Ever since Moon Palace, a hotel franchise based in Mexico, took over Jamaica Grande, it has managed to maintain the high occupancy rate the property has always been known for. It has also seen more guests coming from Kingston, due to the North-South Highway, which cuts the journey down to 50 minutes instead of the two hours the traditional route takes. “We have a lot of local guests who come here, especially on holidays. Sometimes it’s unbelievable how popular we are with our local business community, who will often book several rooms for their top managers,” claimed Dean Paul Chambers, conference service manager.

BOLD GREETING

Entering the hotel lobby, the European-influenced design greets the eyes of guests in a bold manner. There are also modern design cues like the wooden chairs and complementary colour pallets of cushions and rugs. With a very high roofline, the tempered glass panes make up the majority of the walls to give it a spacious, lively feel. This theme, which is also extended to the glass staircase, is consistent throughout the hotel, especially on the main building. After passing the lobby, guests are expected to head to the frontdesk receptionist where it is imperative to ask for a rundown of the hotel’s amenities. Given its 21,000 square feet, there are so many things to do and it is easy to overlook many of the activities available.

THE RESTAURANTS

The easiest and most convenient restaurant to visit is Buccaneers Reef, which is in front of the main pool, and when on the outside, guests have a clear view of the docking bay for the cruise ships. Even at over 70 per cent occupancy, there was never a line to access food or inaccessibility of tables. For this reason, it seems to be a favourite during the morning and lunch hours. With over six distinctive bars and restaurants located at different points on the resort, it’s hard to choose a favourite. For the teens, they’ll presumably like the set-up of the Gourmet Corner, which houses a pizza and sandwich area that has a lively design theme and layout. In addition, there is a coffee shop parallel to it, where guests can select Devon House ice cream flavours and an array of pastries. As for the adults, the Sundeck bar and grill is a romantic night spot to dine, on the deck above the sea water, with only candles and the moon as sources of light.

TEEN FUN

Even though the Internet signal is strong throughout the property, no online interaction can rival the exciting outdoor activities like the water slide, situated next to the basketball court. The big selling point, though, is the Flowrider, a mechanical wavemaking pool where teens can take surfing lessons. While teens are preoccupied with these outdoor activities, parents are busy participating in the daily entertainment exercises, like learning the latest dance moves. For the teens who don’t want to be in the sun, they can enjoy the many features of the Wired Teen Lounge. It’s a designated teen area filled with console and arcade-style gaming. There is also a pool table, a non-alcohol bar and seating area for relaxation. “We try to be very accommodating to the teens, especially on occasions when the adults are in the clubs in the night enjoying themselves and the teens want somewhere to hangout. Even though the Wired Teen Lounge closes at 11 p.m., we often extend this time to make sure they are enjoying themselves,” shared Chambers. Truth be told, it’s a bit hard to get bored due to the size of the property, which sits beside Ocean Bay Beach, which guests can access freely. The rooms are kept comfortable and simple, with extra cushiony beds and access to 24-hour waiter service, which allows guest to view food options using the TV and have it delivered by a waiter. “We don’t want to complicate things for our guests, so we only have three room options which have incremental differences. We want everyone to have that premium experience when they come to the hotel and not feel like they have to purchase a certain package,” stated Chambers.

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