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Hotel guide · All-inclusive · Bloody Bay, Negril, Hanover

Hotel Riu Negril: what to know before you book

Researched by Michael RainfordFacts checked Sources
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

Riu Negril is the family half of Riu’s pair on Bloody Bay, the curve of beach at the north end of Negril where the water is usually calmer than on the main Seven Mile strip. Riu sells it as a hotel for the whole family: RIU Land for the children, a pool with slides, eight places to eat, a 24-hour sports bar and the RIU Party at night. My take: it suits families with school-age children and groups of friends who like a busy, sociable resort and don’t need a water park. If you want quiet, or no children around, this isn’t it.

A question people often ask is how it relates to Riu Palace Tropical Bay down the beach. Riu says Tropical Bay guests get free entry to the RIU Party nights here, with transfers included. Riu doesn’t say the reverse, so don’t book Riu Negril expecting to use Tropical Bay’s restaurants or pools; ask at the front desk if it matters to you.

If it’s not quite right, look at Beaches Negril, a more polished family all-inclusive on Seven Mile Beach, or Princess Grand Jamaica at Green Island if you want a water park. More options: the best all-inclusive family resorts in Jamaica.

At a glance

Name
Hotel Riu Negril
Area
On Bloody Bay beach, Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril
Resort type
All-inclusive, 24 hours; families welcome (Riu's Fun4All family concept)
Status
Open, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board
After Hurricane Melissa
Closed after the storm; Riu set a tentative reopening window of Nov 30 to Dec 15, 2025
Room types
Doubles 29 m² (garden, side or front sea view, some swim-up), accessible rooms 31 m², two-bedroom family rooms 57 m², swim-up suites 50 m²; connecting rooms available
In every room
Minibar and drinks dispenser, satellite TV, safe, air conditioning; balcony or terrace
Restaurants
8: Green Island buffet, Kulinarium (gourmet), Steakhouse, Luigi (Italian), Mandalay (Asian), plus Island Cove, Pepe's Food grill and Tiki Taco for lunch
Bars
Six, including the 24-hour American Country sports bar, the Rastaman swim-up bar and Bob's Bar on the beach
Pools
Several pools with swim-up bars, in-water loungers and a hot tub, plus a children's pool and a pool with slides
Kids
RIU Land kids' club, children's pool and a pool with slides
Spa and sports
Renova Spa with steam bath and relaxation pool; free gym; pickleball, beach volleyball; free kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear and a trial dive
Wi-Fi and parking
Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel; on-site parking
Check-in / check-out
3:00 pm / 12:00 noon
Airport
About 80 km from Sangster International (MBJ), Montego Bay

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

What stands out

  • Right on Bloody Bay, at the calmer north end of Negril's beach.
  • RIU Land kids' club, a children's pool and a pool with slides for families.
  • Eight places to eat, including a gourmet restaurant, a steakhouse and a jerk-style grill at lunch, plus a 24-hour sports bar.
  • Two-bedroom family rooms of 57 m², and connecting rooms, so bigger families can stay together.
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout, a free gym, and free kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear and a trial dive.

What to know before booking

  • It's built for energy: the RIU Party and nightly shows make it a lively resort rather than a quiet one.
  • No water park here; for a Riu with a water park and children welcome, it's Hotel Riu Ocho Rios.
  • The à la carte restaurants need a reservation, and Riu asks for appropriate dress at dinner.
  • About 80 km from Montego Bay airport, a much longer transfer than the Montego Bay resorts.

Rooms

All rooms have a minibar and drinks dispenser, satellite TV, a safe, air conditioning and a balcony or terrace. Standard doubles are 29 m², with two queen beds or a king, and you choose garden, side sea or front sea views. The swim-up doubles (29 m²) and swim-up suites (50 m²) have a private pool on the terrace. Families should look at the 57 m² two-bedroom family rooms, with a king in one room, two queens in the other and a sofa bed, or book connecting doubles. Accessible rooms are 31 m², with two queen beds.

Food & drink

Riu lists eight places to eat. Green Island is the main buffet for breakfast and dinner, with live cooking and themed nights three times a week. For dinner there’s also Kulinarium (gourmet), the Steakhouse, Luigi (Italian) and Mandalay (Asian buffet). Lunch is at Island Cove by the pool, Pepe’s Food grill or Tiki Taco. Riu says the à la carte restaurants need a reservation and expect appropriate dress, so pack long trousers. The bars include the 24-hour American Country sports bar, the Rastaman swim-up bar and Bob’s Bar on the beach.

Pool & beach

The hotel is right on Bloody Bay, with towel, lounger and umbrella service. The pools have swim-up bars, in-water loungers and a hot tub, and children get their own pool and a pool with slides. The RIU Party, with DJs and a stage at the pool, runs here. Non-motorized water sports are free: kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear, plus a trial dive in the pool. Locals will tell you Bloody Bay is usually calmer than the main stretch of Seven Mile Beach, which helps with younger swimmers.

Location

Riu Negril is on Norman Manley Boulevard at Bloody Bay, at the north end of the Negril strip. Riu puts it about 80 km from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay; allow around an hour and a half by road and book your transfer before you fly. From here you’re a short drive from the Seven Mile Beach bars and the West End cliffs, where Rick’s Café is the classic sunset stop. YS Falls makes a good day trip into St Elizabeth. See where to stay in Negril for the wider area.

Questions people ask

Is Riu Negril adults only?

No. Riu Negril is a family resort, with the RIU Land kids’ club, a children’s pool and a pool with slides. In Negril, Riu Palace Tropical Bay also takes families; Riu’s adults-only resorts are in Montego Bay, among them Riu Reggae.

Can Riu Negril guests use Riu Palace Tropical Bay?

Riu doesn’t say so. What Riu does state is the other way round: Tropical Bay guests get free entry to the RIU Party nights at Riu Negril, with transfers included. Ask at the front desk if you hope to use the other hotel.

Is Riu Negril open after Hurricane Melissa?

Yes. Riu closed it after the storm and set a tentative reopening window of Nov 30 to Dec 15, 2025. The Jamaica Tourist Board lists RIU Negril as open as of October 2026.

How far is Riu Negril from Montego Bay airport?

About 80 km, according to Riu. Allow around an hour and a half by road, and book your transfer before you fly.

Does Riu Negril have a water park?

No. It has a pool with slides and a children’s pool. If a water park matters, look at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios, which has Splash Water World.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — New researched guide; facts checked against riu.com and the Jamaica Tourist Board list.
  • — Link refresh: Swapped one alternative (Hotel Riu Ocho Rios) for Princess Grand Jamaica, closer at Green Island.
  • — Moved source citations out of the text

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

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