Jamaica - Riu Palace Tropical Bay

Service at the receptions desk very poor (except check in /out). Keys from тhе room need to reload 2 times a day. Тo get something to fix in the room needs to call oр stop at front desk 3 times and nothing happens(shower were broken and ...). Problem to get table for more th .. More>

Service at the receptions desk very poor (except check in /out). Keys from тhе room need to reload 2 times a day. Тo get something to fix in the room needs to call oр stop at front desk 3 times and nothing happens(shower were broken and ...). Problem to get table for more than 4 people( we had 6p).... Only one type of red and white one wine at all buffet and a la carte restaurants—6 apple ?????

Had a great time!!! Can't wait to go next year. Next time will definately be longer!!!! .. More>

Had a great time!!! Can't wait to go next year. Next time will definately be longer!!!!

4th return trip to negril, riu tropical bay is the best in bloody bay. also are round trip flights from air tran,was excellent. thanks apple for another great vacation. .. More>

4th return trip to negril, riu tropical bay is the best in bloody bay. also are round trip flights from air tran,was excellent. thanks apple for another great vacation.

Do not under any circumstances go to this resort. .. More>

Do not under any circumstances go to this resort.

We had a great vacation at the Riu Palace. The sunsets are amazing. The beach is the best out of all the resorts in this area. The staff was outstanding in their duties. The resort is cleaned continually. We will be returning to the Riu Palace. .. More>

We had a great vacation at the Riu Palace. The sunsets are amazing. The beach is the best out of all the resorts in this area. The staff was outstanding in their duties. The resort is cleaned continually. We will be returning to the Riu Palace.

I stayed in Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril, Jamaica, from 07/04/2013 thru 14/04/2013. My Riu Class No. is: 91499266. It is my 4th stay in Riu(s). My question is: What advantage does the Riu Class membership give to his owner? When I checked in on 07/04/13 I was given the .. More>

I stayed in Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril, Jamaica, from 07/04/2013 thru 14/04/2013. My Riu Class No. is: 91499266. It is my 4th stay in Riu(s). My question is: What advantage does the Riu Class membership give to his owner? When I checked in on 07/04/13 I was given the very same accommodation as I was given previously several years ago arriving in this hotel not being a member of Riu Class. It was/is a substandard room in the backside building, with no roof over balcony, sitting between municipal road and Hotel Service facilities. Instead of advertized sound of sea waves or birds singing in the garden I got a busy road noise on one side and humming of industrial exhaust fans on the other. So, I was told to walk to the given room and my suitcase will be brought by the service people. But what sense did it make for me to go to the room without my clothes to change after 10 hours on the road? So I decided to stay in the Hotel reception waiting when they will start moving my suitcase to the room and then follow them. I was waiting, and waiting, for about 40 or more minutes, hungry and sweaty, no sign of moving my suitcase .So I grabbed my suitcase and dragged it to the room. It would be fine if only I did not need to lift it to second floor. (l am not exactly young and athletic guy). When I asked for the room upgrade (it was 4pm) I was told "Hotel is full, come tomorrow. ". Around 8pm I asked again, it was a different service clerk, he told me "Tomorrow morning you will move to the upgraded room". My next question: Check-out time is 3pm. At 4pm there were no room available, but at 8pm this room appeared. Where was this room at 4pm? So next morning I had to pack my stuff again and move. The morning is lost. Hooray! I am in the upgraded room! But my vacation is one day and $300 shorter, going thru all these negotiations, begging, waiting, packing and un-packing, aggravation - last afternoon and today's morning (total one day) lost: more than $300 lost. Staying in Hotel. Day 2. It was rainy afternoon, not much to do outside. I turn TV on - it does not work. I call Service desk and get the answer: " We will fix TV when rain will end." Question: What is the point? We don't need TV when weather is good. So I call second time, begging again, and get the answer: "Technician will come in a few minutes." And he did come and replaced TV in 10min. Day3. getting ready for scheduled dinner. Safe does not open. Called Service desk. safe was fixed. Day 4. Toilet stopped working. It was fixed promptly after I called. Day 6-7. Eve of my departure. Getting ready for trip back home, blow-dry my hair - blow dryer stopped working. Forget about it - it's warm outside. Wake up at ~4am. There are no power in the room. Do not know how long it lasted, but I am afraid to flush the toilet - not sure if the water pumps are functioning. It is a good thing I had my portable alarm clock to wake me up for the bus transfer.. Never seen working room clock-radio. And one more thing. When reception desk people discuss guests' placement they operate with the building numbers. Why these numbers are not shown on the Hotels plans? So much for 6-star rated Riu Hotel. Sincerely, Disappointed Riu Class Number 91499266 PS. And one more thing. How come there were no borderline between swimming area and motor boats? The buoys line is broken and swimmers swim in the same area as motor boats.

