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The SPA Retreat Boutique Hotel

A far cry from the lawless all-inclusives that line Jamaica’s north shore, this stylish adults-only boutique hotel is for travelers who want to avoid crowds, eat farm-to-table food, and enjoy the beauty of Negril‘s cliffs and the Caribbean Sea. All 18 rooms are private, two-story stone cottages with large bathrooms, Serta Platinum beds, and private porches. Mini-fridges are stocked daily with selections guests make at check-in. Wi-Fi is free and you won’t find a TV on-site. The hotel’s cliffside location gives guests direct swimming and snorkeling access via a ladder or cliff diving, though the water can get rough. The hotel’s ocean-view saltwater pool makes a fine substitute, especially come sunset, when it offers the best views on the property — maybe even in all of Jamaica. From $179/night.

The Caves

Tucked into Negril’s limestone cliffs, The Caves is considered one of Jamaica’s most special resorts. The nightly rates for this adults-only resort are nowhere near cheap, but we think it deserves a spot on this list for the extensive perks those rates include — and the sheer romance and uniqueness of the resort experience. Naturally, meals and drinks are included, but the seasonal and high-quality offerings here are leaps and bounds above typical all-inclusive fare. Private five-course dinners, which are held by candlelight in one of the grottos at the base of the cliffs, are included in the rates, but reservations are required. Drinks at the grotto-housed Blackwell Rum Bar and The Sands clifftop bar are free, as are authentic jerk-barbecue nights. Room service is also available, and the hotel offers cooking classes on request once a week. Minibars in the 11 cottages and suites are re-stocked daily with free beer, liquor, water, juice, and snacks. The Caves offers free snorkeling and kayaking trips around the caves and along the cliffs, as well as lessons on how to safely cliff jump. On-site parking, bike rentals, and Wi-Fi are all free. From $423/night.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall

There is a trio of Iberostar properties in Rose Hall (a golf resort about a 25-minute drive from Montego Bay), and the adults-only Grand Hotel Rose Hall is the best of the three. Here, guests can take advantage of the features at the lesser Iberostars (Rose Hall Beach Hotel and Rose Hall Suites), but the opposite is not true — Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall is completely off-limits to guests at the other two hotels. So in all, Grand Hotel Rose Hall guests have free access to five pools, 15 bars (Grand Hotel Rose Hall serves top-shelf brands for free), and 11 a la carte restaurants, as well as the entirety of the resort complex’s half-mile beach. Rooms have free minibars with tons of snacks and liquor, plus free 24-hour room service (some rooms come with free butler service). On the activity front, there are free non-motorized water sports, tennis, and free green fees at the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course. For those who can do with fewer features, it’s more than worth comparing prices at the two sister hotels, where nightly rates cost significantly less. From $371/night.

Sunset at the Palms

Sunset at the Palms is an upscale adults-only beach resort with great all-inclusive rates and no wild mega-resort vibe. Its 85 rooms are treehouse-style bungalows with air-conditioning, private balconies, free Wi-Fi, and nightly turndown service. Free meals are served at the resort’s beach bar and grill, high-end a la carte Caribbean restaurant, open-air buffet, and special “Chef’s Showcase Under the Stars” nights. Three bars (plus a Balinese-style swim-up bar) serve Red Stripe, rum punches, and other drinks. At its small and natural beach (located across the street), the resort offers free non-motorized vessels, such as kayaks and windsurfing boards. Reggae artists perform several nights a week and there is a weekly cocktail party, yet the vibe never escalates beyond happy mingling into sloshed territory. From $263/night.

Couples Sans Souci

What sets Jamaica’s four couples-only Couples resorts apart from your average all-inclusive is that they’re truly all-inclusive: alcohol, meals, water sports, and activities are all free. If this sounds par for the all-inclusive course, consider this: Couples’ alcohol is top shelf, its dining includes private beach dinners at no extra cost, its water-sports program features free scuba diving (most resorts only offer free non-motorized water sports), and its free activities include glass-bottom boat rides and catamaran cruises, which would cost additional fees at most beach resorts. Moreover, Couples doesn’t charge for fitness classes, off-site excursions (like Dunn’s River Falls tours), airport and activities transfers, horseback-riding tours, bikes, and even unlimited golf. Even though these perks are found at all four locations, we especially love the Sans Souci resort for its lush, unspoiled setting. From $324/night.

