Latest Reviews for Jamaica

All in all, this is a facility which is in dire need of a management shake-up and long overdue for a refurb. How the travel companies can rate it as a 3-4* property is beyond me - its 2* at most!

We went to Falmouth but didn't dare get out of the car. The place was crawling with police who were obviously there for a reason. We felt very uncomfortable. Walking on the beach was a nightmare - constantly badgered by folk trying to sell trinkets and drugs!

Jamaica has better resorts to offer.....stay away from this one!

We booked 2 weeks at the Starfish over Christmas.....mistake.... BIG mistake! The place is poorly run, run down and grossly over rated and over priced! The room was OK but I reckon the maids only worked part time. We had to ask for the complimentary mini-bar to be stocked - it was stocked once during our time there (3 small bottles of water and 5 small bottles of sickly Jamaican pop between 4 people for a 2 week stay). There was no hot water, the power kept tripping out, the key-cards wouldn't work, and the kid's bunk bed was on the brink of collapsing each time one of them turned over in the night! The hotel shop was small and rip-off prices.I bought some decongestant tablets 2 for $2 - they had an expiry date on the packets of March 2008! The staff were ignorant,plus they never had any change so we ended up walking away with them owing US money each time! The food in the buffet was decidedly average and often cold. You could get a table but obtaining cuttlery, glasses, cups etc to enable you to indulge in a meal was like pulling teeth, waving $ bills to encourage the waiting staff to actually wait on the table worked, but only sometimes. They were poorly trained, painfully slow and sometimes downright rude. One night we asked 3 different people for a glass of wine-it eventually arrived as we were getting up to leave the table! The choice of food for children was also very poor-my son lived for much of the fortnight on chips and bread. He'd have eaten bananas had there been any! Considering we were in the tropics, the fruit selection on offer was very poor-melon, or perhaps melon, if you were really lucky, melon and pineapple-oh, and once we actually saw bananas but they disappeared so quickly that you'd have thought there was a shortage (there clearly was here!). There was nothing for the kids to do at night apart from the games arcade, they charge for everything-machines, pool tables, air hockey, etc. My children actually had money taken from them by a bunch of other kids. There should have been a member of staff in the arcade area but she kept disappearing. The pool nearest The pool nearest the beach was filthy. The water was almost yellow and you couldn't see the bottom. It was littered with plastic cups, straws, cigarette buts, scum, and heavens knows what else. The filtration system had broken down but they insisted on keeping it open. The main beach was littered with rubbish and broken glass. The kid's beach was evil . Never again

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You are out of the way in this resort, they do run a bus service which is $8 per person return which takes you into Montego Bay on a shopping trip. It takes you to a few of there chosen shops, and a craft market. It is not a great experience as they are all over you, if they let you look around you might buy. They mean no harm, just dont know any different. You are taken to all the tourist shops which are very expensive. They had a bar on the market which sold bottles of red stripe at $4 each! You do actually get a craft market once a week in the hotel, which sells paintings, carvings, bags, etc. It is much less stressful to shop there, and you can spend your $8 on something nice! Dont let this put you off they are just trying to make a living, and as the pound is so weak against the dollar, it makes it more expensive for us to buy. This is only a short flight away from America, so its mainly Americans that visit here.

We have just returned from our second visit to this hotel. Our room was in A block which had a fantastic sea view with the sun shining on our balcony all day. Nothing is a problem in Jamaica, the staff are all so happy and friendly, they made us feel so welcome, if you need something all you have to do is ask. The lazy river and slides were so much fun, what a nice touch. There is so much to do here, watersports, crazy golf, tennis or plenty of sun beds if you just want to chill. They had a good variety of food in the restaurant, English, Jamaican and American, you will never have to go hungry, we also tried the chinese and Italian, made a change from eating in the restaurant and the service was great. They have a large variety of excursions with plenty to see and do. Dunns river falls, rafting, horse riding, dolphins, something to suit everyone. We went on the 9 mile tour where Bob Marley was born and laid to rest. It was a great trip which gives you an insight into his life. The tour guides are chilled out rastas who sing to you. When purchasing duty free goods, rum, cigarettes etc you will find it alot cheaper at the airport, so if you can, wait until your return journey home. Rum was $20 in resort and only $12 at the airport. If you smoke the hotel only sold Marlboro so get some to take out in the uk airport. Benson & Embassy were £13.00 for 200 at Mo bay airport. Be sure to take out some smaller denominations of US dollars as when you go on tours the guides & drivers are used to receiving tips, and although they don't expect it the hotel staff are also greatful of the odd dollar here and there. You do have a money exchange on site, but if you exchange sterling here they will give you Jamaican Dollars, and everything is always priced in US so it makes things more difficult. We had a fantastic holiday in this hotel and would not hesitate to go back. Sit back, relax and enjoy!! Arie mon!

