier. The pools are always found to be clean and tidy, perhaps from sand that's being brought in. The swim up bars are great, quick service, full menu and nice staff, some make an effort some don't.
The grounds are kept extremely well. An army of staff work tirelessly to keep the place so clean and tidy. It's a shame that lazy guests can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.
You have a choice of a number of restaurants.
Breakfast is usually taken at the main buffet St Anne's, but it feels as busy as the airport. So for a more relaxed service, go to the Italian restaurant. It's quiet, you can have a sea view, and it's not jammed packed. Sometimes, the food isn't as fresh here, but that's being picky. There's a crazy amount of choice just for breakfast, fresh fruit like you've never seen, cooked breakfast, pastries, salads, fish, pancakes, and an omelette station.
Lunch again is normally taken at St Anne's, and it can be busy. The food choices on offer are just out of this world and too many to list. The other option is Pepe's grill. Here, you can get your jerk chicken and burgers. It's worth the wait as sometimes you may have to que as the chicken cooks.
For dinner, the resort offers a number of specialty restaurants.. As you can imagine, the main buffet is hectic and nowhere near the peace and quiet you probably want.
First up is the Italian, we ate here a lot. Your starters and dessert are from the restaurants buffet selection, and your mains are served. Huge fillet steaks, salmon, and sea food linguine all wait you here. The fillet steaks are beautiful. The restaurant has a nice ambiance about it, rarely busy and perfect for date nights or a relaxing meal. Staff are tentative but appear to be trying to rush you when you just want to take your time.
Asian restaurant is a full buffet centred around Chinese food and Indian food, all very good..
Steakhouse can be a bit warm as there's no aircon. Its full service, limited starters, i had a rip eye that looks amazing, but then i realised it was mostly fat, and i also had a burger another night. Not bad. It's worth at least a visit.
Gourmet restaurant we tried once, all very good, lovely atmosphere inside. The service is a bit slower, allowing for conversation and a relaxed dining experience. We probably would have gone more, but we just ran out of time. It's definitely one of the better restaurants.
For 24 hours, you have the sports bar with two pool tables and snacks on the go 24/7. Here, you'll find burgers, sandwiches, crisps, pizza, pastries from breakfast, and whatever left overs they can find.
Our room had limited sea view and overlooked the centre, which was made up of trees, a pond, plants etc. All very nice.
Room had an easy to use coffee machine that makes better coffee than what's available at the bars. The room had a balcony, which annoyingly was unlit, so after dark, i couldn't sit out and read. It's perfect for during the day. The room has a complete mini bar, rum, whisky, vodka, and gin. With a number of mixers available and ice from the ice machine located on your floor. There's red stripe and another light beer available, which, as a non spirit drinker, this was heaven.
There weren't as many sockets as i would have liked, but we managed. We had a huge walk-in shower, and a decent hairdryer is available. Along with an iron and iron board. There's a safe in the room which is located in the huge wardrobe, there isn't a shortage of storage that's for sure.
Room service comes in daily, and contrary to popular belief, they will clean your room without the expectation of a tip..all a tip gets you is crazy towel features on the bed. They did sterling work each day, though, and did receive a tip. The Rui app allows you to order stuff you might be missing, towels, mini bar stuff, etc. I made a number of orders, and they were completed in no time. The apps is excellent. You also book your restaurants through the app.
The hotel also has a pretty good water park. A small park for the kids and a larger part with a number of slides for the older ones and adults. It was great fun and definitely worth checking out.
Whilst there, my brother was married. The wedding planner sorted the wedding, and we were treated to such a lovely service on the beach. Rum punch was provided, and later a meal in a private dining room in the evening.
The entertainment is available throughout the day and night, but it wasn't to our taste, so we skipped it. The water sports are available but again, we skipped these. We wish we had taken the pedal boats out but for one reason or another, we never did. You can snorkel, and it's well recommended near to the reef the sea view is outstanding, i can only describe it as being in a giant tropical fish tank. Take some bread down to feed them. You can hire the snorkel kit for a deposit at the water sports area.
If you are researching your upcoming holiday. You may have heard about "rocky" who does a lot of the trips from this hotel. He's a rip-off merchant, walk up the road at the hotel, there's a taxi rank on there go and speak to the independent drivers, they are a lot cheaper then 'rocky'.
Bamboo bar next door to the hotel has a small gift shop and an ATM. The hotel shop is overpriced, sorry to say RUI. There's also a service station 0.5km from the hotel. It's walkable without a guide, but just keep your wits about you.
Overall amazing experience at the Rui.
The first thing i would like to point out is that some of the negative reviews on here appear to be incorrect and unjustified.