Jewel Paradise Cove Resort & Spa Runaway Bay, Curio Collection by Hilton

Jewel Paradise Cove Resort & Spa Runaway Bay is one of Jamaica’s best values for an adults-only all-inclusive resort. Sure, it’s not in one of the island’s most popular destinations (Montego Bay or Negril), and the beach isn’t as impressive as the one at the (pricier) adults-only Couples Swept Away. But the Jewel has almost none of the hassles many associate with all-inclusives — no wristbands, no early-morning scramble to claim a pool lounger, and no required reservations at the restaurants (except for one). Most guests will feel that the many extras add up to a great deal — the water sports, glass-bottom boat tour, Konoko Falls excursion, diving excursion, and shopping excursion are all included in the rates — though oddly, alcoholic drinks aren’t free in the minibars in lower-tier rooms. It’s worth looking into and comparing rates the Jewel’s sister property, Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort & Spa, Ocho Rios, Curio Collection by Hilton, another all-inclusive with reasonable rates and considerable freebies. From $250/night.

Sandals Inn

Though the 52-room, couples-only Sandals Inn is emphatically mid-range, its all-inclusive rates include premium-brand liquor and 24-hour room service. The property is more pared-down (and less expensive) than the typical Sandals all-inclusive property, with a nearby beach that’s small and open to the public, but guests can take a free shuttle to Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean, where they have unlimited access to a large private beach, water sports, Red Lane Spa, and a wider variety of restaurants and bars. From $305/night.

Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa

Jamaica’s north shore is crowded with resorts, but Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa singles itself out with excellent amenities, including an immaculate private beach and Sugar Mill Falls Water Park — the largest water park on the island. (An on-site water park makes this the first family-friendly property on this list.) Extensive hotel features ensure that most guests will never need to leave the property, but if so, a shuttle provides free transportation to Rose Hall Plantation House and other destinations. All-inclusive rates here include all meals (but not room service), as well as access to Hilton’s kids’ and teens’ clubs. For adults, an on-site nightclub offers late-night drinking and entertainment, but otherwise the hotel’s boozing scene is rather subdued, with most adult guests gathering at the large terrace bar overlooking the main pool. Overall, the atmosphere is kid-friendly and caters to families with adults looking to have just enough fun — though not too much — after the sun goes down. From $274/night.

Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa

Everything about the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa is grandiose and massive. The lobby, a dizzying combo of marble floors, white columns, and plant-covered balconies, opens out to ocean vistas, and the 86,000-square-foot pool complex — the largest in Jamaica — seems like part water park/part Roman amphitheater. Add to this 10 restaurants, eight bars with near-24-hour operation, late-night entertainment, and a large supervised kids’ club with an outdoor play park, and you’ve got yourself one whopper of an all-inclusive. Compared to the common areas, the 544 rooms feel slightly spartan from a design perspective, but they come with large flat-screen TVs, furnished balconies, free Wi-Fi, and free minibars (refreshed daily with soda, bottled water, and beer). From $253/night.

Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay

Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay is a calm, family-friendly all-inclusive without the typical party vibe (in fact, spring breakers are barred from staying here). The daytime scene is all about pool-lounging and beach-going, and nights culminate with couples dancing to live bands. Guests have five restaurants to cycle between, as well as 24-hour room service and free liquor-stocked minibars in the rooms. Riu Palace makes good use of its beautiful beachfront, which has clean white sand and clear, turquoise waters. Non-motorized water sports, including windsurfing, catamaran sailing, and paddleboats, are free. Weirdly, though, snorkeling equipment comes at a fee. The beach is much less populated than Seven Mile Beach, and guests are less likely to be hassled by vendors than on other busier beaches. From $291/night. 

