Iberostar Hits Jamaica

Iberostar’s latest all-inclusive resort recently opened in Rose Hall, Jamaica, only 20 minutes from the Montego BayAirport.

The Iberostar Rose Hall Beach (876-680-0000) is the chain’s first foray into Jamaica and the first of three planned resorts on the island.

Decorated in a combination of European and Caribbean accents with exterior and interior design details executed by local Jamaican artisans, the resort opens its doors with 366 rooms, 32 Junior Suites and one Presidential Suite. All rooms have air conditioning and ceiling fans, complimentary minibar (with soft drinks, beer and bottled water), coffee maker and a built-in safe.

The best room to book is the Presidential Suite, which has a separate bedroom, living room and kitchen. The large outdoor balcony, equipped with a Jacuzzi, affords guests amazing views of the ocean and beach. The Junior Suites are also a great option, as they have a king-size bed, a sofa bed and a full ocean view. Junior and Presidential Suites cannot be booked over the GDS, so travel agents can contact General Manager Philip Hofer ([email protected]) for VIP guests.

The all-inclusive daily rates include all meals and snacks, drinks and cocktails, room service, use of the hotel gym and kids’ club, onsite activities, nightly entertainment and gratuities.

The resort’s four restaurants are sure to satisfy any palate. Three are reservation-only specialty restaurants, including Uncle Tony’s, a family-style steakhouse; Samurai, a Japanese restaurant; and a Cajun establishment called Jambalay. After-dinner entertainment can be had at any of four bars, including a theater bar and cigar bar.

Clients don’t have to leave the property to enjoy the Jamaican sunshine. The resort boasts a large swimming pool with a swim-up bar, plus a separate infinity pool. Guests can also take advantage of the many activities the resort offers, including aerobics, volleyball, table tennis, outdoor dance lessons and Spanish classes. Additionally, non-motorized water sports, such as sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and windsurfing are included. Activities such as scuba diving and a variety of motorized water sports are available at an extra charge.

The children’s program, the Lucy Mini Club, is quite popular at the resort. It’s open daily from 10:15 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. year-round and takes children ages 4 to 12. Activities include face painting, arts and crafts and story time. Additionally, younger guests can partake in organized activities led by the Star Friends animation team.

The spa is currently under construction and is slated to be completed by summer. Currently, services can be performed in the guest’s room or at the outdoor hut on the beach.

Weddings are very popular at the resort, and agents can contact wedding coordinator Loreto Lazo ([email protected], 876-680- 0000, ext. 1516) on behalf of soon-to-be newlyweds.

More Hotels Planned

Off-property activities can be as low-key as shopping in the nearby HalfMoonShopping Center and the RoseHallShopping Center or as physically challenging as a visit to DunnsRiverFalls, where groups of people actually climb to the top of the waterfalls, while walking hand in hand for support through the water and rocks. This a particularly good activity for families. We observed everyone from children to grandparents having a lot of fun at the Falls.

Many guests at RoseHallBeach will likely spend a day or two taking in the sights of Jamaica, including the Rose Hall Great House, an old plantation that has been restored and now serves as a museum. It is said that the spirit of Annie Palmer, known as the White Witch of Jamaica, haunts Rose Hall, along with other ghosts believed to be her victims.

Iberostar is planning to open two other properties in the near future; the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Hotel is the next in line. It will feature 375 suites and junior suites, a panoramic swimming pool, an activity slide and a lazy river. There will be four restaurants and seven bars.

The Grand Hotel Rose Hall will be the third and most luxurious of the hotels. Slated to have six restaurants, including the Surf & Turf and an Italian eatery, it will incorporate a music bar, lobby bar and special smokers’ area. A full entertainment complex, which it will share with the other two hotels, will include a clubhouse, a wedding area, a shopping center, a convention center, teen and adult nightclubs and a dive center.