Jamaica?

[The Tradition]

Entertaining the idea of going to Jamaica for our anniversary in February. The Courtyard is less than $200 a night! There's also an AC for $265 and then five all-inclusive Autograph Collection properties, although it looks like some of the properties are attached to others to form a larger mega resort?

The Royalton Negril is only $275 and The Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters is only $278 a night! Why would someone pay $265 at the AC when you can get all-inclusive for only $10 or $13 more?

The other all-inclusives are about $100 more.

Anyone been to any of these hotels/resorts with recommendations?

Not interested in the "au naturel" one.

 

[SolarHawk]

Jamaica is definitely your speed. If I were you I’d go for it.

 

[Scott559]

Shop carefully for proper amenities.

 

[lucas80]

Go to the south shore, white trash goes to the places the OP listed.

 

[seminole97]

Went to Sandals Whitehouse (adults only) resort in Jamaica for honeymoon.
Stayed for 10 days and had a good time. It was October, weather was perfect.
Went to YS falls, Appleton rum factory, and a river kayaking trip, but otherwise chilled.

There had been a hurricane that skirted the island before our arrival, and there were some guests that had been relocated from other resorts. They mentioned being hassled a lot on the beach by vendors. One guy said two drug dealers nearly came to blows over who could talk to his FIL, who wasn't actually try to buy anything.

Whitehouse is on a large property, and they had security guards at either end of the beach keeping out locals.

On Wednesday they had a local flea market setup shop so you could get hand made souvenirs if you wanted.

It was also obvious within a few minutes at the swim up bar which bartender could hook you up if you were interested.
Pretty seedy and disappointing bag of weed to be honest, considering it was Jamaica.

 

[SolarHawk]

Go to the south shore, white trash goes to the places the OP listed.

Well op is…. You know what, never mind.

 

[The Tradition]

Went to Sandals Whitehouse (adults only) resort in Jamaica for honeymoon.
Stayed for 10 days and had a good time. It was October, weather was perfect.
Went to YS falls, Appleton rum factory, and a river kayaking trip, but otherwise chilled.

There had been a hurricane that skirted the island before our arrival, and there were some guests that had been relocated from other resorts. They mentioned being hassled a lot on the beach by vendors. One guy said two drug dealers nearly came to blows over who could talk to his FIL, who wasn't actually try to buy anything.

Whitehouse is on a large property, and they had security guards at either end of the beach keeping out locals.

On Wednesday they had a local flea market setup shop so you could get hand made souvenirs if you wanted.

It was also obvious within a few minutes at the swim up bar which bartender could hook you up if you were interested.
Pretty seedy and disappointing bag of weed to be honest, considering it was Jamaica.

$1,000 per night on my travel dates.

 

[GOHOX69]

$1,000 per night on my travel dates.

1000 pesos?

 

[The Tradition]

1000 pesos?

Jamaica doesn't have "pesos"....

 

[GOHOX69]

Jamaica doesn't have "pesos"....

No kidding.

 

[The Tradition]

No kidding.

Well whatever joke you were trying to make, I missed it.

 

[SolarHawk]

Alright, all joking aside, I’ve been to Jamaica once about 10 years ago. I won’t be back. The people are nice enough(at the resort) but it’s a 3rd world country. My BIL had his phone stolen within the first hour of arriving that he had in the room. Drug dealers constantly soliciting to you on the beach. We went off resort one day, it’s sketch AF. YMMV.

 

[GOHOX69]

Well whatever joke you were trying to make, I missed it.

I think others already did the joking for me. See above.

 

[The Tradition]

Alright, all joking aside, I’ve been to Jamaica once about 10 years ago. I won’t be back. The people are nice enough(at the resort) but it’s a 3rd world country. My BIL had his phone stolen within the first hour of arriving that he had in the room. Drug dealers constantly soliciting to you on the beach. We went off resort one day, it’s sketch AF. YMMV.

I prefer the term "Bud Purveyors" as opposed to "drug dealers"....

 

[SolarHawk]

I prefer the term "Bud Purveyors" as opposed to "drug dealers"....

That’s not all they’re trying to sell….

 

[The Tradition]

Alright, all joking aside, I’ve been to Jamaica once about 10 years ago. I won’t be back. The people are nice enough(at the resort) but it’s a 3rd world country. My BIL had his phone stolen within the first hour of arriving that he had in the room. Drug dealers constantly soliciting to you on the beach. We went off resort one day, it’s sketch AF. YMMV.

Where did you stay where your BIL's phone was stolen out of his room?

 

[The Tradition]

That’s not all they’re trying to sell….

Well, we'll definitely want to score some ganja, but not interested in anything else.

 

[The Tradition]

Tours and activities prices are like super-cheap there. Definitely nothing like Hawaii.

 

[GOHOX69]

Well, we'll definitely want to score some ganja, but not interested in anything else.

Why are you using non white words?

 

[The Tradition]

Why are you using non white words?

Aloha.

 

[GOHOX69]

Aloha.

Good riddance.

 

[3boysmom]

Okay, a serious answer. Royalton Negril is better than the Hideaway at Blue Waters. The beach is much better in Negril. But it is a longer shuttle ride to Negril. If you have the choice between Royalton Blue Water and Hideway I would pick the regular Royalton. But overall I would pick Negril

 

[The Tradition]

Okay, a serious answer. Royalton Negril is better than the Hideaway at Blue Waters. The beach is much better in Negril. But it is a longer shuttle ride to Negril. If you have the choice between Royalton Blue Water and Hideway I would pick the regular Royalton. But overall I would pick Negril

Thanks. I'm looking at only Marriott properties (Titanium Elite, here) but loyalty program or not, what in your opinion is the best value resort on the island?

"Value" not necessarily being the cheapest, but most bang for the buck?

 

[3boysmom]

Thanks. I'm looking at only Marriott properties (Titanium Elite, here) but loyalty program or not, what in your opinion is the best value resort on the island?

"Value" not necessarily being the cheapest, but most bang for the buck?

Honestly it varies because pricing can fluxuate wildly. But generally speaking when it comes to great value for a fairly low price I like Jewel Paradise Cove if it's adult only. If budget is pretty good my favorite is Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril. Although Couples San Souci was renovated a year ago and is really nice. I find Sandals to almost always be wildly overpriced. Iberostar recently decided to join the 21st century and got rid of their dining reservations policy which bring them up a lot of they are pricing well. Especially the Grand for adults only. I am not a fan of eating dinner in a buffet so I hated that you had to make reservations. It was generally close to impossible to eat in a sit down restaurant the first 2 nights of your stay. So they will definitely move up my list.

 

[Bank of Hawk]

It’s a nice town in the 141 corridor.. the mayor was busted for selling weed a few years ago. Not sure what entertainment options or hotel options are available in such a small town. Probably need to get a hotel room in nearby Perry.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

I think you will get bored in Jamaica Iowa pretty quick.

Bar on bike trail is only busy on Bacoon Ride and when people ride out to the start of RAGBRAI.

I would stay at Super 8 in Perry Iowa and make a day trip to Jamaica.

 

[seminole97]

Well, we'll definitely want to score some ganja, but not interested in anything else.

When the bartender says, "Whaddya like?" Then after you order your drink says, "Whaddya really like?" you've found your man.