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What’s Special About This Resort
The Jewel Grande Jamaica is a classic, sprawling, all-inclusive resort featuring towering buildings and high-end facilities for everyone in the family – it’s almost too big to fit into a single review. This resort, more so than others on our list, offers a long list of activities, restaurants, and ways to stay busy on your island vacation.
The spa is gorgeous and offers an extensive menu of treatments, while the fitness facilities offer a unique breadth of fitness options. The kids and teens center provides entertainment and greater options for families on vacation, with games, activities, crafts, and more. Additionally, the Grande Jewel works with a handful of local companies to provide guests with discounts for once in a lifetime excursions and experiences. Let’s Outoria…
A standard stay at the Jewel Grande Jamaica includes unlimited access to restaurants, eateries and bars, unlimited spirits, popular beers, and wines, plus room service, Kids Club & Teen Lounge with fun age-specific activities, complimentary resort-wide Wi-Fi, two outdoor pools and whirlpools, beach and pool concierge service, fitness center featuring LifeFitness® equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights, and access to non-motorized water sports gear. Beach & Pool Cabanas, as well as world-class Grande Spa services, are available for an additional fee.
Things we like:
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Gorgeous views -
Comfortable, luxurious rooms
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Beautiful facilities
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Lots of high-quality food options
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Lots to do for everyone in the family
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Huge resort – something for everyone
Things we don't like:
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Decor around the resort feels a bit dated -
Spa treatments are not included in the package
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Many advertised activities are not included in the package
What to Do
For those who traveled to Jamaica for the beach, the Jewel Grande makes it seamless and easy to spend some time on the sand. The resort offers beach and pool concierge service, and provides quite a bit in terms of aquatic entertainment. Use of non-motorized water sports gear like kayaks, sailboats, and stand-up paddle boards are all included in the price of your stay.
The resort has two outdoor pools with accompanying hot tubs, both equipped with a swim-up bar making it dangerously convenient to refill your cocktail. One of the pools seems to be catered more to families and social vacationers, with a volleyball net, a life size chess board, ping pong, and other outdoor games for guest use.
The other pool is on the other side of the spectrum, being equally beautiful but pretty bare-bones in terms of entertainment. If you’re looking to kick back with a good book and the sea breeze, this is probably the pool for you.
For families on vacation, the Jewel Grande does a truly exceptional job of having activities available for everyone in the family. There is a Kids Club and a Teen Lounge where kids and young adults can stay busy with table tennis, video games, the beachfront play area, splash pad, jungle gym, and more. The resort spa also offers a small menu of kids’ treatments, like mani/pedis or fun facials.
When it comes to active extracurriculars, the Jewel Grande really takes the cake. They offer a number of activities you won’t see at competing resorts like the S Hotel or Excellence Oyster Bay – zip lining, fishing, boating, swimming with the dolphins, hiking, riding ATVs, rafting, or even going on a shark encounter are all at your disposal (though some require an extra fee).
Additionally, the resort hosts yoga and wellness retreats run by world-class instructors. The resort offers three types of Yoga: Gentle, Flow, and Power Yoga, in addition to yoga-adjacent activities like powerwalk & promenades, aquacise in the pool, high-impact spin, and pilates.
The resort is also situated very close to a couple of beautiful and iconic golf courses. Unfortunately, these courses are not affiliated with the Jewel Grande, so rounds of golf are not included in your package.
For those who want to slow down a bit, the Jewel Grande Spa is a destination in and of itself. The breadth of their menu and luxury of their facilities rival that of the S Hotel – though, unfortunately, no services are included with the price of your stay at the Jewel Grand.
For an additional fee, the spa offers massages, facials, beauty services, rituals, wellness Enhancements, and more. Their 30,000 square-foot spa also houses a steambath, sauna, a couple of oceanfront mineral pools, and a one-of-a-kind Himalayan salt lounge. If it’s in the budget, we highly recommend checking out the spa.
What to Eat and Drink
Waves
Dinner 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Wave features a number of a la carte International cuisine options, featuring fresh seafood dishes like Steamed Snapper and Shrimp Saffron Risotto in addition to an extensive wine, beer, and cocktail list.
Reservations are recommended.
