We stayed at this hotel for 2 weeks end of June beginning of July. Flew with Thompsons out of Birmingham and have to say the flight was very good, just have to cope with the 9 hours. Transfer to hotel is about 1.5 hours.

On arrival check in was easy and were in our room within about 10 mins. We had asked in advance for an upper floor but got allocated ground, it was in building 2 and in a good position so did not ask to change. The room was very clean and housekeeping kept it spotless. We had towel arrangements on the bed and in the bathroom every day. We tipped at the beginning, middle and end of our holiday. We only had an issue with no towels on one occasion which was soon put right. We did see the odd bug in the room but nothing major. What was good was they had a flyscreen door on the balcony as well as the normal door.

We were very impressed with all the food in the buffet restaurant. It was always kept hot and fresh and all the staff were friendly. The range of food at breakfast and dinner was vast. You could always find many things to eat and they did do theme nights e.g fish, jamaican, mexican etc.

The only downside on the food was trying to get into the other restaurants which you had to book. You had to queue to get into them on the day you wanted to go. We tried the steak house which was good and queued several days to get into the Sir Andrew with no luck it was always full. Anyway eventually we got in once over the two weeks but only after complaining.

The entertainment was excellent, the staff worked very hard all day and then put on an excellent show most nights. It was the best entertainment we have seen in the caribbean and we have been to a lot of places. They were all very friendly and would come and sit and chat to you. We really felt that they were very genuine and it was not just part of their job to chat to you. They were all so good I will not name them individually but thank you all.

We caught a taxi to Ricks cafe from the hotel and really enjoyed ourselves having a drink and watching the divers and listening to a band. Well worth it.

We spent most of our time on the beach and there were always sun loungers available. We never had a problem with sitting in the shade either as there were plenty of trees. The water was very clear most of the time and we saw many fish. We only used the pools a couple of times so can't really comment on them.

Overall this holiday and hotel exceeded our expectations and I would definitely go to another Riu hotel and would recommend it to others.

Please feel free to ask me any questions because I'm sure I have not covered everything.

We stayed for 2 weeks, booked with Thomson, at the end of June and found the hotel to be fantastic. The entrance is very impressive and the cleanlieness was reflected throughout the hotel. I was slightly nervous about going because of some of the reviews i'd read, but there was no need to worry. The room was nice, although did smell of cigarette smoke, due to EVERYONE (it seemed) smoking - to be honest, i think we're just not used to it anymore due to the smoking ban in England. Once we'd had the balcony door open for a while, the smell diffused and was ok. The people were friendly and never expected tips. We only tipped the maid and that was it. There are so many staff there, unless you sit at the same place every night, you meet so many staff, i would have found it difficult to source out one or two people to tip specifically. The drinks were all good brands and we never waited long to be served.

The pools were great and there was never a problem getting loungers. As a previous review mentioned, if you go in June/July, make sure you are up early if you are sunworshippers like us. We were sunbathing by about 8am everyday as it clouded over at about 2 and then rained. Sometimes it was only a short shower but other days it rained constantly till about 5. The sun always came out again for sunset though. It was absolutely boiling so the occasional shower was quite a relief!! We did get a couple of bites, but if you go to a hot, humid country, what do you expect. We wore insect repellant in the evenings and this seemed to be ok.

We did the sunset cruise to Ricks cafe which was good fun, and also the horse back riding along the beach which was a fantastic experience. Our rep was also brilliant and made herself available 24/7.

The food was brilliant - much better than any other all inclusive we've been too. The buffet changed everyday so you werent able to get bored with the food. The jerk chicken hut on the beach was brilliant and was perfect for us, who didnt want a full on meal at lunch times. The booking system for the ala carte restaurants was annoying as you had to queue up on the day to get reservations. However, it was my birthday when we were out there and they made special arrangements for us and made the evening fantastic with a cake, champagne and decorations at Sir Andrews restaurant (best).

I would recommend this hotel, i do not know what people are complaining about. There was only 2 days when the towel man run out clean towels but this was only for about an hour whilst they were waiting for a new delivery - we changed our towels as many time as we wanted throughout the day too.

everything was relaxed at the hotel and the jamaican people are fantastic and really teach you how to relax and enjoy the holiday - no problems :)

Entertainment was mixed - some nights it was so tacky, but funny. The americans seemed to love it, they seemed to be the only nationality that entered the competitions - dancing ones, couples ones etc........ brilliant to watch though. There were other bars that you could drink at if you didnt want to be involved. Some nights were fantastic, and the regge bands were brilliant.

