When our friends asked if my husband and I would consider traveling to Jamaica for their destination wedding, we said yes immediately.
We imagined spending our days exploring waterfalls, hiking through the Blue Mountains, and snorkeling in clear waters. After all, we tend to seek adventure when we take trips.
Once we found out the wedding was at the Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive resort, we decided to let ourselves relax for four nights. Apart from our trips to and from the airport, we never left the property.
At the time, we paid $1,904 for our oceanfront junior suite. The rate, which was slightly discounted since we booked through a room block, also included unlimited food, alcoholic beverages, and entertainment.
Here’s what it was like.
Wedding festivities kept us busy during the first part of the trip.
Because we were at Jewel Grande for a wedding, we had a lot to do during the first two days of our trip.
We went to a bonfire party the night before the ceremony, and the wedding itself was an all-day affair filled with food, drinks, and music.
After the wedding, we had two full days of vacation left with nothing on our agenda. Despite my tendency to cram as much as possible into a trip, I found these days of relaxation unforgettable.
Having friends at the resort made the experience more enjoyable.
Throughout our trip, my husband and I were surrounded by good friends who were also at the resort for the wedding.
Relaxing by the pool and enjoying the beach with friends made the trip more special. It was a good opportunity to catch up and laugh with loved ones.
The next time we book an all-inclusive trip, we’ll definitely include some friends.
The resort had a lot of activities, from boating to beach volleyball.
We might not have left the all-inclusive resort, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t do anything.
The resort offered yoga classes, and some people in our group took advantage of the golf courses near the property. My friends and I also got competitive during a few games of beach volleyball.
The price of our stay included unlimited access to nonmotorized watercrafts, and I never pass up an opportunity to kayak in the sea.
I also boarded a sailboat for the first time during an excursion included in the price of our stay. A guide took us a mile off the coast, where we could ride the waves.
The food was fantastic and included with our stay, though I didn’t get to try all the restaurants.
We started each morning with a fresh breakfast from the buffet or room service. During the day, we indulged in gourmet espressos and ice cream. Then, we closed out each night with steak, pasta, or fish.
The resort has several restaurants that specialize in steaks, Asian fusion, Italian fare, and more.
Everything I ate was delicious, but we didn’t get to try every single place, which is one of the main reasons we hope to return.
We dined like kings on this vacation, especially compared to our hiking trips, where we eat protein bars and PB&Js on the go.
I could order drinks without leaving the pool thanks to the swim-up bar.
We spent a decent portion of our days in the pool, and we didn’t have to go far to order drinks. The swim-up bar was one of my favorite things about this resort.
I was able to get an ice-cold beer without leaving the water, which was genius.
I tried some tropical drinks that I wouldn’t normally order at home.
I drink mostly beer and bourbon, but I decided to get adventurous and order strong, delicious tropical drinks at Jewel Grande.
Since unlimited cocktails were included in my stay, it was a low-risk option. My favorites were the Dirty Banana and the Rum Runner.
I saw other guests enjoying concoctions that were even more brightly colored than the ones I got, and I plan to order them during my next visit.
The beach views were amazing, and we would’ve been happy spending the entire day in the sand.
Jamaica has so much nature, and I’m sure we’ll explore it on future trips. However, on this relaxing getaway, the resort’s beach views were more than enough.
The water was so clear, and we could’ve spent all day reading in the sand or floating in the bay.
Our oceanfront junior suite was so nice that I had a hard time leaving it every morning.
Our stunning room had a king-sized bed and a private balcony overlooking the water.
I also enjoyed the massive freestanding bathtub inside and appreciated that I, a 6-foot-1-inch man, could comfortably fit inside it.
Room service was available around the clock, so we didn’t have to interrupt our lazy mornings and afternoon naps to find food.
At times, I had to remind myself that it’s OK to take a vacation and just rest.
I got a little restless at times during the trip.
I thought about the hiking trails we were missing out on, the rivers we could raft on, and the museums we could visit to immerse ourselves in the island’s culture and history.
Then, I remembered our two-week hiking trip last year and thought about the monthlong vacation we’d be taking through Italy later this year.
It was important to remind myself that it’s OK to just take it easy now and then.
When we added up the costs, we felt like we got a lot of value for our money.
One of the many amazing things about this all-inclusive resort is that we left feeling like we got a really good deal.
We paid $1,904 for two people to spend four nights in paradise, and that price included unlimited food, alcoholic drinks. entertainment, beach views, pool access, and nonmotorized water activities.
Booking an all-inclusive resort removed the stress of planning, and we’d love to return.
My family usually plans hiking adventures and trips abroad to a “T.”
We have spreadsheets breaking down travel times, destinations, and transportation routes. Sometimes, these details take months to research.
One of the biggest luxuries of this trip to Jamaica was that we didn’t have to plan a thing in advance. We booked our stay at Jewel Grande and let the resort handle the rest.
There are a lot of places I have yet to explore, and I plan to see as many of them as I can. However, in between hikes, castle tours, and visits to ancient ruins, we needed a week with our feet up by the pool, without a care in the world.
This story was originally published on March 11, 2023, and most recently updated on January 20, 2025.
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The post I spent 4 nights at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I never left the property and can’t wait to do it again. appeared first on Business Insider.
