RIU Resort Montego Bay, Jamaica

It had been a couple of years since I last stayed at a resort, and it happened to be with the same girls I traveled to Jamaica with! As the temperatures started to drop in NYC, three of my best friends and I started to plan our mid-winter escape to somewhere tropical. My sister had stayed at RIU Montego Bay a couple years prior and my mother booked a trip to the same resort to celebrate ringing in 2024, so we decided…why not? They raved about the resort and there is nothing like an all you can drink and eat package! Although I am not a resort traveler and like to be immersed in local culture when exploring a new place, it was great to get some rest and relaxation after a very busy travel season from work! Let’s unpack some highlights and details about RIU Palace Montego Bay.

Location

The resort is located just ten minutes away from the Montego Bay Airport at the northwest side of Jamaica. The resort is on the major roadway built for tourism on the island and is close to the second most popular vacation spot on the island, Negril. If you were hoping to visit the main city, Kingston, it is very possible if you reserve a car service, but it will be a long ride as it is on the opposite side of the island. Overall, the resort’s location was convenient for its proximity to the airport and other attractions around the island.

Room Quality

The rooms in the hotel were very nice and spacious. Upon arrival we were notified that we were upgraded to a Sea View room, which we were really excited about because there is nothing like waking up to the view of the ocean and calming sounds of waves crashing on the shore. The room consisted of a small living room area, two double beds pushed together, furniture for belongings, a T.V., a closet with robes, slippers and an ironing board, and a bathroom with shower, toilet, and double sink! The balcony had a table set to relax and enjoy the view as well as a drying rack for your clothing and swimwear. We can’t forget about the mini fridge, and bar tap that is refilled a couple of times during your stay (there is nothing like a little pregame before a buffet dinner in your hotel room!) Overall, we were satisfied with the room and very happy with the upgrade! 

Cleanliness

The resort was clean and didn’t have any garbage lying around. Unfortunately, during our stay, they had to shut down the swim-up bar pool due to an accident within the pool (we couldn’t tell if someone couldn’t keep their alcohol down or decide to use it as their own personal toilet.) The hotel immediately evacuated everyone from the pool and shut it down for the rest of the day for cleaning. Other than that one instance, the beach was clean, the pool areas were well kept and the dining areas were spotless despite it being buffet style in most restaurants.

Amenities Included

• Six restaurants

• Four Bars – Exodus (lounge bar), Lobby Bar, Sports Bar (open 24 hours), Roots (poolside and swim up bar)

• Five pools

• Water Park
• Gym

• Pacha Club -The Pacha branded club is nothing like the ones in Ibiza, but if you are looking for reggae and dancing it is the perfect spot to go to after the shows in the lobby!

• Daily Activities
  • Activities include: beach volleyball, beach soccer, yoga, foam parties, Bingo, water polo, dance lessons, and much more!  

• Riu Party (every Friday)

Extra Amenities

• Renova Spa – The spa has many options to get some true R&R while on vacation. They provide many services such as body wraps and treatments, facials, massages, spa experiences, and full-service beauty salon. My friend and I scheduled a couples massage on the beach (The Beach Gazebo Spa listed below) but had to reschedule because it was raining. I recommend going to the spa and making the reservation in person rather than the app as the app can sometimes be faulty. We were able to reschedule our massage and chose to do the aromatherapy massage together. The massage was very relaxing and calming with the eucalyptus and mint aroma, as well as the serene music that was playing throughout the hour-long massage. If you are booking an aromatherapy massage, you get to choose between a chocolate aroma or the eucalyptus/mint aroma. You can check out all the services the spa offers through the RIU app before you make your decision!

• Beach Gazebo Spa
• Romantic Beach Dinner – My sister visited this resort with her boyfriend and paid extra for a romantic dinner on the beach. Although the dinner was special and they got to dine on the beach away from the rest of the hotel crowd, they were not too impressed with the food and recommended against it.
• Watersports and Scuba Diving
• Excursions – You can book the excursions through the hotel agency or travel agency you booked your trip with. All the agencies are located on site of the hotel near the lobby.