As a brit, i wouldn't normally tip unless the service is outstanding. We never felt pressured into tipping, and it was at our discretion. We never tipped for drinks and tipped only once in the buffet restaurant due to our table size. If you want to tip cool, if you don't, that's also cool. You still get the same level of service with or without a tip. We would at times tip at the restaurants because the service was good and attentive..
The hotel complex is huge with its own stretch of beautiful beach, which has an abundance of deck chairs and at least one beach bar. The beach has a number of bored life guards, and the water isn't deep. You are able to stand up at all times.
The beach is also good for running on with a lap from the water sports area to just past the blue bamboo around 0.5km. The gym is small for the size of the hotel, and the two treadmills are annoyingly taken up by people walking. Why they can't walk around the resort or the beach and leave the treadmills for the runners? i don't know probably a unfair assessment. The gyms made up of some weights, a machine or two and medicine balls. We skipped the gym being unable to get on a treadmill. We opted for circuits and runs outside. There's a fairly long path next to the gym perfect for incline runs or power walks.
The airport transfer was up to 1.5-2hrs. It would be worth looking at club mobay and private transfers to speed this process up. TUI premium isn't in effect when you get to Jamaica. It's a separate system called club mobay..
The pools have been split into two sections.. The two infinity pools, one of which is a swim up bar, are on the far left of the resort, and this is the more relaxed side. Not as many children, stringent rules for the pools, etc. Although extremely loud parties did ruin the peace and quiet on two occasions, it can't be helped, of course, and we simply moved away from them. The other section is on the right of the resort and is made up of two more pools, but here you find daily entertainment, and it's a lot busier. The pools are always found to be clean and tidy, perhaps from sand that's being brought in. The swim up bars are great, quick service, full menu and nice staff, some make an effort some don't.
The grounds are kept extremely well. An army of staff work tirelessly to keep the place so clean and tidy. It's a shame that lazy guests can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.
You have a choice of a number of restaurants.
Breakfast is usually taken at the main buffet St Anne's, but it feels as busy as the airport. So for a more relaxed service, go to the Italian restaurant. It's quiet, you can have a sea view, and it's not jammed packed. Sometimes, the food isn't as fresh here, but that's being picky. There's a crazy amount of choice just for breakfast, fresh fruit like you've never seen, cooked breakfast, pastries, salads, fish, pancakes, and an omelette station.
Lunch again is normally taken at St Anne's, and it can be busy. The food choices on offer are just out of this world and too many to list. The other option is Pepe's grill. Here, you can get your jerk chicken and burgers. It's worth the wait as sometimes you may have to que as the chicken cooks.
For dinner, the resort offers a number of specialty restaurants.. As you can imagine, the main buffet is hectic and nowhere near the peace and quiet you probably want.
First up is the Italian, we ate here a lot. Your starters and dessert are from the restaurants buffet selection, and your mains are served. Huge fillet steaks, salmon, and sea food linguine all wait you here. The fillet steaks are beautiful. The restaurant has a nice ambiance about it, rarely busy and perfect for date nights or a relaxing meal. Staff are tentative but appear to be trying to rush you when you just want to take your time.
Asian restaurant is a full buffet centred around Chinese food and Indian food, all very good..
Steakhouse can be a bit warm as there's no aircon. Its full service, limited starters, i had a rip eye that looks amazing, but then i realised it was mostly fat, and i also had a burger another night. Not bad. It's worth at least a visit.
Gourmet restaurant we tried once, all very good, lovely atmosphere inside. The service is a bit slower, allowing for conversation and a relaxed dining experience. We probably would have gone more, but we just ran out of time. It's definitely one of the better restaurants.
For 24 hours, you have the sports bar with two pool tables and snacks on the go 24/7. Here, you'll find burgers, sandwiches, crisps, pizza, pastries from breakfast, and whatever left overs they can find.
Our room had limited sea view and overlooked the centre, which was made up of trees, a pond, plants etc. All very nice.
Room had an easy to use coffee machine that makes better coffee than what's available at the bars. The room had a balcony, which annoyingly was unlit, so after dark, i couldn't sit out and read. It's perfect for during the day. The room has a complete mini bar, rum, whisky, vodka, and gin. With a number of mixers available and ice from the ice machine located on your floor. There's red stripe and another light beer available, which, as a non spirit drinker, this was heaven.
There weren't as many sockets as i would have liked, but we managed. We had a huge walk-in shower, and a decent hairdryer is available. Along with an iron and iron board. There's a safe in the room which is located in the huge wardrobe, there isn't a shortage of storage that's for sure.
Room service comes in daily, and contrary to popular belief, they will clean your room without the expectation of a tip..all a tip gets you is crazy towel features on the bed. They did sterling work each day, though, and did receive a tip. The Rui app allows you to order stuff you might be missing, towels, mini bar stuff, etc. I made a number of orders, and they were completed in no time. The apps is excellent. You also book your restaurants through the app.
