Riu Palace Tropical Bay All Inclusive

When I say gorgeous, peaceful and refreshing this property is everything that comes to mind. My family and I stayed here from 7/6-7/9 and nothing fell short of amazing. From the amazing staff when checking in was so welcoming, the staff for breakfast through dinner was exceptional. Oh and the groceries (food) was amazing! You would think buffet style as thrown together food but not at the Hotel Riu. You will find groceries suitable for any palate. If you like to do a little sipping, there are at least 4-5 bars on the property that you would never go without a drink. Mini bar in the rooms with red label, white (gin & vodka) and rum. The fridge has beer, tonic water, cold drinks and plenty of Wata. Staff comes by daily to clean and a bar refresher. Beautiful white sand beach with a view at sunset you could print on a Hawaiian shirt. As the saying goes "Out of many, one people" Jamaica will always have my heart. It seems the sun shines brighter, the waters are healing, the energy and culture is everything! Even though I paid to be here, Hotel Riu thank you for having us!

The hotel is clean with nice facilities and an absolutely stunning beach, clear turquoise water, soft sand, and great for walking. Check-in was fast, and staff were mostly friendly. Bars serve quality drinks (Baileys, Appleton, Johnnie Walker), and the coffee shop in the lobby is excellent. That said, the hotel is over 2 hours from the airport, not the advertised 1.5. Our room wasn’t properly cleaned (sticky surfaces, hair on the floor, and sand underfoot), and the toilet had poor water pressure. We had to call several times to get housekeeping before noon, and even then, cleaning was often late. Food was hit or miss: the buffet, Italian, and Japanese restaurants were great; the steakhouse and Krystal were disappointing. A major downside: our fire alarm went off three nights in a row due to guests smoking inside. Staff acknowledged it but didn’t seem too concerned. It also rained 13 out of 14 days (May–June), so keep that in mind if planning a trip. Tipping seemed expected for good service, we tipped generously ($300 USD total), and noticed a drop in service when we eased off. In short: beautiful beach, good drinks, but not the luxury experience we expected. Service should be consistent, not dependent on tips.

The location is a bit out the way to get to the major tourist attractions of Jamaica - so be prepared for some long rides! The hotel is nice, 4* more than 5* and some of the guests (mainly Americans) can be extremely loud, especially in the pool bar. Finding somewhere to chill out is hard… Food in the restaurants are nice, but expect American diner service rather than fine dining. I’ve enjoy our stay, but probably wouldn’t return to this hotel again.