sarah

A bunch of people from this board were planning trips to the Ritz in Montego Bay for this past weekend. Just wondering how everyone made out and what their opinions of the all-inclusive plan were.<BR><BR>

Jamaica

Does anyone know where pictures and trip reports are for this resort?

anon

Is the beach as bad as everyone says?<BR>I dont need a long beach. I like clear water(doesn't have to be perfect) and I like to be able to go in without water shoes.

claudia

How is the pool and the jacuzzi at the Ritz Carlton? Does anyone know?

anonymous

I stayed at the Ritz last summmer.<BR><BR>The pool and jacuzzi are both outside and can be used at night time. The pool is near an outside bar & restaurant. The pool is no deeper than 5-6ft deep. Plenty of umbrella chairs around the pool. You may even get to see a fashion show by the pool (I did). The Ritz pool area is lit up at night and looks beautiful. The jacuzzi is heated. If you are facing the pool looking out toward the ocean, the jacuzzi is behind the pool & off to the right of it.<BR><BR>See this link for a picture of the pool /www.nbc17travel.com/reviews/rcrosehall.htm. Gives you an idea, but the picture doesn't do it justice.

Joe Mama

Just came back from the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall. <BR>The beach at the Ritz is good for staring at, floating on, sunbathing, kayaking, but NOT swimming because it is very rocky. Overall, the beaches in Jamaica aren't as beautiful and the sand aren't as powderly fine as other Carribean islands. <BR>The people of Jamaica are so extraordinarily friendly...much more so than Mexicans in Cancun or Canadians in Montreal. Everywhere I go outside of the resort, the locals greeted me with smiles and even thanked me for visiting their island. There are street vendors everywhere but they were very pleasant and easy to negotiate with. I did not experienced any of the pressure and harassment from vendors that I keep hearing about on this board. In one instance of buying a merchandise, I converted money wrongly and gave too much $US to a vendor; instead of keeping it she returned the excess amount back to me. In another instance when I bought an 80 cents drink and gave a $50US bill, the vendor handed me back exactly $49.20 in US dollars! I have NEVER received such kind treatment in other third world countries or even a first world country such as Canada. Normally, they'll keep your US Dollars and convert and shortchange you in their baloney local currency.<BR>The only time I felt ripped off was going to Dunn's Fall. Total cost to climb the steep waterfall is a steep $10 for admission plus $5 for watershoe rental plus $8 for locker rental. $23 to climb a waterfall so crowded with thousands of other people? RIPOFF!!!<BR>The all-inclusive plan at the Ritz includes the room, room tax, meals, and meal gratuity. You are allowed three meals per person per day at any of their restaurants including beachside or poolside or in-room dining with all beverages and mixed drinks and alcohol and wine by the glass. The only exception is no champagne. Some days I ate four meals but they did not charge me extra. The breakfasts sucks. Lunches and dinners and desert were very good to exceptional at all the restaurants. Don't miss he frozen baby coconut dessert at the poolside restaurant! Food portions at Jasmine is so tiny you will need an extra meal by room service to fill your stomach. The daily food and drink amount, including tips, is about $300US. I highly recommend the all inclusive deal.

Claudia

Joe Mama, how was the service at the Ritz? Was it a nice vacation and would you recommend people stay at the Ritz?

Tricia

Joe Mama, I have been to Mexico a couple of times and thought the service there was much better then Jamaica. They were harder working in my opinion, but it is just an opinion. I am still going back to Jamaica because it is cheaper to fly first class there, but I still want to get back to Mexico.<BR><BR>We are booked at the Ritz in November. Can't wait and hope it is worth it.

Joe Mama

Service at the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall was typical Ritz Carlton ... excellent. However, service at restaurants was atrociously slow and restaurant staffs were occasionally forgetful. Even when I tell them ahead of time I gotta plane to catch in 30 minutes, they still didn't bring my food until 30 minutes later. I'd order an ommelette and they'd forget it totally. I'd request ice for my water and they'd completely forget it. The staffs genuinely care to please but are just simply forgetful. Still, it's the little 'extras' that separate the extraordinary from the ordinary. Maybe it's just the Jamaican way of taking it easy. "No problem mon!" <BR>I enjoyed the vacation and highly recommend any Ritz Carlton to anyone anytime. The Ritz Carlton Montreal is the exception because the room quality there is no better than a $30 motel along the highway.<BR>I second your opinion, Tricia. The service at the Ritz Carlton Cancun is a definite notch better. The latest "Travel & Leisure" magazine rank it #1 for service in Central America & Carribean.

tippy

Were tips included in the all-inclusive plan?

just beachy

How exactly did the all-inclusive option work? When the Ritz Carlton website says "food/beverages in all outlets" does it include drinks on the beach, for instance, or only in conjunction with meals? Curious.... The outline of their all-inclusive plan seems rather vague. Also, did you check out the beaches at Half Moon or the Rose Hall Beach Club? How do they compare with that of the Ritz Carlton?

Joe

Yes a 10% tip is already included in the plan but you're welcome to add more only if you want. I ordered extra drinks on the beach and at the pool and at the cigar bar and even excessive extra meals for in-room dining but they didn't charge me. Other people have had the same experience of NOT being charge extra.