The hotel also has a pretty good water park. A small park for the kids and a larger part with a number of slides for the older ones and adults. It was great fun and definitely worth checking out.
Whilst there, my brother was married. The wedding planner sorted the wedding, and we were treated to such a lovely service on the beach. Rum punch was provided, and later a meal in a private dining room in the evening.
The entertainment is available throughout the day and night, but it wasn't to our taste, so we skipped it. The water sports are available but again, we skipped these. We wish we had taken the pedal boats out but for one reason or another, we never did. You can snorkel, and it's well recommended near to the reef the sea view is outstanding, i can only describe it as being in a giant tropical fish tank. Take some bread down to feed them. You can hire the snorkel kit for a deposit at the water sports area.
If you are researching your upcoming holiday. You may have heard about "rocky" who does a lot of the trips from this hotel. He's a rip-off merchant, walk up the road at the hotel, there's a taxi rank on there go and speak to the independent drivers, they are a lot cheaper then 'rocky'.
Bamboo bar next door to the hotel has a small gift shop and an ATM. The hotel shop is overpriced, sorry to say RUI. There's also a service station 0.5km from the hotel. It's walkable without a guide, but just keep your wits about you.
Overall amazing experience at the Rui.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Make sure you snorkel down at the reef and take some bread to feed the fish.
Don't go to rocky...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Jul 3, 2023
Dear Travelingwookie1, Thank you very much for staying with us and your great feedback! We count ourselves lucky for our lovely guests. And we look forward to working for you again soon. Wishing you a wonderful day. Best wishes! Hotel Riu Ocho RÃos Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I’m going to be quite honest... overall a decent trip. Staff wasn’t very friendly, our fridge barely got restocked, not even water. They restocked for the first 3 days and then told us they don’t restock daily. For a five star resort I don’t think that is acceptable. Our rooms got cleaned at 4pm everyday which is quite late considering most people come to shower and get ready for dinner around that time. We got one toilet paper, when asked for more they never brought it so i had to hide my toilet paper so that they could restock properly. The food was good but not enough Jamaican food. The jerk chicken by the pool was great! There was a few bartenders who were awesome! The beach was beautiful, always had beach chairs no matter what time we came. Wish there was a little more night life after the shows. Overall maybe a 3.5 out of 5.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RiuHotelsandResorts, Online Reputation Manager at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Feb 12, 2020
Dear Raeeraee9, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with the travel community! We are happy to learn that overall you had a good time during your stay at our Hotel Riu Ocho Rios! We appreciate your kind words and compliments towards most of our products and services. However, we lament that you found some inconveniences that made your stay less enjoyable which we apologize for! We have taken notes of these concerns and suggestions and will share them with our Management team so that they can take them into consideration! It was our pleasure to take care of you and we look forward to welcoming you back very soon in one of our worldwide hotels! King regards, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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+1
This was our first time in Jamaica, we chose RIU because we have been to several others in Mexico and Dominican and find them to be consistently well priced and
enjoyable. RIU Ocho Rios is no exception. We payed slightly more for an oceanfront room in the #2 building which i find to be in the best location as it is above reception and all of the restaurants and entertainment. It can be a little loud with music after dinner until around 11pm which did not bother us. Room is beautifully redone with amazing views, found the beds to be comfortable. Mini bar and fridge are not stocked due to covid but we had no issues getting water and pop at the bars to stock it ourselves. Food is pretty good here. We had no issues getting into the specialty restaurants every night when they open at 630pm, no waits, attentive staff, and nice food options. Buffet does not have as much choices as usual but we had no issues always finding something we liked. You are unable to serve yourself due to covid but they will give you as much as you want. After hours options are only sandwiches which I have not tried. COVID protocols are enforced throughout masks must be worn walking through any public areas until you are seated. Temp checks are done at every meal and you must sanitize your hands. During the week was quiet and enjoyable, on the weekend the resort was overrun with locals. Most were friendly and we did not have any issues except feeling a bit out of place. Entertainment was not as good, most shows were pretty boring with kareoke, dj, and a bob marley documentary. Wifi is free and unlimited throughout the resort and in your room and we were given a riu app to use which was great. It let's you know what and when activities are taking place, which restaurants are open and when with menus, resort maps, and you can reach out to housekeeping or front desk for any needs. The beach and ocean are breathtaking views of turquoise waters. Free water sports were fun, we have not tried the Waterpark yet. Some pools and bars were closed during the week but opened up on the weekend. Personally I feel with Covid all of the pools should be open to give people more room to spread out. Overall we are very happy and would not hesitate coming back.
