Comments before we filled out our survey -Check in was great -two bus loads came in at the same time so i was thinking it would be a nightmare however, they were well ready for us. IN fact, one the best check in's I have ever had. Rooms were nice and most importantly clean however they were a tad far from everything but we made do. We always had enough towels, water replenished. Our friends, however, that stayed two doors down must have had a different maid as they had problems getting enough towels, face clothes, etc. All in all i was pretty impressed with the food. Buffett had a wide variety to choice from, something for everyone, restaurants good, no big complaints. Staff in the buffet room were exceptionally friendly, all of them, whether you tipped or not, especially the medicine lady (she served hot chocolate with a rum liquor) and i absolutely loved the omellette gal in the morning. Entertainment staff and most of the bartenders were superb - really went out of their way for everyone. THe ladies working the stage area were some of the rudest waitresses i have ever come across. Not hard to tell that they don't think much of the tourist. Never smile, will not make eye contact with you for fear you'll ask them to get you a drink and YES, THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO SERVE DRINKS, not just pick up empty glasses and when I ask one lady to get me an ashtray, you would have thought i was asking her for the world. Crazy, because they could be making huge money if they only put in a bit of effort - I didn't see them make a single tip - mind you, they didn't serve many drinks and if they did, it was always with a big frown. The girls working the gift shops (all 3 shops) must have gone to the same school - they are just as happy - NOT!!!! Rude, grabby and it is more then evident and they too, dislike us tourist even before you open up your mind. They should all take lessons from the medicine girl.
Comments after survey was done: Champagne breakfast stopped, no more martinis in the evening and lost of hot water. It's bizarre and perhaps coincidental , however, once we filled out the surveys, all this and more stopped. We no longer had hot water during prime hours, in fact, one night we barely had any water, just a drizzle - we had to shower after supper. OUr check out was at 6 a.m due to the early flight and there was a huge crowd - 2 bus loads, many children. Buffet didn't open till 7 a.m. so I thought they would provide us with a continental breakfast but they didn't even have coffee ready. When two fo the guys went into the dining area to grab a croissant or muffin as they were diabetics and needed something to take with the meds, the staff literally chased them out (remember, they are opening in less then a half hour). I spoke with other travellers at the airport that stayed at different hotels, and all of them had been provided with a continental breakfast before departing. Beach was okay but nothing exceptional. Would I go back to this resort, I highly doubt it.

We visited this Riu from Jan 2 til the 9th, for our daughter’s wedding. This is our first all inclusive resort that we have visited and we had a great time. This is the perfect place for a wedding. The wedding planner (I forget her name) is great and very helpful. When my daughter and her Fiance arrived, they were updated to the Honeymoon suite…their room overlooked the wedding gazebo and the ocean…a beautiful room. We flew in on a different flight from the rest of our family and friends and asked to be put in the same building as our daughter (we didn’t know she had been updated) and they updated us to a junior suite…very nice. The room was very clean and comfortable, but smelt musty when we first walked into the room and then the smell went away. There was no chain or door blocking lock on the door…which bothered me in the beginning., after reading early TripAdvisor reports.
Everyone at the resort is very friendly and helpful. The food was very good…the Jerk Hut was excellent and we would take our full plate to the Plantation Buffet to eat. The breakfast buffet was very good…lots of choices…but the omlets were the best! The Steak House and the Asian Restaurant were very good, also. The buffets were so big that you had lots of choices and didn’t have to have the same things every day….although most days the chicken jerk was on our plates.
The check in and check out, for us was very quick and Reception was very friendly.
The Entertainment was outstanding. The Beach party and the stage shows were great. A number of our group participated in the pool beer drinking games…fun to watch.
After the wedding dinner, we had the Disco booked for two hours. My daughter had CD’s of mixed music she knew everyone would dance to. But the disc jockey kept playing his own rap music…which we all hated. Finally he started playing our music and we all danced! This was the only hiccup on a perfect wedding day!
The vendors along the shore were very annoying…even if you were in the hotel and made eye contact…they were trying to sell you something.

My husband and i had a great time at Riu Ocho Rios, but for people going there to find peace and quiet, it's not the place. It is a very big resort with almost 900 rooms. The restaurants all have great food but they are busy and you're constantly in a line-up waiting at the buffet. Great pools, but not enough bars and especially not enough bathrooms!!! For couples, it's a great resort but I would not bring my two young daughters there because everywhere you turn around, you smell pot (i've been to Iberostar in Montego Bay and we never smelled it there).

We stayed in a junior suite with an ocean view. The room was very clean and spacious with nice decor. The bathroom had a jacuzzi tub and double sinks. The eastern view was the best with the morning sunrise, but if you are near the stage then you will hear the music in your room until about 11:00pm, which wasn't a problem for us but if you have kids then it could be too loud.
The staff were friendly and always asking if we were enjoying our stay. the hotel has a lot of food choices. There are 4 restaurants al a carte. We tried the Japanese, steakhouse and sir Richards. The latter being our favorite for dining experience and food quality.
The beach was exceptional (no rocks) and is scattered with palm trees for shade and lots of open sunny areas. West down the beach past the Riu is a little dock where the waves come up over the railing (great photo op) and fills a stone sitting pool. Very cool.
Just past the property line to the west is a lady set up on the beach providing massages. The couples massage is $100, which is half what the spa charges. She is operating a business and is not just a vendor on the beach.
Tried the local on site snorkel trip, "Prince" was great went to two stops the first the best saw stingrays , many colourful fish including a lion fish.
We did not encounter any pushy vendors on the beach as some had written in other reviews. But, beware, the town of Ocho Rios is swarming with them at every turn!
Don't be fooled by the bad reviews. If you are looking for an exceptional resort, friendly and very entertaining staff, clean and great food, you won't be disappointed here!