Jamaica Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel Amenities / Jamaica Hotels / Flickr / → All Tags
Jamaica and a Stocked Hotel Liquor Cabinet? Yes, Please
It's Friday! In other words, we’ve been ready for the weekend for about four days now. And hell if we couldn’t go for a laidback jaunt to Jamaica right about now, especially if this delightful amenity was to greet us in our hotel room — which it would, if we were to stay at Riu Ocho Rios Hotel.
As the date stamp concedes, this photo isn’t exactly new, but it still stopped us in our tracks while browsing the ol’ HotelChatter Flickr pool.
Says Flickr user His Naima:
The bottles are full when you arrive (the liquor is free), and the refrigerator is stocked with mixers of water, soda, tonic, juice, etc. (also free). This is a cool amenity, since all the bars on the property close at 10pm!
Brilliant.
[Photo: His Naima]
Tags: Hotel Deals / Hotel Packages / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Jamaica Hotels / → All Tags
Score a Free Fifth Night at Ritz-Carlton Jamaica
Current temperature in Montego Bay, Jamaica: 85 degrees. Current temperature on the East Coast of the US: Not nearly warm enough.
Jamaica sounds nice and, hey, you never did take that Spring Break, did you? And you got a nice little tax return, didn't you? There's a pretty good deal happening down at the Ritz-Carlton Jamaica: booking four nights with the Escape to Luxury Package scores you a totally free fifth night, and all-inclusive rates per night start at $409. And included in this package, in addition to being able to spend a work week in the land of the beautiful sunshine, is the following:
· Overnight accommodations in a garden view guest room
· Daily breakfast at Horizon restaurant or continental breakfast from in-room dining
· Lunch at Mangos restaurant or the Reggae Jerk Center
· Dinner at Horizon or Mangos restaurants
· Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
· All taxes and gratuities
· Service charge, which includes amenities such as access to the Spa, Fitness Center, high-speed internet access in all guest rooms and wireless connection in public areas, sailing and windsurfing lessons and use of non-motorized water sports equipment
Yeah, it's like an all-inclusive sorta thang.
Tags: Cubicle Dreamin' / Jamaica Hotels / James Bond Hotels / Ian Fleming / → All Tags
Bonding, James Bonding, with The Goldeneye Resort
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven KatieK seeks Ian Fleming's ultimate writing hideout...in her mind. Enjoy.
Even if you’re not particularly into James Bond movies or books, chances are still fairly high that you’d willingly be whisked away to one of his exotic locales and play the part of the dashing womanizer or beguiling seductress, whichever the case may be.
At least if you’re anything like me. That’s why for this daytime romp through fantasyland, I’m headed straight to the source — Goldeneye Resort in Oracabessa, Jamaica, in the gorgeous villa where Bond creator Ian Fleming wrote 17 (!) of his iconic books. Though the resort has other plush options as well, I’ll opt to stay at the Fleming-designed three-bedroom house, which hugs a cliff lofted above the beach and still includes his writing desk.
Tags: Hotel Hype / Jamaica Hotels / Spring Break Hotels / Leading Hotels of the World / → All Tags
Jamaica's Solís The Palmyra Will Open in March
Where: Montego Bay , Jamaica
For Spring Breakers and exhausted 9 to 5-ers looking for a chill beach vacay this coming winter, 16 acres of Caribbean waterfront will sound pretty darn good. And the humungous Solis The Palmyra in Jamaica, poised to open in March, looks like it might be able to deliver.
Perched on the shores of Montego Bay, the hotel has three towers, courtyards, and ocean views out of every room; a ballroom, event lawn, and gazebo for weddings; two pools, beachside cabanas, and tons of adventure gear for the using. There's also a 30,000 square foot spa, designed by award-winning spa designer Susan Harmsworth.
Guests will get preferential treatment at the nearby award-winning golf courses. And be sure to wear your bathing suit under your clothes on your flight into Montego Bay: the hotel is only 15 minutes from the airport.
Tags: Hurricane Hotels / Hotel News / Jamaica Hotels / → All Tags
Hurricane Gustav Has Half Moon Resort Preparing for Cancellations
UPDATE: According to Marriott's Twitter feed, their NOLA hotels are not taking reservations through Sept. 2 but current rezzies will be honored unless there's an evacuation notice.
