Riu Palace Jamaica: RiU Palace Montego Bay did not disappoint

We booked our vacation (high school buddies) with Beth Mckinley from Trip Central, she was attentive and very effective. We appreciated her customer service and her professionalism. The transfer to hotel was smooth once we got going. The hotel is one of 3 RIU properties that are side by side with the Palace at the centre. They are all adults only which was great. What made our vacation exceptional was the staff. They are Riu’s best resources! Management should treat them better however [... read more], for example, allow them to access wifi during their breaks, allow them to eat at the buffet and mingle with the patrons while enjoying a good meal would go a long way. BEACH:: 6/10, not the best, lots of coral on beach which makes it hard on feet if you walk barefoot. You are limited to walk in front of the 3 RiU properties only but this offers a decent walk if you do it a couple of times. The beach was ok to swim in, the water was warm and there were hardly any weeds. I like that the resort is smoke free and offers smokers smoking areas throughout the property. ROOMS: 7/10. The rooms were very clean, the bedding and pillows were comfortable, the water pressure in shower was great and the room was spacious enough. The design however was not practical with a bath tub next to bed with no privacy wall or curtain. The shower is also in the corner but no privacy wall, there was a door where the toilet is and that’s it. Room service was amazing, always on time and most of the time always accurate with our orders. BARS: 10/10 exceptional service everywhere and every time! Hats off to all the bartenders who work hard to prepare quality cocktails. FOOD: 10/10 excellent, both at the à la carte restaurants and the buffet. The buffet had lots to offer and everything was very tasty. It was easy to make reservations for the restaurants using the RIU application. This application that you download on your phone is your best tool, with it you can contact maintenance, housekeeping, front desk for all your requests. They are very prompt and efficient. Love the application. You can also use the app to scan QR codes at the restaurant and from your beach chair to view menus. Love the app! ENTERTAINMENT 8/10, the animation team works very hard to entertain guests and are very dynamic. Special kudos to Spider-Man, fuzzy dj, and Starfire. We particularly enjoyed the live entertainment but got very tired of the Christmas music playing at the 24 hour bar. I know it is the season, but a mixed playlist would have been appreciated. We also would have liked to hear more reggae music. VENDORS: There are no vendors on the beach, they are in kayaks and will approach the beach to chat with tourists and to sell stuff but they are not pushy at all. The resort should consider a vendor market once a week to allow those who do not want to venture away from hotel to purchase local trinkets and souvenirs. There was a place across the street but it was not worth it. The sign said Santa’s Village but did not see any Santa or festive decorations. The gift shops in the hotel were overpriced. BEACH TOWELS: 10/10, they had plenty and oh they smelled so good. The towels were in good condition and we did not notice any stains. STAFF: RIU’s most valuable resources - 10/10. All our encounters with staff at front desk, restaurant, bars were extremely personable and made our vacation a pleasant and memorable one. Special recognition goes to David (Lifeguard) who went above and beyond with his compassion and kind heart, Tamar, bartender at the Elite pool bar was also a real gem, Monique bartender was also a delight, she impressed us with her ability to balance a tray full of drinks on her head. Another special person is Dr, Phil who worked at the buffet and also made sure we had a table and mimosas ready for breakfast. The only complaint we have are the tourists that came in big groups, the ladies had long hair extensions, extra long fingernails, lots of bling and very little clothes to cover their very large curves. They were loud with no considerations for others, screaming at the top of their lungs in hallways in the middle of the night, filling their plates, leaving most of it (very wasteful) and never tipping for services. Their sense of entitlement was a huge turn off and we felt bad for the staff who had to endure them. We talked to other tourists at the sister hotels and many had the same comments and made the same observations. The staff deserve a bonus to serve these type of clients.

Riu Flamingos: Good resort

Garden and beach location is nice.Had a good time on beach. Foam party in pool was amazing so much fun.Nightly entertainment was really good. Variety of entertainment program.Al carte needs improvement. It is not Al carte it is buffet style. Same menu each day .Really disappointed.

Riu Guanacaste: Amazing

Very very clean, we had an awesome maid that cleaned our room. Enjoy our trip very much. Sooooo much food Drinks were so good. We went to feed the moneys down by the monkey bar it was so much fun, they are very friendly.

Riu Emerald Bay: very nice

The hotel is kept very clean. We had a problem with our safe not working, that got fixed after 2 service calls. Food was decent, only disappointed that the extra restaurants were also buffet style. No more service per table. Would definitely go back.

Riu Santa Fe: Nice looking but poor execution

The resort as I said in the title was very nice looking but the quality was poor. The food was very disappointing, especially the steakhouse. Instead of being à la carte most were buffets which confused me because I'm pretty sure they said they were à la. If you want good food DO NOT GO HERE. The beach was beautiful, although the sand was a bit course closer to the resort which hurt my girlfriend's feet. Other than that the water was beautiful and the sites around and a far were gorgeous. The st [... read more]aff were friendly at times but not overly friendly as I experienced in Cancun. Our room was amazing although I heard a lot of people had to change rooms around us for various reasons including people we went on vacationing with. They said their room smelled and there were stains on their sheets, we had no such problem. The resort itself was nice looking and the entertainment was top notch. The Riu parties (the main attraction) were a good time and the staff were extremely quick with drinks. Facilities were pretty clean (especially near the pool bars those lady cleaners did amazing) and they had a lot of staff. It was close to the marina which was so beautiful (highly recommend, it's very safe, go whale watching if your there in December). To sum it all up I would recommend for a younger person if you get it cheap but for anyone that wants a higher end resort don't go here you will be disappointed, just go to the one beside it.