Highly recommended!! i didnt want to leave!

My girlfriend and I went to RIU Negril from June 26 to July 2. This was my 12th time to Jamaica, so I think I pretty much know and enjoy the country. Upon arriving at Sangster Int'l we and approx. 150 passengers were told that Air Jamaica Airlines left our luggage at BWI (Baltimore Maryland, USA) because of some compartment problem. I know, sounds crazy, rude and ridiculous. We were informed that we should get the luggage sometime later the next day. Luckily, we typically take a carry-on bag when we travel with a days worth of clothing and toiletries.
Tip: Bring carry-on luggage just in case check-in luggage is lost or delayed. If getting married in Jamaica, don't just carry your wedding dress on board the airline.

I had not stayed in Negril in several years but I looked forward to what was ahead. The shuttle drive was nice and comfortable. The driver was not playing any jamaican music, but provided tourist info. about the country and culture. Past experiences included excellent music and conversation from the drivers.
Tip: Ask the driver to play reggae music to set the vibe right. He'll probably do this, especially if he wants tips.

Some of the reviews and pictures of the Riu Negril were on point. The lobby was clean and open. We received a glass of "rum punch?" upon arrival and check-in. The clerk was courteous but ultimately did not register us because she was doing more than one task. The second clerk was attentive and completed our registration. The room wasn't ready so we went to get lunch at the buffet restaurant and tour the grounds. The food was cold and tasteless and the grounds of the property were picturesque.

Room - We arrived in our room around 3pm. A scented candle was used to freshen the air because the room was musty. The room was neat, clean and cool with a nice view of the ocean (Bldg 2-Top floor). The beach is literally at your door step. There was ample alchohol, soda and H20 for your use at the mini bar. The beds were noticably hard and the bathroom was clean and stocked with toiletries. No wash cloths, though. Tip: Ask housekeeping for wash cloths on your first day. For some reason hotels in Jamaica do not always give you wash cloths.

Pool - The pools were inviting although I did not swim in them. There was also a swim-up bar for your pleasure. Tip: The towel shack may run out of towels so be prepared.

Beach - I did lounge alot on the beach. The water was warm but not as clear as the Tropical Bay area beach down the road. Riu has plenty of lounge chairs, a beach bar and wonderful Jerk Hut. Tip: Walk to TB (approx. 15 mins away) to use their amenities, eat their food, mingle with staff and guests and enjoy their beach. It's a nice trip but I felt that Riu was a better facility. Parents beware, there are some topless women on the beach. Also there are merchants on the beach. Just politely say no thanks and they will move on.

Food: Ahh yes, the palate. Well, the buffet meals got better as the days went by. Breakfast selections were plentiful with the usuals: omelettes, bacon, sausages, pancakes, jamaican dishes: ackee, swordfish, plaintain; fruit stations, breads, pastries and more. For lunch you can attend the buffet with an array of items including salads and jamaican foods. I preferred the Jerk Hut.
The chef uses beer to steam the chicken for great tasting flavor. I enjoyed the hot jerk sauce. Ouch! You can eat throughout the night at the all night cafe. I even ate currie goat at midnight. It was quite tasty too. Tip: Go to the Jerk Hut around 12:30 pm and before 2pm. Sometimes they run out of chicken before closing at 3pm. The a la carte restaurants weren't all that. I stayed in line twice, for the steakhouse restaurant and Brazilian rest. for approx. 30 minutes and 5 minutes respectively. The food was average at best. Also Sir Richards is typpically booked for weddings so don't expect to eat there. The Brazilian restaurant was a no go, so don't go. Note: There are normally two seatings, 7pm and 9pm for the a la carte restaurants.

Bars: Plenty to drink. No top shelf alchohol. So what. Drink and enjoy. Try a Bob Marley or a Mojito. What a blast.

