Jamaica lodging guide (Photo:Sunset beach resort spa) The second largest city in jamaica, after kingston, montego bay is the resort epicenter.Popular for the big ones that face the sea, which include many of the all inclusives, accommodations in and around mobay, as the locals like to call the city, run the gamut from gigantic seaside resorts that look like palaces in the sand to smaller city hotels on the hip strip to designer suites on the beach and inns that are charming although a bit off the beaten path. As early as 1908, the montego bay citizens association was inviting american tourists to experience the beaches on the north coast of the island.Although it took four and a half days by boat to get to jamaica from new york, the seeds were sown and tourism took off.Today, the northwest coast is resort central most properties are relatively new builds while others sit on old sugar cane plantations with the original water wheels still in operation.Because tourism is the main driver of mobay's economy, locals are highly trained in hospitality and delighted to show off their city to visitors. Appealing to the masses who want a fixed bill vacation and nothing to worry about except which restaurant to choose for dinner or what time to tee off in the morning, all inclusive resorts are the most popular with new ones opening up or on the drawing board each year.Dating back to the 18th century, hotels sold the"American plan"Which meant one price covered both food and the room.It was a novel idea at that time but caught on with families, singles and couples not wanting to mortgage the house in order to finance a vacation. The modern all inclusive concept with buffets and swim up bars was born in 1981 when jamaican entrepreneur butch stewart opened his first couples only sandals resort in montego bay.More than 30 years later, it is different strokes for different folks in a city like montego bay where vacationers can choose from an eclectic assortment of cheap ralph lauren beds for heads from the grandiose all inclusives on the coast and the lavish villas in the hills to the smaller independent hotels that are more inland or right in the towns and villages including montego bay proper.In montego bay, the sky's the limit with add ons that range from personal chefs and opulent massages in some of the best spas in the world to playing a round of golf on a championship course that overlooks the sea and nodding off like nobility in a hammock strung between two swaying palm trees. The gold standard for luxury, tryall club appeals to the discerning traveler who will pay handsomely for a stay in one of 86 showpiece villas, each distinct in design and each with its own butler, gardener and personal chef.Away from the whirl of the resort row on the coast, the villas with one to eight bedrooms and the exclusive private estate collection, opened in the '50s with roots stretching back three centuries.With sweeping views of the caribbean sea set on 2, 000 acres of expertly manicured grounds, tryall club is both flip flop and fendi friendly for those who can afford an extravagantly relaxing holiday. Recently renovated, ralph plummer designed 18 hole par 72 golf course is one of the finest in the caribbean.Upgrades include a new driving range and practice putting green, refurbished starter's area at the first tee and brand new greens on holes 4 and 6.Golfers claim the par four 7th hole is the most dramatic with a tee shot through the stone pillars of the aqueduct that feeds the resort's waterwheel built in the 18th century when the club was a sugar plantation.Despite its appeal, the course is never crowded even during high season from november through april.Designated a national heritage foundation site, history buffs like to pose in front of the cast iron cannon that once fired at approaching pirate ships and is still in its foreboding position at the base of the great house. All inclusive and enormous, grand palladium lady hamilton is impressive with 390 junior suites, 78 suites and 48 villa suites with ocean views.About an hour drive from mobay's sangster international airport, the resort is an upscale disneyland that shares facilities and services with the next door grand palladium jamaica that is also gigantic with 450 junior suites and 90 suites.Stand outs include the largest swimming pool in jamaica, seven a la carte restaurants with international menus, three upscale buffets, 13 bars, zentropa palladium spa wellness center with unique vapor baths, a gaming lounge and plenty of places to shop.Ideal for grown ups not watching their wallets, the villa suites at the grand palladium lady hamilton have a private entrance, double jacuzzi, terrace with hammocks and an outdoor shower.For aprs hour entertainment, reggae bands are lively at the infinity bar near the pool and at the miss lou bar;Boozy drinks are poured all day. If you think you've stepped onto a movie set upon entering round hill, you're right on the money.The film"How stella got her groove back"Was filmed at the resort and so impressed actor taye diggs that he returned to marry broadway singer idina menzel in a fairy tale ceremony on the beach.Originally opened in 1953, round hill was built on a ten acre pineapple and coconut plantation overlooking the sea.Luxury marries the minimalist design of ralph lauren who not only owns one of the cottages but has taken a personal interest in redesigning parts of the resort like outfitting the oceanfront