Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton: Nice All Inclusive Resort for the Family

We spent the second part of our Christmas vacation at The Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort and had a great time. The weather was great, the food was phenomenal, and the drinks were abundant! Make sure to book your dinners early for the specialty restaurants ie: Italian, Asian, Indian, Steakhouse, Jamaican, and Mexican. We had a reservation at 6:00pm most evenings and found it to be the best option. After that time period, you will be sure to have to wait for your table. The reservations fill [... read more] up fast and it's on a first come first serve basis. The buffets were great for breakfast and lunch and don't forget the Sports Bar for snacks, pizza and hotdogs for the kiddies. We spent a fair amount of time in the air conditioned game room. Pool, Fooze Ball, and Ping Pong kept us busy before the evening shows. One can easily tell that this place was once a "Grand" place to vacation in its' heyday. There are updates to be had, however it is still a nice place to stay. For the most part the staff was accomodating. The rooms are decent and the maids always kept our room nice and tidy. The only problem we encountered was that the door/cardlock system was dysfunctional on several occasions. We had to go back to reception and have our keycard reprogrammed or have security attend. Not so nice when you've had drinks and just want to retire to bed! Great Pool, nice beach area with snorkeling equipment, kayaks, windsurf boards and paddle boards available. Most days all of the snorkeling equipment was being used so if you want to snorkel every day bring your own gear!

Bahia Principe Explore Jamaica: Nice Resort

The Hotel itself is very nice, we booked an oceanview room and could see a bit of the ocean but the view was obstructed by large palm trees. The beach was a little small for those who like to walk along the beach. My partner slipped on the stairs one morning and spent two days in a wheelchair due to a sprained ankle, no one in the hotel even called to see how she was doing. Check in was very slow to wait in the line to book dinner reservations. We signed up to go to the 'time share' talk as we w [... read more]anted to get points for the salesgirls who work so hard but were told it would be 90 minutes, however, it was 3 hrs as they take you to breakfast which was annoying because it was in the regular buffet restaurant and we could have gone to the presentation after breakfast and we would have been done in 90 minutes. The pool is beautiful, very big and spreadout, however, if you do not get up before 8 to place a towel on your beachchair you will be out of luck. This is the most annoying part of these resorts, people hog the chairs by the pool and the beach and then never show up so the chair sits empty most of the day. There should be a better way to enforce the none reserving of chairs. The food was ok, nothing special for new years, the lobster was overcooked and tasteless, we didn't even finish our lobster tail, it was mushy. We were in one of the smaller restaurants, however, we heard the large buffett room had a nicer spread and there was some entertainment during dinner. One of the nicest looking resorts we have been to but the service and food were the same as many others. However, it was Jamaica and you have allow for Jamaican time I guess. Overall a good vacation.

Rooms On The Beach: Terrible

Very bad and poorly managed hotel. Would never go back and was very happy to leave this so called resort. Food and service were terrible. Reception staff miserable and unwelcoming . No hot water. Toilets did not flush. Lounges old and in need of replacement. My wife had some work out clothing stolen from our room. Overall just a bad experience and I don't recommend this place to anyone.

Club Ambiance: Budget Vacation -- Keep in mind this is a 3 star

The brochure is very misleading.... no a-la-carte, 1 bar (others have been close for years), food OK but every meal has only Chicken and fish often no cutlery, or plates..... need to wait up to 10 minutes or more. Bar runs out of stuff often...... including Jamaican Rum. Beach OK, but small. Has Nude section, Optional Section and Prude Section. Forget about WiFi..... need to actually stand at the reception desk to access it and speed is almost dialup quality!! If you keep you expectations in c [... read more]heck (3 star) this place is OK.

Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton: Great resort!

Overall, our experience here was really nice. Since a little out of Montego Bay, no one bothering to buy stuff on the beach - we loved that! The staff were pretty nice and helpful. The resort is beautiful! Surprisingly, the buffet is better than most of the A la Carte's - the Indian and Mexican restaurants were awesome! (Except... Mexican restaurant needs new chairs...not comfortable). Very disappointed in the Jamaican restaurant - that should of been the best one. The room was very nice and s [... read more]uper clean. I would have liked to have seen a recycling bin for the water bottles. They had a couple recycling bins around the resort. If you really like the turn-down service at night, it needed to be more consistent. Gym was very good. Just needs to be a tad colder and would be helpful if they had hand towels. We never had any trouble getting beach towels (awesome!!!) and beach chairs (awesome!!!). The umbrellas/shade, of course, were a little harder to get at the nicest beach. The Infinity bar with the nightly band was GREAT! Some of the bands were really really good and fun to listen/dance to. We preferred that over the "nightly" show.

Secrets St James: Minimal attention to detail and poor service

As regular visitors to Mexico, this was our first trip to Jamaica. Note that we’ve been to many 5 star resorts, including Paradisus and El Dorado Royale. For those that 1) are just happy to be down South, or 2) haven't been to too many 5 star all inclusives, then you will enjoy your experience at St. James. We, on the other hand, paid attention to the details and made comparisons to other hotels. Needless to say, we do not plan to visit Jamaica again after comparing the value we received to t [... read more]he amount we paid vs. other destinations/resorts. Service (2/5): This was our biggest let down, starting from check-in (at the preferred section) to the lack of ability of staff to deal with additional requests. If I had to estimate, 75% of staff members did not seem happy to be working or willing to go above and beyond. As an example, our sushi came to us old (the rice had hardened). A manager came to us to see how things were going, and we mentioned our concern with the food. The waiter or manager did not come back to our table for 30 minutes, and we were just left sitting there even though we were told that someone would return… We were just hoping to order another dish – but with no service, we ended up leaving. When we requested a change in sides for our romantic dinner on the beach, the concierge kept rolling her eyes. My husband is celiac, and one of the side dishes was described (online) to be dusted in flour. The staff acted as if we were spoiled for requesting a modification to the order. When going to our second tennis lesson, there was a different gentleman sitting at the courts. We weren’t sure if he was a guest waiting to meet someone to play, or if he was the instructor. Overall, it appeared that he wanted to sit for two hours without doing anything. We ended up asking him if he wanted to play - after which he introduced himself as the instructor. He was a very nice man, but he did not come prepared to the lesson to actually teach/do drills. Our list of examples of below average staff behaviour goes on throughout our two week stay. Training is needed by the resort so that the staff have proper responses to questions or concerns that may arise throughout their guest’s stay. Facility (5/5): Overall, the resort is visually appealing. The SPA’s water therapy session was fantastic. The grounds and pools were clean. Note that Wild Orchid is closer to all restaurants and nightly entertainment, while St. James is towards the SPA/tennis courts (approximately 5 minute walk to the main nightly entertainment area). Room (4/5): The room was standard for a five star, excluding the fact that the robes were ripped, scales were broken (we made 6 requests to have our scale replaced so we could weigh our luggage), and functionality issues with 3 irons/steamers. These examples are minor – but this resort definitely lacked attention to detail. For those staying with friends or family members – note that there is minimal privacy between the bedroom and bathroom area. Food (3/5): There is a lot of food to eat, but our experiences were either a hit or a miss. Food was likely to come out cool, and not always fresh, and our experiences were quite inconsistent. Returning food to be warmed up was just a waste of time - it would never come back hot. If you would like a good piece of steak, go to the French restaurant (Bordeaux). Bar (3/5): There was a lack of consistency in how the drinks were made at the bars. The plastic glasses were not washed properly (and visibly dirty - occasionally with brown film). Beach (4/5): For us, the beach was great. For those that want to walk for miles, note that this beach is restricted to the hotel grounds only. Entertainment (3/5): The nightly entertainment was good, but the daytime activities need a revamping! Activities like "napkin folding" and "tie dye" sessions do not attract many participants. Preferred Service Section (3/5): Note that all rooms face the ocean. We enjoyed our tub on the balcony, heated pool in our section, and breakfast area (for a quick, simple time saving meal). There is no benefit to the private check-in. Overall, I am unsure if it was financially worth upgrading. Crowd: This hotel has a mix of everyone - all ages can make new friends if they are willing to engage others. Overall – we had a nice holiday, but we were surprised by the lack of attention to details and quality of service and food. We will not be returning to St. James or another Secrets resort.

Couples Negril: Amazing resort!!!

What a beautiful place!! The beach was amazing and the staff were so friendly!!! Food was incredible and so where the drinks! The hotel had everything and there was all kinds of activities to do day and night!!! Will definetly go back there!!!

Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach: Wet but Stress Free!

Just back from a week at Rose Hall Beach. The resort was great. The staff were always friendly and accommodating. Our room was simple but had everything you needed. We had a great view of the ocean and pool area. The only down side to the room was that you did not have any view while seated on your balcony due to the solid rail. The restaurants were good. Our favourite was the Cajun. The coconut shrimp appetizers were awesome. The pool bar was always a happening place (watch out for the wasps -  [... read more]my two friends both got stung). You had to go early to get chairs. We went to the beach one day. Mainly because we had rain five of the 7 days :(. The beach isn't what I was expecting as it wasn't as broad and they worked on gathering the seaweed daily. The lobby bar was a hoot! Gregory, Andy and Kevin were the best! Overall I think the resort was great. Wish I could return when the sun is shining! I would recommend it!!

Couples Sans Souci: Amazing resort and staff as always!

