Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica
Reopening Date & Status
Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica is temporarily closed — reopening Dec 12, 2026 (full renovation).
Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica is an adults-only all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica with 238 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Buffet Dining, Diving, Gym and Nightclub. Travelers rate it 4.5/5 across 2,350 Google reviews.
What travelers said before it closed
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Adults-only policy creates a noticeably calmer, more refined atmosphere than the loud family-heavy resorts along the same Montego Bay strip
- +Introductory scuba diving lessons in the main pool are free for all guests - a rare all-inclusive perk that diving beginners consistently rave about
- +Three pools including two swim-up bars mean you rarely have to get out of the water to refresh your drink
- +Spacious rooms with private patios, jetted tubs, in-room liquor dispensers, and rainfall showers that feel genuinely luxurious for the price
- +10-minute drive from Sangster International Airport makes arriving and leaving refreshingly painless compared to resorts an hour away
- +Windsurfing, catamaran rides, kayaking, and snorkeling equipment all included - active travelers get full value without paying for each activity
- +Nightly entertainment program keeps the energy up after dinner with live music and themed shows
- +Strong RIU brand consistency means housekeeping, staff training, and maintenance meet predictable standards that repeat RIU guests trust
Cons
- −Aircraft noise from nearby Sangster International Airport produces regular loud interruptions throughout the day - an unavoidable trade-off for the convenient location
- −The beach is smaller than photos suggest and can feel crowded during peak season, with limited sand space per guest
- −Open-concept bathroom design in some rooms offers little privacy between sleeping and bathroom areas - couples are fine, but solo travelers who value separation may find it awkward
- −Snorkeling directly off the beach can be disappointing when waves churn up the water and reduce visibility
- −Food quality gets mixed marks - the buffet is described as average to inconsistent, with some travelers reporting stomach issues during their stay
- −Towel policy frustrates guests - only one towel allowed per day with no mid-day swap, which feels overly restrictive at a premium all-inclusive
- −Relatively small resort footprint means limited variety between dining and pool spaces compared to larger competitors in Montego Bay
- −Some rooms show signs of wear including mold in shower areas and fixtures that need refreshing - the full refurbishment closing the resort from August 31 to December 12, 2026 is designed to fix exactly this
Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica occupies an interesting niche in Montego Bay: it's a polished adults-only RIU property that delivers consistent upscale all-inclusive execution without pretending to be ultra-luxury. The resort's biggest draws are its water sports program - diving lessons in the pool, snorkeling, windsurfing, catamaran rides all bundled into the rate - and the intimate adult atmosphere that sets it apart from the chaotic family resorts nearby. Guests who know the RIU brand know what they're getting: well-trained staff, reliable room quality, and solid entertainment. The jetted tubs, rainfall showers, and in-room liquor dispensers make the rooms feel like genuine splurges.
The practical experience has some real friction points worth knowing before you book. The airport proximity that makes transfers so easy also means jet noise is a constant companion during the day. The beach is functional but not expansive - if you're imagining a wide, deserted Caribbean stretch, this isn't it. Food quality is the most debated topic, with travelers split between those who found it perfectly satisfying and others who had genuinely bad experiences. The buffet is a reliable backbone but doesn't consistently impress. Swim-up bars and the nightly entertainment help make up for any dining shortcomings by keeping the overall energy positive.
This resort works best for couples in their 30s and 40s who want an active vacation with water sports, easy airport access, and the security of a well-known brand. One big planning note: RIU is closing the property for a full-scale refurbishment from August 31 to December 12, 2026 - upgraded rooms, redesigned public areas, and enhanced dining are all planned, which should finally address the aging-room complaints. Until the closure, guest sentiment remains strong (around 8.8/10 across roughly 1,800 reviews, with 2026 guests praising cleanliness, staff, and food variety), and some guests are already booking return trips for the post-refurbishment product. If the airport noise would bother you or you need a world-class beach, there are better options in Jamaica - but for a dependable, activity-rich adults-only week, the Riu Palace Jamaica delivers on its core promise.
Common Questions
Is the free scuba diving lesson actually worth doing?
How bad is the airport noise?
Can you snorkel right off the beach?
How does it compare to other Montego Bay adults-only resorts?
Is the Diamond Club or Elite Club upgrade worth the extra cost?
Is the resort closing for renovation in 2026?
What's nearby
Doctor's Cave Beach9 min drive · 3.9 mi
40 min drive · 19 mi
Sam Sharpe Square9 min drive · 4.7 mi
Montego Bay Cultural Centre9 min drive · 4.7 mi
Rose Hall Great House11 min drive · 4.9 mi
Montego Bay Yacht Club20 min drive · 7.6 mi
More things to do (23)
- Columbus Park (Discovery Bay) · museum60 min drive · 35 mi
- Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue) · town9 min drive · 4.5 mi
- Dolphin Cove (Lucea) · adventure park40 min drive · 23 mi
- Hampden Estate rum tour · historic site40 min drive · 20 mi
- Half Moon Golf Course · golf8 min drive · 3.5 mi
- Catamaran snorkel cruise from Montego Bay · excursion9 min drive · 3.9 mi
- Harmony Beach Park · beach9 min drive · 4.5 mi
- Dead End Beach · beach10 min drive · 4.0 mi
- Walter Fletcher Beach · beach10 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Cinnamon Hill Golf Course · golf12 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Bellefield Great House · historic site20 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Ahhh...Ras Natango Gallery & Garden · nature25 min drive · 11 mi
- Rocklands Bird Sanctuary · wildlife25 min drive · 11 mi
- Falmouth · town35 min drive · 16 mi
- Falmouth Historic District (Water Square) · historic site35 min drive · 16 mi
- Luminous Lagoon night boat tour · excursion35 min drive · 18 mi
- Falmouth Cruise Port · marina35 min drive · 17 mi
- Burwood Beach · beach40 min drive · 20 mi
- Lucea · town50 min drive · 27 mi
- Good Hope Great House · historic site50 min drive · 21 mi
- Fort Charlotte (Lucea) · historic site50 min drive · 28 mi
- Hanover Museum · museum50 min drive · 28 mi
- Rio Bueno · town55 min drive · 31 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Seaweed & sargassum
Jamaica gets sargassum, typically worst June through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 2,350 reviews
“First trip to Jamaica, loved it, won't be our last. Loved our ten days staying at the RIU Palace. Food was good (although cooled quickly) beer was cool (but warmed quickly in the Jamaican heat) and the cocktails were varied, delicious and expertly m...”
“My family just stayed here for two of the most significant holidays of the year, Christmas and New Years. Don’t have enough positive words to describe this place. Our first night, we made great friends with multiple resort staff - who continued to re...”
“The time we spent for Christmas was excellent. The room was excellent and staff warm. The ability to move between hotels to view different activities was a bonus. The food was good but wanted it to be a little hotter and the variety was different. T...”