I was feeling absolutely miserable. After my red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta had been delayed, I was finally in Montego Bay, Jamaica — only 24 hours later. Needless to say, it was going to take a lot to cheer me up after my marathon flying experience.
Thankfully, my stay at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites was just what I needed.
The new all-suite resort, which opened last October, is a great example of the all-inclusive done right. It might not have had a ton of bells and whistles, but Iberostar’s friendly service, great food and laid-back setting made it worth the wait.
Iberostar Rose Hall Suites
|
The Iberostar Rose Hall complex occupies a prime stretch of beach in the exclusive Rose Hall neighborhood, a 20-minute drive from the airport. At night, the hotel lobby glowed and hummed as guests gathered in the lobby bar for a drink, and I could smell the fresh ocean breeze passing through the corridor. Still, all I could think about was getting to my room with its plush, king-size bed.
Feeling refreshed the next morning, I explored my airy and spacious Junior Suite, making sure to take in the glittering ocean view from my balcony. What I found was a great suite with plenty of room and family-friendly amenities. I loved the use of bold colors throughout the room — splashes of rich red contrasted with pops of lime green and opulent aubergine. My room was also outfitted with all the necessities: a flat-screen television, air conditioning, a fully stocked minibar, a coffee maker — perfect for brewing Blue Mountain, my new favorite brew — an alarm clock, a safe-deposit box and high-speed Internet access. The spacious marble bathroom featured a Whirlpool tub and separate shower, and the living room area was both functional and stylish with a good sized desk and a sofa that could double as a bed.
Form and function are two key elements at all Iberostar properties, and the Iberostar Rose Hall complex is no exception. The entire property itself is designed in such a way that it caters perfectly to a wide range of clients. Like other Iberostar properties throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, the Rose Hall complex involves a total of three different resorts — Iberostar Rose Hall Beach, your classic, all-around, all-inclusive; Iberostar Rose Hall Suites, an upscale, family-friendly, all-suite, all-inclusive; and the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall, a five-star, adults-only all-inclusive. Rose Hall Suites guests have exchange privileges with Rose Hall Beach, while Grand Hotel Rose Hall guests have exchange privileges throughout the entire campus.
The Rose Hall complex is unique — it is Iberostar’s first property in Jamaica — and it represents the Spanish hotel company’s plans for aggressive expansion and growth, especially in the Caribbean market.
During my stay, I got a sneak peek at the new Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall, which had its official opening on Jan. 16. The hotel was every bit as luxe as I would have imagined.
For me, however, what really set the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites apart was its service. At the suites, guests enjoy 24-hour room and concierge services and, overall, the staff was friendly and eager to help guests in any way that they could.
As for the food, it was excellent — a definite notch above other all-inclusive resorts that I have stayed at previously. The suites offer guests five different dining options: an all-day buffet, a Mexican restaurant, a gourmet restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant and a steakhouse. The cuisine was fresh and consistently tasty, something that some all-inclusive resorts fail to achieve.
And when I wasn’t savoring freshly brewed Jamaican coffee or succulent coconut shrimp, I was spending as much time as I could at the resort’s beach. Even in January, the fine-sand beach was warm to the touch, and the turquoise-green waters were calm and gentle, making it ideal for inexperienced swimmers, myself included. If the pool is more suitable to your client’s taste, they won’t be disappointed, either. At the suites, clients can float down a lazy river, shoot hoops in the activity pool, lounge in the lake pool with a swim-up bar or relax the day away in the Jacuzzi.
And if clients really want to relax, they have the option of signing up for spa treatments with the spa concierge. However, treatments are not included in the all-inclusive price.
For clients who prefer to unwind on the green, they can enjoy special privileges at the nearby Cinnamon Hill Golf Course. The course, which spans 400 acres between the mountains and the Caribbean, was designed by Robert von Hagge and was named one of the Top Courses in Jamaica by Golf Digest magazine.
By the end of my trip, I didn’t want to leave Iberostar Rose Hall Suites, at least not just yet. Maybe it was the fear of spending another 24 hours in various airports, though I highly doubt that was the case. Instead, I think it had a lot more to do with the wonderful experience I had there, and I have a feeling your clients will soon feel the same way.
Contact
Iberostar Rose Hall Suites
www.iberostar.com
Commission: 10 percent
Rates begin at $363 per room, per night, per person, based on double occupancy. Rates may vary by season
Web Exclusive
Click here to read about Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro's stay at the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach
