Situated on the beachfront, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios is an ideal venue for weddings and offers an unforgettable Jamaican holiday with top-notch 24-hour all-inclusive service. This Ocho Rios resort provides amenities such as complimentary WiFi throughout the property, entertaining programs suitable for all ages, a water park, diverse dining options, and Riu’s signature service. The all-inclusive hotel in Jamaica features over 900 rooms, all designed to ensure maximum comfort. Each room includes air conditioning, satellite TV, a minibar, a beverage dispenser, and a safe, among other conveniences. To cool down during your stay, you can enjoy the hotel’s five swimming pools equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, as well as a private beach area reserved for guests. For those seeking fun, the “Splash Water World” water park at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios is sure to please. Additionally, the entertainment schedule with daytime activities and evening shows, along with a variety of sports options, will make your vacation truly memorable.
All-Inclusive Service and Value
24-hour All-Inclusive
The hotel offers a comprehensive "24-hour all-inclusive" service, meaning "everything is at your fingertips" and "everything was covered in the price we paid." This includes food, drinks, and most activities.
Affordability
Despite its 5-star rating, Hotel Riu Ocho Rios "offers affordable all-inclusive vacations." One reviewer noted it as "one of the cheaper Rius," finding the value excellent.
Cost of Stay & Booking
A week-long trip, including all-inclusive stay, flights, and airport transfers, was booked for $1,994.74 per person, with an extension costing an additional $1,055.36 for the same room. Prices start at $254 for a single room for one night. For booking, please visit our partner. For property location, directions & contact information please visit this listing in the Hotels & Resorts Location section.
Location and Accessibility
Beachfront
The hotel boasts a prime "beachfront location" directly "at the edge of the beach."
Proximity to Attractions
It takes "about eight minutes to travel from the hotel to some of Ocho Rios most well-known attractions such as dolphin cave and dunce River Falls." Dunn's River Falls is only a "short drive from the resort." Rainforest Adventures, a famous theme park, is also "around 30 minutes to an hour drive away."
Spacious Property
The resort grounds are "split into two sections," with the reception and main entertainment in the heart. Both sections are beautiful, with the quieter side offering "less busy" pools, while the other side is "bigger as this is where most of the facilities are located."
Accommodations
Room Variety
The hotel has "more than 900 rooms" designed for "maximum comfort." Popular room types include the Lateral Sea View Double Room (28 sq meters), Junior Suite with Sea View (over 34 sq meters), and the Suite with Sea View (up to 69 sq meters).
Room Features
All rooms are equipped with "air conditioning, satellite TV, a minibar, a drinks dispenser and a safe box." Other amenities include smart TVs, walk-in showers, hairdryers, and USB outlets. Suites offer additional features like a hot tub bathtub and a dressing room.
Cleanliness and Design
Rooms are described as "basic but also very modern" and "beautifully furnished." Housekeeping is highly praised, with guests noting, "housekeeping never missed a beat with cleaning."
Views
Guests can choose from various views, including oceanfront, ocean view, and garden view. Oceanfront rooms are "most likely will be the most expensive" and top floors tend to be VIP rooms. Reviewers generally appreciated all views except parking lots, emphasizing "I'm in Jamaica and that's the bottom line."
Pools and Water Parks
Numerous Pools
The hotel features "5 pools," with sun loungers and umbrellas.
Adults-Only Options
Two pools are "adults-only pools," some featuring "swim-up bars" and "built-in pool beds" with "breathtaking" views, especially at sunset. The Reggae Bar is also accessible from one side of an adults-only pool.
Family-Friendly Pools
Other pools are open to everyone, with one allowing floats and another not. A "kiddie pool with a lot of slides" and "many experienced lifeguard parts" ensures child safety.
Splash Water World
The "Splash Water World" water park is a major highlight for "maximum fun," with areas for younger children (under five) and "larger slides and deeper pools" for older kids and adults. The water park is closed for cleaning on Tuesdays, a point to "keep that in mind if you are only coming for a short period of time."
Beach Experience
Private and Spacious
The hotel offers a "large private beach that is never crowded or dirty," providing a "fantastic private beach experience with a genuinely spectacular view." The beach is "very spacious" and "quite big."
Cleanliness
Hotel staff actively manage seaweed, "clearing the coast, the beach of the seaweed or anything else" early in the morning, making the sea "shallow and clear of seaweed" for most of the day.
Natural Beauty
The beach is praised for its "perfect beach," "spacious and full of palm trees," offering "a great balance between sunshine and shade." The "Caribbean Sea is just beautiful."
Water Sports
A "water sports center" is available, with "non-motorised [activities] usually included," such as beach volleyball, kayaking, and surfing.
Dining and Bars
Diverse Cuisine
The "cuisine at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios won’t disappoint you," with a "wide range of cuisine."
Main Buffet
The main restaurant offers "buffet dinners and breakfasts with live cooking stations," serving a "wide variety of dishes from pizzas to curry, oxtail, rice and peas, and festivals," catering to "picky eaters to those looking for authentic Jamaican cuisine." It does not require reservations.
Specialty Restaurants
Theme restaurants include "the finest Asian and Italian dishes and delicious steakhouse dinners." These "do require reservations." One reviewer tried the French restaurant and found the food "okay, but not to die for."