Customer Service

The customer service around the hotel was 50/50. At times the servers and bartenders were great, but depending on who you go to they were either friendly or ready to serve the next customer. The activity, pool and beach employees were all very nice and engaging! The hotel employees that helped book excursions, transportation or help with room service were not as organized as we thought, but that was only our experience. My family had stayed at the resort previously and had no trouble, so we may have traveled at a very busy time of the year. This should not deter you from staying at this resort, but with a little patience and learning which bartender or employee to befriend you can have a great time!

The RIU Hotels & Resorts App – One of the first things you must do when you check into your room at the resort is have at least one person staying in your room download the RIU App on their phone. This app will make your stay seamless as all the information about the resort is on this app. First and most importantly, is this app is how you will be able to make all dinner reservations at the restaurants on site (more information about that process below). You can also leave notes for when the maid cleans your room like if you need more towels or a clothes iron, etc. There is a map of the resort to show where all the pools, bars, shows, and activity locations are. There is also information on extra amenities such as the entire spa menu and scuba diving lessons. This app was a huge help when we wanted to check out the exact time of some of the activities like beach volleyball, the white foam party, Bingo, soccer, water aerobics and more!

Public Transportation

Public transportation is available, but not as organized as other destinations. In true island time fashion, if you are looking to take a bus to your destination, you show up to the designated JUTC bus stop and hope one comes soon (roughly every 15-20 minutes.) Some of the bus stops are not marked properly, but it is said that if you stand in the general area the bus driver will pull over for you. Make sure you check how much the ride will cost and what the destination will be before you board the bus for your journey. The JUTC bus can be found in major cities on the island and Montego Bay happens to be one of them!

Another option to take around the island is a taxi. There are two types of taxis: charter taxis and route taxis. Charter taxis are more private and expensive as you need to book ahead, but maybe the safer option rather than a route taxi. The route taxis act as a bus service, so if you are looking for one, stick your hand out and hope they will stop for you! As always, make sure to ask how much the cost of the trip will be before you call or enter the vehicle! The front desk will be able to assist you in transportation services.

Dining

There are a couple of restaurants on the resort that you can dine at. Three of the restaurants require a reservation in advance through the RIU app, while the two others are open at whichever time you choose to eat within the operating hours. Reservations for the restaurants open two days before the date you plan to dine. The time slots fill up fast, so make sure it is one of the first things you do when you wake up. We were only able to eat at two of the three restaurants that are booked through the RIU app. It is optional to go to the restaurant and see if there are any cancellations, but you are not guaranteed a table.

If you are traveling with a group and are residing in multiple rooms, make sure to add a note to your reservation of the entire group’s room numbers that you will be dining with. Doing this will ensure the ability to dine with your entire group at each reservation you make. The four of us were able to sit together at every meal even though there were only two people allowed per room. Note that there is no hard alcohol with dinner, but you can order beer, wine, or champagne to drink.

• The Rose Hall (Buffet) – The Rose Hall is open for all meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant closes for three hours in between each meal to prepare new food and refill what is needed. Breakfast was similar every day and featured standard breakfast foods like eggs, omelets, yogurt, breakfast meats, pastries, waffles/pancakes, fruits, cereal and oatmeal. The hash browns were my favorite! The diversity in cuisine stations during lunch and dinner includes Italian, Asian, Jamaican, Caribbean, American and Japanese. Everyday there would be the staples of buffet food and the occasional switch up for something different. We didn’t mind eating at the buffet for breakfast and lunch but preferred the restaurants for dinner!

• The Steak House – This restaurant was our favorite of the trip. We ate here twice during our six-day, five-night stay and loved every meal. If you want to switch it up, you can eat breakfast at the Steakhouse as well. You serve your own meal like you would at the buffet hall but the selections aren’t as wide. I personally preferred the buffet breakfast over the steakhouse, but my friends were indifferent.  As for dinner, it is the most popular restaurant on the resort so make sure you make your reservation(s) as soon as they open on the app. There are options for all food allergies and the food is the tastiest on the resort.

