Resorts in Montego Bay: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxury Stays
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Welcome to my blog post on the best resorts in Montego Bay! If you are anything like me, and you have been dreaming of beautiful blue water, warm white sandy beaches, and Bob Marley, then Montego Bay, is the Jamaican city for you. I have been extremely fortunate enough to have been able to explore Montego Bay several times. And I am super excited to share some my personal experiences with you on what I feel like are the best resorts in Montego Bay. So, whether you are planning a romantic escape, a family adventure, or a luxurious retreat, I’ve absolutely got you covered. Are you ready to plan? If so, let’s dive into some of the top resorts that Montego Bay has to offer!
Introduction: Resorts in Montego Bay
Montego Bay—affectionately called MoBay—isn’t just a postcard-perfect beach destination. It’s a vibrant slice of Jamaica with an incredible soul, energy. This city has some of the warmest hospitality I have honestly ever experienced. Montego Bay has a unique way of pulling you into its beauty and amazing culture and making you feel like you belong.
I’ve had the extreme pleasure of staying at several resorts in Montego Bay over the years. Each of these resorts has their own distinct and unique personality. Whether you are planning a romantic getaway, a girls trip, or a solo journey (my personal favorites), there is an amazing resort for you. In this guide, I will share my personal experiences of some of the best resorts in Montego Bay. I am hoping this guide helps you pick the right resort for you, based on the Montego Bay vibe you are looking for.
1. S Hotel Jamaica: Boutique Chic Meets Beachfront Bliss
The S Hotel Jamaica instantly became one of my favorite boutique-style resorts in Montego Bay. The second I walked in; I immediately felt immersed in Jamaican culture—with a really fun modern twist. This beautiful resort sits right on Doctor’s Cave Beach, and that infinity pool? One word – Unreal. I am pretty sure I was up there every night capturing the most amazing sunsets.
When it comes to resort vibes, I would definitely say that this resort has a more laid-back, upscale feel to it. This resort is perfect for couples or solo travelers who want a more relaxing and chill vibe versus the chaos and noise that tends to come with some of the larger resorts. I really appreciated how this particular hotel was able to balance its style with substance. If you are looking for great food, superb service, and a relaxing and peaceful rooftop that you could enjoy day or night, then this is the resort for you
2. Sandals Montego Bay – All-Inclusive Romance on the Water
When you think of hotels in the Caribbean, the first resort that most people think about is Sandals. This resort is adults-only, and is honestly one of the most romantic resorts in the Caribbean. The last time I visited, one of my girlfriends was celebrating a milestone birthday. They truly made our entire stay so incredibly special. Our group was able to have some amazing beachfront dinners, we enjoyed the fire pit at night and had the best lazy days ever floating in the prettiest water ever.
Spoiler alert: the Sandals Montego Bay is one of the pricier options when it comes to all of the best resorts. In my opnion it is worth every penny they charge for a room.
Pro tip: If it is in your budget, book a swim-up suites as they are absolutely incredible!
3. Iberostar Rose Hall Beach – Family-Friendly and Fun
For one of our large family trips, we chose to stay at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach. This resort actually turned out to be one of the best all-inclusive resorts that I have ever stayed at. When we checked in, the vibe of the hotel was very upbeat. All of the staff were super friendly, and the service was top-notch.
One of the things that I loved most about this resort was how all of the activities are planned and organized. There were so many activities and entertainment for both the kids and us adults. From water games that kept the kids busy for hours to relaxing beach spots. The beach was where you could find me all day reading a book (I read 3 books on this trip). One of the other aspects of an all-inclusive that can be hit or miss is the food. Iberostar had such a variety of food, that even our picky eaters had more than enough options. Regardless of what anyone wanted to eat, there was options that made everyone happy.
One aspect that could be updated at this hotel is their hotel rooms. While the rooms are a bit outdated, they were super clean, spacious, and had everything we needed. And honestly, we didn’t spend much time in the room anyway. We kept busy soaking up the sun and enjoying everything this resort had to offer, so it wasn’t a huge deal for us.
If you are thinking about planning a family vacation, or maybe a family reunion, then I would highly recommend this resort. There is plenty to do for everyone, a variety of food, and hospitality that will make you want to come back again and again!
4. Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa: The Ultimate Party Vibe
A very popular Caribbean result that is known for its party vibe is Breathless. If you are looking for a party, a good time, and the opposite of the relax and recharge vibe, then Breathless is the resort in Montego Bay for you! This is the resort you book if you are in the mood for fun, and this adults-only spot delivers—hard, every time. If you are wondering about the energy here, then they only word I have to describe it, is WILD! You could easily spend your afternoons on the rooftop pool, dancing the day away while the music thumping, and meeting people from all over the world. This resort does have themed parties, so check the resort ahead of time to get that schedule ahead of time, so that you are ready!
