Rating:
"Hi I went to this hotel From March 22 to March 29 2012.While I was there got what looked like a blister in my left toe and it busted.A few days after I arrived home my middle toe started to get very itchy and painful, so at first I thought I had a mosquito bite on my toe. In a few more days it started to spread to my other toes so I went into an ER hospital at first they thought it was an infection so they prescribed me some antibiotics. I took those for a few days and it just continued spreading more so went back to different ER and they sent me to an Infectious Disease Clinic Doctor.The Doctor that I saw there diagnosed it as Cutaneous Larva Migrans (creeping eruptions) which means I got a hookworm in my toe and it spread. The reason I am sending this is to let people know to be very careful when you walk on the beach because this is a rare thing but it does happen just like it did to me.
This hotel should not be rated as a 4 star like it says it should 3 or less.There is a lack of chairs on the beach and the ones they have are all with cracks on them. We had to wake up early to get chairs and even when we did people actually would take our chairs and towels from us when you put our towels on them.The food was not very good,too many salads and not too much meats or poultry to pick from.The a la cart restaurants were a joke, the amount of food they served were very small portions.I will never go back to this hotel ever again and I will tell my friends not to go there too. The room we had was horrible we had asked for a king size bed and got 2 queen size beds instead. When we went downstairs to the reception to change rooms they told us that we had to wait until next day and had to checkout by 11 am and then leave luggage and come back after 3 pm to get new room,so we ended up staying in the same room with a horrible view,"
Reviewer: reviewer9197
Date: Apr. 20, 2012

Rating:
"The hotel rooms are old and dated. It is a 3Star hotel not a 4star as advertised. The rooms are not equipped with any fridge, there is a kettle which does not work, as does the iron and hair blower.The tiles are cracked, taps very old and leaky. The food is decent. The beach have a few palm trees and there is not enough shade for the guests staying there. People get up 6am to secure a spot on the beach which is "ridiculous" at best. There is a serious need for some more chairs and gazebos on the beach. there was only fish served as far as seafood was concerned. However, Jamaican style food was served regularly The staff have serious attitude problems, especially the females in charge. The property is located in a "sweet" place, however, the panhandling is outrageous as the harrassment from vendors and people outside the gate at the hotel. This hotel needs to be rated a "3+ star" and the people will have a clear understanding what to expect. The view on the ocean front "great" only on the higher floors, 9+ floors."
Reviewer: reviewer1393
Date: Feb. 20, 2012

Rating:
"My husband & I went here on a last minute vacation April 2011. This is our second time staying at this resort in a 12 month period. We booked just 2 weeks prior & got a good rate around $1250/pp. I think this is a great price for the resort, as we had an amazing time. What did we like? -DRINKS! one drink & i had wobbly legs. the Red Stripe & Appleton rum they serve just knocks you right out. The rum drinks are a glass of ice & rum, with a splash of juice or coke. I've never had such tasty & strong drinks at an all-inclusive before (and I've been to 4 or 5 now). -SERVICE: the staff & people of Jamaica are super friendly! we had a great time getting to know a few staff members. It made the resort feel like home to walk into a room & someone recognizes you & calls your name. Because of our honeymoon, we got a top of the tower, ocean view room that is much larger than the regular rooms. I know I certainly didn't pay for this, as we had booked the cheapest option available (we should have been on the ground floor looking into the parking lot!) Also for our honeymoon, we got a private steak & shrimp dinner in an outdoor gazebo near the ocean. We had our own waitstaff & were served a 4 course meal! Just for being on our honeymoon :D -CLEANLINESS: the housekeeping staff really work hard, because our room & what we saw of the resort was always kept very clean. Even cleaner than what I've seen in some so-called luxury hotels in North America. -FOOD! :) yum! this resort is part of a Jamaican chain, so I think this must be why they serve so much delicious Jamaican food! We loved all the Jerk, curries, fish, veggies & of course, mangoes! We lucked out by arriving in mango season, so there were platters of fresh mango for breakfast every day. The buffet also served a wide variety of options at all times, so we never got bored of our meals. What didn't we like? -OUT DATED: hate to say it, but the hotel is old, although clean. So if you are someone who likes your marble-floored, sparkling Spanish-style resorts that you may be used to in a Riu or Bahia, than this isn't the place for you. -DISTANCE FROM AIRPORT: this cannot be helped by any resort in Ocho, but it sucks to arrive after flying for 4 hours & than have to take a 2 hour bus ride to your resort. Oh well... All together, we LOVED this resort & we LOVE Jamaica!"
Reviewer: reviewer2628
Date: May. 10, 2011

Rating:
"Our vacation was absolutely wonderful. The hotel pools and grounds were beautiful, food was awesome and the service was great. The rooms definitely need to be updated but everyone was great!! Thanks to Escapes as well for all of their help with everything!
"
Reviewer: reviewer7964
Date: Apr. 15, 2011