Hurricane Gustav is whipping through the Caribbean right now and while no one knows just yet what it's impact will be when it hits the US, hotels in its wake are getting their emergency management plans in order.
The Half Moon Resort in Jamaica has already announced its cancellation policy.
In preparation for the storm, Half Moon will waive all cancellation fees for reservations scheduled for August 28 to September 1, 2008. Guests will be able to reschedule their visit at the original rate booked up to December 15, 2008 and between May - October 2009.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Half Moon, dealing with hurricane drama is nothing new. Thus the hotel boasts about being well-prepared to deal with hurricanes.
Last year, guests staying the midst of Hurricane dean were relocated to conference facilities in the Half Moon Shopping Village which doubled as a shelter. Let's hope Gustav doesn't force guests into that position again.
[Photo: National Geographic]
Tags: Family Friendly Hotels / Jamaica Hotels / Hotel Packages / Hotel Deals / → All Tags
Lug the Rugrats to Jamaica's Half Moon Resort
As all kids know, there comes a time in every young life when it's unfathomably uncool to be seen with your parents...unless you and the units are down in Jamaica, and you're traveling for free, mon.
The Half Moon Resort has a new package, "Hangin' With the Rents," that lets your rugrat stay free, as long as he/she is under 18. There's also 50 percent off meal plans for kids aged 3 to 11.
This is a massive resort sitting on more than 400 acres, with endless stuff to do, either as a family or just for kids--from tennis courts and horse-back riding to close encounters of the third kind with dolphins at the Dolphin Lagoon.
There's free snorkeling, kayaking, and floatie things available, and tons of sailing lessons, parasailing, glass bottom boat tours, and scuba, if you want to pay extra.
Or just play along the beach, or in the three huge pools (the hotel actually has 51 pools but most are part of villas, suites or cottages...but still...)
Suites are as low as US$380; two- bedroom suites start at $1,060, and the imperial suites are $1,100.
[Photo: 1LB]
Tags: Warm Weather Hotels / Warm-Weather-Hotels-Map / Jamaica Hotels / → All Tags
Warm Weather Hotels: Small But Cosy at Coyaba Beach, Jamaica
If you're looking at a stay in Montego Bay in Jamaica, the Coyaba Beach Resort comes up tops according to TripAdvisor reviews, and there's a few reasons we like it too. First, it's pretty small--just 50 rooms--which means you can avoid that overcrowded, too-busy feel of many larger resorts. And despite the small size, guests report that Coyaba Beach isn't lacking anything:
All the facilities of a large resort without the crowds. If you want a rest - this is the place. Food was good in all the restaurants and the staff very friendly and helpful.
Each room has large French doors that lead out to your own balcony, overlooking either the gardens or the ocean. There are three restaurants and bars on site, some casual and some finer, and the resort usually holds Seafood Night and Native Night (Jamaican cuisine) on two nights during the week.
Winter season rates run until April 15, and range from US$320 per night for the Garden Deluxe room through to $420 for an Ocean Junior Suite. You can add various meal packages to that or get all inclusive for an extra $115 per person, which includes all meals, all bar drinks and some of the sports facilities too.
[Photo: jco1208]
Tags: Cubicle Dreamin' / Jamaica Hotels / Caribbean Hotels / → All Tags
Cubicle Dreamin': Wastin' Away in Jamaica
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven NatalieWW visits Jamaica...in her mind. Enjoy.
While half the country is in the icy grip of a pre-White Christmas winter storm, I am sitting in my windowless cubicle dreaming of Jamaica. Specifically, the Rockhouse Hotel on the western most tip of Negril.
Nestled along the rocky cliffs of a pristine cove, the Rockhouse Hotel is the kind of mythical tropical oasis that lulls sensible folks into leave everything behind for. If transported for only a weekend, I would get a cliff-edge massage, visit the award-winning restaurant in my bare feet, and listen to the surf crash while I scanned the horizon for dolphins.
From the thatched roof octagonal rock villa to the live reggae music playing on the patio, to what most people say are the best sunsets in Jamaica, this could be the perfect cure for the winter blues. And at rates from $95 to $395, the Rockhouse is a dream that could realistically become a reality.