Didn't really go out of the hotel much, but when we did all the locals were very friendly! The surroundings were beautiful and the resort looked lovely!

I have stayed at this hotel twice and i had the most amazing time! There really is something for everyone and even though the flight is long it's definitely worth the wait. I made great friends with the locals and the hotel staff and the day trips the reps organize are amazing! I loved swimming with dolphins! The food was lovely, especially in casablanca (very posh)!

Amazing thats all i can say.

Ive been to alot of places but this was our best yet even now my four yaar old son aand my nine year old still talks about it and when there going back. So we have just booked to go next july cant wait. The only thing i will say is that i felt you had to tip constantly but that was the same everywhere in jamica . We made freinds with alot of the staff there so freindly and so laid back cant do enough for you. The food was great especially the jerk hut thats a must were going back just for that itself. My kids were in the kids club all the time loved it . The beaches are beautiful try the water sports what a laugh we had, what can i say it was for us a holiday of a lifetime, i dont no how people can complain about this hotel some people have got nothing better to do with there time !!!!!!! TAKE IT FROM US BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

montegobay is shantytown full of drugies, poverty, everyone after money walking around is terrible, the street boys,well they say they are guides but no one needs a guide its them we tried to get away from best idea don't go 40 dollers for a taxi to get there and back, and it was torture.

this hotel just opened in september and the food is absolutley disgusting I have never had food like it and i have been going abroad for 30yrs,I also like going to the riu hotel but this one food wise is a no go for me I have never asked to see the manager in any hotel but I complained to the manager and told him I would give the food in this hotel 1 star

the hotel is at the bottom of the hipstrip so you can easily walk there and back into the city or even get a cab, loads of shops, bars and resturants to choose from. there is two or three public beaches you can try.

the hotel is amazing, cleanliness is 24hrs, loads to eat, be ready to go on a diet when you get home. loads to drink and strong. three beaches to choose from, two leading straight into the sea, we never left the beach, there is 2 pools one with a swim up bar, the entertainment crew are fab, will keep you entertained all day and night, the hotel has its own nightclub till 2 in the morning, dont have to leave the hotel for anything, cant wait to go back in may 09

montegobay is shanty town the hip stripe is just few shops with all the same stuff t shirts bags, t shirts bag's it costs about 40 dollars to there by taxi and its just 10 mins away the bay it self is full of street boys wanting to guide you for money and they are just pests don't go it is full of homeless people and druggies

we went to this hotel on the 6th nov 08 it had just opened in sept of this year the hotel is nice the entertainment very good but the food I wouln't give it a 1 star and this hotel in the broucher is 5 star no way the food if it wasn't cold it was not chewable absolutley appaulling meals I have never in all the times I have gone on holiday ever had food like what was in this riu hotel and I have been going on holiday for the passed 30 yrs I complained to the manager never mind the rep because she was with first choice and she was usless only interested in selling trip we recieved a small bottle of jamacia rum and plate of fruit could get that any time of the day J Ramsay

We had everything we needed in our Hotel so we didn't visit Negril for shopping - on our one and only day trip out we passed through and it seemed very commercialised - you've been in one shop ... you've been in them all type of place

We stayed at Couples Swept away from 1st Nov to the 15th Nov. An excellent hotel if you want a relaxing holiday. The food was excellent with a good choice of restaurants with plenty of options in each. Premium brand drinks are freely available in the all inclusive package. We booked a Garden Verandah Suite with stocked fridge and drinks cupboard (included) plus TV. The room and bathroom were clean and more than adequate - although a little more drawer space would be handy for guests staying for 2 weeks. The grounds and beach area are kept very clean and tidy. Service from the staff in all areas of the hotel was excellent - they go out of their way to be helpful and friendly - quick and efficient too, we were very impressed.