Great Montego Bay escapes
As a travel agent, I tend to receive some extra attention from hotel staff, making sure that I am impressed with their services and recommend their accommodations. In January, I decided to take a winter blues escape to Montego Bay. I was eager to visit the brand new Hyatt property in Montego Bay, the Ziva Rose Hall Resort, as a typical guest to see how I would be treated. To my delight upon arriving with other guests, I was welcomed with enthusiasm and attention to every detail attended. Redesigned from an old Ritz Carlton, Hyatt developed a phenomenal resort by adding several guest rooms, amplifying the length of the beach and inviting a new flavor in additional restaurants. Wow! What a wonderful change. The property is clean and contemporary and only one word describes the pool, fabulous! Lovely pool beds with billowing canopies dot the pool area. Preferred club members luxuriate in specially reserved pool beds accented by adorable bright orange towel animals.
The most difficult decision of each day was deciding on what flavor would be my evening meal. Would it be Italian, Brazilian, Asian, French or a continental buffet? No reservations required! Dinner at the French restaurant, for adults only, was a savory indulgence with an opportunity to purchase premium wines. Choosing Asian fusion provided a favorable fair at the stir fry cooking table or Japanese grill. The servers were attentive to any allergies or special requests while our chef, Ackeel prepared each meal to preferred excellence. With so many choices, making a decision kept my mouth watering in anticipation all day.
Breakfast was by no means and easy decision either! Morning at the Calypso Caribbean style restaurant was soothing. My eggs Benedict with calloloo arrived as I gazed upon the bright blue waters of the Caribbean with its waves crashing against the rocks. Don’t be in a hurry to finish your meals. look around and soak in the island paradise. If you are in a rush to enjoy the many exciting excursions that await, try the continental buffet with its separate stations. There are many places to dine inside an air conditioned space or outside with views of windsurfers sailing by. A favorite meal was lunch at the jerk shack on the beach. Juicy grilled chicken, tangy sausage and tasty pork were so tender I hardly had to chew! The authentic Jamaican jerk sauce was amazing and added just the right flavor. I can safely say it was the best jerk chicken I’ve ever had! The staff is superb about checking on beverage requirements so you are always refreshed and ready to go. Andre made certain that I had bottled water and cups of ice as I soaked up the sun. Start your diet after you return!
The Zen Spa felt, well, very Zen. It offered full body showers, sauna and cold plunge pool inclusive of your spa treatment. I chose the seaweed wrap for detoxifying and a vitamin C facial. The facial was calming and absorbing, Sharon was most pleasurable as she made certain that I achieved my Zen. The seaweed wrap began as a luxurious experience, unfortunately that luxury turned icy cold when the showers were undergoing repair and I was scurried off in my green skin and too short of a towel to a cold water shower! Have I mentioned that I hate cold water? The flustered attendant tried to rub off the remaining seaweed while I was standing naked in the ladies locker room. Looking back, I probably looked like a frog being prepared for a meal!
The outdoor Jacuzzis were also undergoing some repair as the water temperature was below the preferred temperature. It was somewhat difficult to enter and exit the tub with no handrail and stepping on to a slippery tile floor. Be careful, bring an extra towel to step. Hot water eluded me one day as there was none for my bath, have I mentioned that I hate cold water? This is a new property so they are still working out the kinks. The toiletries provided in the rooms are very nice and generously sized. The Hyatt is Eco conscious and refills are eagerly provided upon guest request. Housekeeping visits twice daily to restock your mini fridge and provide extra chips and plenty of clean white towels.
To work off the fabulous meals, activities such volleyball pool games and dance lessons twice a day can help you make more room for your next meal! A round of golf will fill your day on any of the 3 nearby courses, All guests are invited and encouraged to participate in the selected events offered throughout the day and evening. Tennis courts are available and lit up at night and a 24-hour fitness center is located at the spa area. An outdoor show is presented at 9:00 PM providing for very entertaining evenings.
One lazy afternoon, I enjoyed the Island Routes Reggae Catamaran Cruise which ferried to the dock at Sandals Montego Bay; a lovely property with a quaint beach near the airport. A plane taking off disturbs the murmur of waves for only a moment as you slip back into a meditative pose. The catamaran can accommodate 75 guests. Approximately half of us ventured in the water for some face-to face snorkel time with the local fish. The reef was an symphony of colors, blue tang, orange clownfish, red pencil fish and an orchestra of fish dressed in every color. It’s five-o’clock somewhere and our next stop was Margaretville, time for some silly fun on the water slides and trampoline. The local DJ played all the right music for dancing and electrifying a party atmosphere. The journey back was greeted with rougher seas as I relished the waves washing up on deck while sitting on the netting, a complimentary rum punch keeping me warm.
I strongly recommend the Ziva Rose Hall Resort for all occasions: winter blues escape, a destination wedding or a family reunion. Everyone should experience the azure ocean, sailing, swimming and of course the dining. A brand new adults only “sister” property is located next door. Guests are welcome to visit any restaurant or activity on either property. The resort is a 15 minute ride from the Sangster International airport where you will find a comfortable airport lounge. The property is small enough that amenities are easily accessed and large enough that you won’t be jostled by hoards of people. The resort staff are phenomenal at making your stay an amazing experience. Every endeavor is made to improve the facilities and services for your holiday. As always tips are appreciated!
As we drove to the airport for our trip home, we complained about returning to cold weather, our driver remarked that we may have bad weather but a good government, while in Jamaica they have a good weather and a bad government. It caused me to reflect that we should be ambassadors of respect and courtesy to share with and learn from others through our travels and encounters, perhaps modest people can make major changes. THE WORLD AWAITS!!