The resort was nice but there were a lot of children and even a couple wedding groups which contained singles and obnoxious early twenties who were rude around the pool and at the dinner restaurants. The room was good except that it frequently smelled musty -- it was right next to some kind of cle .. More>

The resort was nice but there were a lot of children and even a couple wedding groups which contained singles and obnoxious early twenties who were rude around the pool and at the dinner restaurants. The room was good except that it frequently smelled musty -- it was right next to some kind of cleaning room used by the staff -- and the bed was horrible. The beach was very nice. The private transport was nice though the Apple people treat you like cattle at the airport -- which is one of the things I was trying to avoid -- and the drivers are focused on timely travel instead of giving us an experience. We enjoyed ourselves (in spite of all that) but I'm disappointed by the resort and wouldn't go back. I also would avoid Apple in the future as they are clearly focused on what is expedient for them -- being asked to wear a cheap carnival-style Apple wristband is ridiculous. Perhaps we've just outgrown this level of accommodation... next time I will either keep it quick and cheap (Mexico) or find a more luxurious and romantic way to travel and unwind.

With the best beach on the island and excellent restaurant variety and quality, the Riu Palace is the place to be! This is our second stay at the Riu Palace and it won't be our last! We've also been to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, and the Riu Palace Negril is our favorite .. More>

With the best beach on the island and excellent restaurant variety and quality, the Riu Palace is the place to be! This is our second stay at the Riu Palace and it won't be our last! We've also been to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, and the Riu Palace Negril is our favorite!! The beach at the Riu Palace is very clean, spacious, and not crowded. The property has a wide beach front so you can get involved with games, etc, in the middle of the beach, or you can relax on the east end of the beach in near-solitude. We had Jolly's jerk chicken every day for lunch - not because there was no other choice, but because it is SO GOOD! A full plate of jerk chicken with all the trimmings, a cold cocktail, and a beautiful beach/ocean view? Seriously awesome!!! The Steak restaurant and the Fusion restaurant were fantastic! We live in Wisconsin - right in the heart of great steak country - and the steaks I had at both these restaurants were comparable to some of the best I've had. The Japanese restaurant was good, but not as special as the previous two. We did not eat at the Italian restaurant because we had limited nights and the menu didn't grab our attention. It may have been fine - we just didn't try it.

Too bad it is located right off road and you can therefore hear traffic at times. .. More>

Too bad it is located right off road and you can therefore hear traffic at times.

hotel wasn't "6 golden" apple but the service/staff was "10 Golden" apple! Had a very rough first night but the staff made it all better the next day! .. More>

hotel wasn't "6 golden" apple but the service/staff was "10 Golden" apple! Had a very rough first night but the staff made it all better the next day!

This hotel is the Gem of Negril. I will be back. Everything was outstanding. Service staff were exemplary. .. More>

This hotel is the Gem of Negril. I will be back. Everything was outstanding. Service staff were exemplary.

