Holiday Inn Montego Bay

Recently back from a delightful week spent at this resort. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up with our room on the first night, and the front desk staff's response was less than pleasant. Despite having paid for a room with two beds to accommodate my 17-year-old daughter, we were initially given a room with only one bed and a pull-out couch without any bedding. When we raised this issue at the front desk, the staff member's dismissive attitude left much to be desired. After persistently voicing our concerns, we were eventually provided with the room we had originally booked. Regrettably, the majority of the staff appeared disinterested and unfriendly throughout our stay. Based on this experience, I have decided that I will not be returning to this resort in the future.

Let's begin by stating that if you have discerning tastes, you may want to consider a five-star hotel and be willing to pay the premium. I have had the pleasure of staying at this hotel on two occasions, and my first experience was so delightful that I decided to return. The service is exceptional, the staff is incredibly welcoming, there is a wide variety of dining options, and daily entertainment ensures there is never a dull moment. The accommodations are comfortable, and I opted for a room with a stunning ocean view, which did not disappoint. The hotel's proximity to the airport, less than a 15-minute drive, is a definite plus! The charming little island on the hotel grounds is a standout feature, perfect for leisurely strolls due to its shallow waters or for snorkeling - I recommend bringing your own gear to avoid rental fees. This resort is truly an excellent choice for an all-inclusive getaway, and if you keep an eye out for promotions, you can secure a fantastic deal 🙂

Upon arrival, my initial impression of this destination was filled with negative energy and a lack of hospitality. If possible, I would rate this place zero stars. If you seek a welcoming atmosphere, relaxation, and authentic Jamaican cuisine, this is not the ideal location. From the reception desk to the restaurant staff, it appears that they are merely fulfilling their job duties. Throughout our five-day, four-night stay, only a handful of them seemed genuinely friendly. I strongly suggest providing hospitality training to all staff members. The food court and buffet lack variety, offering the same selection day after day. Despite sampling most of the dishes at the buffet and restaurants, they all seemed flavorless. I had hoped for authentic Jamaican cuisine but was disappointed to find only bland imitation jerk chicken. When it comes to beverages, finding bottled water can be a challenge. The liquor selection is limited and of poor quality, with only one type of beer available - Red Stripe. Entertainment consists of music playing all day and a live band starting at 8pm, which can be quite loud until 1:30am. A peaceful night's sleep may be hard to come by. While the resort boasts a beautiful beach and ocean view, the hotel itself appears outdated and in need of renovation. Overall, this resort seems poorly managed and I would not recommend it to international travelers at this time.

I recently organized a trip for a group of 8 individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, and unfortunately, it turned out to be the most disappointing experience I have ever had in Jamaica. I had previously arranged a similar trip in 2019, which went smoothly, so I am unsure of what went wrong this time around. It is worth noting that we stayed at a different resort this time. Despite our repeated requests and confirmations for accessible rooms prior to our arrival, we were not provided with the accommodations we needed. The staff showed little interest in assisting us with securing accessible rooms, and they lacked sympathy for the fact that some members of our group would not be able to shower without such facilities. It took them 4 days to offer us an accessible room, and that was only after I personally approached them, despite their assurance that they would contact me. Our rooms were only cleaned twice in the span of 7 days, and the cleaning staff did not attend to our hallway until 5 pm each day. The rooms themselves could use some updating, or at the very least, a thorough cleaning to remove the black residue in the bathrooms. Additionally, the TVs in 3 of our rooms were not functional for 3 days, despite our twice-daily requests to the front desk. While the beach was easily accessible, it was disappointingly shallow, with the water only reaching waist-deep at best. The beach itself was clear for about 5 feet before giving way to rocky terrain, which guests were not allowed to walk on. There is a lovely island within walking distance where guests can spend the day, and that is where the water is deepest, reaching up to my waist. The buffet food left much to be desired, lacking variety and quality. However, the jerk hut and snack hut outside the resort were excellent alternatives. Unfortunately, most of the staff we encountered were quite rude, which further added to our overall disappointment with this experience.