Hibiscus Lodge Hotel

Though it was under construction during our visit, the entrance to Hibiscus Lodge Hotel has a stately appearance. A colonial-style sign announces the hotel’s presence on the main road, but the hotel itself is set back from the bustling street. A white, trellised portico leads to the lobby, which was also being renovated during our stay. From the lobby, the hotel spreads in two directions — the restaurant and bar to the right, and the rooms and pool to the left. The hotel sprawls across three clifftop acres, which allows for privacy and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. The clifftop location also provides guests with astounding views of the Caribbean Sea, and epic nightly sunsets. Guests are a mixed bag at Hibiscus Lodge. We encountered families with young children, couples, retirees, and even a few backpackers. The hotel sees guests from all over the world, but the majority are Americans and Europeans. 

Hibiscus Lodge is located in Ocho Rios, about a five-minute drive from downtown. Popular tourist attractions like Dunns River Falls, Mystic Mountain, and the cruise port are all within a 10-minute drive. The two nearest airports to Ocho Rios are Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston. Both are about 90 minutes from the hotel. One thing we feel compelled to mention is that Hibiscus Lodge is located next to a church that has extremely joyful (read loud) services on Saturdays and Sundays. Services begin early in the morning and last quite a long time. While we have no issues with people passionately practicing their faith, hotel guests who are trying to sleep in might. 

There are three room types at Hibiscus Lodge: Standard Rooms (with garden or pool views), Deluxe Rooms (with ocean views), and suites. Most Standard Rooms are housed in a two-story building that overlooks the pool. They’re the smallest room option here, with two queen-size beds and tiny bathrooms. (Triple Rooms are also available.) Standard Rooms’ white walls and white tile floors give them a bland palette, which is offset by chocolate-stained wood beam ceilings and dark wood furniture. Beds are dressed simply with white sheets, and are topped with floral print pillows that match the rooms’ curtains. The over-emphasized floral print makes Standard Rooms feel a bit dated, but flat-screen TVs help bring them into this decade. Bathrooms are only big enough to fit a shower stall, toilet, and pedestal sink, but the hotel provides plenty of towels and a few basic toiletries. Standard Rooms typically have balconies and patios that overlook the pool, and the ocean in the distance, but a few may have views only of the gardens.  Deluxe rooms are larger than Standard Rooms, and have direct ocean views. However, not all of them have outdoor balconies. Deluxe Rooms are painted in a buttery yellow hue, with dated hunter green accents. Like Standard Rooms, beds are dressed in white, but vibrant floral pillows and curtains give the decor a dated feel. Deluxe Rooms have much larger bathrooms that include shower/tub combos. Hibiscus Lodge’s suites are its top-tier category, and are the nicest rooms on property. Suites feature updated decor and offer separate living and sleeping spaces. The Euphoria Suite we visited had Asian-inspired furniture that gave the room a Zen-like feel. It also lacked the dated floral prints we found in the other room categories. Its bathroom had beautiful granite counters, a vessel sink, and modern mosaic tile inlays. Though decor might be a bit dated in some of the rooms, we want to point out that Hibiscus Lodge is spotlessly kept, and rooms are comfortable and clean. Travelers who don’t care about modern aesthetics or high-end amenities will find perfectly adequate rooms here. 

The Almond Tree Restaurant and the Swing Bar are probably Hibiscus Lodge’s best-known amenities, as both the bar and restaurant are popular with guests and non-guests alike. The Almond Tree serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a relaxed open-air setting. Breakfast is free for all guests and consists of both hot and continental items. Be sure to try the ackee and saltfish — Jamaica’s national dish and an Almond Tree speciality. Lunch and dinner are served a la carte, and have menus featuring both Jamaican and international dishes. The Swing Bar — a name that derives from the bar’s unique swinging bar stools — is an awesome spot any time of day. Guests like to swing by the bar (see what we did there?) after checking in for pina coladas and rum punch. It’s also a popular place for sunset cocktails or after-dinner drinks. Hibiscus’s pool is located in the center of the property, and has a large deck that overlooks the ocean. The pool is an odd, rough T-shape, but that doesn’t stop people from using it. Plenty of guests spend their days lounging poolside and splashing around in the water. It gets pretty deep, but there is a shallow section for little ones. For those who’d prefer to swim in the ocean, Hibiscus does have a small “beach.” Since Hibiscus is a clifftop property, there’s no natural sandy beach on-site. Instead there’s a tiny man-made patch of sand at the bottom of the cliff, with stairs that lead directly into the ocean. Beyond the sand patch, there’s a roped off section of water where guests can swim — though the water may be too rough and too deep for inexperienced swimmers. Hibiscus Lodge has free Wi-Fi across its property, but the connection can be spotty at times. It should also be noted that there are tons of stairs around the property, which may not be ideal for people with limited mobility.