villas with white peaked ceilings and four poster beds draped in white net.Stellar service extends to the spa with seven treatment rooms, beachfront massage area and signature treatments like"The spirit of jamaica"Which combines a silk facial with a rubdown and the"Men's revitalization"Massage with a refreshing lime and ginger scrub.Top shelf living in the pineapple house includes louvered windows for perfect views of just about everything, elemis bath products and coffee makers with blue mountain coffee.The four villas all have personal housekeepers and en suite meals prepared on request.For fine dining, the newly opened grill impresses with whitewashed walls and the only indoor wood fired grill in jamaica. With a guestbook that includes joan crawford and her husband alfred steelWhoWas theWealthy ceo of pepsi cola, clark gable, queen elizabeth ii, john and jackie kennedy and george h.W. Bush,When heWas Vice President, Half Moon, A RockResort sits on a pair of half moon shaped beaches dottedWith palm trees that keep a steady beatWith the breeze.With a storied past, the resortWas built in 1954 by American billionaires Donald DeskeyWho designed Radio City Music Hall;Harvey firestone, jr.Of the tire company that bears his name and the armour family that own the giant meat packaging company. Today, thirty one villas and 197 rooms and suites are individually decoratedWith Queen Anne inspired furnishings and balconies or terraces that offer views of the Caribbean Sea stretching as far as the eye can see. Aptly called the 'Royal Villas', each one excelsWith a private swimming pool, butler, cook and housekeeper.Breathtaking to see and even better to stay in,"Endless summer"Villa is nine thousand square feet of living space tended to by a full staff. Those staying in the villas have full use of the resort's amenities including seven bars, exceptionalWine cellars, six restaurants including The Sugar MillWith its own sommelier, equestrian center, dolphin lagoon, Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed 18 hole championship golf course and the Fern Tree SpaWith seaside suites, plunge pools and therapistsWho add the reputed Jamaican aphrodisiac called "Ram goat dash along"To many of their massages. A family affair To ensure the entire brood has a grand time, ask for adjoining rooms if the kids are big enough to stay on one side or if grandma or grandpa is tagging along.Make sure the resort has wi fi for all the gizmos and devices that kids cram inside their knapsacks and as kids can be picky eaters, resorts that offer kid friendly meal choices and big buffets are the best bets.For the grown ups, babysitting services are a real plus. A quick five minutes to the international airport means a stay at the holiday inn sunspree starts almost when you land.Great for families with young kids who don't want a car ride to a hotel after a plane ride from home, 524 room hotel is all inclusive and a big hit with free wi fi for up to four devices and the 'jus' kiddin' for kids' restaurant that serves kid friendly food.Beachfront on a mile and a half stretch of white sand, this is not the holiday inn our parents brought us to when the family budget was tight.The sunspree brand is far cry from the holiday inn motel next to the highway.With eight low rise buildings within the rose hall plantation area, the property is ideal for families with babies from six months old to teenagers under eighteen.Up to three kids less than 12 years old stay complimentary when they share the same room with mom and dad. Unique on the hotel horizon, 'kids suites' are rooms within rooms where kids have their own private space and the grown ups have plenty of room to chill out alone.Whimsical in dcor, kids suites have a partially separated in room sleep and play area with one set of bunk beds, cable television with kid friendly channels, a play table and a kid's desk.The sleeping area for grown ups comes with adult amenities like a coffee maker and a television with movie channels.The younger set between six months and 3 years old can stay in 'granny's nursery' while the 'adventurers' club is for kids ages 4 to 7 and for 8 to 12 year olds, 'wonder years' is tons of fun with a playground, jungle gym and slides that are right on the beach. With the pirates' paradise and club mongoose, 304 room sunset beach resort was built with families in mind and following a host of recent renovations;The resort is in tip top shape.All inclusive on the beach, one of the family friendliest resorts in mobay has a dazzling array of stuff to do like splashing around in the waterpark which the resort says has"Jamaica's largest resort water slide. "There are eight room categories from the beach wing on the main level to rooms in the 10 story sunrise and sunset towers closer to the lobby.For bigger families, the deluxe suites have balconies, separate living rooms, cribs and rollaway beds available on request.The bay view rooms are great for kids who like to take photos with their cell phones because the balconies offer terrific vistas of the mountains, harbor and the montego bay cityscape. With interconnecting rooms, the suites in the oceanfront tower also have two double beds, plenty of closet space and an activity table for kids.If the kids like bunk beds, the ultimate treat is a stay in one of 20 rooms in the courtyard building which is adjacent to the pirates' paradise waterpark.For the older kids, pirates cove teen center offers tennis