This was our 7th returning trip to the Couples Resorts, the last 3 being to Couples Sans Souci. Previous trips were to Couples Tower Isle ( honeymooned there 38 years ago, it had just opened!) This last vacay was this past December 2014, and have to give the resort, and staff a HUGE shout out!! Our first two days had some sun and cloud, and then 5 days STRAIGHT, monsoon rains, no breaks, constant umbrellas, wet feet, flooded grounds, cancelled outside events.......and never once did the staff st [... read more]op smiling, and helping and trying to overcome the issues. At one point if was absolutely pouring, there were a few brave souls at the swimup bar, and the staff were all huddled under towels, singing........it was hilarious! Food was awesome as always, they pulled off so many cancelled outdoor events, that had to be moved indoors..... staff constantly 'shovelling' rain puddles, downed leaves, running towells, dealing with the usual complainers, setting up and taking down outdoor event structures, running room service to everyone.......and always with a smile and positive comment. We always stay in A Block, 2nd floor - close to pool, beach, always quiet. Shout out to Sandy and her outstanding housekeeping team! Always top notch and decadent! Must mention the wonderful Spa - nothing better than a massage, listening to the rain coming down, waves crashing in, all outdoor massage rooms, a wonderful spa experience. Excellent massages - a must! We will continue to come back to Couples Sans Souci, always looking forward to their wonderful service, love the laid back, peaceful, relaxing atmosphere , fabulous food, and always professional, attentive and caring staff. From the moment you arrive, they truly make you feel so welcome and at home . The grounds are always beautiful, uncrowded, so many incredible places to walk, be quiet, look at old world charm, amazing trees , flowers and history........and yet the fun is there if you want it. Perfection in every aspect of a vacay! Thankyou Couples Sans Souci for another wonderful week and we look forward to our next visit!

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Absolutely Amazing - The Best Holiday Ever!!

My husband and I have been going on cruises for years but after our experience at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall we will probably never cruise again. The hotel was magnificent, the staff were superb - highly professional yet very friendly and more than willing to take care of all of our needs. The food was five star in terms of quality, quantity and variety and our room was very large and very well appointed. The swimming pools were large enough to do laps and the poolside lounges were so comfort [... read more]able. The fitness studio was well equipped and the spinning classes were excellent. I can't say enough about how fantastic this hotel is...We are already planning to return next year.

Club Ambiance: A relaxing time can be found here.....

Nice place in the middle of Runaway bay, it's not the big 5 star hotel, but you do get what you pay for. The hotel staff are extremely pleasant and will do just about anything to make your stay enjoyable. I was by myself and spent many hours simply laying around or finding myself a spot to be "alone" with my thoughts and the staff (including security) often came up and asked, if I was OK and if I needed anything. with a smile I simply answered "Going great" and they went away. The hotel is very [... read more] clean, I had a Honeymoon suite (room H08) to myself, great Ocean View, very quiet, nice deck, simply one of the best rooms in the resort. The beach is in 3 sections, the Prude, the Clothing Optional and the Nude section, all 3 beaches are separated by a simple sidewalk to and ocean lookout. The biggest beach (yet still not big) is the clothing optional beach, this is where beach sport activities took place. The biggest problem with all 3 beaches is that they are protected by the ocean by a manmade seawall and the water is a little stagnant, an exit through the seawall does exist but the ocean on the other side is not appropriate for easy swimming. So if you want to spend time playing in the waves, body surfing, long walks in the sand then this is not the place for you. The food is not bad, you have to be patient in the AM to get your eggs for breakfast as only a 2 burner stove is used to make omelettes, eggs and the sort. The buffet style is pretty small but offers enough to make you full. Every day some type of Chicken was available and also some type of fish, also included where pastas, veggies, soups, salads, fruits, and yummy deserts. After 7 days I was pretty tired of the same stuff being repeated!! No "a la Carte" is offered, the afternoon snack bar is hamburgers, sausages, sandwiches and very very very slow service. Each night at 11:00pm the hotel took out a "snack" that was usually very tasty, but by 11:20 it was usually all gone. Fantasia disco is like going back to the 70's, but, if you want to dance and enjoy others then it is what it is. You can even use the Pole to show off you pole dancing skills. It opens at 10:30 and heck, I do not know what time it closed. Area, well Jamaica is Jamaica and like all other countries you should use common sense. I took several long walks in the city in the daytime and had no problems at all, sure the offer for Ganga is here and there, but nobody bugs you about it and lets you be. a small public beach was found about 20 minute walk to the left of the resort, not bad, but again, not great (make it what you want).

Jewel Paradise Cove: Very Good Resort

This resort is a very nice resort. The staff are amazing!!! The food is fabulous! Great jerk chicken or stone-oven pizzas for lunch!!! The only downfall to this resort is the beach. If you like to walk the beach then this resort is not for you.

Sandals Royal Plantation: Absolutely Amazing!!