Entertainment - The club on the premises was not good. Beyonce', 50 Cent, Nelly and Michael J. There were more American R & B songs played at the Riu than at the Crossroads, a local reggae club in the Washington DC area. Reggae artists from Jamaica perform live here: Beanie Man, Buju, Gregory Issacs. Little or no reggae, or soca music at the Riu club. The DJ must be American? The African dancing and fire show was good. Miss Riu Nite was funny and entertaining as well. I didn't waste my time with the Michael Jackson show. I missed the Beach Party but I could hear the music and laughter. I instead opted to attend Alfred's, a beach bar down the street. The cost was $5 entry and $10 r/t. Live band, missed John Paul who sang two nights prior. Tip: There are plenty of night spots around. Ask the locals. Alfred's was entertaining, one should go in a group and negotiate the price of cab fare.

Tours - We went to Y.S. Falls, Black River Tour and the Appleton Rum factory. I truly enjoyed the tours. Y.S. Falls is better that Dunn's River, and the Black River tour was great. Live crocs in the river. Took great pictures and you can also pet them. Of course at your own risk. Appleton Rum tour was inebriating, I mean fun. Total cost for all 3 tours for one day was $80.

Church: There are various denominatioal churches throughout the island. I attended a small catholic church for 10 am service on Sunday. It was a nice way to start the week.

All in all, this property was worth the visit. The food, room, staff and overall accomodations were good. Just remember that it's important to investigate, review comments, negotiate and use good judgement when selecting a property. It's a vacation not a permanent place of residency.

Below are some of the hotels and sites I have visited in Jamaica:
Riu Negril **** Rick's Cafe - ****
Riu Ocho Rios ***** Dunn's River Falls - ***
Gran Bahia *** Y.S. Falls - *****
San Souci **** Blue Mountain Bike Tour *****
Grand Lido Braco ***** Kingston/B. Marley Tour ***
Sandals Grande Sport **** Appleton Rum Tour *****
Jamaica Grande *** Black River Tour *****
Pointe Village ** Margarittaville Ochi - ****
Margarittaville Negril *****
Banana Plantation Tour - ****
Blue Mountain Coffee Tour ****
Alfred's ***
Amnesia ***
Take It Easy ***
The Pier *****

After having been to a really big hotel complex in Mexico at Xmas, I was surprised how small this one was. Didn't get off to a good start as we had a cockroach welcome us into our (otherwise lovely) room. Glad to say it was the only one we had for the full week.

A couple of things to mention:
The beach - it isn't 100% natural, but it's nice enough to chill on during the day. Lovely view of the day. Beach bar and jerk chicken at lunchtime are also plus points here.

Restaurants - if you want to go a la carte, you do have to queue, at they start taking booking at about 9.30 (whatever they tell you) - usually done by 10. Given they don't restrict how many times you visit a la carte during your visit, not sure how else they could really do it. We got to visit the steak house once and St Andrews twice (wasn't expecting to get in there at all from the reviews) during the week we were there, and this is only cos we only queued up 3 times (for about 10 mins each time). The food was good everywhere, the service however, wasn't that great. We quite often had empty wine glasses, and had to try and attract attention to get them refilled. If you are expecting a high class dining experience, forget it. If you just want some nice food, you'll be ok.

Bars - everyone behind the bars was really friendly, and thanked you for tips rather than expecting them. Good range of drinks.

General - the hotel was nice, they clearly look after it. Most of the mess, from what I could tell, was from inconsiderate people leaving stuff in random places (including sun beds in the sea - come on people, is it fair to expect the staff to wade in for them??) - it was always cleared within 24 hours.

Locals - there are a few of them that hang around the beach near the hotel, trying to sell their wares (including "smokes") - they are friendly enough and a polite "no thanks" gets them off your back, they aren't pushy (unlike other places I've been).

Entertainment - I think it went on during the day but I was pleased to say that I wasn't asked once to join in given I just wanted to chill. This is a major plus point for me, as I was a bit concerned given there is really only one main pool area (usually I slope off to the quiet pools when available!)

Noise - we were in block 2, and a bit concerned about the noise issue noted on here. Didn't hear a thing all week. There is a nightclub open till 2am on site, but it is away from the rooms so doesn't bother anyone.

All in all, had a good holiday. It did rain for a hour or so each day, but you can't blame the hotel for that. It's warmest first thing in the morning (well 10ish!) so, if you want the sun, recommend you drag yourselves out of bed!

Jamaica is such a chilled out place and would definitely go back - only thing to put me off would be 10 hour flight from UK.