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Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort: Traveler Reviews

Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating:
  • A summary score based on quality, quantity and age of traveler ratings.
3.5 of 5 stars 793 reviews
793 Reviews
5.0 of 5 stars
250
4.0 of 5 stars
281
3.0 of 5 stars
112
2.0 of 5 stars
95
1.0 of 5 stars
55
TripAdvisor Popularity Index:
  • Measures overall traveler satisfaction based on ratings, reviews and other sources.
#11 of 39 hotels in Ocho Rios
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  • Rooms: 730
Description: Escape to the all-inclusive splendor of the legendary 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios with its spectacular variety of amenities... This description is based on information provided by the hotel.
Address:
P.O. Box 100
Ocho Rios
Jamaica
Check Rates: $276 Avg. Price
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TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

( 71-75 of 793 )
“Dangerous water!!”

Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

Apr 29, 2008
1/3 found this review helpful

We were supposed to stay at the Sunset Beach in Montego Bay, but it was still under renovation so we were upgraded to the Sunset Beach Grande. The bus trip from the airport took 6 hours because we had to wait for the bus to fill up and then we were in "rush hour traffic" that slowed us down. About 30 minutes from the hotel, we had to stop for "procedure". Procedure really meant a rest area with a shop to spend your $$$ and get a drink which by that time you really needed. Even though the people on the bus begged the driver to go on the hotel, he said he had to stop. We were there about 30 minutes.
Check in went smoothly and we got a room on the top floor. The room was nice enough and had a great ocean view. It was nice and cool--AC worked fine. THe issue we had with the room was with the water in the shower. The first couple of days it was ok, but the rest of the week it was SCALDING!!!!!!!!!No inbetween. You COULD NOT shower or else be burned!!! I reported this to the front desk and they said they would fix it, but it never happened. We would have to fill up the tub and wait for it to cool before we could bathe. That ended up taking a lot longer to get ready.
The food in the buffet was ok. The drink cups were way too small and I had to make several trips to finish a meal even though I would get 2 at a time.
The specialty restaurants were great. Definitley get reservations for those!
The pool was beautiful, but the beach was pretty pitiful. However the week we were there it rained --and I mean monsoon--for 4 days!!!! Nothing else really to do. We walked to town and bought an uumbrella and a deck of cards. I read 3 books in 7 days, not unusual for a beach trip, but most of the reading was done in the room.
Upon departure I honestly filled out the survey with very strong remarks. After we got home, we got a letter of apology from the hotel and an offer of 3 free nights at our original destination the Sunset Beach in Mo Bay. We will probably take advantage of that offer, but it is subject to blackout dates and I have to call Jamaica to make the reservations--no toll free number.
The staff was very friendly and hard workers.
The drinks were awesome--one of the very few places I have been outside the US where margaritas taste like margaritas.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — The pool area
    • Disliked — Hot hot water in shower--dangerously
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KyAlwaysreadytogo's Summary
Date of Stay: November 2007
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Romantic getaway
Age group: 50-64
Member since: April 29, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
    • 4 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
most likely
I recommend this hotel for:
Girlfriend getaway, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Older travelers, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $276 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“I would go back!”

Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

5 of 5 stars
New Hampshire
Apr 29, 2008
3/3 found this review helpful

I had a wonderful time at this amazing all inclusive resort. Our room was just fine. We do not go to the islands to sit in the room. It was sufficient for sleeping and bathing. The view was not good from the deck but all you had to do was leave the room for that. All of the restaurants included at the resort served just fine food. The buffet was great. I am a vegetarian and had no problem at all finding delicious choices to eat.

The beach: did not have to fight to find a great chair. There were plenty of towels. Unfortunately, it did rain and was overcast most of our stay but we just sat in the hot tubs located outside next to the pools. Even during the rain! Plenty of alcohol to keep you entertained and the staff did not quit. They really tried to make sure you had a good time. We brought our own cups for the free drinks so we did not have to keep going up plus our cups were insulated to keep the drinks colder longer and environmental by not throwing a million plastic cups away the entire vacation.