Cricket’s Beach Grill
Lunch 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Cricket’s is an alfresco, casual dining experience where the views are as good as the food. This lunch spot offers a unique mix of Jamaican-inspired cuisine with Tex-Mex flair.
Le Bouchon
Dinner 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Le Bouchon is a bit more of an elevated dining experience, offering the standard steakhouse staples in a lovely indoor dining room.
Reservations are recommended.
Pierside Restaurant
Dinner 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
The Pierside Restaurant is exactly what it sounds like – an alfresco dining experience with sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea. They serve a variety of Asian fusion cuisine featuring a selection of delectable stir-fry options.
Reservations are required.
Moonstone
Dinner 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Moonstone is an authentic Italian dining experience, open for dinner daily.
Fiery Pelican Outdoor Grill
Dinner 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
The Fiery Pelican Grill is there for quick bites, snacks, and grab-n-go options for your busy (or not so busy) day on the beach. Grab a wrap, a burger, nachos, and your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. At dinner, this humble snack stand transforms into “Jam Mex,” a Mexican/Jamaican fusion restaurant with outdoor seating under ambient paper lanterns. It certainly makes for a magical evening, and the food is spectacular.
The Jewel Grande Jamaica also offers quite a few bars and cafes on site, including The Lobby Bar, The Rum Runner Swim-Up Bar, the Ortanique Cafe & Juice Bar, The Sugar Kane, Silver Cafe, and more.
Room Guide
Oceanfront Junior Suite
From $432/night
Includes a private balcony, a large sitting area, and your choice of a king-sized bed or double beds.
Oceanfront Premium Junior Suite King Or Double
From $464/night
Upper-level suites include a private balcony, a large sitting area, and your choice of a king-sized bed or double beds.
One Bedroom Suite
From $492/night
Your choice of romance oceanview, resort view, or oceanfront
Includes a master bedroom with King sized bed, a separate living area with a sofa-bed, a dining area with a fully equipped kitchen, a soaking tub, and a private balcony.
One Bedroom Grande Luxe Oceanfront Suite
From $552/night
Their largest one-bedroom suite offers a private balcony with a prime oceanfront location, a fully equipped kitchen, a king-sized bed, and a twin pull-out sofa.
Two Bedroom Butler Suite
From $668/night
Your choice of resort view, oceanview or oceanfront
This two-bedroom suite offers a king and a queen-sized bed, 2 & half baths, a sofa bed, a fully-equipped kitchen with high-end stainless-steel appliances, a private balcony, and a trained butler.
Three Bedroom Butler Suite
From $1052/night
Your choice of oceanfront or penthouse
This suite features a master bedroom with a king bed and queen-sized beds in rooms two and three, a parlor, a terrace, a fully equipped kitchen, and a trained butler.
Three Bedroom Butler Villa
From $1172/night
Your choice of garden view or oceanfront
This three-story villa offers a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, sofa-bed, dining seating area, garden terrace, a private plunge pool, two rooms with Queen beds, their own private bath with shower, master suite with a King sized bed, a large master bath with soaking tub, large terrace, and a trained butler.
Three Bedroom Grande Luxe Penthouse Butler Suite
From $1572/night
This 3,592 square foot penthouse suite offers a private wraparound balcony, a fully equipped kitchen, three baths, one king bed in the master, a queen bed in each secondary bedroom, a sofa bed in the living area, and a trained butler.
The following amenities come included with every suite: Mini-Bar Restocked Daily, flat Screen TV, bathroom amenities, in-room safe, coffee maker, air conditioning, alarm clock, and a private balcony.
Special Experiences
As we mentioned, the Grande Jewel Resort offers discounted rates for a handful of local experiences and excursions to give your trip a memorable flare. The resort offers 10% off deep-sea sport fishing, Mini Cooper rentals for exploring the island, and even high-speed power boat excursions.
Additionally, if you book directly through the Jewel Grande Resort & Spa Website, you can get discounts on spa services, excursions, cabanas, and even upgrade your room.
Frequently asked questions about Jewel Grande Jamaica
Seasoned travelers recommend tipping your butler daily, about 5% of your nightly rate. While some all-inclusive resorts include gratuity in their rate, it is always courteous to tip your butler – especially if they are giving exceptional service.
The Jewel Grand is located in Montego Bay, roughly 15 minutes from the international airport, depending slightly on traffic conditions.
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