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Hotel guide · All-inclusive · Mammee Bay, St Ann

Hotel Riu Ocho Rios: what to know before you book

By Michael RainfordBorn and raised in JamaicaFacts checked Sources
Aerial view of Hotel Riu Ocho Rios with lagoon pools and beach
On this page
  1. My local take
  2. At a glance
  3. Pros and cons
  4. Rooms
  5. Food & drink
  6. Pool & beach
  7. Location
  8. FAQ
  9. Sources

My local take

This is one of the big family all-inclusives on the St Ann coast: a water park, a kids’ club, a teen club and six places to eat on Mammee Bay, between Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay. My take: it suits families who want the children busy and everything inside the gate. If you want a quiet, small resort, or an adults-only stay, look elsewhere.

For families, this is where it earns its place. RIU Land runs activities indoors, on the beach and in the pool, RIU 4U is for teens, and there’s a children’s pool with slides.

If it’s not quite right, look at Moon Palace Jamaica, a bigger family all-inclusive right in Ocho Rios, or Franklyn D. Resort, built around families in Runaway Bay. More options: the best all-inclusive family resorts in Jamaica.

At a glance

Name
Hotel Riu Ocho Rios (formerly ClubHotel Riu Ocho Rios)
Area
On Mammee Bay beach, St Ann
Resort type
All-inclusive, 24 hours; families welcome
Status
Open, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board
Size
More than 800 rooms
Room types
Doubles 28 m², junior suites 34 m², family rooms 35 m², two-bedroom family rooms 60 m², suites 69 m²; accessible ground-floor rooms
In every room
Minibar and drinks dispenser, satellite TV, air conditioning, balcony or terrace
Restaurants
6, including the St. Ann buffet, Pepe's Food jerk station, and Asian, Italian and steakhouse restaurants
Pools
Several pools, two with swim-up bars, plus a children's pool with slides
Water park
Splash Water World, free for guests; minimum age of 12 recommended
Kids and teens
RIU Land kids' club and RIU 4U teen club
Spa and gym
Renova Spa with steam room and relaxation pool; gym for guests 18+
Wi-Fi
Free throughout the hotel
Check-in / check-out
3:00 pm / 12:00 noon
Airport
90 km from Montego Bay (MBJ), about 90 minutes by road

Checked October 2026 against the sources below. See sources. Something changed? Tell me.

What stands out

  • Splash Water World and a children's pool with slides keep children busy without leaving the resort.
  • Separate clubs for kids (RIU Land) and teens (RIU 4U), plus evening shows and the RIU Party.
  • Six places to eat, including a jerk station, and snacks 24 hours a day.
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout, and a minibar and drinks dispenser in every room.
  • Family rooms of 35 m² and two-bedroom family rooms of 60 m², so bigger families don't need two rooms.
  • Right on Mammee Bay, with snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding.

What to know before booking

  • It's a big resort, with more than 800 rooms: lively and busy rather than quiet.
  • Splash Water World recommends a minimum age of 12, so it's less useful with young children.
  • The gym is for guests 18 and over.
  • About 90 minutes from Montego Bay airport, longer than the resorts around Montego Bay.

Rooms

Every room has a minibar and drinks dispenser, satellite TV, air conditioning and a balcony or terrace. Standard doubles are 28 m², with a king bed or two small doubles (125 cm wide). Junior suites (34 m²) add a sofa bed, which helps with one child. Families of four or more should look at the 35 m² family rooms with two queen beds, or the 60 m² two-bedroom family rooms. Connecting rooms and ground-floor accessible rooms are also available.

Food & drink

Riu lists six restaurants: the St. Ann buffet with live cooking, Pepe’s Food jerk station, and Asian, Italian and steakhouse restaurants. Snacks are available 24 hours a day at the bars. Check the themed restaurants’ booking rules at check-in. My take: start with the jerk station. It’s the closest you’ll get to roadside jerk inside an all-inclusive.

Pool & beach

The resort is right on Mammee Bay, with sun loungers on the beach and snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding. Around the pools there are two swim-up bars, a children’s pool with slides, and Splash Water World.

Location

Mammee Bay sits between Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay. Riu puts the drive from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay at about 90 minutes (90 km). You’re well placed for the Ocho Rios day trips: Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, Blue Hole and Konoko Falls. Locals will tell you to do Dunn’s River early, before the cruise-ship crowds arrive. See where to stay in Ocho Rios for the wider area.

Questions people ask

Is Hotel Riu Ocho Rios good for families?

Yes, families are who it is built for. It has the Splash Water World water park, a children’s pool with slides, the RIU Land kids’ club and the RIU 4U teen club, plus family rooms of 35 m² and two-bedroom family rooms of 60 m².

Is Wi-Fi free at Riu Ocho Rios?

Yes. Riu lists free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Older reviews that mention paid Wi-Fi in standard rooms are out of date.

How far is Riu Ocho Rios from Montego Bay airport?

About 90 km, roughly a 90-minute drive, according to Riu. Book your transfer before you fly.

Is the water park free?

Yes, Splash Water World is free for guests. Riu recommends a minimum age of 12 for its slides, so check with the resort if you’re traveling with younger children.

Is Riu Ocho Rios open now?

Yes. The Jamaica Tourist Board lists RIU Ocho Rios as open as of October 2026.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — Rewritten as a researched guide; facts re-checked.
  • — Added post-hurricane status.
  • — Moved source citations out of the text
  • — Removed repeated advice
  • — Trimmed hurricane references to where they change the advice

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.

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