Rose Hall vs Sunset Beach

[Plantcitycruise]

I realize that both of these places have multiple threads and reviews. However I couldn't find one that specifically compares the two. We are considering an all inclusive this time in Jamaica and I am having a hard time deciding between the two. We dock in Montego Bay.

 

Sunset is closer and less expensive. Is the quality lower? It's $40 less per person which isn't a ton but if it's comparable why pay more.

 

Hilton Rose Hall is a bit further and more expensive. It is a Hilton which I am familiar and comfortable with.

 

It's 10 adults and one 10 year old. So most important is good drinks and a fun pool area.

 

Thanks for any feedback

[CruznisMagic]

I realize that both of these places have multiple threads and reviews. However I couldn't find one that specifically compares the two. We are considering an all inclusive this time in Jamaica and I am having a hard time deciding between the two. We dock in Montego Bay.

 

Sunset is closer and less expensive. Is the quality lower? It's $40 less per person which isn't a ton but if it's comparable why pay more.

 

Hilton Rose Hall is a bit further and more expensive. It is a Hilton which I am familiar and comfortable with.

 

It's 10 adults and one 10 year old. So most important is good drinks and a fun pool area.

 

Thanks for any feedback

 

We are getting ready to book Hilton Rose Hall.

 

Last year we went to Sunset, for the price we were vey disapointed.

Just my story___ There was no nice checkin, actually we were taken to a small room , after a long wait, they finally got our reservation straight.

 

We saw a the bar, kids had virgin frozen drinks. Then fingers pointed us to the beach . No beach service, we could have went to Dr Caves and saved. a few hundred $. The pictures of the kids pool area , was not what we expected. Run down. Anyway we stayed toal about 3 hours and caught a taxi back to the ship. I would rather pay a little more and get trated like a guest.

[Plantcitycruise]

Thank you for the feedback. We still haven't decided what we are going to do. I see that Carnival offers an all inclusive beach day option too.

[emaksb]

We also looking at doing a all inclusive in Jamaica but not sure which one would be best. Weill be traveling with adults and kids ages 2-9.

 

 

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[LostCrayon]

Hi,

I have been to Jamaica 2-3 times a year for the past 10 years. And I have stayed and visited at all the above places.

 

Sunset beach... I stayed as a guest and the truth is that the food is gross (cold food, plus they run out of said gross food). The water slide area is dangerous, the panels aren't aligned so you get cut on the way down and the floor is slippery. Now the one perk is that it is very close to the port.

 

Hilton Rose Hall... I visited here. Its beautiful, but pricey. Not as much for the kids to do and further from the port.

 

Doctor's Cave... Its a private beach, but one of the most beautiful beaches out there. I can't remember the cost to get in. For $5 each they rent chairs, umbrellas, floaties, etc Also they have a small outdoor bar called the Groovy Grouper for food. Food is good, but check out the prices. The good thing is that it puts you on the strip, where there are many things to do. Including Margaritaville next door, Burger King maybe 3 or 4 blocks up, a casino with an ice bar inside, and many other restaurants and stores.

 

Check out the Holiday Inn, its one of the cheaper all inclusives, but its fun. Also look into the RIU, its more upscale than Holiday Inn, its all inclusive, and better quality foods. All these hotels have day passes.

 

Good Luck!

[P&B Toronto]

The swimming is not great at Rose Hall or the Riu. You can get to Dr Cave for about $5 each, get in for $5, chairs cost $5, beer is about $3 or 4, the full fish meal is about $13 (it's good), the chicken or burgers are less. A beef patty is about $2. The swimming at DR Cave is great, the reef is good right from shore, there are also water trampolines. You can take a glass bottom boat. Offer them a flat rate for your whole group - $80, they take you out and let you snorkel on a reef just past the buoy line . It is on what is called the hip strip - lots of shopping and restaurants. I would try Pork Pit for Jamaican jerk barbecue. You can do all the above for less then the other places and have a more Jamaican experience. I was there in January for a week.

[Plantcitycruise]

Thank you for the info on Doctors Cove. That may be more up our alley. We decided against the Sunset place and were leaning towards the Rose Hall. However I see that they are changing ownership in January. I would hate to have remodeling going on around us if the new owners decide to spruce it up.

 

We are only 62 days away from sail day so I better start making some decisions.

[mitsugirly]

Hi,

 

 

Hilton Rose Hall... I visited here. Its beautiful, but pricey. Not as much for the kids to do and further from the port.

 

 

 

The swimming is not great at Rose Hall

 

I'm still trying to figure out both of these statements???

 

How is the swimming not good at Rose Hall? They have a huge pool right in front of the beach and the hotel. Then there's a HUGE lazy river that goes pretty far in a lush area with waterfalls and trees. Then a swimming area with a walk in gradual decline on one end. Of course you have the beach/ocean area as well.

 

Nothing for the kids to do? There's plenty of swimming and several water slides and some tunnels. There are water slides that go down into another smaller pool, then hop on another water slide and go on down, then down into the ending pool. They had hot tubs with waterfalls going in them, which my daughter loved.

 

They have tons of games and things around the property to do as well, like cornhole, ping pong, and tennis to name a few. They also have canoes (maybe for an extra charge? Not sure). There's a kids playground and activity area.

 

I have a complete review with TONS of pictures OP if you are interested, it's located in my signature line. :)

[P&B Toronto]

Hi Mitsugirly,

I was referring to the ocean,they have a small swimming area,the water is not clear and it can get quite rough. When I go to the Caribbean I don't go for chlorinated pools, I will choose an ocean with a reef any day. If I wanted a waterfall I would choose Dunns River or YS Falls, both are more lush then the man made pool area at Rosehall. If I wanted a lazy river I would go rafting on the Martha Brae or Lethe and see the foliage and watch the birds. All for less then the excursion to Rosehall. I have done all the above with kids and they loved it. I personally don't understand going to an all inclusive at any port. Cruises are all you can eat, I would prefer to actually experience a place then eat and drink all day.

