Riu Palace Jamaica Vacations

This was such a great experience. Staff was friendly and inviting. "Entertainment was very good." Check in with Lewis and Shanice was smooth. Buffet food was amazing. Chef made me food personally due to me being allergic to carrots. Everyone went out of their way to make sure everyone was comfortable. I need to go back every month. 😩

Keep in mind that this a very quiet hotel . We came here to celebrate our friend’s birthday and it was hard to celebrate . We were playing music with our speaker and a lady named Alex from the Lounge came very rude and asked us to turn off the music and accuse us for dropping sand on the floor , which we didn’t . The security and Alex were both very rude … Samantha from entertainment was awesome… if you need anything just look for Samantha . Always wants to help. My advise , if you want to rest and sleep early at night visit this hotel y you want to have fun …. Do not come .. nothing to do and the beach not good …

In reality, the facility is very good but the service at the Loby Bar, especially Miss Alex, accusing the facility of having caused damage and calling security, causing displeasure and misunderstanding among the existing people. However Miss Samantha from the entertainment group is 5 stars congratulations to Samantha

Awesome service

This resort did not seem over crowded like all the others I’ve been too. There was no line when checking in. The staff at every given time was wonderful. The rooms, the beach and the grounds were clean. The food was always fresh. There was always entertainment going on. Day and night. The bar tenders were so fun! We had a group of six and we all had a blast. This place is a do again!

The most notable thing about this hotel is the excellent attention of all the staff, whether at reception, bars, restaurants or entertainment.
The beach is not one of the best in Jamaica, but it makes up for it with the beautiful infinity pool.
The hotel facilities are clean and nice, I just didn't like the open concept design of the room.

Very nice hotel. Close to the airport. Buffet has great food options and specialty restaurants are good too. Motorized sports are extra, but plenty of room on the beach and at the pool.

It was a fun experience. You also get access to RIU reggae and montego bay. They usually have parties on certain days, usually weekends. The food was amazing each day. And I only got a chance to go to the buffets but their selection of foods was wide and everything was flavorful. They also have a lot of vegan options (if you're into that). Also the "Garden View" was pretty much just any room that didn't have an ocean view, not really much of a garden.

I can honestly say I have had the best time of my life here, from the minute we arrived we was made to feel very welcome, everyone of the staff takes the time to talk to you, from Monique and bubbles at the pool bar who remembered our names, to all the friendly bar staff who work hard and make the best cocktails, to the cleaning staff who are amazing the groundsmen who gave me a coconut , the entertainment was very very good all the shows blew us away, star fire, Spider-Man and so many more made our holiday, the beaches are so clean the room was perfect and the excursions to dunns river falls, negril and ricks cafe made our experience a memorable one and to Annette the TUI rep who went above and beyond to make our excursion happen, One Love ❤️ I hope to come back one day xxx

My husband and I stayed at Riu Palace Jamaica (late February - early March 2024).
The only regret I have is failing to submit my review my sooner. In summary, our vacation (and more specifically this resort) was FANTASTIC!

We were in the Elite Club and enjoyed the extras.

As far as selecting Palace, I’m so glad we did as we also had access to Riu Montego Bay and Riu Reggae. We didn’t leave Palace much though because service was spectacular. We only left for the Friday (that day - neon) party at Montego Bay. We also walked over to Reggae for the jerk chicken hut on the beach/ocean. Omg!!! It was the best ever!!! We went a few days in a row for lunch. Don’t miss this!

The property is beautiful and very clean (which we loved). Most importantly, team members (especially entertainers, bartenders, wait staff, and front desk staff) were awesome! They provided the perfect balance of professionalism and oh so much fun!!! They ensured everyone there had a great time! We could really tell they love what they do (which is amazing).

Resort also has the perfect balance of activities versus quiet time for those who wanted that. There were rooms that were on a side that some might say were too far away from the action and rooms right on the middle of it…so there are options for all. If you want to lay low sometimes, I highly comments Elite Club.

Anyway…

Hot water was an issue our first night but we switched to a different room… our room was oceanfront but we were staring right at the Elite Club swim up bar (which we didn’t love). We loved the elite bar itself (and we loved Tamar)- just didn’t love looking out right at the smaller pool/bar. So we switched to the other end of the resort overlooking one of the big beautiful pools and could still see the ocean (which was a win to us)….plus hot water issue was resolved.

Food was really good (and I’m pretty picky when it comes to food). The only drawback was limited availability when trying to book for the specialty restaurants (even when we tried in advance). We were able to try all but two (Italian and Japanese).

I highly recommend Riu Palace Jamaica and will visit again. They made our trip memorable. Special shouts out to Kriss (bartender), Tamar (bartender), Reynaldo (bartender), and entertainers Samantha, Lloyd and “Spider-Man.” Keep loving what you do as it shows and makes guest’s vacations that much better. You all are the real MVPs!

Words cannot express how special team members at Riu Palace Jamaica truly are. We appreciate you all so much and we can’t thank you enough for hosting us!!!