The slide was under construction when we were there. No big deal. We had a great time out on the trampolines and the windjammers too. Met a great couple from Nova Scotia and hung out with them at nights.

I highly recommend the trip to Bob Marley's birth place in the mountains. The ride itself is wonderful country and mountain views. Just don't be hung over from the night before. Could cause trouble on the bumpy back roads.

Staff was very nice. We tipped because we had such great service everywhere even though it was not required.

Don't expect to snorkel in front of this hotel. Go elsewhere for that. The water is cloudy because it is in a harbor but still fine to cool off in and swim but you won't be snorkeling.

We walked into town once to shop but you get bothered by the locals. It is best to buy when the vendors come to the resort and set up. They don't push you and you can haggle with them on price. I got a cute photo album and other gifts for people back home at very reasonable prices.

This is the place for couples, friends, people who like to party.

The trip to Margaritaville is a rip off. Drinks are way over priced and the atmosphere was kind of boring. Gift shop is good if you are a parrot head.

The Dunns Falls trip was okay. It was raining again when we went. It was an experience. Just don't get sucked in when you try to get back to the bus. These local vendors try to get you down these paths and into unsafe areas. They may see a bracelet on your wrist from the all inclusive and try to say they know you. All they are doing is reading the bracelet and knowing what resort you came from. Very shady and sketchy. I thought we might be pick pocketed.

I loved Jamaica! I want to go back. It is a beautiful island. Even the long trip from the airport to the resort I enjoyed. I liked stopping at the local watering hole. Don't expect McDonalds or the comforts of the U.S. If you want that, stay home.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ic3cr3am's Summary
Date of Stay: April 2007
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Quality time with friends
Age group: 25-34
Member since: August 28, 2006
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Families with teenagers
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Older travelers, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $276 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“Wonderful holiday!!”

Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

Apr 27, 2008
5/5 found this review helpful

To be given such a wonderful opportunity, to see another part of the world like Jamaica, I am surprised that some people are concerned with, what seems to me, insignificant details.

Looking at some of the housing around the island, I would say that my accommodations were excellent. They were not what I would expect back home…but then again…I wasn’t back home. The rooms acceptably clean and we were there mostly at night to sleep. I couldn’t even tell you what colour the paint was on the wall…but the sky was blue and so was the ocean.

The food…I had breakfast and lunch at the buffet. I left satisfied every time. Again…I did not expect to eat as I do back home because I was not there. I found it to be quite excellent non the less…not the same as home but as good!! I was pleasantly surprised with the A la Carte restaurants. I had steak, Thai chicken dish, pork tenderloin, chicken stuffed with spinach etc. I felt as though I WAS eating at very good restaurants back home. My mom is accustomed to finer cuisine and she did not dare want to share her ‘chicken with nuts’ dinner with me at all and made me order my own!!!

The pools were great and there were many. Everyone seemed to be enjoying him or herself, young and old. I would definitely come back to this resort. It is minutes from ‘town’ and from duty free shopping. You can get all of the same stuff from the gift shop but cheaper. There are women everyone willing to braid hair…not sure of the price on the resort…but their ‘first’ price for a full head was 40$. You can usually bargain them down quite a bit.

The people were great and very friendly. The service is slower but you need to remember that you are in Jamaica…there is no stress, no need to worry, they are VERY relaxed and are not in a rush for anything. That is how they are…they are not trying to piss anyone off…it is part of their culture. We did do some tipping but did not feel obligated and as another reviewer mentioned…you are helping someone less fortunate than yourself.


A must…. the jerk chicken…just so that you can say you tried it!!!