Riu Negril: Loved the resort

We had an awesome time at Riu Negril. The staff were very nice and helpful. I would highly recommend it. The beaches were always clean. The food was great. They changed it up every day. There was always lots of fresh fruit and the fhe food was hot.. There was lots to do there. The entertainment was fun and amusing. Fun for the whole family. The hotel was very clean as were the rooms.I would go back.

Riu Negril: Rui Negril

Hotel and grounds were very elegant and well kept. The room was okay just a bit dated. All rooms are very close to the beach and the views are great. The beach looks beautiful but not for swimming as there is lots of weed and grass growing in the sand. Food was great with large selections to please everyone. Hotel staff was very welcoming and fun.

Riu Flamingos: Very nice resort

Hotel is very clean and beautiful. The service is excellent. Plenty of food and it is taste. We had nice room and ocean view. Entertainment and shows are great. The only downside for people who wants to swim in the ocean is , sometime, appearance of crocodile in the area. We lost two days waiting permission from authorities to swim in the ocean.

Riu Palace Las Americas: Fantastic!

I loved everything! The place was amazing. Their goal was to make sure you were happy and well taken care of. The staff really worked hard to keep it clean day and night. There was so much selection of food and something for everyone. I tried all the restaurants and liked the Italian and the buffet the most. Beach and pools were great and easily accessible. Beach service like getting you an umbrella, finding you a spot and bringing you drinks made it relaxing. I liked watching the games the [... read more]y played at the party pool while I was having lunch. The other entertainment was varied and fun! I went to one of the Riu Caribe parties and it was incredible. I've never been to one like this. Everyone there having such a good time! Riu hotels are incredible. Thank you so much. I'm home now and not the same. I wake up in the morning looking for the buffet table!

Riu Palace Antillas: Amazing Resort

The resort room was very nice with a good sized balcony. The dinning rooms where well staffed with excellent food and variations being served. No problems getting drinks with your meal. Just went to the buffets since the A-La-Carts where always full. Pool area was clean and also easy to get drinks delivered to your lounger. Had to go early to get a lounger. Beach loungers where near impossible to get unless you got up before 7am. Was a bit dissapointed in the entertainment. Music was very loud a [... read more]nd shows weren't very good. The staff was extremely friendly. We would definitely go back to this resort.

Riu Montego Bay: Amazing experience

Loved the customer service at this resort. Good food and fun parties ! I would definitely recommend this resort to my friends. Looking forward to coming back again. 10/10 ! Great beaches and pools. Fun time

Riu Negril: Great Resort!

Beach was wonderful, awesome food and great entertainment at night! Drinks were always flowing! The staff are super nice and really accommodating! My boyfriend and I would definitely go back some day!

Riu Republica: Not a 5 star!!

We have travelled to Punta Cana multiple times. We’ve stayed at family resorts and also adults only resort. This resort was by far the worst. We booked this resort based on the fact that it was adults only and a 5 star. It is not a 5 star! The resort was dirty and not well maintained. The food at the main buffet was awful. We were looking forward to the restaurants until we arrived there and realized all the restaurants are also buffet style!! The food there was also terrible. The rooms were r [... read more]un down. The pillows were awful. We are extremely disappointed and feel as if we were fooled into booking this resort as trip central advertises it as a 5 star. We feel very disappointed.

Riu Flamingos: Very Lovely Stay

Overall, this was a great place to stay on vacation! The food was very good, and the staff was (overall) very friendly. Our only negative experience with the staff was on our first full day on the resort, we had a bird poop on one of our towels and when we asked for a clean one, we got a flat out "no" from the girl working at the towel bar. We explained that a bird literally just pooped on it and she was adamant "one towel per day" and we could exchange it tomorrow. My husband explained it wa [... read more]sn't usable and after some eye-rolling and grumbling, she handed a new towel. I understand some people may overuse the towel exchange, but this felt legitimate for a towel exchange and the attitude dampened our moods. Other than that, the staff was phenomenal. Jackie and Maya at the Italian restaurant were FANTASTIC and an absolute joy. The only room complaint was that our shower water was lukewarm. The resort is well-kept and very clean. The staff are very friendly, and the beach view is outstanding. Sunsets are well worth the wait. Also, the coffee at the sports bar was a lovely surprise.

Riu Palace Baja California: Fun place to stay

Beautiful view that we never got tired of. Great service and food. Good drinks. The rooms were spacious and clean. Lots of great people to meet. Super nice staff who took great care of us. Easy walk to town.

Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas: Amazing resort

Just arrived back from a family vacation at this resort. Excellent service,food and resort. The only downside was the children’s club which had little to no activities. The lady in charge did not have any type of children skills or adult for that matter. Was not interested in engaging my 3yr old grandchild and I had to ask her for colouring paper as he sat with colouring pencils only . We had just arrived and completed the necessary paperwork when we were told she was locking up the room and w [... read more]e had to leave. The time schedule on the door stated they were to close one hour later. Honestly nothing much to entertain him there anyway! Overall we had an amazing time. Staff could not be nicer. Oh and if booking a Nexus tour, be sure to take a photo of yourself time stamped when waiting for the bus to arrive. We waited from 1.15pm to 2.30pm for our bus tour (scheduled for 1.30pm pick up) and seemingly the bus arrived but left without us. We did not see this bus arrive nor did anyone look for us. Nexus would not refund our money as our word that we were there waiting did not count. They offered to pick us up the next day but we could not go then. Very frustrating and we lost our money.

Riu Palace Antillas: Amazing Resort

Would highly recommend RUI Antilles, staff very friendly, grounds super clean, rooms modern and maids very friendly, will over stock your fridge daily. Food amazing, buffet large variety of meats, vegetables, oh and dessert. Pools are clean, bartenders friendly and have a great sense of humor. Walking distance to town, bars are hopping at night. Nothing bad to say!

Riu Palace Macao: Amazing resort

Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you! Everything was perfect. Thank you!

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Beautiful Resort

The property is beautiful. The room and beds are good. The food was very good. The staff are outstanding. More shaded areas are needed. The entertainment was mediocre. The beach and views are stunning.

Riu Palace Antillas: Good

My husband and I stayed at the Riu Palace Antillas from Nov. 25–Dec.2, 2023. The vacation was booked through Tripcentral earlier in the year and we travelled with Sunwing. We booked a Junior Suite. My overall impression of the hotel was a solid 7/10. The Good: Lots of staff – that are friendly and caring, speak English fluently and are attentive (Hi! Miguel at the pool bar – you are the best!). The food was great, drinks were plentiful (mix of top shelf and off-brand liquor) and strong, [... read more] and wine was readily available. The hotel was clean, and the calm pool was a good size (albeit a bit chilly – which we found strange given how warm Aruba is). The Fun Pool is lively and the afternoon Entertainment staff are a blast) prepare to get the most sun all day in this pool from 2-4 p.m.) Check-in was a breeze with no credit card given or swiped, nor did they ask to view our passports (which I also found to be different, but appreciated). The White Party on Friday night was a lot of fun and the disco afterwards was good too (although the disco is closed on Sunday and Monday I believe). The beach is perfection – white sand, turquoise water, no seaweed. We walked to the break a few times and looked at the beautiful shells that wash up (Note: you are not allowed to take shells, coral or sand off of the island). The hotel is compact and you don't need to go outside to get to dinner (good for the hair!) and the a la cart restaurants are located in the lobby where reservations are on a first come, first served, basis (they give you a vibrating disc like you'd get at The Keg to know when your table is ready based off a list they keep). The lobby bar serves an excellent espresso martini while you wait. The gift shops on the lower level are really good – you can get anything you need there – liquor, wine, beach bags, souvenirs, personal toiletries, etc. The Mediocre: People from the Rui Palace next door came over a lot (no kids though) to use the lawn chairs at the pool and beach (they had the peach coloured towels, we had blue). Beach side lawn chairs and palapas are limited in numbers and claimed VERY early in the morning by guests (as early as 6 a.m.) who often don't show up until later in the day. There were many days we needed assistance from the Pool & Beach staff to help us setup a makeshift place to sit (although they were very helpful in doing so). The room service menu is very limited (sandwiches and ceasar salad, plus a fruit plate – no burgers or fries or pizza) although there is a 24/7 café that has a cappuccino machine and tuna/ham sandwiches (made fresh daily) along with desserts, nachos and a fountain pop station in the main lobby that you can go to. The room itself was average at best. Small with a view of the connecting rooftop below us and just a glimpse of the ocean. The show at the Palace next door went until after 10 p.m. each night and was loud!!! Also, the buffet was so noisy with service and clearance stations in plain view beside patrons. The clacking of cutlery was so noisy I felt like I was in a high school cafeteria (but in fairness the servers were attentive – bringing you your drinks and clearing plates promptly) and seating was plentiful. Overall, I would say that if you have been eyeballing this property for a while (like I did) it's worth checking out. Aruba itself is nice although far (5 hours from Toronto YYZ) but the resort is only 20-minutes from this airport and the transfer was easy. I can see why this resort draws a mostly older (55+ crowd) because it's pricy, but the food and beach are very good – so you do get what you pay for. If we return to Aruba we might go to a different resort to get a more luxurious room or upgrade our room at the Antillas (maybe). We felt very safe there (both the resort and in Aruba overall), and used our time in Aruba to relax (forgoing all day trips, excursions and not even going into town – which I do which we had done) choosing to lounge, read and sleep.