nitz369

Okay last question before I make this tough decision. I wish I could plan more trips like this and then this decision would be less important. Being that we have never been anywhere tropical this is a big decision for us. We want modern luxurious rooms but is Jewell rooms that outdated? I live in Las Vegas and I would rather stay at the Wynn or Palazzo vs staying at MGM or Mandalay Bay.

We are down to 2 places and I want to know everyone's opinion. Because I am having a hard time deciding.

Secrets Pluses:
Beautiful new modern rooms
Lots of Pools
Bigger beach
more alcohol choices
more of what we are used to staying in US

Secrets Minuses:
Man made beach
Large resort with 700 suites
AC is poor in rooms? (read reviews)
Plane noise

Jewell Pluses:
smaller more intimate resort (also a negative)
1-bedroom suite would be same price as preferred club at secrets
lots of romantic add-ons (cabanas, dinner on the beach, etc)
Closer to excisions
Sounds like exceptional service (although many reviews say bad service)
better beach

Jewell minuses:
small resort (will we have enough to do for 5 days)
smaller beach
locals bothering you on jetskis and through the fence
only 2 pools
limited food choices
lots of people say food is not too good??

Can anyone help me with my decision?

nitz369

Also is the Jewel tend to be an older crowd? We are both 30 celebrating 10th wedding anniversary.

KVR

I can only answer regarding the Jewell.

I'm in my 40's and DH's is in his 50's and we loved the Jewell. We met 2 couples; one younger than us and one older than us and we spent a lot of time with them talking at the tree bar.

I liked the smallness of the resort. One reason I choose it was because I can't stand walking miles from the room to the pool/bars/restaurants.

We found the food to be above par compared to the many AI resorts we've been to. I'm going to give the Royal Playa del Carmen the edge on food.

The Jewell used to be a Sandals, so the rooms are the typcial standard meh Sandals accomendations. They are nice, but not lux. Secrets will probablyy win in that catagory.

The beach is small, but it was beautiful. I read about the jet ski and locals issues when I was doing my research, but it did not pertain to us. I never saw it.

Another reason we chose Ocho Rios over Montego Bay was because there are more things to see and do off property, which is a huge issue for us. We are active on vacation and can't just plop at a resort for a week and call it a vacation.

The resort pictures we had done was also another reason. I'm do scrapbooking and I loved being able to get those pics for such a great price.

I don't think you can lose with either choice.