Jamaica – Welcome Home

Going to Jamaica in the middle of winter is pure bliss. Even though I visited in December for a work trip, I decided to come back to this beautiful Caribbean island in February for a girls/work trip. We stayed at the beautiful Jewel Grande in Montego Bay. This resort is perfect for friends, families or couples. What sets this resort apart is the large 2 and 3 bedroom suites and villas that come with a butler. Absolutely perfect for a family but worked great for our friends trip. We had a full kitchen, dining table, living area and 2 1/2 baths in our 2 bedroom ocean view. Four years ago when I was here, we were ocean front and I would choose that over our slice of ocean view we stayed in this time. The resort is not a large resort with only 217 rooms. It has a buffet, 5 a la carte restaurants and 2 grills for pool/beach food. But you don’t have to leave your beach/pool chairs to get anything as there is beach/pool concierge service to take your orders. The beach is beautiful and the water is calm so it’s a perfect choice for children. There is a Kids Club at this resort as well. There are so many great attributes to this resort – close to Montego Bay airport, good food, amazing staff (ask for Aston as your butler!), gorgeous beach with Hobie Cats and Kayaks and beautiful pools including a swim up bar. They also have day and night entertainment, and no trip would be complete without visiting their spa. If I had to describe how I feel at this resort, it’s relaxed. Perfect place to get away from every day life.

While visiting Jamaica this time, I traveled over an hour and a half away to Ocho Rios to visit 5 all-inclusive resorts: Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ochi, Moon Palace Jamaica, Couples Tower Isle and Couples Sans Souci. I was impressed with all of them.

Sandals Royal Plantation is for those adult travelers who want the quiet vacation. They have 74 rooms all facing the water, with most of the rooms having a French balcony. You can open your windows and let the sea air in – but with French balconies, you can not step out or sit on the balcony. Every room comes with a butler. This resort has a British flair which is apparent, especially with the serving of afternoon tea. While on resort, I spoke to a returning guest who has been there 5 times and already has plans to come back next year. I asked him what brings him back time and again and he said the service. While there are no beach activities during the day, they do have non-motorized water sports, and they do have nightly entertainment. This Sandals also has exchange privileges with Sandals Ochi which is next door and a shuttle will take the guests back and forth. While Sandals Royal Plantation can visit Sandals Ochi, Sandals Ochi guests can not visit Sandals Royal Plantation. So if the 4 restaurants and 2 bars aren’t enough for you at Royal Plantation, travel to Sandals Ochi and check out their 16 restaurant options and 11 bars.

Sandals Ochi, also adults-only, is a large, spread out resort in which they have shuttles to take you to different parts of the resort. To be quite honest, I expected to hate the resort as I like smaller not large resorts. However, it truly was beautiful. The villas are on a hillside and need a shuttle to the beach. One of my favorite rooms was the Romeo and Juliet room with a plunge pool in between your bedroom and the living area. There are 519 rooms with 19 room categories and the resort is spread out over 100 acres. They have 105 pools (yes 105!) and 22 whirlpools. The private plunge pools are included in that 105 number. Sandals Ochi is perfect for those travelers who want a livelier resort, yet there are still plenty of areas you can go for quiet relaxation. And for those looking for a destination wedding venue, their over the water chapel is absolutely beautiful and can hold up to 50 guests.

Moon Palace Jamaica was the only family-friendly all-inclusive resort I visited in Ocho Rios. This resort overlooks the cruise ships that pull into the port. Here you will find approximately 700 guest rooms, 5 restaurants, 6 bars, 4 pools and non-motorized water sports included. Teens will love the pool slide as well as the FlowRider Double Wave simulator. Also on site, for a fee, is the Dolphin cove. At this resort, there are places for adults-only, teens as well as a kids club. This kids club is open until 10 pm so if your child is potty trained, you can leave them there at night and enjoy an adults-night out. Coming with your family? Check out the Family Deluxe suites which are adjoining rooms – a king in one room and two doubles in the other. These rooms even come with kid size robes and slippers as well as sand toys and kid snacks…and an Xbox. Moon Palace also has the largest spa in Jamaica.

The last two resorts I toured were Couples Tower Isle and Couples Sans Souci. Both of these resorts offer clothing optional if you are interested. If you aren’t interested, no worries! Tower Isle you have to take a boat to their island which is clothing optional and Sans Souci has a clothing optional part of the beach but you wouldn’t know it as it isn’t out in the open. These resorts are for couples only. Tower Isle has 225 rooms, 4 restaurants, 2 pools and 3 bars including a swim-up bar. Sans Souci has 150 suites, 5 restaurants, 6 bars including 2 swim-up bars and 3 pools. Sans Souci just had a renovation of their rooms. Both Tower Isle and Sans Souci have the Caribbean vibe in the rooms. They offer scuba and water sports, as well as a trip to Dunn’s River and a glass bottom boat tour included. Sans Souci has bicycles you can take and ride around the property. Both of these resorts have stunning views of the Caribbean and are perfect for those couples who want a more intimate resort while still having entertainment such as nightly shows. They take pride in having return guests. Sans Souci has an area with painted rocks. Once a traveler returns to the resort, they can choose a rock and have it painted by an artist. Every year they come back, they find their rock and add another year on to the rock. I see a rock in my future.

Any time I come to Jamaica, I am amazed at their customer service. The Jamaicans make me feel that I am welcomed with open arms, always saying welcome home, and I am truly appreciative to be able to visit their gorgeous island.

Thank you to my girlfriends who accompanied me on this trip and are already planning their return visit to Jamaica.