lessons.Opening on november 1, the oasis at sunset, formerly the beach inn, will be a 124 room boutique hotel adjoining the bigger resort.Families will have access to the waterpark and restaurants at sunset beach although the new hotel will have its own private beach and club family room with bunk beds. Just over a mile from the airport, hotel riu montego bay is another huge all inclusive on the beach.One of many riu hotels owned by the riu family of spain, the mobay resort offers a host of vacation extras for active families including a swimming pool and playground, gym, volleyball, tennis on two courts, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba lessons in the pool.Plenty of food options range from a standard issue buffet with a jerk station for kids who like spicy food, an italian restaurant and a more formal steak house for kids who aren't too rambunctious during dinner.A daily entertainment program for kids 4 to 12 years old is ideal for parents who may want to enjoy a massage in the renova spa or a soak in the jacuzzi.For families traveling during spring break, the resort has a unique policy of not allowing parties in the rooms or unruly behavior of any kind. Also a spanish chain, iberostar hotels resorts operates three all inclusives in montego bay.The grand hotel rose hall is adults only while the rose hall beach and rose hall suites welcomes families.Big and brash, rose hall beach is close to attractions like dunn's river falls in ocho rios although there is plenty for a family to do at the resort.For kids, there is a children's pool, game room, reading room, gratis wi fi and lucy's club with arts and crafts lessons and movies on big screens.At the rose hall suites, choices range from 317 junior suites or one of two presidential suites for families who travel in style.Amenities are the same as in rose hall beach with the addition of a lazy river and water park. For families who plan ahead, the former ritz carlton rose hall will open as the hyatt ziva early next year.Although many couples have a budget to consider as they plan their honeymoon, all would agree that jaw dropping views of the sea and fine wine to toast the sunset morph a great honeymoon into a magical time with memories that will last a lifetime. For couples who like the idea of a private island at their resort, sandals royal caribbean offers just that.With 197 rooms and suites, the all inclusive adults only resort also has butlers who are trained to cater to every whim a couple may have during their honeymoon stay.Ten minutes from the sangster international airport, the resort is on 15 beachfront acres with eight restaurants;Swim up crystal lagoon suites and a british pub serving authentic grog and grub.A few minutes to the island from the main resort on a dragon boat, couples can enjoy dinner at the thai restaurant or an afternoon away from the bustle of the resort. With an elegant british vibe, the great house is regal with georgian style dcor and elegant for a continental breakfast or afternoon tea.Fronting the largest private white sand beach on the north coast, sandals montego bay is retro chic with 250 rooms and suites, eight restaurants and the bay roc beachfront villas that are tucked into the shade of the almond trees along the resort's most secluded shore.For couples who like a city vibe, sandals carlyle is charming on the hip strip that is dotted with martini bars, nightclubs, plenty of duty free shops and the craft market.Cozy with 52 rooms and three restaurants, the ambiance is tres romantic with room service available 24 hours a day. For couples staying in the recently renovated carlyle club ocean view penthouse, butler service is available.The smallest sandals property in jamaica, the hotel is big on charm with a staff trained to cater to honeymooners.Across the street from a public beach, the hotel has a pool in the courtyard for couples who prefer a bit more privacy.All three sandals in mobay have a red lane spa with a medley of massages including the 'tropical bliss' side by side rubdown just for couples.The lounge at club sandals is open 24 hours with concierge services, private check in and invitations to wine tastings and snorkeling excursions. Also all inclusive, secrets st.James, an amresort, is an adults only playground with 350 airy suites on a private peninsula.British colonial in style, the resort is a 20 minute drive from the airport on a secluded half mile stretch of beach close to the montego bay marine park.Suites are new with whirlpool tubs, balconies and an en suite mini bar.Room service is available although nine restaurants and nine bars right outside the front door offer choices ranging from the oceana for seafood, bordeaux for fine french cuisine, el patio for mexican classics and the coco caf with tables on a small terrace and a menu of terrific pastries and blue mountain coffee drinks. Spanning over 15, 000 square feet, secrets spa by pevonia tempts with a 'moon star massage' for two that includes a grape oil rub down.To keep couples busy, shopping on the promenade, workouts in the fitness center and windsurfing, kayaking and snorkeling are available.For active couples, there is a jogging trail and ralph lauren france plenty of opportunities to play tennis, basketball, volleyball and even bocce ball.The large swimming pool is partially heated and for those who like to play and putter, several golf courses are nearby.

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