enjoyable. RIU Ocho Rios is no exception. We payed slightly more for an oceanfront room in the #2 building which i find to be in the best location as it is above reception and all of the restaurants and entertainment. It can be a little loud with music after dinner until around 11pm which did not bother us. Room is beautifully redone with amazing views, found the beds to be comfortable. Mini bar and fridge are not stocked due to covid but we had no issues getting water and pop at the bars to stock it ourselves. Food is pretty good here. We had no issues getting into the specialty restaurants every night when they open at 630pm, no waits, attentive staff, and nice food options. Buffet does not have as much choices as usual but we had no issues always finding something we liked. You are unable to serve yourself due to covid but they will give you as much as you want. After hours options are only sandwiches which I have not tried. COVID protocols are enforced throughout masks must be worn walking through any public areas until you are seated. Temp checks are done at every meal and you must sanitize your hands. During the week was quiet and enjoyable, on the weekend the resort was overrun with locals. Most were friendly and we did not have any issues except feeling a bit out of place. Entertainment was not as good, most shows were pretty boring with kareoke, dj, and a bob marley documentary. Wifi is free and unlimited throughout the resort and in your room and we were given a riu app to use which was great. It let's you know what and when activities are taking place, which restaurants are open and when with menus, resort maps, and you can reach out to housekeeping or front desk for any needs. The beach and ocean are breathtaking views of turquoise waters. Free water sports were fun, we have not tried the Waterpark yet. Some pools and bars were closed during the week but opened up on the weekend. Personally I feel with Covid all of the pools should be open to give people more room to spread out. Overall we are very happy and would not hesitate coming back.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Feb 24, 2021
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your five-star review with us. We sincerely appreciate your kind comments and we are delighted to hear your stay was enjoyable. Please come back and visit us again as it will be our pleasure to assist you in anyway. Kind regards Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was not happy with the architectural design of the rooms. The shower is separated from the bathroom which is convenient when traveling with 2 people or more, but the washroom had no fan to ventilate.
I took my daughter for her birthday and brought my aunt as well and everytime we used the washroom the whole room would smell. I don't want to smell someone else's bowel movement.
Who doesn't put a fan in a bathroom?
They had electrical issues in my room or throughout the hotel, I got caught in the shower 3 times when the lights went out and my daughter was caught once. Not cool for a 6 year old! I had to switch my room 3 times.
The plug in the bathrooms didn't work, I had to blow dry my hair in front of the minibar just to be close to a mirror. They fixed it 3 days later.
OMG the part the got me the most upset is that I paid for all inclusive, why were they charging $2 per game to play pool in the sports bar? FALSE ADVERTISEMENT!
After the night entertainment there's nothing to do after 10pm except play pool.
After paying $4500 for a family of 3, I shouldn't have to pay for anything except souvenirs.
24 hour food is a lie. I don't consider nachos and cheese or sandwiches food. I've been to 4 stars where they at least make pizza, fries and burgers 24hours.
I was very disappointed in this RIU, I feel that it was smaller than advertised.
The RIU Land crew were the best. They made my daughter feel welcome and helped fix the disappointment of her birthday being ruined because Sunwing lost our luggage for 2 days.
My aunts medication, my medication, my daughters medication. No swimsuits. No toothbrush.
Sunwing and RIU should have a care package for events like this. (Toothbrush and toothpaste at the recption) I had to go to bed without brushing my teeth and showering after arriving late because of a Sunwing flight delay. My daughter was starving and there was nothing for her to eat except hard overcooked patties.
Poor kid had her 6th birthday ruined when I promised her so much fun. That was the main reason I took her too Jamaica.
RIU and Sunwing you owe my daughter a free trip!
I took my daughter for her birthday and brought my aunt as well and everytime we used the washroom the whole room would smell. I don't want to smell someone else's bowel movement.
Who doesn't put a fan in a bathroom?
They had electrical issues in my room or throughout the hotel, I got caught in the shower 3 times when the lights went out and my daughter was caught once. Not cool for a 6 year old! I had to switch my room 3 times.
The plug in the bathrooms didn't work, I had to blow dry my hair in front of the minibar just to be close to a mirror. They fixed it 3 days later.
OMG the part the got me the most upset is that I paid for all inclusive, why were they charging $2 per game to play pool in the sports bar? FALSE ADVERTISEMENT!
After the night entertainment there's nothing to do after 10pm except play pool.
After paying $4500 for a family of 3, I shouldn't have to pay for anything except souvenirs.
24 hour food is a lie. I don't consider nachos and cheese or sandwiches food. I've been to 4 stars where they at least make pizza, fries and burgers 24hours.
