Sunset Grande Jamaica hotel review

One weekend we decided to book last minute for a 2 nights stay in Ocho Rios. The only available choice was the Sunset Grande Jamaica hotel. This was our worst stay in Jamaica. It was not 100% awful but we won’t be going back to this one. The resort itself was not so bad, I really like the lobby and the multiple pools with the giant slide. It would be OK for a family with young kids.

We booked the best room – the honeymoon suite – for a ridiculously low price, haha we concluded that even with this special it was not really worth it. 

The thing is, when we arrived there were no towels in our room. We called the Front Desk about it and they told us they will send someone. An hour later we still did not received the towels and we really wanted to take a shower. We called back but this time at the Guest Service Desk. An hour or two after, we finally received our towels. We took a shower went to the restaurant and came back to our room to go to sleep. Later, we woke up because the phone was ringing. What the hell... Front Desk was calling to check if we really did receive the famous towels. The towels had also served another function in this room: to soak up the water raining down the AC.The restaurant buffet for breakfast was good, lunch ok and supper…ok. Cats were hovering under the tables trying to get food. Birds were also there, ready to steal anything from the tables. We made a reservation to try their Italian restaurant…we almost laughed when our fresh mozzarella appetizer arrived and it was…NOT fresh mozzarella but triangular-shaped slices from what we saw in the main buffet restaurant. 

Sadly, it was a rainy weekend; we did not use the beach but only the pools. We kept thinking about the people who visit Jamaica for the first time and would come back home with those kind of memories…. I would rate this hotel a 5 out of 10.

Rockhouse Hotel review

Another perfect place to go in Negril is the Rockhouse hotel. It is not an all-inclusive resort. It is in a completely different surrounding than the seven mile beach, this one is on the cliffs. There is no beach. If you want to swim, you jump directly into the ocean or go down the ladders. Swimming is more a sport since you cannot touch the bottom. 

For a girl like me…always wanting to jump in the water, it was THE PERFECT PLACE to be because you can jump from different levels (watch videos below). Water is again so clear and turquoise.

You also have the option of relaxing in the majestic pool of salted water. Pictures say it all. 

The hotel was almost fully booked so we took the last villa available, room number 8. Walls are entirely made of rocks; shower is as big as a room and it’s outside but there is still a wall making it private. 

Outdoor shower as big as a room

To eat, you have two choices, the sport bar Jamaican food Push-Cart or the main Rockhouse romantic restaurant with more elaborate meals. Both restaurants are on the cliffs by the water and both are really good!  

Push-Cart Restaurant

During this particular weekend, the tropical storm Ernesto was supposed to hit Jamaica, but luckily we only had some rain at the end of our last day. During the night the hotel lost the electricity a few times and since the AC in the rooms are not connected to the generator Erik was getting hot (he cannot survive in this weather without AC) but I was fine ;). Overall it is a well-deserved 10 out of 10.

Couples Negril review

The second hotel Erik took me on this same first trip was in the most amazing place in Jamaica, Negril. We went for a 3 nights stay at the Couples resort in Bloody Bay next to the Seven Mile Beach. It was a perfect stay. The staff was so nice. The beach was clean and the water so CLEAR. They have a bar service on the beach, so if you want a drink you raise your red flag by your beach chair and they come take your order…haha way to be lazy on your vacation (this service is slow but hey, you don’t have to get up)!! 

Our room was beautiful, clean, with a nice balcony. We chose on the mini bar card what we wanted in the fridge and later they came with the bottles, but you cannot say that it was the mini bar sizes!! 

We ordered room-service for breakfast early each morning that we ate on the balcony. Later, we always went to the breakfast buffet as well, which was really good too! (We are breakfast lovers) We also had the chance to eat at the Asian cuisine restaurant, we ate sushi, pad thai, and some really good dessert. On the last night, I said that I was somehow feeling for lobster, and guess what; the main restaurant had some on the à la carte menu!! Overall it was a flawless stay, I will always remember it. It was like a dream honeymoon, it really is the perfect place for couples. So as you can imagine I give it a 10 out of 10 for sure!!! We would go back anytime.

Club Hotel RIU Ocho Rios review

The first hotel we stayed at was the Club Hotel RIU Ocho Rios. It was in November 2011, my first time visiting Jamaica before moving here, so I was pretty excited. We only stayed there for 2 nights. It was a good stay. I was really impressed with the site and installations. The breakfast buffet was amazing, loved everything about it. Lunch was ok but supper was a deception. If you don’t have a reservation in one of their other restaurants…you are stuck at the buffet and there is nothing really tasty there. The beach was nice but you are being harassed by the Jamaicans on jet-skis wanting your money for a ride, a guy was also IN THE WATER trying to sell me cigars and things like that. We slept fine even if the fire alarm rang at some point during the night but I remember falling asleep right after that. We had a front ocean room on the highest floor, the view was wonderful and the room was really clean! RIU is a great all-inclusive chain with hotels in other city of Jamaica as well as in other countries. Overall I would rate this hotel 7 out of 10. 

Driving in the mountains.

Remember when I told you how it is to drive in Jamaica? This is a perfect example of having to handle potholes and winding roads in the mountains. Of course, The Black Keys is playing in the car so I could not resist humming the song... Oops.

2012.

I want to tell you how 2012 was a great year for Jamaica. It was the country`s 50^th independence anniversary. The whole island looked its best, buildings wearing the Jamaican colours and the 50^th logo on them! Take a look at this beautiful video of the official song On A Mission they made for the event. You can see a lot of Jamaica and its culture in this one!

It was also the London Olympics where the 100% Jamaican podium occurred at the 200 meter race. Jamaica’s entire island screamed of joy when they won. They are VERY proud, as they should, and so am I!! If you want to relive the moment…or see it for the first time, please watch this video on youtube. 

The only thing that ended 2012 in a negative way was Hurricane Sandy. We were here when it happened and I will tell you more about it. For now, see how it affected the country.

New posts are coming!

Hey guys! I just posted a new text in the Adaptation section. Take a look at what driving is like in Jamaica! More content will be added soon. Thank you for your feedback!
http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/p/adaptation.html