hey everyone! has anyone stayed at the riu negril? we were considering this hotel but have heard that the ocean is somewhat murky? is this true, and how is the food at this riu location in negril? any suggestions? thx.

Try posting at www.tropictravelonline. I have seen several recent posts there. Check the photo gallery for some pictures of both RIU hotels.

Negril has some beautiful water & beach. We were in Negril in May & loved it. Do take some trips off the resort to do shopping & sightseeing. The sunsets from the cliffs are unbelieveable.

Thank you Benj for the response. What is the web address after www.tropictravelonline. I am not getting through with either .ca or .com
Thank you. Megz

Oh...sorry. It's www.tropictravelonline.com. Hope that works for you now.

Thanks Benj. It worked. Megz

The ocean in Negril/Bloody Bay murky??????

Only possible during/right after a major storm. THe water in Negril is very clear and calm, Bloody Bay (where the Riu is) is even more so.

I cannot imagine it being described as murky, ever. (Not until these mega resorts' pollution kills the reef, anyway...and I think we have a few years until then)

I have reservations for my wedding at the RIU Negril. We were "upgraded" to the RIU after the Renaissance was sold and closed for renovation last week, which is where my wedding was supposed to be in November.

Anyone been there?

You are in luck. After witnessing a slashing with a machete at the Coco LaPalm beach last Friday morning and speaking with the owner, who was not at all reassuring ("It's the culture, you can't change the culture." "These things happen everywhere." "Jamaica is a third world country.&quot, we decided to change hotels and retreated to the ClubHotel Riu Negril. This hotel has only been opened for about four months and it is gorgeous (very Greco/Roman, lots of marble, tile, columns). ClubRiu hotel has the friendliest staff and best food of the resorts we have stayed in during our five trips to Jamaica (including Grand Lido Negril and Breezes Runaway Bay). The beach is beautiful and huge. My suggestion would be to get an oceanview room in the first three buildings. Our room, 4112, was wonderful, but the rooms in the fourth building are quite a hike from everything except the beach. By the way, Bloody Bay was crystal clear. After our stay on Seven Mile Beach, the seclusion of Club Riu was welcomed and enjoyed.

Is this true?? What happened?? Was it between locals? Were there any tourists involved? This is the first I have heard of such an "event". It won't deter us from going back to one Negril's best hotels. Things happen everywhere.

I was surprised by that attitude. Try posting at www.negril.com message board. I haven't seen anything about the crime at Coco LaPalm mentioned but there are many people posting from down there. Negril is still wonderful but it isn't Disneyworld.

It is true and there were many witnesses. All locals were involved but that doesn't justify it happening. The details: around 10 am, a fight broke out between four local men. Coco LaPalm's two security guards and one Jamaican policeman immediately broke it up. About 5 minutes later, the policeman left. We then saw a man walk across the hotel beach with a machete, then he turned around and started chasing a man in a long brown-sleeved shirt. A local started following the attacker with a long-handled shovel, which the security guard took from him. The victim started running toward the hotel and ended up getting slashed across his forearm with the machete (this happened in front of the towel shack). No one did anything to stop the attack. The security guards (who, in their defense, were unarmed) simply got out of the way. Finally, the victim escaped and the attacker took off to the beach and headed to the street via adjoining property. Twenty minutes later two policemen arrived and arrested a local (Antonio - who was involved in the fight but not the slashing). And that was that. Yes, bad things happen everywhere. But doesn't a hotel owner owes it to his guests to ensure their safety? Even if a hotel has a security guard or two, consider whether the guards are actually armed. I am not a firearm proponent but if the guards would have had mace or something, this may have been prevented.

According to our travel agent, Coco LaPalm's owner explained the incident as a minor brawl between some locals which was quickly handled by the police. That part is true, he simply omitted Part II, when a man wielding a machete ran through the Coco LaPalm property and attacked another person.

Wow! More action than I have ever witnessed in my many trips to Negril combined! It doesn't sound like any guests were involved or harmed....so why blame the hotel?? Sounds like all the guests were were fine. Negril beach is a long beach known as Negril's 2nd highway. Things do happen as they do everywhere....Coco La Palm is one of the BEST properties in all of Negril and the guests are extremely well taken care of. The fact that this incident took place in front of their property sounds like a mere coincidence. The fact that you packed up and headed to the "safe harbor" sounds like a complete overreaction....but to each their own! We'll be booking our return trip to CLP later this week.

To CS: Agree that Coco LaPalm is a lovely property. We enjoyed the junior suite. Otherwise, rooms looked very Holiday Inn. To each his (or her) own. Enjoy your trip.