I was very disappointed in this RIU, I feel that it was smaller than advertised.
The RIU Land crew were the best. They made my daughter feel welcome and helped fix the disappointment of her birthday being ruined because Sunwing lost our luggage for 2 days.
My aunts medication, my medication, my daughters medication. No swimsuits. No toothbrush.
Sunwing and RIU should have a care package for events like this. (Toothbrush and toothpaste at the recption) I had to go to bed without brushing my teeth and showering after arriving late because of a Sunwing flight delay. My daughter was starving and there was nothing for her to eat except hard overcooked patties.
Poor kid had her 6th birthday ruined when I promised her so much fun. That was the main reason I took her too Jamaica.
RIU and Sunwing you owe my daughter a free trip!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RiuHotelsandResorts, Online Reputation Manager at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Mar 16, 2020
Dear Auraangel7, Thank you for your time, We are sorry that in general your experience with us was not what you expected and that you left our hotel with a totally opposite impression to that which we always try to convey. In RIU we are committed to provide excellent quality products and services to our guests, so we appreciate your comments as they help us improve our services. For this reason, we will share your impressions with the Management team to take actions if needed. We hope to host you again in one of our worldwide hotels in the future! Greetings, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
RIU Ocho Rios is one the best all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed at. There are plenty of highlights:
1) The grounds, facilities and pool are well maintained and clean
2) I stayed during peak season and there’s an abundance of sun loungers at the beach and pool areas
3) They offered a good selection of food - Italian, Asian, Jamaican, Caribbean, American, and others. A minor tip during dinner, restaurants (other than the main buffet) are first come first serve. Get there 10 minutes before they open or you might wait up to an hour for a table.
4) I love how the minibar in our room has full size bottles of liquor and multiple red stripe beer in the fridge.
5) Lastly, I appreciate their hard-working entertainment team. These guys work all day long making people smile. They made our stay so much fun.
However, there are some minor areas RIU can improve on, such as:
1) The bed could be more comfortable. It was hard to sleep on.
2) Offer wine selection during dinner
Overall, RIU was wonderful and would not hesitate to stay here again if were to come back to Ocho Rios.
1) The grounds, facilities and pool are well maintained and clean
2) I stayed during peak season and there’s an abundance of sun loungers at the beach and pool areas
3) They offered a good selection of food - Italian, Asian, Jamaican, Caribbean, American, and others. A minor tip during dinner, restaurants (other than the main buffet) are first come first serve. Get there 10 minutes before they open or you might wait up to an hour for a table.
4) I love how the minibar in our room has full size bottles of liquor and multiple red stripe beer in the fridge.
5) Lastly, I appreciate their hard-working entertainment team. These guys work all day long making people smile. They made our stay so much fun.
However, there are some minor areas RIU can improve on, such as:
1) The bed could be more comfortable. It was hard to sleep on.
2) Offer wine selection during dinner
Overall, RIU was wonderful and would not hesitate to stay here again if were to come back to Ocho Rios.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RiuHotelsandResorts, Online Reputation Manager at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Jan 23, 2020
Dear Jane, Thank you very much for the compliments you give to our hotel! Your review on Tripadvisor is greatly appreciated and we appreciate that you have acknowledged our efforts to provide a clean, comfortable, and hospitable experience. At the same time, please know that your feedback is vital to us, and allow us to gain insight into necessary changes. We will be utilizing your comments to make improvements in the areas you cited. We look forward to serving you again. Until then, all the best! With our best wishes we remain, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed for 11 night from xmas day. Hotel is clean and rooms pleasant. The problem is when you want to relax and have a nice family meal. In 11 nights we had one hot meal. The buffet restaurent is like a cattle market and the food is cold and the same every day. If you want to use the la a carte restaurents unless you queue for a hour before there open you can not get a table until after 8 not idea with children. Then you are rushed in and out so next set of people can get in. I spoke to one of the restaurent managers asked why only half of the Italian restaurent was open in a evening and explained that queuing for a hour before there open in the heat was not idea, he just shrugged his shoulders and walked off, there are two many rooms and people for the amenities this hotel has to offer. At best a 3star plus.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RiuHotelsandResorts, Online Reputation Manager at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Jan 12, 2020
Dear guest, Thank you for sharing your review with us and for staying with us during Christmas. It is wonderful to hear that you appreciated the cleanliness of our hotel, and that the rooms where to your liking. We regret to learn that our gastronomy which we consider a very important aspect did not meet your expectations. As our main buffet is offering live cooking stations where our chefs prepare and cook just in front of you, we are disappointed that you considered the food cold. Please note that we will revise your comment and make adjustments if necessary. It is our sincerest hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future, so that we can provide you with a better experience. With our best wishes we remain, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had a really wonderful time at the Hotel Riu. The hotel itself is impeccable and staff are really friendly and helpful. The buffet was really nice, full of choices and varieties and most importantly the Jamaican dishes actually tasted like Jamaican food (please don't change this). I have been to a few hotels in Jamaica and the Jamaican dishes have been awful so thank you to the chefs you are doing a great job. The staff in the restaurants are really nice and you never have to ask for anything as they always made sure you had everything you needed. My housekeeper (Stephanie) was amazing, our room was always cleaned to the highest standard and she created images with those towels that always put a smile on my face when I entered the room. Stephanie made sure our stay was a wonderful experience and her cheerful smile each morning was a pleasure to see. I will definately be staying at this hotel again. My only disappointment was the gym, as it does not have enough equipment and can get quite crowded in the mornings. Would have been nice if it opened even 30 minutes earlier. Other than that this hotel is perfect.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RiuHotelsandResorts, Online Reputation Manager at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Mar 3, 2020
Dear favoured2016, Thank you so much for choosing the Hotel Riu Ocho Rios and for sharing your wonderful experience! Your positive feedback is gratefully received and it brings us great joy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope that you will come and visit us again for another positive experience! Sincerely, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Recently returned from an 11 night stay at this hotel, travelled as a couple.