Management, please share this feedback with them.

Beautiful property. They kept it so clean. Loved the activity staff. So good, so good! Also, Kebrena! She worked the dinner shift at buffet. She and several other waiters made our trip very special. Really, really elevated our experience. I didn’t want to go home! Until we see you again!

Overall, RIU palace was a great place to stay. Pros: It is only 5 minutes from the airport, so for someone like me who gets motion sick, this was a Godsend.

I wondered if they could accommodate my dietary restrictions as I have Celiac and not only did they accommodate them, but they went above and beyond. I met one of the supervisors during the day, Lavonda, and she was willing to make me whatever I wanted and always ensured it was gluten-free. They do have several gluten-free options; you just have to ask.

The entertainment was out of this world! We saw their circus and the steel drum band, both were something I definitely would have paid to see. The RIU fit staff are also incredible! They not only work hard to get everyone involved and have fun, but they have wicked awesome skills themselves, like doing a one-handed handstand. I am still blown away by that!

The staff at RIU Palace were really awesome, from the check-in to wait staff to housekeeping, everyone was so kind and always in a great mood, No problem, man!

There is an omelet station at breakfast and a pasta station at lunch and dinner – but unless you know that, you will walk right past it. It is really hidden away with zero advertising for it, but consider yourself informed, and I highly recommend both!

We got a couples massage in the spa, which was really good. FYI, the spa is not a part of RIU palace, it is an independent location and is actually located on the Reggae property. It was just a short walk from the Palace. If you have Elite status, you get coupons for the spa. Don’t get excited, it was only $20 off, and they add 15% state tax to all massages/facials/ect. The prices are pretty high, if you are going to get a massage and facial, you will be around $400 per person, not counting tax. It is not public knowledge, but the spa has a steam room and cold plunge in the women's and men's locker rooms that you can use for FREE; you just have to book your time, and the only way to do that is to physically go to the spa.

Cons
The RIU Palace is on the bay – not the open ocean – and walking the beach is not really something you can do unless you want to feel like you are on a hamster wheel. I walked from the end of their Montego Bay resort to the end of Reggae, and it was only about half a mile, if that, and there were a lot of obstacles along the way since each resort has its own private areas.
The main buffet at breakfast, lunch and dinner is good, but the labeling of food is not good. There might be 10 different desserts out, and only two of them are labeled. Also, the labels are wrong. They have allergy information on them, but according to several staff members, the labels are incorrect which then forces you to ask someone if you do have dietary restrictions.

We were originally given a ground-level ocean view room 098 (we had Elite status) but all you could see was the pool, pool chairs, cabanas, and the bar. I did ask to be moved to a higher room, which they accommodated.

Making reservations was a pain for the restaurants. If you don’t make them for your entire stay when you get there, you basically won’t get a table, and you can’t go to the restaurant without a reservation.

It is only 5 minutes from the airport, so you do have fairly loud airplanes going directly overhead about once an hour, starting at 7 am. You get used to them, and they are kind of cool to see, but they are definitely not peaceful.

Outside of the private cabanas and pool, I am not sure the Elite status was worth the extra we paid. Additionally, you must make a reservation at the Elite restaurant, so if you don’t realize that early on in your stay, you won’t get to go.

The room doors in the building slam hard if guests don’t soften the close – which is horrible because some guests are up late partying – so doors are slamming into the night – and then the early birds wake up and start slamming their doors when leaving their rooms around 6am - if you want to go to bed early or sleep in – it's just not happening.

Thank O’Shea for taking the time to help correct my reservation for the room we wanted. The whole RIU Palace team was phenomenal. The receptionist checked up on us two days after checking to ensure our stay was going well and we had everything we needed. While this is not the best-looking accommodation I stayed, the RIU PALACE team made our stay incredible. There were small cosmetic changes that could have been done to the room, but who cares when the party, pools, food, and entertainment were outside the room? Our room was serviced when requested and the water was hot. We preferred the buffets over the restaurants, with way more options. Dr. Phill (RIU server) always had us at a table with our drinks ready, I appreciate you so much. Vegan-friendly, my daughter had plenty of options to choose from. The Lamb is succulent, You have to get it, it is a must! Our pools were clean, entertainment was right. Lloyd (RIU fitness/entertainer) will keep you fit either through working or dancing. I love this place, workers called you by now, felt like family. Easy access to both RIU Montego / Reggae. The only thing I would suggest is better lighting near the mirrors. My Daughter’s 1st Adult holiday , glad I chose the RIU Palace and will be back!