Snack Options
"Pepe's Jerk Hut" offers jerk chicken, though one review noted it was "not necessarily… as jerked as we would like." The "sports bar which is open 24 seven" provides "snacks, things like patty sandwiches and fruits, hotdogs, a little bit of, oh, yeah, some pizza."
Bars
The hotel is "more known for their fine bars," including "large swim-up bars" and Dunn's River Bar, known for its elegant ambiance. "Bars are located in many different locations, so you have a quick access to drinks anywhere on the property."
Food Inconsistencies/Issues
While food is generally praised, some reviewers experienced "inconsistent food quality." One significant "downside" mentioned was finding "plastic in our oxtail on different days," with staff appearing "clearly aware of the problem."
Entertainment and Activities
Lively Programs
The resort offers "fun entertainment programmes for all ages," with "daytime activities and nighttime shows." The "entertainment team truly made this holiday unforgettable," described as "fantastic—full of energy and so much fun."
Nightly Shows and Parties
"Every night something exciting is happening, often themed." The hotel puts "so much effort into its evening entertainment," including "all white party on the beach" and a "glow party."
RIU Land Kids' Club
The "RiuLand kids’ club" provides "special children’s activities" like soft play and arts and crafts. While "limiting" at 10 AM-12 PM and 3 PM-5 PM, it felt "very safe," and children enjoyed making international friends.
Teens' Club
A teens' club is available and popular, with some "enjoyed it so much that they went there every evening."
Sports and Wellness
"RIU Fit exercise classes" are offered. Guests have "free use of the gym and steam room at the hotel." A spa is available for "beauty, hair and make-up services" at an additional cost. Water sports like beach volleyball, kayaking, and surfing are also provided.
Excursions
Guests can book excursions directly from the hotel's beach, such as boat parties, and explore options through GetYourGuide for local attractions like Dunn's River Falls.
Service and Staff
Friendly and Helpful
Many reviewers praise the "incredibly kind Personnel" and "friendly and helpful staff," including specific mentions of excellent service in dining and housekeeping.
Dedication
The staff, "from the waitstaff to the housekeeping team... and even some of the reception staff," "went above and beyond to make our holiday special, and they are the main reason we want to return."
Additional Amenities & Information
Free WiFi
"Free WiFi throughout the hotel" is provided and generally works "really well."
Event Facilities
Hotel Riu Ocho Rios can accommodate events with "two large rooms available for your festivities that can hold up to 120 guests." They offer three types of ceremonies: symbolic, vowel renewal, and civil.
Student/Spring Breaker Policy
Explicitly states that "Groups of students/Spring Breakers (over 21 years of age) are only accepted at the following hotels: Hotel Riu Santa Fe, Hotel Riu Cancun, Hotel Riu Caribe, Hotel Riu Latino and Hotel Riu Republica." Parties in rooms are not permitted.
Seaweed Season
A known "downside" for the Caribbean is the "seaweed season when a lot of seaweed develops on the coast and gives off an unpleasant odor for tourists." This is most prevalent "from May to October." The staff actively works on "seaweed harvesting process" to mitigate this.
Tipping
One reviewer noted they "didn't feel like" they had to tip.
Overall Impression
Hotel Riu Ocho Rios is highly recommended for travelers seeking a "lavish, restful or even energetic vacation with friends or the entire family." It offers a "full package" with "incredible entertainment, the beautiful beach and the location." While minor issues like occasional food inconsistencies or room amenity glitches may occur, the overwhelmingly positive reviews highlight the resort's value, diverse offerings, and exceptional staff.
*For location, directions, contact and booking information please see this listing in the Hotel & Resort Location section.
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Property Policies
Check-in
- Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11 PM
- Late check-in subject to availability
- Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
- Check-out before noon
- Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
- Guests will receive an email within 2 weeks before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
- This property does not permit name changes on reservations. The name on the booking must match the name of the guest who is checking in and staying at the property; photo ID is required.
Access methods
- Staffed front desk
Pets
- No pets or service animals allowed
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available
- Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Important Information
You need to know
- Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
- Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
- Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
- Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 21 years old
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
- This property accepts credit cards and cash
- This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
- This property uses a grey water recycling system
- Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
- This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
- Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
We Should Mention
- Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
- Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
- No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
- Guests under 18 years old are not allowed in the fitness facility or hot tub
- Guests under 18 years old are not allowed in the spa, and guests under 18 years old are only allowed with adult supervision
General
Room Count
- 856
Check-In Time
- 3pm
Check-Out Time
- 12 pm
Bedding
- Double
- King
Suites
- WiFi
- Lounge
- Bar
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Designated Smoking Area
- 24 hour Front desk
- Room Service
- Jacuzzi
- Ocean Views
Property
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Beach
- Swimming Pool
- Gym
- Spa
In-Room
- Cable TV
- Phone
- Internet/wifi
- Jacuzzi
- Air Conditioning
- Hair Dryer
- Clothes Iron
- Safe
- Minibar
Dining
Restaurants Reservations Required For
- Fine Dining
Dress Code Required For
- Fine Dining
Dining Choice
- Grill
- Fine Dining
- Jamaican
- Asian
- Italian
- Vegetarian
- 24-hour dining
Entertainment
- Live Band
- Floor Show
- Gaming Room
Activities
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Snorkeling
- Scuba Diving
- Golf
Offsite
- Offsite golf course
- Negril Hills Golf Club