The resort has been recently refurbished and was very modern , with all facilities and rooms having had a thorough makeover.
The rooms were very clean, we were upgraded on arrival to a larger than standard room, which was a nice surprise. The room itself had a flat screen tv, large wardrobe with plenty of hangers, safe . Minibar and spirits including Appleton’s rum, Johnny Walker whiskey, Gordon’s gin and Smirnoff vodka. The toilet was separate from the bathroom area, both of which were of a nice standard. Shower was especially spacious. Hairdryer was provided in the bathroom and was of reasonable quality. The balcony was nice and spacious with two chairs and a little table.
The pools were great, nice and clean and plenty of sun beds available at all times. There was a couple of swim up bars which were ideal for those that like to have a drink in the pool.
The beach was beautiful, and wasn’t overly busy so it was easy to find a little spot to relax.
There was plenty of bars, one of which was on the beach directly. We thought that there could have been more variety of beer, they only offered red stripe and red stripe light. Also, in regards to the cocktails, a lot of the drinks came pre-mixed for ease. Not sure this is 5 star ?
Restaurants consisted of two buffet style, and there were 3 speciality restaurants. The gourmet was the best in our opinion , and was the closest to a proper quality dining experience with a great service. The Italian was ok , but wouldn’t say it was anything special and the Asian restaurant was buffet style, with many of the dishes almost cold. We thought the buffet restaurants were ok , although it was a chore having to pin a member of staff down for some coffee each morning , felt as though they could certainly have been more proactive in terms of offering a better service.
All things considered , I’d visit this resort again if the food was improved . I wouldn’t rate it as a 5 star as we’ve stayed at others which were significantly better in the food department. Felt the service of some of the staff wasn’t what I expect , it’s great having a modern resort with lots of new facilities but the staff and service is really what makes a resort 5 star ..
The resort has been recently refurbished and was very modern , with all facilities and rooms having had a thorough makeover.
The rooms were very clean, we were upgraded on arrival to a larger than standard room, which was a nice surprise. The room itself had a flat screen tv, large wardrobe with plenty of hangers, safe . Minibar and spirits including Appleton’s rum, Johnny Walker whiskey, Gordon’s gin and Smirnoff vodka. The toilet was separate from the bathroom area, both of which were of a nice standard. Shower was especially spacious. Hairdryer was provided in the bathroom and was of reasonable quality. The balcony was nice and spacious with two chairs and a little table.
The pools were great, nice and clean and plenty of sun beds available at all times. There was a couple of swim up bars which were ideal for those that like to have a drink in the pool.
The beach was beautiful, and wasn’t overly busy so it was easy to find a little spot to relax.
There was plenty of bars, one of which was on the beach directly. We thought that there could have been more variety of beer, they only offered red stripe and red stripe light. Also, in regards to the cocktails, a lot of the drinks came pre-mixed for ease. Not sure this is 5 star ?
Restaurants consisted of two buffet style, and there were 3 speciality restaurants. The gourmet was the best in our opinion , and was the closest to a proper quality dining experience with a great service. The Italian was ok , but wouldn’t say it was anything special and the Asian restaurant was buffet style, with many of the dishes almost cold. We thought the buffet restaurants were ok , although it was a chore having to pin a member of staff down for some coffee each morning , felt as though they could certainly have been more proactive in terms of offering a better service.