ClubHotel Riu Negril

Between the low buildings and the mellow, palm-strewn Bloody Bay beachfront, the mid-range ClubHotel Riu Negril‘s relaxed, fun-loving vibe is practically palpable. The 420-room resort (renovated in 2015) doles out great all-inclusive value, offering a wide range of dining, drinking, activities, and entertainment — and hordes of guests to soak it all up. Rooms are spacious and on the formal side, with marble bathrooms, private terraces, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, free minibars that are topped off daily, and liquor dispensers with full-size bottles of booze. However, there are no coffeemakers or Wi-Fi (which is available only in the common areas). Another potential drawback is that the sprawling property can require lots of walking, but it’s mostly along the beach. Water sports include windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, and catamaraning. From $222/night.

Royal Decameron Club Caribbean

Compared to the hard-partying all-inclusives for which Jamaica is famous, this hotel’s atmosphere is considerably more quiet and relaxed. Will it win any points for design or trendiness? No. But as far as beachfront hotels go, this is a solid option, especially in an area packed with dated value and mid-range options. The 231-room resort offers a wide beach, two pools, and three open-air restaurants. Besides food, drink, and kids’ club access, Royal Decameron‘s all-inclusive rates cover water sports (kayaking, windsurfing, and snorkeling) on the resort’s private beach. For a mid-size property, the beach is surprisingly large. Man-made jetties and breakwaters help to keep the strong Caribbean waves and riptides at bay, ensuring that the water just offshore is calm and swimmable. From $172/night.

Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay

Entering this boisterous family-friendly resort feels like time-warping back at least two decades. The architecture and decor are clearly old-school and aging, but everything is well-maintained. The hotel’s half-mile of private sandy beach is made even more special by its private sand island, accessed by a short walk through shin-deep water. An adults-only beach area and pool with a swim-up bar and hot tub offer a calmer escape from the kid-crowded main pool and entertainment area. Speaking of kids, children under 12 stay and eat for free, so expect lots of young families running about. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel, but it can be patchy, and there are two self-serve laundry rooms at either end of the resort. Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay is best suited to families who crave value over luxury, like resort-style cheesy fun, and have the patience to wait out the buffet lines. From $192/night.

Sunscape Splash Montego Bay

Like the Holiday Inn, the mid-range Sunscape Splash Montego Bay is a retro family resort on the beach. Sunscape largely feels like the early-80s-constructed property that it is, but recent renovations and good maintenance have kept it in all-around excellent condition. Food and beverages are available 24 hours a day, either at the buffet, one of the three a la carte restaurants, multiple bars, or the 24-hour cafe. There are four pools, a private beach with free kayaks (motorized water sports cost extra), and Pirate’s Paradise Waterpark — a destination in itself with sky-high waterslides, a castle, a lazy river, and the namesake pirate ship. Plus, Sunscape’s 306 air-conditioned rooms have terraces or balconies and minibars that are replenished every other day. From $179/night.

Grand Pineapple Beach Negril

Grand Pineapple Beach Negril has the distinction of being the cheapest all-inclusive in Negril. The colorful and intimate all-inclusive hotel is centrally located right on Seven Mile Beach, and offers entertainment, a big outdoor pool, and a whirlpool. Sailing, snorkeling, and beach volleyball are available, and guests can opt to pay for water sports and other activities at the nearby Sandals Negril or Beaches Negril. The resort only has one buffet restaurant, though its menu rotates through different cuisines. From $143/night.

SeaGarden Beach Resort

In contrast to many of the characterless all-inclusives in Montego Bay, SeaGarden Beach Resort has a colonial Caribbean style (think arched doorways and ornate oak furniture) that calls to mind the island’s 19th-century homes and hotels. The look in some areas, however, isn’t so much Old World as just old. Even though it’s a relatively small resort (140 rooms), SeaGarden offers a surprising list of amenities. Among its most notable are a clean, private beach with calm waters, a well-maintained pool, and three full-service restaurants. Children are allowed on the property, and dedicated childcare services are also available. Even so, the mostly elegant design and relaxed vibe seem geared more toward adults and couples — the hotel even has a piano lounge, a wine bar, and an after-hours lounge. From $162/night.

What to Bring: Summersalt Swimwear

Summersalt is almost made for a trip to the Caribbean. Having sizes ranging from 2-24 and a massive supply of different colors and styles, Summersalt is made for every kind of woman.

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