When you think of the ideal Jamaican vacation, what comes to mind? Does it include a variety of activities, your choice of accommodations, and a multitude of dining options? Are you looking for a great view of the beach and a family-friendly atmosphere? If this is the case, the Moon Palace Jamaica is the place for you.
If you’re looking for gorgeous beaches, warm weather, beautiful sunsets, and a place to enjoy an amazing culture and delicious food, Jamaica is the ideal vacation destination. Known for its most famous resident, Bob Marley, Jamaica has a reputation for friendly people, exquisite food, and excellent music. The Moon Palace Jamaica may be one of the most ideal spots to enjoy all that this island has to offer.
Moon Palace Jamaica: An All-Inclusive Resort
The Moon Palace Jamaica is a resort located in the heart of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Formerly a fishing village, this beautiful port town is now a resort with a cruise ship harbor and gorgeous beach. Described as an all-inclusive paradise, the Moon Palace has a wide variety of accommodations and activities for couples, groups, and families. Whether you want to swim with the dolphins, go snorkeling, or take a tour of the waterfalls, the resort can organize it for you. Furthermore, if laying on the beach is more up your alley, you can do that too. Additionally, it is located on a white sand beach and has spectacular views of the ocean.
Best features
When you walk into the lobby, a friendly staff member greets you. First, you go up to your room and have a wonderful view of the beach next to the hotel. Then you freshen up and go down to the pool, where another staff member introduces himself or herself and is available anytime you need them. You have the same experience when you step onto the beach. Throughout your time at the beach or in the pool, you are never on your own and always have someone there to service you. Later on, you take in some excellent entertainment at the bar, and the bar staff is friendly and enthusiastic.
In addition to this great experience, you have a wide array of choices for activities during your stay, including excursions, an excellent spa, and activities for your family. You can swim with the dolphins, check out the waterfalls, or take a short trip to the nearby town. The beautiful views, friendly and attentive staff, great entertainment, and an array of activities are the best features of the Moon Palace Jamaica.
Customer Reviews
Customers give the Moon Palace Jamaica an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor. The positive reviews say that it has excellent service, delicious food, many activities to choose from, and great entertainment. It also has great reviews as a location for a destination wedding.
The negative reviews complain that some of the staff do not seem to be trained well in customer service. There were instances of miscommunication between the customers and staff regarding the features of the resort, and there were concerns with cleanliness throughout the resort. Overall, a majority of the customers enjoyed their stay and were happy with their experience.
How much does it cost?
On the company site, the rooms run from $260 for the deluxe ocean view to $1,085 for the presidential suite. Book on a travel site such as Bookit.com and Trivago, and you can save up to 75 percent off of your room cost. In addition to these options, if you buy your flight and hotel together, you can sometimes save up to $300 off the price of the room.
How the Moon Palace Jamaica Compares to Similar Resorts
The Moon Palace has many wonderful features and great reviews, but it is not the only all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. In the next section, I will go over how the resort stacks up to similar accommodations. Then I will cover the price and best features of each resort. Lastly, I will show how each resort differs from the Moon Palace Jamaica.
How We Reviewed Comparable Resorts
The resort is ranked as number 24 in the U.S. News and World Report Travel Section for the best Jamaican resorts. We reviewed hotels with similar ratings and prices. In addition, we compared their features with those at the Moon Palace.
Similar Resorts
Here are the comparable resorts with similar rankings, features, and prices. They are listed in no particular order.
Azule Sensatori Jamaica, by Karisma
Similar to the Moon Palace, this resort is close to the beach, has friendly staff, delicious food, and activities for the family. It sets itself apart from the Moon Palace because it includes additional services such as an adult-only section for travelers who want some peace and quiet. U.S. News and World Report ranks it as number 23 for the best Jamaican hotels, and it has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor.
The positive reviews said that the staff was friendly, the entertainment was great, and the beach was beautiful. The negative reviews said that the hotel is pretty far from the nearest town, some of the rooms are cramped, and there is a lack of service throughout certain parts of the resort. The room prices run from $420 a night for a luxury junior suite to $1,040 a night for a two bedroom oceanfront suite. Travel packages run throughout the year.
Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort
The Jewel Runaway Bay Beach and Golf Resort has many dining options, activities for families, and a great view of the beach. Unlike the Moon Palace, it has tennis and golf, and the room rate includes all meals and drinks. U.S. News and World Report ranks it as number 25 for the best Jamaican hotels and it has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor.
The positive reviews said that it has lovely restaurants, an attentive staff, great views, and a nice water park on site for the kids. The negative reviews said that the rooms are similar to motel rooms, it has mediocre food, and some customers had an experience with slow service. The rooms run from $540 per night for a premier guest room to $1,150 per night for an oceanfront one-bedroom suite. Seasonal discounts and travel packages run throughout the year, and AAA members enjoy a 10 percent discount.
Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa
This resort has family-friendly amenities, a gorgeous beach, a variety of restaurants, and nightly entertainment. However, it sets itself apart from the Moon Palace because it has the largest water park in Jamaica, and additional activities such as kayaking and golf. U.S. News and World Report ranks it as number 26 for the best Jamaican hotels and it has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor.
The positive reviews said that the staff was energetic and very friendly, the rooms have great views, and it has a great water slide. They also said the resort has excellent food. The negative reviews said that the rooms had lousy water pressure, some areas of the hotel smelled dirty, and it has a low-quality golf course. The rooms run from $380 a night for an oceanfront king room, to $780 a night for an oceanfront suite with two queen beds. Travel packages run throughout the year, and AAA and AARP members enjoy a 5 percent discount.
Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort and Spa
The Jewel Dunn’s Resort has delicious food, a fantastic beach and pool, a range of activities, and a relaxing spa. However, it sets itself apart by catering exclusively to adults. The pool has a feature that mimics a waterfall, and it has activities such as kayaking and windsurfing. U.S. News and World Report ranks it as number 30 for the best Jamaican hotels and it has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor.
The positive reviews said that the staff is excellent, the food is amazing, it has great entertainment, and the grounds are clean. The negative reviews said that the resort had limited food selections, and the beach is blocked off so the customers can’t walk very far on the beach. There were also complaints that while the customers relax on the beach, the locals harass them. The rooms range from $490 per night for the sapphire mountain view guest room to $960 per night for the honeymoon haven oceanfront suite. Lastly, it offers seasonal discounts and packages throughout the year.
Royalton White Sands Resort
This resort has outstanding customer service, a great selection of restaurants, and many activities for kids and adults. It sets itself apart from the Moon Palace in several ways. First, it has personalized fitness instruction. Second, it has cooking classes. Finally, it has performances held in an open-air theater. U.S. News and World Report ranks it as number 34 in their list of the best Jamaican hotels, and it has 4.0 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor.
The positive reviews said that it had great food, excellent service, enjoyable entertainment, and clean rooms. Also, the guests enjoyed the fitness classes. The negative reviews said that some of the amenities, such as the water slide, malfunctioned. Others added that there was no hot water, and some of the suites didn’t have views of the ocean as they advertised. The prices range from $390 per night for an ocean-view suite to $730 per night for a luxury room. It offers seasonal discounts and packages throughout the year.
Pros and Cons
The Moon Palace Jamaica has many amenities that make it a great place to vacation. However, it does have its disadvantages compared to other resorts. Its pros are that it has a great view of the beach, very friendly staff, a choice of activities for adults and kids, great food, and good entertainment.
Its cons are that it doesn’t have some of the standard amenities that comparable resorts have. These amenities include a water slide for kids, and additional activities such as kayaking and golf. In addition to these setbacks, the grounds could be cleaner and more well-kept. If the resort added the above amenities and made sure their grounds were clean, their ranking in U.S. News and World Report would most likely improve.
Overall Impression of the Moon Palace Jamaica
If a family, group, or couple are looking for a resort to relax, participate in many activities, or do a little bit of both, then the Moon Palace Jamaica is the resort for them. It is not ideal for solo travelers, or adult travelers looking for peace and quiet throughout their trip. Regardless, the number of amenities and experiences the resort has to offer make it an ideal place to stay for travelers from many walks of life. When you go to the Moon Palace Jamaica, expect to be taken care of by a friendly staff, get some “R and R,” and enjoy your choice of activities. Happy Traveling!
Featured Image: CC by 2.0, by Steve Bennett, via Flickr