RIU Hotels

A fantastic, welcoming hotel, professionally run, with excellent service and facilities.

The standard of food and entertainment was excellent and the location in proximity to the beach couldn't have been better.

The only facility that would have enhanced the accommodation is lighting on the private balcony - we like to spend dark evenings drinking wine and reading.

Wider notification of the request for gentlemen to wear long trousers at dinner might assist those planning to stay at the hotel.

The above two paragraphs are not criticisms but, hopefully, constructive suggestions.

My wife and I genuinely did not want to leave!

first tip : when yopu arrive at the airport , do not let the porters take your luggage unless you have enough money to tip them. second tip:if you are not not on a package holiday where the taxi is included then please expect to pay "a whopper " in taxi fee. the trip to the hotel riu from montego bay is $120 us , we manage to find a nice taxi driver(call Damian) who charge $3,000 jamicam dollars which is about $45-50 . i have his number taxi from the hotel is $30-35 us into ochios rios ,BUT if you go to the entry gate of the hotel , the local TAXI/BUS pass every 3-7 minutes .THEY charge $100 jamican dollars which is $1 us DOLLARS. make sure before you enter the taxi just ask the price if he said over $100 ja then tell them no thanks . you have taxi that are chartered so they are like the hotel taxi charge more , but you cannot miss the local taxi they beep so much you cannot miss them and they are $100 jamican or $1 us CURRENCY: whether you stay at the riu or not this will be for your benefit as WELL. in ochio rios opposite the tourist shops there is a shop called gem palace every single taxi knows IT, the exchange rate is alot more than any hotel for E.G , my hotel rate was $93 jamcian to the jamaican dollar but gem palace was $98-$102 , the £ rate at the hotel was £141 to the jamaican dollar but at gem palace it was £157 to the jamaican dollar and the canadian rate is different as WELL. if you need to stretch your money , get a local taxi go to gem palace bring a driving licence or passport change up a few curency into jamaican dollars and it does stretch LONGER. in ochio rios as well there is a supermarket across from gem palace called champion , it caters for the local and does not have tourist price , for air freshener , washing detergent , sun cream /LOTION go there you will be shock at the difference compare to the hotel shops . to get back to your hotel -JUST ask anyone to show you the bus park , in there ask for the taxi to st anns bay which takes you back to the RIU. we did it the first few times and clock the bus park and get to the bus park on our OWN. package for dunns river and the dolphin are expensive , get the local taxi outside the hotel the local taxi does daily drop off at these places ,,PAYING on entry will save you loads and loads of money we found out the hard way so thought we would let you KNOW. package is not cheaper . if you pay at dunns river you will see such a big DIFFERENCE. alcohol is not cheaper outside it is cheaper in the AIRPORT. the hotet itslef was FAB, love the food love the food love the FOOD, came back 1/2 stone HEAVIER, fresh juice every MORNING, jerk chicken on the beach every lunchtime plus 2 other buffet open all day ,DINNER out of this world of course i am going on put on weight :) the sun is extremley HOT- factor 50 is a must , they do have a gym i meant to use it all the time but only ONCE;:), they do provide you with beach towel this save you loading up your case with towels they clean you room daily as long as you leave the cleaning sign out , and they give you all the bath ,FACE and hand towel that you need . my husband cannot wait to go back . it was not a great holiday it was a fabulous one . everyone is entitled to their own opinion but trust it was as mastercard would say priceless

saved very hard for what we thought would be a holiday of a life time booking 5*,upgraded our room tried making as special as possible with the money we could afford to spend on this holiday.

we arrived on the 6th November 2012 approximately 15.30 hours, once we'd booked in we went to the bar in reception and notice straight away that there were no international branded spirits,the red wine was cold and there were dead fly's all over the floor,they were every where.

we then went up to our room and on the way firstly got lost as directions to rooms not very clear but on the way noticed cracked tiles bits of tiles missing, scuff marks on walls, emergency signs either missing or pointing wrong way and so on.

evening came really looking forward to going for dinner got dressed in trousers and shirt my partner in even dress,as per the dress code as described in the brochure and as expected 5* holidays to be but when we got down to the restaurant,people where arriving for dinner in shorts as if they'd just come off the beach, and ever worse the next day people where allowed to go to lunch in swimming trunks with no shirt and woman where going for lunch in just there swim wear and not one member of staff challenged them. we did complain to the staff at reception and the holiday rep but neither where bothered it was as though tuff your here now you best make the most of it but we both just wanted out of there and to go home we will be recommending this hotel/resort to any one in fact if i hear of any one that's thinking of going here i will do my up most to change there mind

We stayed on Malta in Melia Bay in a Riu hotel. The hotel itself was very nice but once opening the door to our balconly it became apparent that construction work to the hotel was well and truly underway. They started at 7am and finished at 7pm 6 days a week and on the Sunday they messed around with the electrics so the power went off in the hotel for 3 hours!

The reception staff were, unfortunately, not very helpful or apologetic and the hotel was full at the time so we could not move to a quieter room.

Very disappointing.

It seems as though I have just ticked every box with five stars, but every star has earned it's place. Formentera is THE most spectacular and relaxing place to go. The hotel staff were almost like close friends to us and the food was 'to die for'. I cant fault Riu La Mola, even sunbathing by the pool (which was 6 meters from the beach) you are waited on hand and foot (Please tip generously as the staff work very long hours). A scooter is essential and the HippeMarket is a must. Also a trip to Es'Palmador is a must. Research before you go and please, please respect the conservation and recycling program on the island. Try to learn Spanish phrase's as this will endear you to the locals and they will respond in kind. Best Holiday we've had and will go back very soon.