"Our Stay at Riu Palace Aquarelle – Montego Bay, Jamaica"
My husband and I recently stayed at **Riu Palace Aquarelle in Montego Bay, Jamaica, August 2026**, to celebrate his birthday. It was his first time visiting Jamaica and my second time, and overall, **we had a great experience**.
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed, which set a positive tone for our stay. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and hospitable. A special shoutout to **Shaniece at the front desk**, who was friendly, professional, and welcoming.
Our room was **spacious, clean, and comfortable**, with a king-size bed, sofa, balcony, and a nice bathroom setup. Housekeeping was timely, clean, and thorough throughout our stay.
Our **favorite bartender was Jaydin**—he took great care of us and always made us feel welcomed!
The resort property is **modern and vast**, with elevators, a lobby bar, five restaurants, a sports bar, gift shop, gym, and spa. There are three decent-sized pools, including two family-friendly pools and an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar, plus another bar behind the adults-only pool. Families can also enjoy the children’s pool and on-site **Splash Water World** aquatic park. The resort offers daytime and nighttime activities for adults and kids, live music, and themed RIU parties.
The **beach was amazing**, with white sand and beautiful turquoise water. The surf was a bit rough, but not too strong, and we were still able to enjoy it. There was some seaweed/sargassum, but the beach remained accessible, and the staff did a good job cleaning it up.
The food was a mixed experience. The **breakfast buffet was fine**, with the usual options catering to American and international tourists. The Asian restaurant was okay, but nothing to brag about. **Pepe’s lunch buffet was delicious and had really good Jamaican flavor.** Our best dinner was at the **Steakhouse—the steak and spinach & shrimp mac & cheese were delicious!** We were not fans of the Sports Bar food or room service.
**Be sure to make restaurant reservations in advance, as they book up quickly.**
One major disappointment was an excursion we booked with **Neal from Destination Services**. The excursion was not as it was explained to us when we booked it, and unfortunately, we were very disappointed with that experience.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay, celebrated a special birthday, and made some wonderful memories together. Despite a few areas that could be improved, we would definitely consider returning to **Riu Palace Aquarelle**.
🇯🇲❤️ **Ya mon!**