Riu Montego Bay

I stayed at the Riu Montego Bay in early October. Just minutes from the airport, I was in my oceanview room before noon after leaving Chicago at 5:30 (via a very tight connection in Miami).

The Riu is a very competitively priced all-inclusive resort that is perfect for people looking to party and have a good time.

The property includes a large pool area with a swim-up bar, volleyball net and more. There's is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy yourself.

The beach includes complimentary non-motorized watersports such as kayaking and snorkeling. The water was very murky when I was there, so snorkeling didn't work out too well, but they do offer a short boat trip to better snorkeling locations on certain days of the week.

There are six categories of rooms spread throughout the six buildings, including 32 suites that feature a jacuzzi tub and extended balcony. My double room was quite spacious, featuring a stocked bar that was replenished every two days and a nice balcony looking out over the water.

Since the Riu has European ownership, most rooms feature two double beds pushed together to form one large bed.

Overall, the food was average. Most of the meals are buffet style, but there are several a la carte restaurants for dinners (although I was not that impressed with the steak house). I do give high marks to the breakfast buffet. In addition to the large selection, there was an omelette station for made-to-order omelettes.

My lunch recommendation - head down to the jerk chicken grill on the beach and get a plate full of chicken and sausages.

The Riu also has a 24-hour sports bar that includes a slot casino that is open from 10 am - 2 am.

The entertainment was impressive on the night that I went to see it - a show titled "Around The World" - although there was a lot of smoking, which came as a surprise to me and many of my counterparts from the U.S. where smokefree laws have eliminated smoking in a lot of venues. A band started playing at 7, and the main show started at 9:30. The disco opened at 11 and stayed open until 2.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at the Riu and would recommend it for people who are budget-conscious, not concerned about having gourmet food and who like to party. There are four Riu properties to choose from in Jamiaca.