Word to the wise, if you are not into loud music or late nights, then this for sure is not the resort for you. But if you are looking for a complete party vibe, then I would highly recommend Breathless as the resort for you.
Insider tip: Try the sushi? Way better than I expected. Like… I went back for it. Twice.
5. Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa: Spacious and Serene
If you are looking for a “hidden jewel”, this this is the resort for you. The Jewel Grande caught me completely off guard—in the best way possible. I wasn’t expecting much this resort and my expectations were actually mind of low, but I ended up completely falling in love with this resort. My suite in this resort honestly felt more like a private condo versus a hotel room. This suit came complete with a full kitchen, a large living space, and a balcony that looked straight out to the ocean. I am a sucker for an ocean view balcony and can sit out there for hours with my morning coffee or with a never-ending game of WAR.
This was a solo trip for me because I really needed a reset and recharge kind of trip. And OMG, did I get exactly what I came for. This resort is calm, easy, quiet (polar opposite of Breathless). The spa at this resort was unreal—seriously. They had a Himalayan Salt Lounge, which was something I have never even heard of, nor did I know it was something I desperately needed.
If the vibe of your trip is to relax, recharge, enjoy the peace and quiet, then this 100% is your vibe!
6. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall: Something for Everyone
I’ve stayed at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall more than once, and every time I have stayed, it has been a great experience. This is actually one of the few hotels that I will recommend to pretty much everyone, because it truly fits everyone. This resort is perfect for couples, families, friend groups, solo travelers, ANYONE. This Montego Bay resort has just so much to do, tons of activities, and the food options here are on another level. My first night at this resort I was eating fresh jerk chicken by the beach and then the very next night I was having pasta that tasted like it was made in Italy.
Honestly, one of my favorite things about this resort is that one morning, I am having a beachside sunrise yoga session and then by mid-morning I am beach side in my private cabana reading a book with the most amazing ocean views in front of me. I can only describe this resort as easygoing luxury.
The only con to staying at this resort, and honestly, this was super minor in the grand scheme of things for me, but the beach is a bit on the smaller side. Other than that, this place is a highly recommend for me, regardless of the type of trip you want to have.
7. Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica – Quiet, Classy, Just What I Needed
On my most recent trip to Montego Bay, I opted to stay at the Riu Palace, which is an adults-only and all-inclusive resort, next to two other Riu properties. The vibe for me on this trip was relax, unwind, and distress – and that I did! This resort is perfect if you are looking for a party vibe, a relax and recharge kind of trip, or just want to enjoy all of the amenities of not only the Palace, but it’s two other sister properties next door.
My mornings were slow and quiet. I’d walk the beach barefoot, coffee in hand, then claim my favorite lounge chair in the Elite Club section and read for hours. I booked a Delta Vacations for this trip, so it came with the Elite Club, which I would highly recommend. The pool for Elite Club was quiet and relaxing and I could have a lounge chair and a cabana depending on if I wanted sun or shade.
Not only was the sun and pool calling my name on this recharge trip, but so was the spa. The spa was next door at the Reggae, and a facial and deep tissue massage was exactly what I needed to end my 7-day trip at this incredible resort.
If you are looking for a great hotel with a great mix of people, ages, and things to do, then Riu Palace is the resort in Montego Bay for you!
8. Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa – Nonstop Fun With a Twist of Culture
If you are planning a friend’s trip to Montego Bay, then the Hilton Rose Hall Resort is for sure the resort for you. This resort, honestly, has so much going on and so many things to do. You could spend hours going down the water park rides, play rounds of golf, or chill at the pool all day. There is so much to do it was hard to keep track, honestly. The weird part is, that no matter how busy and active we were, it never once felt too busy or too choatic.
The one aspect of this resort that stands out in my head that is unlike any other resort that I have ever stay at would be the onsite cooking class. Like what?!? I never knew of a resort with cooking classes! This was one of the best nights that we had making jerk chicken from scratch, dancing to live reggae while it cooked, and then devouring our masterpiece.
Another fun fact of this resort is that it is built on the historic Rose Hall Estate, which adds a fun layer of culture to it. So, if you are looking for a fun vibe, and want to take some cooking classes at a historic resort, then the Hilton Rose Hall is the resort for you!
Conclusion: Resorts in Montego Bay
One of the best things about planning your trip to Montego Bay when it comes to resorts is that you have options—and actually really good ones. There are honestly resorts to fit any vacation vibe. So, whether you are all about luxury and romance, a party vibe, or a solo retreat, know that there is a resort in Montego Bay that 100% fits the vibe you are looking for.
Each and every resort I talk about in this blog, all bring something unique to the table. However, there is one aspect that they all have in common, and that is the Jamaican hospitality that made me feel right at home. If you are thinking about planning a trip to Montego Bay or Jamaica and you have questions or you aren’t sure what resort is right for you, please feel free to reach out anytime! I am always more than happy to share my thoughts and recommendations with you, in order to ensure you have the most amazing trip even to Montego Bay!