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — A la Carte restaurants and the location of the hotel
    • Disliked — leaving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
coco2652's Summary
Date of Stay: April 2008
Traveled with: Family (extended)
Visit was for: Quality time with family
Age group: 35-49
Member since: April 27, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Older travelers, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Museums / Cultural / Historical sites, Shopping, Other
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $276 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“Beautiful island”

Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

Apr 27, 2008
4/4 found this review helpful

Me and my family came to sunset from 15/04/08 for 11 nights, during that time, myself and partner got married. There were 3 adults and 2 children all together. It was the childrens first plane flight and 'proper holiday' so we were looking forward to a stress free wedding/holiday. I will split up my review in sub headings as is easier to understand.
Food / drink
The food at Sunset was great, yes there is a booking system for the 'posh' resturants but with planning it didn't cause any problems as the grills that were open all day and the buffet style resturant was delish! you could eat as authentic as you wanted or in the case of most Brits and Americans theres plain old fries and burger, i must recomend the grilled sandwiches and jerk chicken! there is a wide variety on the menu at all times and the fresh fruit in the morning is the best way to start any day. Service in all catering establishments was first class.
The drink went down too quickly!! the cocktails were great and was very easy to try and sample every thing! of course they did a special menu of cocktails and drink for the non drinkers and children.

Family.
All staff were very friendly to the children and were happy to interact with them. There is entertainment for children and adults most days and eve.

Rooms.
I found our room was large, comfortable and always clean, we had a lovely sea view on the south side that was magical to wake up to every morning. There is a key for your safe for a deposit but we would recomend that for peace of mind.
Our house keeping lady was lovely, always friendly.

Pools and grounds.
All pools are cleaned daily and are lovely and warm, we stayed in them til sunset most days! There are ample sun loungers and towel hire. life guards on all times. Sea is fantastic but wear water shoes as sea urchins are under foot and can really sting! There is a great craft market allowed into the grounds twice a week which is great but you must haggle with them and be firm!
The wedding itself was a perfect day in paradise and i couldn't have asked for more.

Locals.
We went into town and other craft markets on excursions and were not prepared for the determination of most of the sellers! you have to be kind but firm and stick to it. they will charge stuff to your room if your not careful and are too soft like us! Most are friendly but always go together, never alone. Beware of the road users and as a passenger!! Lets just say this 'laid back' image does not apply when behind a wheel!!

Tipping for service
This is not always expected at this hotel as is included in the all inc. money but i feel that if you do get a member of staff go the extra mile to help, you repay that service, it goes along way.
outside of the complex, tipping is expected and you will be asked for it, it is up to you how much you give but anything from 2 to 5 dollars is classed as reasonable.

I hope this will be helpful, one more word of warning and thats the airport staff at Mo bay...That's a whole new review!!

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
HoneySouthWest's Summary
Date of Stay: April 2008
Member since: April 27, 2008
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $276 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com
“10/10 excellent holiday/wedding!”

Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

5 of 5 stars
Wiltshire
Apr 27, 2008
3/3 found this review helpful

We were at SJG from 8th - 22nd April. We have a fantastic time. We arrived on tues and married on fri. The weather was great. We did have the bad storm over three days, but it didn't stop us doing anything. The staff were very friendly and organized indoor events. The buffet food was fine, but you MUST book the restaurants too. You can book at 9am two days in advance. The wedding went without a hitch, It was beautiful and wouldn't have had it any other way. My top marks go to the Kids Club. I couldn't get our three out of it. Disco nights, fashion shows, goat racing, pj party etc. (Donna and Collette were excellent and felt like family at the end of 2 weeks). Lots of tears when we left.

I did email and request the south tower and got room 424 which was great. (some people said the north tower was really noisy).

Please dont worry about all the bad reviews, I did and shouldn't have.

All in all, I would go back tomorrow if I could.

Any questions, please mail me.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
pook2b's Summary
Date of Stay: April 2008
Member since: June 10, 2007
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $276 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-454-6835 from hotels.com

Reviews of Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort

( 71-75 of 793 )
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