Riu Negril

Most resorts in Jamaica feature optional massage facilities. RIU is no exception. However, I found the quality of their masseuses to be better than some of the other resorts I have visited. Their masseuses seem to be better trained and able to give massages equal to the best massages I receive in the States. In particular I would like to single out one masseuse, Shabano, whom I found especially skilled. She is strong, which is good for those who want deep tissue massage, yet delicate when need be.And don't forget to tip! The masseuses depend on tips more than most of us tourists realize. Even a few dollars means a lot them!

Extremely disappointed with the Resort. Bed bug bites are insane. There is a stench that is so bad the balcony door had to stay closed. Although it's Negril it's not 7 mile white sand and clear water. A Native stated it's actually called Bloody Bay. Way too much seaweed. Saving grace was the boat ride to Ricks Cafe, and Margaritaville offers the 7 mile beach. The Restaurants are a game you have to play, good luck. Other Resorts I've been too that offer Fine Dining, you call by 8am reserve spots, not here. You have to stand online at least one hour before they open because they fill up fast. One night my daughter and I waited in line about 30 minutes for the Asian restaurant and by the time she counted the people in front of us she said, "SORRY"! Also I saw no Security on the premises, with that being said the vendors are relentless. The main dining room offers something for everyone. If I knew then what I know now I would have stayed somewhere else. P.S. This was my 7th visit to Jamaica.

Overall this was a good trip. It was just me and my 10 year old daughter so I tried to find somewhere that would be fun for both of us. Our room was very nice and we had everything we needed, except for a coffee maker. The mini-bar cracked me up- in addition to the fridge, there was 4 different types of liquor hung upside down to dispense into a cup. The hallways of our building were a tad bit on the creepy side. Made me think the resort used to be an institution, but that's just because I have a very vivid imagination. There's this locked little closet in-between each set of room which made me think that and everything was so white. The beach was nice, although there was loads of seaweed. Pools were ok, except the swim up bar area was murky at times. My daughter absolutely loved being able to swim up and order a virgin Pina colada. The singing bartender in the lobby area was amazing. The professional shows were great. The audience participation shows, expect for Karaoke night were boring. There were several times I wished I hadn't chose this resort for my daughter. So many of the shows and poolside activities encouraged twerking. We both grew weary of that. I chose Riu Negril because the description said there was a kids club and kids activities. Not exactly sure what those were except for a little kiddie pool meant for toddlers. The food was pretty good. Lots of choices on the buffets. There is very few gluten free choices for people like me who have Celiac which forced me to eat lots of grilled veggies. Not a bad thing, I guess. My biggest complaint was the wine choices, or lack there of. The first night we got there, a server asked me if I would like some wine. Yes! I'll take your house cab! The server looked confused and said we don't have a cab, but do you want red? Yes, do you have a Malbec? At this point, another server came along and told me that my choices are red or white. So I tried both and they were beyond awful! There wasn't even other choices in the "fancier" restaurants. So I figured out a way to beat the system- once seated, I'd sneak over to the sports bar and they could make anything I asked for, except for wine. But at least I could have a very good martini with dinner. And they made excellent fruit shakes for my daughter. Loved the sports bar! Again, no GF snacks here except for slices of cheese. I learned to pull the bun off the hamburger and nuke cheese for a snack. We took 2 excursions- snorkeling and swam with the dolphins. The dolphin trip was extremely expensive, but will be an amazing memory my daughter will have for the rest of her life. The snorkeling trip was good, but I feel like we missed out on learning much about the area since we can only speak English. Out of 48 people on the boat, only 4 of us spoke English. We had a translator but she only gave us the cliff notes of what was being said. My daughter and I had fun strolling through the Jamaican "retail" corridor. We brought home lots of beautiful Jamaican trinkets and dresses. Not a stroll you want to make if you're nervous about being approached by people from some of the storefronts. Riu Negril was fine, but I'll probably choose somewhere else if I go again. Especially if I have my daughter with me.

We had a wonderful stay at the RIU Negrill. The staff was absolutely wonderful. The property is beautiful and well kept. Great beach! Plenty of excursions were available. This was my first time in Jamaica and am already looking forward to my next trip. The buffet dining options are not great however the onsite restaurants offer better choices. We were both very happy with our stay.