All things considered , I’d visit this resort again if the food was improved . I wouldn’t rate it as a 5 star as we’ve stayed at others which were significantly better in the food department. Felt the service of some of the staff wasn’t what I expect , it’s great having a modern resort with lots of new facilities but the staff and service is really what makes a resort 5 star ..
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RiuHotelsandResorts, Online Reputation Manager at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Jan 28, 2020
Dear Holidayhunters14, Thank you for sharing your experience with us and with the travel community! We are glad to learn that you had an outstanding vacation during your stay at our Hotel Riu Ocho Rios! We appreciate your kind words! It was our pleasure taking great care of you! We hope to host you again in one of our worldwide hotels in the future! King regards, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
a wonderful stay that exceeded my expectations as a large hotel, which generally I am not a fan of.
The layout, cleanliness, service, room, pools, facilities and general amenities are excellent. The rooms all seem similar, and when booking you can request quiet location, double bed etc, which the hotel consider when booking you in. We ended up with a queen bed!. The rooms are spacious enough, only minor issue is a smell of damp that lingers in the room and unfortunately, on clothes when you return. I think the Air Con needs filters and condensate pans cleaned.
evening entertainment was also very good, if not a bit predictable over the 2 weeks, and there is always bingo??!! Live bands and singers, silent disco, beach party, but also quiet areas to sit and observe.
Mixed bag of holiday makers from USA, Canada, Spanish, UK, allover it would seem, and locals that can afford it. Ethnic mix is a positive and welcomed change. People mix well and chat, which is lovely to see. Lots of reggae music, and too much bob marley. there are other Jamaican successes.
excursions were well organised, interesting history and information from guides and a great experience.
try Dunns River (of course), Blue Mountain bike ride (all down hill, just use the breaks, stunning views), Martha Brae river rafting and mystic lagoon with dinner - exceptional experience.
Please to remember that local people working in the resorts are not paid much and are checked thoroughly for items when going home on their one day off. so if you are leaving anything you need to write a list and sign it, so the domestic can actually take them out to use or sell. Whilst it is a beautiful place the people are poor, so tips are a must if you have good service. it is not compulsory and you are not begged at all, or made to feel you should give a tip. The americans do it as a matter of course, so a few US dollars is only £1.50!! it is expensive to live in Jamaica for the local people.
I was so apprehensive about going, but the sea breeze, great service and food.............oh yeah
food varied, tasty, not at all hot and spicy, but there were some options if that what you like. Salads and fresh fruit gorgeous. Minor thing is that food can be warm from hot plate, so if you are lucky to see fresh top up, grab it! Please try a litlle of the Jamaican food, other than jerk, you will not be disappointed.
the beach and sea is so close, did i mention the splash pool area too.
The layout, cleanliness, service, room, pools, facilities and general amenities are excellent. The rooms all seem similar, and when booking you can request quiet location, double bed etc, which the hotel consider when booking you in. We ended up with a queen bed!. The rooms are spacious enough, only minor issue is a smell of damp that lingers in the room and unfortunately, on clothes when you return. I think the Air Con needs filters and condensate pans cleaned.
evening entertainment was also very good, if not a bit predictable over the 2 weeks, and there is always bingo??!! Live bands and singers, silent disco, beach party, but also quiet areas to sit and observe.
Mixed bag of holiday makers from USA, Canada, Spanish, UK, allover it would seem, and locals that can afford it. Ethnic mix is a positive and welcomed change. People mix well and chat, which is lovely to see. Lots of reggae music, and too much bob marley. there are other Jamaican successes.
excursions were well organised, interesting history and information from guides and a great experience.
try Dunns River (of course), Blue Mountain bike ride (all down hill, just use the breaks, stunning views), Martha Brae river rafting and mystic lagoon with dinner - exceptional experience.
Please to remember that local people working in the resorts are not paid much and are checked thoroughly for items when going home on their one day off. so if you are leaving anything you need to write a list and sign it, so the domestic can actually take them out to use or sell. Whilst it is a beautiful place the people are poor, so tips are a must if you have good service. it is not compulsory and you are not begged at all, or made to feel you should give a tip. The americans do it as a matter of course, so a few US dollars is only £1.50!! it is expensive to live in Jamaica for the local people.
I was so apprehensive about going, but the sea breeze, great service and food.............oh yeah
food varied, tasty, not at all hot and spicy, but there were some options if that what you like. Salads and fresh fruit gorgeous. Minor thing is that food can be warm from hot plate, so if you are lucky to see fresh top up, grab it! Please try a litlle of the Jamaican food, other than jerk, you will not be disappointed.
the beach and sea is so close, did i mention the splash pool area too.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Plan and simple the resort is using COVID to save money by cutting out amenities that other resorts still safely offer. We were suppose to be there for 6 nights, but we checked out after one night and were able to get a room at the Moon Palace where all of the services that RIU cut are offered. After waiting for so long to finally take a vacation it was a poor start.
