Riu Palace Tropical Bay

To give some context, I take x3 Caribbean holidays per year and have been lucky enough to see most of the islands. I rarely do reviews anymore but this resort has some notable comments that need to be made. Wonderful Beach, Excellent Staff, Great Value for Money The beach is absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear, calm waters. It is well worth the two-hour coach journey from the airport. The food is good and full of flavour, and even the buffet offers a great selection. There is plenty to keep guests entertained thanks to the fantastic entertainment team. If you enjoy staying active during your holiday, this resort is an excellent choice. The rooms are clean, well maintained, and decorated to a good standard, with plenty of storage space. Outstanding Service The staff and level of service are of a very high standard. Cocktail lovers will particularly enjoy the air-conditioned Daiquiri Bar. The two mixologists, Alicia and Krystal, are exceptionally talented. They even created a personalised cocktail for me after asking whether I preferred sweet or sour flavours and what my favourite spirit was. Their skill, professionalism, and customer service are among the best I have experienced. RIU should recognise that these two are far more than bar staff – they are highly experienced mixologists who genuinely enhance the guest experience. I would also like to recognise Sillion, who currently works at the pool bar. He is the only supervisor or manager I observed who actively gets involved, serves guests, and supports his team. He leads by example and clearly brings out the best in his staff. Areas for Improvement My main criticism concerns some members of the management team. On several occasions, they appeared to spend more time observing and criticising staff than actively supporting them. When the bars are busy, it would be beneficial for managers to help with service, interact with guests, and assist their teams rather than simply watching from the sidelines. There were also two female supervisors working in the evenings at the downstairs bar and the Daiquiri Bar who rarely engaged with guests and generally appeared unapproachable. Many guests visit these resorts expecting friendly interactions, and a warmer, more welcoming approach would greatly improve the atmosphere. Regular engagement with guests would not only improve the customer experience but also provide valuable insights for the management team. Overall Despite these observations, this resort offers excellent value for money compared with many other Caribbean destinations. I would highly recommend booking if you are considering it. I have visited twice already and have booked to return again. The beautiful beach and the outstanding staff are what make this resort such a special place to revisit. Thank you, RIU, and especially to the individuals mentioned above for making our holiday extra special. Rating: 4.5/5

We stayed in Room 3105 at the quiet end of the beach near the Scuba Caribe, greeted every morning by Donovan playing his guitar "Bob Marley vibes" the perfect way to start your day. The sea crystal clear and warm with a resident baby ray Breakfast always with a smile and banter, table looking out to the ocean waited on by Twain "Craig David" and Damian. Stakehouse is by far the standout serving up fillet and Caribbean Lobster to die for, chef would take out of the shell for you, looked after by Everton and Marten along with tears of laughter, so much fun. The lobby bar serving up Apperol Spritz and Baileys looked after by Antonette and Lyanna both absolute superstars. Scuba Caribe offers the catamaran trips to Ricks Cafe Kimani is your man to book with. The transfer from the airport 1hr 20 gives you the insight into the real Jamaica and the fall out from Melissa. The journey went quick reggae tunes and the bus driver saying when in Jamaica if you want to drive on the grass just ask😂 Great memories made.

The resort was beautiful!! Food was great, and so were the drinks! BEACH WAS STUNNING and NO SARGASSUM! The rooms were pretty with a rain shower water head, a very comfortable bed, and wonderful pillows. They stocked a mini bar, and we could utilize it at NO EXTRA CHARGE. I would highly recommend buildings #6 and #7 for a direct ocean view and just steps from the beach. These villas weren't too far from the pools, bars, and restaurants but far enough that we didn't hear the music and the noise coming from that area.

Many peddlers on the beach, but if you said "no thank you," they left you alone immediately. Highly recommend the Jerk Chicken Hut that was always open 12-3 in the afternoon; best Jerk Chicken, ever.

Special shout-out to JUDITH, our cocktail waitress, who served us drinks on the beach every day!! She was constantly going back and forth getting what we asked for. She was always so happy and pleasant! On my birthday, she set up balloons early in the morning in the tree that my friend and I always sat under on the beach. There was a Happy Birthday banner on our door, and she sang to me! It was a milestone birthday, and she did everything to make it extra special! She was always spot on with service and was able to answer any questions we had. If she didn't know the answer, she would find out for us! An extremely helpful person!! I hope she is there for many years to come because I plan to go back!!

The guy at the bar who was always saying "Merry Christmas" was excellent at making drinks! Happy Feet ( Instructor) was so good at coming up with modifications during our water aerobics class! (My friend had some orthopedic problems and couldn't do some of the exercises.) He brought so much ENERGY to the class!

CHRIS at the front desk was very helpful and accommodating! After a 4-hour delay at JFK, my friend ended up with a knee problem from sitting too long. Chris was able to move us to a first-floor room at the last minute. Our reservation was for a third-floor room, and that would have never worked. Thank you, Chris, for saving our vacation!

JUDITH, Karen and I miss you already!