Rating:
"Reception was good, staff very pleasant. Welcome drink (fruit punch) was given upon arrival. My husband went over to the bar prior to checking in, explained this and was cheerfully given a beer as requested. All encounters with staff, reception and others, was always cheerful and professional.
Room assigned was located in the South Tower on the 15th floor.
There was an amazing view- a huge patio door (entire wall) which looked out onto the town of Ocho Rios and a partial view of the beach and the ocean. The room was very clean and bathroom newly tiled and was a good size.
Furnishings were just OK - King Size bed which was firm and to our liking.
The linens were just adequate but always clean each day along with sufficient clean towels on a daily basis. On second day, around 4PM, we had to call for towels and were supplied same within 10 minutes.
Common areas/grounds were always clean and enjoyable. We did not use the pool but it always looked clean and well maintained. We found the resort AREA small by comparison to other resorts in other countries, such as Myan, Dominican etc. The main floor in the south tower around the elevators did smell very mouldy. Elevators were adequate.
Bar service was good- but sometimes the line ups were a little long. Often there were no line ups. Liquor/beer was always readily available.
Food: We only used the buffet - our choice. The buffet was good - breakfast, lunch, dinner - all acceptable. The meat choices were limited. We were served only one each meal. It was different most days. Chicken prevailed. There were other dishes mixed with meat available . Pasta was served at every meal. Subs available at every lunch and always burgers and fries at the beach (all day) locations. Breakfast was our favourite- lots of choice there. Desserts - looked like a lot of choice but everything tasted the same. Not much variety in fruit- always watermelon, melons, pineapple, each day, sometimes bananas or other. Toward the end we found the food a bit repetitious but always good. Wine and coffee were served with meals but the service was slow. You could go to the bar for wine and there was always self serve coffee available. Drinking water was always available.
Entertainment: We did not attend too much. It didn't seem like too much going on - preferred to just walk around the grounds during the evenings. There were two beach parties during the week we were there. Dinner service and entertainment took place on the North Beach. Same menu with the addition of sausage and suckling pig.
Beach: Small private beach, well looked after with good security. White sand, calm waters, shallow and on most days, merky water because of all the activity. I was stung by jelly fish and others complained of the same. I treated it with vinegar from the beach bar and was OK almost immediately. It is a small bay- cruise ships docked at Ocho Rios on two of seven days we were there. View of the ocean beyond the bay is blocked but we found the ships interesting. They arrived in the early AM and were always gone by late afternoon.
Chairs were in very bad condition- many with cracks to pinch/cut your skin - could be painful as I found out. The beach is linked to the public beach which was good for a walk. A few vendors walked the resort beach on a continual basis but they kept to the waters edge. You were not bothered personally. Just had to say you weren't interested.
Beach towels were not always available - if you had one you were inclined to hang on to it as long as possible. There were difficulties just getting the first one. Trade ins were hard to get.
Ocho Rios: 5 minute walk from the hotel - very interesting. Safe, but common sense required.
Tours: Lots offered but we did not go on any. All the people we spoke with were happy with the tours they went on.
We did enjoy our stay at this resort - thought it was OK value for the money. We booked last minute so the cost was discounted. We would not return to this hotel or recommend it to friends based on the mould smell (heard several complaints it was in the rooms), lack of beach towels, small beach with bad chairs and the possibility of getting an unrenovated room with a bad view and bad beds. Not all rooms are equal at this resort nor is the maid service. We were fortunate."
Reviewer: reviewer4501
Date: Mar. 15, 2011

Rating:
"Nous avons bien aimé notre expérience à cet hôtel: le site est enchanteur, tout est propre, la nourriture était bonne. Par contre, nous avons moins apprécié le personnel de l'hôtel: pas tous les employés, bien sur, mais la plupart des employés ne souriaient pas et avaient l'air plutôt de se foutre de la clientèle. Aussi, les "locaux" sont très harcelants et insistants auprès de la clientèle. Mais bon, le soleil et le site nous aurons vite fait passer à autre chose.

Belle expérience, mais je doute que je retournerais en Jamaïque."
Reviewer: Clooo
Date: Sep. 21, 2010

Rating:
"This was our first time to Jamaica, staff very nice, hotel staff very helpful we had only 2 hangers in the closet , 1 trip to the main desk to ask for some and within minutes we were looked after. Room was clean,oceanview nothing fancy but served us well. Food was good, maybe not as good as the mayan R but we were satisfied. What we really liked about this hotel was it was so close to town, walking distance . Went to the market several times, talked with the locals, found that they can be a bit pushy trying to make a sale but found that a firm NO Thanks Mon ! they would leave us alone. Did the Zip lining 9 traverses lots of fun, did not make it to the waterfalls tho, maybe next time. Water at resort did have fair amount of grassy patches , but clear areas as well. Also they had plastic floating rings which you could sit on which were nice to use. The paddle boats were waiting for parts, so we went kayaking instead, and sailing !! Plus you can snorkle right there, saw octopus and other cool fish.There is the odd umbrella on the beach , but for the most part there was no shade, but your there for the sun right??
If your a play in the waves person, this is not for you as it is in a cove , plus the cruise ships come in and block alot of any waves that you could get.
We recommend , take a chance!!

Hrdlicka's
Camrose, AB"
Reviewer: reviewer2325
Date: Mar. 19, 2010

Rating:
"hotel is nice and clean, staff always very friendly and smiling, no waits at bars, a la carte restaurants fine dining. Can walk right from hotel into town. Beach a little small but clean, could always find a chair at beach. Dunns river falls a must dont forget your water shoes for climbing."
Reviewer: reviewer1400
Date: Mar. 11, 2010