Transfer shuttle waited for almost an hour to pack the bus before leaving the airport parking lot. Took about 3 hours to finally get dropped off.
Check in process took another 3 hours to finally get our room. They kept saying it would be ready in 20 minutes. No effort was made to find us another room. I watched for hours as everyone else got their room. The hotel is not full capacity because of Covid, so they could have done something.
Food was below average. Similar quality to strip mall buffet.
Most of the food options were either fully closed or on a limited rotation. They don't show this on the website, but you find out when you get to resort and download the app.
All pools close at 6 pm
No room service
No mini bar - Not even bottles of water
No pool or beach waiters
Our family room had no door or curtain to provide privacy for anyone in the shower. They told me this was the same in every room, but that was a lie.
Asked for extra pillows because they only give you one per person and it took over an hour to get half the pillows I requested.
Talked to customer service and the manager multiple time and absolutely nothing was done to try to make it better. I also submitted a complaint to RIU without any response.
All of the amenities above were still offered when we moved resorts and we talked to other travelers from other resorts that still offered all amenities advertised.
You are better off getting a nice hotel that is not all inclusive and buy you own food and alcohol.
Transfer shuttle waited for almost an hour to pack the bus before leaving the airport parking lot. Took about 3 hours to finally get dropped off.
Check in process took another 3 hours to finally get our room. They kept saying it would be ready in 20 minutes. No effort was made to find us another room. I watched for hours as everyone else got their room. The hotel is not full capacity because of Covid, so they could have done something.
Food was below average. Similar quality to strip mall buffet.
Most of the food options were either fully closed or on a limited rotation. They don't show this on the website, but you find out when you get to resort and download the app.
All pools close at 6 pm
No room service
No mini bar - Not even bottles of water
No pool or beach waiters
Our family room had no door or curtain to provide privacy for anyone in the shower. They told me this was the same in every room, but that was a lie.
Asked for extra pillows because they only give you one per person and it took over an hour to get half the pillows I requested.
Talked to customer service and the manager multiple time and absolutely nothing was done to try to make it better. I also submitted a complaint to RIU without any response.
All of the amenities above were still offered when we moved resorts and we talked to other travelers from other resorts that still offered all amenities advertised.
You are better off getting a nice hotel that is not all inclusive and buy you own food and alcohol.
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Date of stay: April 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Responded Apr 19, 2021
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are sorry that you had a disappointing experience during your stay with us as this is not typical of our hotel. Please be assured this is not our standard, as we work hard to ensure every guest feels cared for, respected and valued; therefore, please accept our sincere apologies. At the same time, please know on our website, and anywhere you can book our hotel we do indicate that in order to meet each country’s hygiene requirements, there may be some changes to each hotel’s services or facilities and amenities that differ from what is described. We hope you can understand that all the changes that may occur are only to ensure our customers’ wellbeing and peace of mind. There is nothing more important these days Certainly, your comments will be addressed with the heads of the mentioned areas so that an appropriate follow-up can be carried out. It is our hope to host you again soon in order to provide a better stay. Best regards, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lots of red stripe
Some American options as well
I am not aware if you can have dinner on the beach. The Italian theme restaurant is the closest to the beach. You may want to contact the resort and check with them.
Now when the grill is open by the pool there were people taking Kansas food towards the beach. It isn’t set up like how one would experience in Los Cabos Mexico. Hopefully this helps enjoy your vacation.
Taxi is about 150 one way. Fine a shuttle. Much cheaper
Guess is that they will have it on in the sports bar. We were able to see part of a game there
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"I will say stay away don't waste you had earned money on this so called 5 star resort, they have to cut down the Stars to 3."Read full review
"Double check once booked a restaurant as if not enough bookings they do not open and you are not advised - I.e Steakhouse."Read full review
"Take your business to a property that is responsive, honest, and caring when emergencies occur."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$257 - $421 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
riu hotel ocho rios, riu ocho rios jamaica, riu ochos rios, rio ocho rios, club hotel riu ocho rios
LOCATION
CaribbeanJamaicaSaint Ann ParishMammee Bay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
901
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Ocho Rios?
Nearby attractions include Kool Jamaica Tours (4.7 miles), Konoko Falls & Park (4.7 miles), and Dunn's River Falls and Park (2.3 miles).
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Ocho Rios?
Conveniently located restaurants include Christopher's, Plantation Smokehouse - Ocho Rios, and Bamboo Blu.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Riu Ocho Rios?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Marcus Garvey Birthplace (2.3 miles).
Does Hotel Riu Ocho Rios have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.