Riu Just Reopened Its Negril, Jamaica All-Inclusive With New Swim-Up Rooms 

If you’ve been to an all-inclusive in the Caribbean (or one of the many Jamaica all-inclusive resorts), it’s likely you’ve seen one: the swim-up room, that sought-after amenity that lets you slide open your patio door and walk right down the steps into a pool. Sometimes it’s your own pool, others it’s one you share with a handful of other guests or set along a lazy-river style layout. 

Up until recently, one of Riu’s top Jamaica resorts didn’t have them. But with the relaunch of the Riu Negril, the all-inclusive resort now has them. 

Riu just put the finishing touches on the Bloody Bay-area resort, with a seeping refurbishment that included the addition of 28 swim-up rooms. 

That’s along with changes like new interiors, a revamped lobby and an upgraded resort-wide aesthetic.

In all, the resort has 600 rooms along with eight different eateries, including the new “American Country” restaurant, along with restaurant options like a taco shop. 

But the new rooms weren’t the only aquatic addition. The Riu Negril now has five pools, ranging from a kids-only pool to a serene “quiet pool.” That’s along with the installation of a trio of pickleball courts in a nod to the fastest-growing sport in the world (and an increasingly popular option at many resorts in the region). 

Riu has also implemented its “Riu Party” concept, which gives guests access to weekly events like its popular White Party. 

The Negril resort was actually the Spanish hotel giant’s first in Jamaica, where it now has five resorts, including the new Riu Palace Aquarelle, which opened its doors earlier this year. 

If you’ve been to a Riu, you know what to expect. If you haven’t, you can anticipate a relatively formulaic, tried-and-true all-inclusive vacation, from the spirit dispensers in the room to the international food. What you typically get at a Riu is a well-rounded, packaged experience, and often a very good value. If you’re looking for a true luxury all-inclusive, you should look elsewhere, like Sandals’ plethora of options in the country or the excellent S Hotel Montego Bay.

So what about the prices, then? 

The value is there. A double standard booked next week at the Riu Negril will cost you about $267 per night, all-inclusive. 

For a swim-up, that will go up to about $411.16, one of the lower rates you’ll find in Jamaica for a swim-up room. 

What about getting to Negril? The best way is still to fly to Montego Bay then take a taxi or rent a car for the two-hour drive. Find more Montego Bay options at Google Flights. 

For more, visit the Riu Negril.