• Sofia’s Italian Restaurant – It’s probably because we are spoiled with NYC’s authentic Italian restaurants, but we weren’t too impressed with Sofia’s Italian restaurant. The appetizers and salad bar were buffet style while you ordered your main dish with the server. We liked the serve-yourself food more than our dinner! The options at Sofia’s are a little healthier than the buffet, and it is still a great option to have if you want to have an “Italian” style meal.

• Golden Dragon Restaurant – This Asian restaurant is a great option to have if you want sushi and Asian cuisine. We ate here the first night of our stay as you don’t need a reservation and it is buffet style as well. The waitress comes to your table to take your drink order and the rest is up to you! Make sure to not come too late in the evening for dinner here as the options run out fast and the cooks are likely not to replenish food options. I unfortunately did not have the best dining experience here and did not like the food, but our pescatarian traveler loved the sushi options!

• Kulinarium Restaurant – This was the only fine dining restaurant on the resort, which was also the only restaurant we could not eat at due to the reservations quickly being filled. We heard that the food here was absolutely delish and were sad that we couldn’t snag a reservation for at least one night. When we visited, it was the height of lobster season in Jamaica, so lobster risotto was on the menu. The Kulinarium needs to be on the must-try list if you are looking to skip the buffet and have a fine dining experience at the resort!

• PePe’s Food – The jerk chicken stand, PePe’s Food, is located by the main and swim up bar pools. If you don’t want to leave the sun and are looking for a delicious meal, then going to this stand is perfect for you! The line is usually long, but it is a quick ten-to-fifteen-minute wait for delicious Jamaican jerk chicken, fruit, rice and more! You can also find fresh coconuts that they open on the spot for some refreshing coconut water to drink.

Price

The price of each room on the resort varies depending on what view or building location you want to have during your stay. All rooms include all-inclusive drinks and food. We were lucky enough to have our room upgraded, but we paid for a standard room as we were just happy to be on a resort with beach and pool access. Since the resort was a smaller scale, you could not go wrong with any accommodation you choose depending on your preference. The prices listed below are based off the RIU website, but you can find other deals depending on what website you book through (we booked through Expedia.)

Double Standard Room – Starts at $360 per night

• Two double beds or one king sizeBalconyDouble sink bathroom with shower
• Room: Satellite TV, sofa, lounge area, air-conditioning, minibar and fridge dispenser (restocked every three days), and a safe

Double Room with Garden View – Starts at $380 per night

This is the room we originally booked through Chase Ultimate rewards. We weren’t too concerned with the view as we were going to be spending most of our time at the beach, pool or on an excursion!

• Two double beds or one king size
• Balcony with garden view
• Double sink bathroom with shower
• Room: Satellite TV, Sofa, minibar and fridge dispenser (restocked every three days), and a safe

Family Room – Starts at $350 per night

• Room: Satellite TV, air-conditioning, minibar and fridge dispenser (restocked every three days), and a safe

Family Room with side Views of Sea – Starts at $370 per night

• Room: Satellite TV, air-conditioning, minibar and fridge dispenser (restocked every three days), and a safe

Double Room with Partial Sea View – Starts at $410 per night

• Room: Satellite TV, Sofa, minibar and fridge dispenser (restocked every three days), and a safe

Double Room with Sea View – Starts at $440 per night

This type of room is what my friend and I got upgraded to and although we wouldn’t have cared if we had a garden view room, we absolutely adored the view of the ocean (and were forever grateful for the free upgrade!) The two small double beds were pushed together and there was more than enough area for our belongings. The room was very spacious and had a lot of furniture for clothing storage

• Two small double beds

• Balcony with full view of sea
• Double sink bathroom with shower
• Small living room area with sofa bed

• Room: Satellite TV, living room area, air-conditioning, minibar and fridge dispenser (restocked every three days), and a safe

Suite With Seaview – Starts at $490 per night

Safety

Earlier this year the travel advisory threat level went from a two to a three due to an increase of crime on the island. I know many people who have traveled to Jamaica and never had any problems, so this was not too much of a concern for me. We had no troubles on the resort and during our excursions. We felt secure and safe as there was a security presence on both the beach and the premise. Like any foreign country, you must take precaution while leaving your accommodation or resort. You can always check the US Government Travel Advisory website for updates on the island’s advisory status and what to look out for when traveling. 