Let me start by saying that my husband and I have been to Negril several times, but had never stayed on Bloody Bay or at the RPTB. Our daughter and son in law choose Riu Palace to get married. I... More>

Let me start by saying that my husband and I have been to Negril several times, but had never stayed on Bloody Bay or at the RPTB. Our daughter and son in law choose Riu Palace to get married. I had done lots of research on the hotel, read lots of reviews, and had spoken to a few others who had previously stayed there. Still, I was nervous. We were bringing 23 others along, most of whom had never been to Jamaica. I love Negril, but with such a diverse group of people....would they love it as much? Would we like the Palace? All of this worry was for nothing. Everyone loved the hotel, the staff, the wedding, and Jamaica! We arrived on a Wednesday and were quickly met with rum punch with rum for us, and without for our teenaged son. Check in was quick and our bags were brought to our rooms quickly, with a nice upgrade for my husband and I, as we were the parents of the bride. Soon after we got settled into our room, Javid came through to see what we needed in our fridge. Perfect. He asked our preferences and it was always filled. He was a great guy! With people arriving over the next few days, we had lots of experience with the front desk crew. Every single time they were simply fabulous! Not one complaint in our whole party. They were professional, helpful, and kind. They always had a smile and remembered us by name. Nicola was absolutely a gem. The rooms were fine. Yes, they could use updating, but nothing to complain about. One room had a fridge that wasn't working, but it was replaced quickly. Our AC worked well too. The only complaint I have is the double beds pushed together. The linens were completely separate, so unless you just picked one....we each had our own bed. We were in room 4112. It is on the ground floor and just steps from the beach, pool, and breakfast/dinner buffet. It was a GREAT location. There is a wall on the porch that prohibits you from seeing the beach if you are sitting. Again, nothing to complain about. It was a great place to sit and listen to the waves and tree frogs at night or run in the room during the day if we needed to. Ann Marie is the wedding coordinator at RPTB. I just can't say enough about her! She was so helpful and made sure the day was perfect! Prior to arrival, she emailed us promptly and answered all of our questions. The day of the wedding, the arch was changed and wrapped in white tulle and to our surprise, the flowers on the arch were an exact match to the bouquets! It was simply stunning! Food: We ate all of our meals at the buffet or the jerk shack, with the exception of the wedding night. That night dinner was at the Steakhouse. The service at the Steakhouse was fantastic! We had a GREAT group of guys serving that night and really running the show for us. Thanks so much, Creighton and crew!! In a nutshell, if you go hungry...it's your own fault. There were so many choices! Nobody in our group every walked away from a meal complaining. Service was good across the board in the buffet morning or night. Beach: Simply gorgeous. The water was clear, the sand was clean. What else is there to say? There was no having to get up early to make sure you had a chair. We were able to get a large number of chairs and tables any time. For those in our party who wanted shade, there was always plenty to be found. Suggestion: Bring a float. You can buy them at the shop on the beach, but they are very expensive. We took them and left them behind for others to use. Vendors: Look for Donnavon. He is the best! Buy his cd ~ and enjoy it when you get home. He is such a stand up guy ~ we loved having him sing to us and chat with him each day! If you are not interested in what the vendors are selling, a polite "no thank you" does the trick. Bars: O'Neil, Andrew, Ideara...thank you for being so being so great! Always with a smile and remembering our names and drinks. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Drinks were good and plentiful! Bring an insulated cup and they will fill it and it will stay nice and cold! Kids: Our 13 year old was the best man in his sister's wedding. It was his first time in Jamaica and what a great experience! The staff at the resort really looked out for him. He would spend time talking with different staff members and when we were checking out ~ so many knew him by name. Yelling out "see you soon" to him and telling him they'd miss him. He loved every minute of it! I cannot thank the staff at Riu Palace enough for making this a stress free and fabulous trip for everyone!

