Royalton Hideaway Negril

The excursion crew made it hard to relax. They were VERY pushy and overwhelming, more than I’ve experienced on trips to a few other Caribbean countries. I can respect the hustle, but the pressure was uncomfortable. There were some real bright spots at Royalton Negril: the views are beautiful, the casino and drinks were enjoyable, and the entertainment crew kept things fun, especially at night. The spa was excellent, and the jewelry store staff were friendly, helpful, and professional. The property and rooms felt dated for the luxury image, and the food was subpar. Restaurant reservations were already full, which was confusing in September off season. Right after check-in, we had just one dinner reservation option for one night of our five-day stay. The adults-only spaces, including the casino and bars, were small, and staff there were particularly unpleasant. There was just one pool, usually full of kids during the day, and the beach was smaller than expected. There are good points in the staff, entertainment, and scenery, but the rooms, food, adult areas, and crowd management need work.

By day three, I honestly can’t find fault with this late September mother-daughter vacation. It’s perfect and not crowded. The food tastes authentic, the drinks are superb, and there’s a white sandy beach or poolside lounging, with service and entertainment at both. Our days start with a private yoga class, then breakfast. After that we spend time by the pool or sea with champagne cocktails, and snack on the jerk platter served by the pool. The spa facilities are first class, and there are water sports and day trips too. Five stars for the service, cleanliness, and location. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our family group was all adults, and we had different views of the stay. We did agree the grounds and views were amazing 🤩. Some staff were welcoming and others less so, though friendly staff greeted us often. The stay wasn’t horrible, and if I had no other choice I’d consider returning. I’ve recommended it to others so they can decide for themselves. I complained about my room, but won’t go into the details and embarrass the resort. The food wasn’t very good, and getting reservations at the few open onsite restaurants was a headache. I’d suggest maintaining the pool cabanas better and improving the dining hall food. I’d give the resort three stars. It depends on your expectations, and there’s plenty of room for improvement.

The staff were the reason we came back for a second visit to Royalton Negril, and they were wonderful again. Thanks to the fitness team, especially Jovie, Garrison & Alpha, and the vibe team, Starfire, Astro, Tiny, Lucky, Trouble, DJ Smart, MJ & Prince. The old crew welcomed us and brought the energy. The bar staff checked in every day and worked so hard to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Neckola, Horace, Romaine, Arvil & Natasha are a few I want to mention. The rest of the holiday was disappointing. In our first week, the room door wouldn’t lock. It looked as if it had been tampered with, and it took two people nearly three hours to fix. That was a bad start. We were also repeatedly promoted paid extras like the spa, excursions, and premium alcohol, most of them overpriced. We came to an all-inclusive resort and hadn’t budgeted for these, but the same people asked us several times a day. It got tiresome. We wanted a relaxing break, not to be hassled into spending on things we didn’t want. I expected to give the resort the same five-star rating as last time, but the quality and standards have dropped. I can’t rate it above three, and even that may be generous. The staff were the main reason we rebooked, but they couldn’t make up for the overall negative experience. I won’t consider a third visit unless things improve.