Riu Tropical Bay Question
 

I have a question about the rooms at Riu, in Negril . Are there hair dryers and CD players in the rooms. How about safes ??<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Eric

Hair dryer: yes<BR>CD Player: no<BR>Safe: yes

Is this a family friendly all inclusive with kids programs?

Yes, the resort permits kids. I don't know the extent of their programming for kids as we had none with us.

Would love more info on this resort? How is the beach on a scale of 1-10, the food, the activities, the staff? Thanks

I hate to say this, but...do a search for Riu Tropical Bay. We were there over Christmas week and I posted a rather lengthy review on it when we returned. But to answer your questions...I loved the beach. The water was very clear and calm. I think this is due to being located on Bloody Bay. For a few days that we were there, the winds switched and were coming off the water. During that time, the water was a bit more stirred up but nothing that kept you out of the water. The staff rake the beach every morning so it is very clean. There was never a shortage of chairs and no need to have to be up early to "reserve" one. The only downside to the beach is that there is not drink service. If you opt for part of the beach near the ends of the property (which is a bit quieter and has less people), it can be a walk to the pool bar. I would suggest taking your own large, insulted cup to minimize the trips. Many of the staff were very friendly and helpful. I was happy with the bartenders, the porters and our housekeeping staff. The ladies at the front desk seemed a bit brusque. Tips went a long way in assuring better service. We didn't participate in any organized activities. On some days, there were people playing volleyball. I also saw water aerobics classes. We did not hang near the pool area so I am not sure if there were other activities going on. You could check out snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddle boats and such on site. Non-motorized water sports are included. If you wish to jet-ski, parasail or take a glass bottom boat ride, there is no lack of vendors just beyond the roped off swimming area. The nightly entertainment was poor. If that is important to you, this may not be your place. It didn't matter to us. Overall, we were pleased and based on our experience would return or try another Riu. I've read some less than favorable reports on other sites. I'm sure everyone's own experience and reviews are greatly impacted by their expectations and prior travels. For us, the Riu exceeded our expectations and we felt it was a decent value.