Spent a fortnight here 19 April to 3 May on a Thomson Holidays package from the UK, overall excellent on all counts, there was very little we could fault Room/Housekeeping Were in 7202 which... More>

Spent a fortnight here 19 April to 3 May on a Thomson Holidays package from the UK, overall excellent on all counts, there was very little we could fault Room/Housekeeping Were in 7202 which isn't the best position in the resort but road noise not a problem and being on the top floor gave us a partial sea view from a nice balcony with good furnishings. Room was clean, tidy and fully equipped when we arrived, housekeeping every day was good, no sign of towel or toiletry shortages others have mentioned nor of any musty smell, a/c worked well when needed Grounds Very good, always people working to keep them tidy and in good condition Bars Bar Cubano in the lobby very good, great staff and bartenders and a nice vibe. Pool Bar always busy but service still swift, often had waiter service at pool and on beach, didn't always have to order either ? they'd just keep bringing your favourite! Plaza & Reggae bars didn't use so much but always good drinks and service Regular pop up bars by the pool and on the beach with Martinis or a special cocktail from around 6.30pm, nice touch Restaurants Breakfast buffet excellent, huge choice and serve yourself Bucks Fizz & Absolut Bloody Marys Lunch at Bloody Bay buffet always good Jerk Chicken tasty, get there before 1pm to be sure there's some left Only used the evening buffet 4 times and found it very good indeed with huge choice and good drinks service Ate most often in the a la carte's, Krystal 4 times, Japanese, Italian & Steak House twice each. We usually chose the 9pm sitting and never had any trouble booking, only ever had to queue once for no more than 5 minutes. All the a la carte restaurants were very good with Krystal the stand-out. Having said all that the booking process and the fixed time system is old hat and could/should be streamlined Pools/Beach Pools maybe a little small for the size of resort but the beach and sea are so good that even though we're a couple who'd usually be pool side we were on the beach every day. Vendors not intrusive if you're in the middle or back of the beach, obviously more so when front line but a polite no thanks was enough. The toilet situation is lacking, definitely need more of them closer to the beach/pool area Stuff to know There's a US $ ATM in the ?casino? at the side of the Reggae Bar, maybe everyone else knows it but I didn't realise till the middle of our second week. Dispenses up to $200 for a $6 Dollar charge Mini Bar - we had whisky, brandy, rum & vodka in our optics. During the week we were asked to review the bars and mini bars and I mentioned that we prefer gin to whisky, when we got back to the room that evening a bottle of gin had been delivered ? excellent service At the bars remember to ask for drinks by brand if you want the international stuff Drinks aren't served with a lime or lemon slice and there aren't any nibbles so if you like a peanut with your aperitif bring your own If you're a smoker the hotel shop charges $11 a pack, the guy on the beach was $15 for two packs but I wasn't happy with them. I found the petrol station a 10 minute walk down the road has cigarettes for about $900J and peanuts for $75J a pack as well as a fee free (if you have the right type of card) Scotia Bank ATM, minimum $US withdrawal is $500 Wish we were back there now!

This is a very old property and old is not always bad but know that because there are a lot of things here that just don't work. The Jacuzzi did not work, in the game room several of the gaming... More>

This is a very old property and old is not always bad but know that because there are a lot of things here that just don't work. The Jacuzzi did not work, in the game room several of the gaming machines did not work, the work out room, several of the equipment pieces did not work. The AC in the room, cycled from warm to cool at will. Yes there is a thermostat in the room however it was on its own cycle. The choices of restaurants on the property were OK, more hype then anything. Why today in 2013 someone would make you get up early in the morning before 8am to make dinner reservations for the next evening? That is just ridiculous, you get their and wait in line only to be told nonavailability, we then ask for the next night and " You have to come back tomorrow and stand in line again". This means not only is the Hotel and equipment antiquated but so is the genius who came up with this lame 1980's concept. Yes the restaurants have limited seating's, but that's no reason to have your guest do guess work at 8am in the morning to find out, that is just not what you want to do on vacation is wake up early get in line to register for dinner only to find out you cant go. Of course you have the option each night to eat at the Buffet, which of course can accommodate many. The food at the buffet was not bad but not great. This was my first time in Jamaica, and I will probably go again in the distant future but certainly not this resort. We travel often and love to travel, but Riu Palace Tropical Bay will not get our business again. We meet a lot of very nice people on the trip and that helped a lot. We were their from May 4th through 10th. If you go please carry insect repellent and use it heavily at night. You can purchase it at the resort for $15.00 if you forget to bring yours. My wife had a SPA treatment and it was a 10, thank you again Vanessa for that.