GOOD

We’ve been to Jamaica four times and this is the nicest hotel we’ve been to.
Service: Great! The stand out people who smiled and had excellent customer service were Paul the pool bartender. The young girl who checked us in with the braids(can’t remember her name). Jamal(I think) in the buffet for breakfast and lunch. He was always friendly and clearing plates and refilling drinks even if they weren’t his tables. Oriel, the waiter on beach and pool. He was always checking on people and cleaning up empty cups. I wish I could remember the young short boy who was all over the place, he was at pool bar, waiter, lobby bartender . I hope they get paid well but I encourage you to TIP to show appreciation. I don’t think they get paid very well and work hard in the heat while we’re enjoying to cool beach and pool!
Entertainment: “very Good!!” The whole entertainment staff made us have so much fun!
Good: Fantastic! We didn’t get in to all the a la cart restaurants but the buffet food was the best! Lots of options. I felt like a pig! Loved the omelette man and jerk chicken guys! The guy in the brown jumpsuit, mopped and would clean up anything the moment food dropped.
Beach: beautiful to look at. All of Montego Bay has seaweed. They clean the beach everyday. If you want super clear water, 7 mile beach in Negril is the place to go. That’s another two hours and you loose a day driving to and from. There’s not much around Negril. Hotel wasn’t as updated in Negril.
Rooms: spotless! Cascading shower head option, beds comfy, jetted tub, balcony
We had a fabulous time. Palace is more for people who want to relax but still have option to party at other Rius next door.
Only recommendation is the doors slam super loud on their own. Only because they’re so heavy. Woke us up each night but still better than people being loud partying and everything was so perfect so to complain about a door isn’t bad!

The best food that we have ever experienced in an all inclusive resort.

The staff at the Riu Palace in Montego Bay were excellent! Tamar and Renaldo at the Elite Club were the absolute best and I highly
Recommend you see them! They ensure their customers are taken care of, have great personalities, and made my stay the best. My room on the other hand was nice, but incredibly loud since I faced the beach. Thursdays are the loudest and it sounds like there is a band playing on your balcony. The hotel itself is super loud at night, so if you like sleep, ask to be as far away from the beach as possible. WiFi was also sketch and rarely worked in the room. Hot water went out once but was quickly fixed. As far as the food options, the restaurants were great and the buffet was absolutely fantastic. All in all, the resort were good, but the food and staff just made the vacation exceptional. Thanks Tamar!!!!

It is s beautiful Hotel very quiet and comfortable. The beach is beautiful and clean, entertainment nightly is good. There the restaurants on property are a nice experience

I am currently staying at the RIU Palace Montego Bay, and all I can say is AVOID THIS PLACE (unless you don't mind terrible food, dirty, noisy rooms, a lot of unfriendly servers, etc) I've stayed at close to 30 all inclusives in my life and in fact I used to work in management at one in Turks and Caicos, so my understanding of how they work and what they offer is pretty good I'd say.
Now, hear me out, in all honesty, the food is NOT good, mediocre at best. The jerk chicken and pork is NOT authentic, you'd be better off leaving the resort if you want to try REAL jerk. Its quite disappointing coming to Jamaica and eating fake Jerk... Buffet food is also pretty terrible for the price you pay to stay at this resort. ALL of the seafood we've eaten so far has been over cooked, and all the beef we've eaten so far is VERY tough and chewy. Not sure about their themed buffet dinners... they've all been almost identical so far with the odd thing changing. We've yet to see oxtail stew, curried goat, or authentic jerk (as mentioned above), so basically, if you are coming to Jamaica for jamaican food, don't stay here!!
Now if you stay at the RIU Palace, you have access to the other two RIU properties... as for food though, you ONLY can eat at their buffets, not their a la carte restaurants.... AND THE BUFFETS ARE IDENTICAL AT THE RIU PALACE!! So really, you have no extra option or benefit when it comes to food, by staying at the RIU Palace. You also have to make reservations for the a la carte dinners, you would think this is no problem, except the fact that each restaurant seats about 20 people, and they arent open 7 days a week, so wake up at 6am to make your reservations. Speaking of making reservations, the first 3 days you are here, you can't make reservations because of the limited capacity, nothing is available, so be prepared to eat that buffet food! But what about room service??? Great question. It's also bad. If you don't pay for elite, then your options are a club sandwich, a salad, nachos and a few desserts. Elite members can get burgers, lasagna, also nachos, sandwich, salad, French fries etc... basically pay an extra $1,000 a week if you want to get a burger or lasagna or even get french fries!!! Seriously?! What a joke.
Upon arrival, our room needed to be cleaned again as it was still dirty. It was dirty enough in fact that after the first girl came to check it, she came back with 2 more girls to clean. Also, our air conditioner was broken... and this is a 5 star??
Servers rarely smile in the restaurants and many don't respond when you say thank you or ask for something, they just walk away leaving you wondering if they even heard you.
Location: now this is problematic as well. Air planes fly directly overhead, and fairly low as the airport is about a 5 minute drive away. This means every 20-40 minutes, you LITERALLY have to stop talking, or start yelling to be heard. Even the entertainment staff who use microphones and speakers had to stop a few times until planes had past. Don't be fooled, THEY ARE LOUD! Speaking of loud, if you stay on the north side of the hotel, there are dogs in the bush that bark until between 3am to 4am every night/morning.
The entertainment staff try and do a great job. They generally are smiling and trying to get people rallied up for fun, so good on them, they are the stars here.

Fantastic.