Top notch service, very personal. Small but that's what attracted us to it. The food was fabulous. The butlers went out of their way to make this a special trip as it was our 25th wedding anniversary. The beach was beautiful - clear Aqua water and the beach butlers never left your glass empty so to speak. The pool was small but the right size for the resort. Nothing was over crowded and we were there at full capacity. We will definitely be back! Probably the nicest vacation we've had.

Fun Holiday Beach Resort: Needs inprovement

food needs improving ..two much macaroni served ..people are great & very helpful, beautiful beach, excellent security & I felt very safe there..rooms needs more hangers & doors on closet, no hot water at times ,meals never on time, handle helpful getting out of the bath tub . would go back if there was improvement.weather was great

Grand Decameron Montego Beach: Great place to stay

This was a great small resort, beautiful ocean view and the beach just steps away. BUFFET: food was good, mostly chicken and pork, but daily variety so we never got tired of it. Ala carte: food was fine but nothing special so we only ate there once. Rooms: we're very comfortable and clean and spacious. Beach: there is a calm little beach just steps away from the bar and restaurant. The hotel just purchased the beach next door and moved all the beach activities and water sports there. They had a  [... read more]fun beach party which was packed with fun and good food , had a great time. We met many people who have been returning to this hotel for years and we can see why, it's very comfortable, they make you feel at home. We will definitely be back!

Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach: Breathtaking Family Christmas Vacation

Our christmas was amazing at the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach resort in Jamaica. Our room was overlooking the pool and a great location. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Food amazing (especially the christmas eve gala!), BBQ lunch on the beach, etc. Would highly recommend!!!

Hedonism II: Warm welcoming environment;)

My boyfriend and I travelled to this resort in December of 2014. We did a lot of research before deciding on this resort as we are not lifestylers, and we were concerned that Hedo would be a overly-swingery environment. We were pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome environment:). Not creepy or swingery, but completely open minded and full of couples in love:) We loved the HarrySan and pasta restaurants, especially since the service was so customized and personable. Cyrene was an absolute del [... read more]ight, as well as Chris, the chef in the Japanese resto. The resort in general needs a lot of upgrades. The nude pool is a fun time, but fairly shabby. There is a beautiful pool off the main dining terrace, but no one uses IT as there is no swim up bar... And the location is weird. Our room was tidy, clean and comfy enough. The bathroom was not up to standards, the tub did not drain, and the water temp was inconsistent. The bathroom door opens into the tiny bathroom and doesnt allow a normal exit from the awkward shower. We had to climb over the toilet to exit the shower. The rooms did have sexy mirrors on the ceiling, which we loved! And there is iPod deck that played out tunes. It was great. Snorkelling was outstanding, and Kirk at the watersports desk was laid back and helpful. However, the website impliea free scuba, which is absolutely NOT the case. 350$ for scuba. We really loved the laid back open minded environment. We are super happy we went to Hedo during a slow week, as it can hey pretty crazy when a group takes over... And it would definitely not be for the faint of heart. As expected with nude resorts, it was mostly people 40+. And a lot of people 60+. It was glorious to see the older happy couples in love, smooching, holding hands and enjoying each other's company. :)

Sandals Negril: Not at all what I expected

Not as grand as the pictures it's getting old food was terrible they have the staff entertaining you at night I would never do a sandals again not worth the money The only good thing I can say is that the staff was nice

Riu Negril: Don't be fooled by brand name RIU

When we booked this resort, we did not ask a lot of questions because we were picking a brand - RIU. We had stayed at RIU many times before and I would normally rate RIU as the best. This was our expectation and we got totally disappointed. The beach was practically unusable and dirty - even the sand in the water at times looked too soft and my foot would sink in like quick sand. The water filteration of the only pool with the bar was not able to keep the water clear. So I felt disgusted to use  [... read more]that pool. We had to walk for 20 minutes to RIU Palace to use their beach, and of course the down side was that we were not entitled to order alcohol or food, even when I offered to pay for it(on an all inclusive vacation) the bar tender refused. In terms of rooms, they were small. We got their best beach front room and they could not put two queen beds in it so that a family of 4 (with two young kids, 6 and 9) could sleep comfortably. In terms of food, they had also cut corners pretty badly and they would only book one specialty restaurant at a time, which also required us to get up at 7:30 am and line up each day we needed to make the booking! Overall, this particular RIU (RIU Negril) missed the target and the expectation that people have from RIU by a significant margin in many fronts. Overall, this RIU is more like a 2 - 3 stars at best. It is being shut down for renovations in 2015, so I would completely avoid it.

Couples Tower Isle: Amazing resort with amazing people

Boutique resort that goes out of its way to make you feel like home. Staff are friendly, food is amazing and overall experience was great. Rooms were nice with a wonderful view. Tried the spa and highly recommended it.