I was there for a week and really enjoyed staying there. The staff was very friendly and would go out of their way to help. Maid service was excellent which included turn down service. It was a big... More>

I was there for a week and really enjoyed staying there. The staff was very friendly and would go out of their way to help. Maid service was excellent which included turn down service. It was a big hotel and although they were fully booked it didn't feel crowded. The grounds were manicured and public areas were very clean and appealing. After exploring the grounds we discovered several nice vantage points in order to sit, relax and enjoy the various views which most had a view of the ocean. The buffet had a large selection at all three meals, but you do have to find something you like as I found several things that I didn't. There are several restaurants available by reservation only with two sittings each night. I found the Steak House very good. There is a jerk chicken hut on the beach available in the afternoons. The chicken was cooked very well, but the jerk spices aren't as sharp as you'll find elsewhere in Jamaica. All of the various bars are well stocked and quick to serve and with a long list of mixed drinks, they didn't skimp on the alcohol.

Don't let the negative reviews scare you! The hotel is clean,the staff are friendly and attentive, the food is great,and the beach is lovely,your first view as you approach the beach from the Negril... More>

Don't let the negative reviews scare you! The hotel is clean,the staff are friendly and attentive, the food is great,and the beach is lovely,your first view as you approach the beach from the Negril Restaurant is one of paradise, all you need is the Bounty bar!! The sand is soft and pale, the water clear and turquoise. I feel that it's a better part of the beach than some of the more expensive hotels along the same stretch. Sure, it's hot,hot,hot,-I'd advise a higher factor cream than you normally use,bring a hat!! and a bit more shade or beach brollies would not go amiss. There are vendors and buskers but a polite refusal or "I'm good Mon" makes them go away.Tip-there are mosquitoes,but a local Dr told us that most bites come from sand flies,so your best preventative medicine is some strong smelling menthol preparation like Vicks or Olbas oil. The rooms are a little old fashioned and tired, but perfectly clean and comfortable.It's worth down-loading the RIU loyalty card, and e-mailing the hotel managers if you have a special occasion.Thanks to our friends doing so,we had a lovely room right by the beach with a fantastic view, room 4216. I 'm not big on hotel entertainment, and wasn't on theirs, but others seemed to like it. Don't be afraid to go out, although taxis are very pricey, it's worth it to see the real Jamaica out of the resort. The "one love"bus tour is a fantastic,fun experience,touring seven local taverns-the first is in a lady's back yard! and ending in a small pub with a fantastic view of the sunset (see other positive reviews for this trip and for contact details- e-mail Lembert to pick you up before you leave home for your hols).The Sea-Star tavern is out of this world, the buffet is good, and the entertainment is something else! especially the drummers! They will send their own taxi to pick you up and take you back.Rick'sCafe is a must,bit touristy and expensive,but the food is tasty, the cliff divers amazing, has live entertainment, and the best view of the sunset on the island.The Times Square duty free shops and local craft market is good for souvenir hunters.Back at the hotel, it's worth booking the speciality restaurants, in reception as early as you can, as they get fully booked quickly,my fave was Krystal-complete with champaign! My least was the steak house, food just ok, and staff tired and aloof by that time of the evening.Staff in general are lovely though, personal thanks to Ionie at the Bloody Bay, and Nadine,Jackie at the Negril, and Sophia the chamber maid. All in all we is eirie! One of our best holidays ever. Jamaica no problem Mon!!