[mitsugirly]

Hi Mitsugirly,

I was referring to the ocean,they have a small swimming area,the water is not clear and it can get quite rough. When I go to the Caribbean I don't go for chlorinated pools, I will choose an ocean with a reef any day. If I wanted a waterfall I would choose Dunns River or YS Falls, both are more lush then the man made pool area at Rosehall. If I wanted a lazy river I would go rafting on the Martha Brae or Lethe and see the foliage and watch the birds. All for less then the excursion to Rosehall. I have done all the above with kids and they loved it. I personally don't understand going to an all inclusive at any port. Cruises are all you can eat, I would prefer to actually experience a place then eat and drink all day.

 

I couldn't agree with you more about getting out and seeing the sites. I try to book ours based on the actual places to go instead of some pool. I can swim in a pool any day back home. However, some places I don't feel comfortable in and Jamaica is one of them (had a bad experience there once and it still sits in the back of my mind) so we try to book AI's here. The OP ask about an AI, so I was just referring them to a really nice place for that and since there's plenty of swimming there and they mentioned they wanted a really "fun pool area" and didn't mention beach. This is a fun pool area...IMO. :)

[P&B Toronto]

Ya I read that Mitsugirly, Doctors cave has trampolines, I love the place. BTW I like your reviews, happy new year.

[mitsugirly]

Ya I read that Mitsugirly, Doctors cave has trampolines, I love the place. BTW I like your reviews, happy new year.

 

 

Thanks and maybe next time we head to Jamaica, I'll have to check out Doctors Cave. Happy New Year to you as well. :)

[Plantcitycruise]

mitsugirly, thank you for your reviews. I'm pretty sure you reviewed the Ron Jon a couple years ago and we have been there twice before cruises since your review. Great pre cruise stay.

 

I did see your review on the Rose Hall, however I read it is changing ownership this week so I am uncertain about booking. We have 11 in our group going and I'm trying to find something for all of us. No one else seems to concerned and they are all relying on me to choose something...too....much...pressure! I figure as long as we make it back safely I made a good choice. :)

 

As far as pool or beach it really doesn't matter. Out of the eleven, 6 live very close to the beach and 4 are only a couple hour drive. However we are the only ones with a pool...so I was leaning that way.

 

I guess I better get on it soon. Down to about 6 weeks.

[mitsugirly]

mitsugirly, thank you for your reviews. I'm pretty sure you reviewed the Ron Jon a couple years ago and we have been there twice before cruises since your review. Great pre cruise stay.

 

I did see your review on the Rose Hall, however I read it is changing ownership this week so I am uncertain about booking. We have 11 in our group going and I'm trying to find something for all of us. No one else seems to concerned and they are all relying on me to choose something...too....much...pressure! I figure as long as we make it back safely I made a good choice. :)

 

As far as pool or beach it really doesn't matter. Out of the eleven, 6 live very close to the beach and 4 are only a couple hour drive. However we are the only ones with a pool...so I was leaning that way.

 

I guess I better get on it soon. Down to about 6 weeks.

 

Yep, the Ron Jon review was probably mine if it was picture heavy. :p

 

Here's just my take on the changing ownership thing. Even if they change ownership, it's still going to look the same and have the same amenities. It's a beautiful place to spend the day. So as long as you can still book it as an AI with all the food and drinks included, I would say changing ownership wouldn't matter too much. It was a Hilton place, so you know it has to be pretty nice and I can't imagine it being run to the ground in a matter of a month or so. :) The pool area is just one that can't be beat. The ocean, as someone else mentioned, it's kinda a take it or leave it. It's big and long, but not the best that I've been to for sure. :)

 

I'm sure whatever you decide, the family will love it. Have an awesome cruise!!! :D

[mitsugirly]

Also, here is something I found...

 

 

Private equity firm Blackstone Group has placed the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa on the market.

 

Sales agent CBRE Hotels is positioning the hotel as a luxury property, saying in its sales pitch that Jamaican upscale hotels had achieved a 26.3 per cent gain in revenue per available room for the year ending February 2014.

The sale price notes that some US$55 million had been invested in upgrades to the resort since 2005, when Blackstone acquired it.

Local industry sources say the hotel is now worth about US$100 million.

 

Ron Day, general manager of the Hilton Rose Hall, says the property will continue to operate as normal.

 

"Whereas I do not have insight into our owner's investment strategies, I can assure you that Hilton Hotels & Resorts, being the management company, has no plans to discontinue operating the resort. We remain fully operational, continuing to welcome our guests with the same quality service and hospitality experience they have come to enjoy," Day said.

 

 

 

 

Like I said, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. It's still going to probably be the same as it has always been and still ran by Hilton. :)

[mitsugirly]

Just one more thing....this is being purchased by Sagicor-they own several high end resorts in Jamaica: Runaway Bay, Jewel Paradise Cove, Mammee Bay. If you go to TA and look at the reviews of those places, you'll see they are highly rated with good reviews. If they wasn't doing something right with those resorts, I would be worried (but probably not as fast as within a month...still don't think anything will happen within that time frame), but the reviews reflect they are doing pretty good with the other resorts.

 

Just a thought...

[Plantcitycruise]

Thanks again for the info. I actually emailed the Riu in Montego Bay and they do day passes as well. We stayed at a Riu in Playa Del Carmen last year and we enjoyed it so we are leaning that way. It's about $30 less per person and only 5 - 10 minutes from the port.

 

We mix up our cruise vacations with other vacations but I am really missing a cruise right now. It's been almost a year!