Popular attractions

• White Witch Golf Course
• Cinnamon Hill Great House (Johnny Cash’s House)
• Cinnamon Hill Golf Course
• Lair of Mount Zion
• Rockland’s Bird Sanctuary
• Rose Hall Great House
• Ocho Rios (1 Hour 30 min drive)
• Negril (1 Hour 40 min drive)
• Kingston (over 2 hour drive)

Check in/check out process:

The check in process was a lot simpler than checking out of the resort. Upon arrival, the bell hops take your baggage and set it aside to bring to your room when it is ready (assuming your flight arrives before check in time) and you are greeted with fresh juices or water. Check in time is scheduled for 3:00pm, but you are allowed to use the resort facilities while you wait to have access to your stay if you arrive early. At the check in counter, you will have to provide the passport and names of who is staying in your room to receive your resort wristband. If you lose your wristband, you will have to pay over $200 to replace it. The wristband gives you access to all the amenities and restaurants at the RIU. Unfortunately, our rooms were not ready until 3:30pm so we decided to grab lunch and book excursions while we waited. Along with your room key, you will also receive a towel card that is to be exchanged for a towel each day at the towel stand. You must remember to give back your pool towel before the stand closes for the day (around 6:00 pm) in order to receive that towel card back. If you are going on an excursion, make sure you take the pool and not hotel room towels with you…we learned the hard way and had no towels for our excursion.

You MUST check out in person at the resort at the checkout counter, which is near the check in counters. Check out is at 12pm. If there is availability, you can extend your check out for $10 per hour, per person. Each person that has a wristband must be present at the counter to cut the wristband off and turn in your pool and hotel room key cards. Our flight didn’t leave until the evening, so we had the entire day to spend at the resort, but our bags had to be held at reception. We were given paper slips to use at facilities and restaurants for the rest of the day at no extra cost. We unfortunately couldn’t extend our check out, so we had to shower and change in the courtesy room before our flight, but it was a great option to have!

Airport/Port Pickup & Drop Off:

If you book your reservation through the RIU or a travel agency you get free airport pickup and drop off service. You will schedule it before your arrival in Jamaica and before your departure with the front desk. My friend and I booked our trip through a 3^rd party agency (Expedia) using our Chase Sapphire cards, so we had to pay for a shuttle service there (which we booked on Viator for $30, super cheap!) and received free shuttle service leaving Jamaica as we talked to an agent present on the resort.

After you finish customs at the airport in Montego Bay, you will see a couple of car service stands before you exit the airport. Make sure you look at the stands for your reservation company and/or resort. Do not walk outside as it is complete chaos and all the agents are stationed inside to bring you to your vehicle. 

Positives & Negatives:

Positives

• All Inclusive Food and Beverage
• Adults only
• Activities, games and shows everyday
• Multiple pools (cleaned daily)
• Clean Beach front
• You do not have to leave the resort
• Security is great
• Full service Spa

Negatives

• The resort staff is a little unorganized
• The resort is overall smaller than most
• Reservations for dinner fill up quickly
• No real nightlife
• Excursions are far from hotel

Where To Book Your Stay:

• RIU Website – RIU usually has a ton of promotions throughout the year on package deals
• Chase Ultimate Rewards (if you have a Chase credit card) – I paid little to no money for my stay at the RIU by using my Chase Reward miles! I split the cost with my friend and used the points + cash option.
• Apple Vacations – This is a great website to use if you are looking to save costs and have a resort + flight deal. We have used this website many times to book vacations and my mother recently used it for this resort! They have payment plans which is very helpful for those who cannot front the money at the time of booking your trip.
• Airlines – A lot of airlines will offer flight + hotel packages especially resorts! If you have loyalty to an airline (ie: United Mileage Plus or Delta Skymiles) make sure to check out their package deals.
• Expedia – Great for Airline and Hotel bundle deals!

Overall, the RIU Montego Bay is a great resort to stay at if you are budget conscious and looking to get some true rest and relaxation on your trip! Personally, I would not go back to this resort as I would like to experience other parts of the island, but I would definitely stay in a RIU resort elsewhere.