My local take
Riu Reggae is the adults-only, party-leaning member of Riu’s three-hotel strip on Mahoe Bay, just east of Montego Bay airport. Riu itself describes it as built around atmosphere and entertainment, and it backs that up: three infinity pools with swim-up bars, a 24-hour lobby bar, and free use of Splash Water World and the weekly RIU Party at Riu Montego Bay next door. My take: it suits groups of adult friends, solo travelers and couples who want a social scene and the shortest airport transfer on the island. If you want a quiet, romantic adults-only stay, it’s the wrong pick.
Two honest points. The water park and the RIU Party are at Riu Montego Bay, so the big nights happen next door rather than at your own pool. And being this close to Sangster means you’ll see and hear planes on approach, which locals along this stretch stop noticing but first-timers do.
If it’s not quite right, look at Riu Montego Bay next door, the bigger adults-only Riu on the same bay, or Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios for a couples-focused resort. More options: the best adults-only all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica.
At a glance
- Name
- Hotel Riu Reggae
- Area
- On the beach at Mahoe Bay, Montego Bay, next to Riu Montego Bay and Riu Palace Jamaica
- Resort type
- Adults-only (18+) all-inclusive, 24 hours
- 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
- Size
- 454 rooms
- Room types
- Doubles 29 m² (garden, exterior, side or sea view), two-bedroom rooms 63 m², seven sea-view junior suites 43 m² with hydromassage tub
- In every room
- Minibar and drinks dispenser, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, balcony or terrace
- Restaurants
- 6: Ackee buffet, Kulinarium (gourmet), Dolce Vita (Italian), Bamboo (Asian), the Pool Restaurant (steakhouse at dinner) and a jerk grill at lunch
- Bars
- 4: the 24-hour Daiquiri lobby bar, Roots, and the Mojito and Margarita swim-up bars
- Pools
- Three infinity pools, two with swim-up bars; the main pool is 470 m²
- Shared with Riu Montego Bay
- Splash Water World included; weekly RIU Party; other inter-hotel access by front-desk confirmation
- Spa and gym
- Renova Spa with free steam bath and hot tub; gym and RIU Fit classes
- Dress code
- Resort elegant at the à la carte restaurants: long trousers and sleeved shirts for men
- Wi-Fi and parking
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel; free parking
- Check-in / check-out
- 3:00 pm / 12:00 noon; late check-out on request, subject to availability
- Airport
- 2.7 km from Sangster International (MBJ), usually under 10 minutes
Checked October 2026 against the sources below. See sources. Something changed? Tell me.
What stands out
- Adults only (18+), with three infinity pools, two with swim-up bars.
- About 2.7 km from Montego Bay airport, usually under 10 minutes: the shortest transfer you'll find.
- Splash Water World and the weekly RIU Party at Riu Montego Bay are included.
- Six places to eat, including a gourmet restaurant, Italian and Asian dinners and a jerk grill at lunch.
- Free steam bath and hot tub at the Renova Spa, a gym and RIU Fit classes.
- Two-bedroom rooms of 63 m² for two couples or friends sharing.
What to know before booking
- Lively rather than romantic: the focus is pools, entertainment and the RIU Party.
- The water park and the RIU Party are at Riu Montego Bay next door, not at Riu Reggae itself.
- A big resort, with 454 rooms, and only seven junior suites.
- Close to the airport, so expect planes overhead.
- Reservations and a dress code apply at the à la carte restaurants.
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Rooms
Riu lists 454 rooms. Most are 29 m² doubles with a king bed or two small doubles (125 cm wide), a minibar and drinks dispenser, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a balcony or terrace; you choose garden, exterior, side or sea views. For two couples traveling together, the 63 m² two-bedroom rooms have a king and sofa bed in one room and two small doubles in the other. The seven sea-view junior suites (43 m²) add a lounge, a coffee maker and a hydromassage tub, so book early if you want one.
Food & drink
Riu lists six places to eat. Ackee is the main buffet for breakfast (7 to 10:30 am), lunch and dinner, with themed nights three times a week. For dinner there’s Kulinarium (gourmet), Dolce Vita (Italian), Bamboo (Asian buffet) and the Pool Restaurant, which does a continental breakfast and afternoon snacks and turns into a steakhouse at night. Riu says the à la carte restaurants need a reservation and expect resort-elegant dress: long trousers and sleeved shirts for men. At lunch, the jerk grill near the beach is my pick. The Daiquiri lobby bar is open 24 hours.
Pool & beach
Riu Reggae has three infinity pools facing Mahoe Bay, two with swim-up bars (Mojito and Margarita); the main pool is 470 m². Umbrellas, towels and in-water loungers are provided. On the beach there are loungers and umbrellas, and free kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear and a trial dive in the pool. For slides, Splash Water World is next door at Riu Montego Bay and included in your stay.
Location
Mahoe Bay is home to three Riu resorts: Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace Jamaica (closed for renovation until December 12, 2026) and Riu Reggae. Riu puts it 2.7 km from Sangster International Airport, usually under 10 minutes. Riu says guests may use some facilities at the neighboring Riu hotels and to confirm the current rules at the front desk. You’re well placed for Rose Hall Great House, Doctor’s Cave Beach and Scotchies for jerk. See where to stay in Montego Bay for the wider area.
Questions people ask
Is Riu Reggae adults only?
Yes. Riu Reggae is an adults-only (18+) resort, according to Riu. Riu describes Mahoe Bay’s other two Riu resorts, Riu Montego Bay and Riu Palace Jamaica, as adults-only too.
Can Riu Reggae guests use the water park at Riu Montego Bay?
Yes. Riu says Splash Water World at the neighboring Riu Montego Bay is included for Riu Reggae guests, and the weekly RIU Party is held there too. For other facilities at the neighboring Riu hotels, check the current rules at the front desk.
Is Riu Reggae 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 Reggae as open as of October 2026.
How far is Riu Reggae from Montego Bay airport?
About 2.7 km from Sangster International Airport, according to Riu, and usually under 10 minutes by road.
What is the dress code at Riu Reggae?
Beachwear is fine by day. For the à la carte restaurants in the evening, Riu asks for resort-elegant dress: long trousers and sleeved shirts for men, and evening wear for women.
Sources & updates
- Riu: Hotel Riu Reggae (hotel page and FAQ) · checked
- Riu: rooms at Hotel Riu Reggae · checked
- Riu: restaurants at Hotel Riu Reggae · checked
- Hotel Online: RIU plans to reopen all its hotels in Jamaica before the end of the year (Nov 2025) · checked
- Jamaica Tourist Board: hotel reopening schedule · checked
Update log
- — New researched guide; facts checked against riu.com and the Jamaica Tourist Board list.
- — Link refresh: Replaced the Riu Palace Jamaica alternative (closed until Dec 12) with Riu Montego Bay; labelled it closed in Location.
- — Moved source citations out of the text
Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.