Basic, but Not Bad: An honest review of Riu Reggae in Jamaica

What this resort lacks in deep luxury, it makes up for in vibe. For what we paid, I definitely got my money's worth.

I visited Riu Reggae, an all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for four days one summer on a girls' trip. And though the resort wasn't the highest luxury I've ever experienced, it did provide what we needed for a great gal's vacation, and I would return under the right circumstances.

We had a good time. The affordability, the authentic jerk hut and the overall vibe of the resort were well worth its competitive all-inclusive pricing.

For 4 days, 3 nights at two people per room, we paid $600 each, and our stay included unlimited food and drinks (including alcoholic beverages). Here's my full review:

First Impressions

"Not bad." The hotel looked clean and nice overall. People seemed to be happy -- guests and employees -- so that's a good sign.

Check-in / Check-out Process: 4/5

For a group trip, there were lots the check-in process wasn't long. And I've stayed at other all-inclusive resorts that had a one or even two hour check-in, so the 30 to 40 minutes it took to get our room keys (given in the form of wristbands) wasn't bad at all,.

We also received drinks while we checked in, so that was nice.

I am, however, giving check-in four stars because we were told that no double rooms were available and we would all be in King rooms. This was fine because we didn't mind sharing a bed with the person we were rooming with, but it wasn't ideal. We later found out that the hotel automatically puts two people in a King room, regardless of preference.

Checkout was really simple. They cut off our wristbands and we left. Quick.

The Room: 3/5

Giving the room a three feels most appropriate at Riu Reggae. It room was clean and organized, but overall, it was basic. Now basic doesn't mean bad, but it was indeed basic; bare necessities only.

There were no luxury features, and, for the most part, the room lacked any special or standout amenities, but it was fine. It was average.

Food: 4/5

Compared to other luxury all-inclusives, Riu Reggae's food options are a little more limited, but overall, there are about five different cuisine-themed restaurants to choose from.

Each day, the resort has an authentic jerk hut on the beach lunch, and it was delicious. The line was pretty long and it moved slowly at times, but I really enjoyed the food.

Pools & Beach: 3/5

The cleanliness of the pools could use more effort. From my experience, the pools are cleaned in the morning, and then as the day goes on and more guests use the pools, they become less and less clean. And that's pretty, normal, but the concern for me was that they were no midday cleaning to combat it.

It sounds worse than it probably is, but I will say...go in the morning or early in the day if you can. The pool can get busy and as the drinks flow, people start to care less about leaving their stuff in/around the pool.

The beach was okay. The area associated with the hotel was a bit small, but it was okay.

Final Thoughts

Would I return? Yes.

It wouldn't necessarily be my first choice, but if someone planned a trip and this was the resort, especially for a budget trip, I would probably go on the trip.

I think it's not a decent option if you're traveling on a budget or with a group. I probably wouldn't go here on a romantic trip, but a group trip or a girl's trip is perfect Riu Reggae!