[Photo: Papercuts]
Tags: Jamaica Hotels / Hotel Deals / → All Tags
Fall Specials Blowing Through Half Moon Bay
Jamaica has already been in the path of a hurricane this season, getting the island all over the news, which means hotel deals there are now coming out at a gale force pace to lure travelers back.
Half Moon Bay Resort is offering up special fall deals through October 31. This popular resort in Montego Bay offers a dolphin lagoon, golf course, equestrian center, tennis, and a variety of water sports over 400 beachfront acres.
The rates for two start at $149 a night for a standard, $179 for a deluxe, and $349 to $599 for the various one-bedroom suites. These include use of tennis courts and fitness center, managers cocktail party, kayaks, and more.
Children 3-12 sharing a room with two adults are free with a maximum of two children per room. The voucher code for Fall Break is HMFB07. To book call 1-800-626-0592 or visit www.halfmoon.com. (Note that it is still hurricane season throughout the length of this promotion, so you may want to get trip cancellation insurance.)
[Photo: Ituga]
Tags: Good Rate / Hotels Deals / Jamaica Hotels / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / → All Tags
Good Rate :: $199 to $249 at a Jamaican Ritz-Carlton
[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same destination and decide which one most deserves your hard-earned benjamins. Rates quotes here were captured August 7, 2007 and are subject to change. Enjoy.]
It always gets our attention when we see a Ritz-Carlton resort offering rooms at a bargain price and this Jamaica deal is worth getting excited about.
Stay between now and November 20 and get a room at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall for $199 to $249 a night. The lowest $199 rate is for a "garden view" room, so you'll have to take it up a notch to $249 to see the water. (Or just hang out at the water all day instead.)
You can expect the full Ritz rundown in the large 44.5 square meters/480 square feet rooms: CD player. marble bathroom with separate tub and shower, twin-sink vanity, and nice bathrobes.
We were able to plug in all kinds of dates and get this deal, both on Expedia and the hotel's own site, but there are blackouts on Aug. 9, 10, Oct. 23-28, and Nov. 4-9.
And if you have a new passport, you get another bonus. Here's what we found on the Expedia page: "Book a three or five-night minimum stay now - December 10, 2007 and receive either a US$100 or US$200 resort credit when you show your 2007 issued passport at check-in." (The $200 one is if staying five nights or more.)
Maybe that will make up for the 13 percent gouging charge, er...we mean "resort fee," you'll also have to cough up.
Also we gotta lay down our standard caveat here too - there's the usual Caribbean hurricane risk this time of year so get trip cancellation insurance.
[Photo: TripAdvisor]
Related Stories:
· Bad Rate :: 'Deferred Maintenance' at the Beachcomber in Negril [HotelChatter]
Tags: Bad Rate / Hotel Hell / Jamaica Hotels / → All Tags
Bad Rate :: 'Deferred Maintenance' at the Beachcomber in Negril
[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same destination and decide which one most deserves your hard-earned benjamins. Rates quoted here were captured on August 7, 2007 and are subject to change. Enjoy.]
Sometimes paying half the price for a hotel room will get you far less than half the quality. In Jamaica you could pay $249 (plus a resort fee) for an ocean view room at the Ritz-Carlton (this week's Good Rate) or pay $140 a night for an ocean view room at a dump.
The latter would be the Beachcomber Club & Spa in Negril. At one time this hotel might have lived up to its billing as "The Jewel of Negril" not to mention it actually might have had a spa on the premises but no more.
Tags: Jamaica Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Steal Away to the Rockhouse Hotel in Jamaica
Just read this catchline on the website of the Rockhouse Hotel and you really, really want to stay there:
In a house, on a rock, in a bay, on a reef, on an island, in Jamaica.
What better place to spend a relaxing holiday or a romantic long weekend. Despite being close to the big party town of Negril, its location makes is a secret hideaway; yet it's such good value that Budget Travel just listed it as one of the best "secret stays" of Jamaica.
Depending on how far your budget stretches, you can choose from a standard room with garden views, a studio with sea views or a unit right on the edge of the cliff with (obviously) spectacular views. All mod-cons like air-con, a safe and mosquito netting around the bed are included in each room type. The cheapest start at $100, although depending on the season many rooms can be up around the $300 mark.
[Photo: kennethAshburn]
Related Stories:
· Secret Hotels of the Caribbean [Budget Travel]
· Rockhouse Jamaica: No Clocks Needed [HotelChatter]
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