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sunset grand resort jamaica


SUNSETS
OVER
JAMAICA



Pool and main dining terrace at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa.


Some of the best value packages for singles, families and couples can be found at Sunset Resorts' three properties in Jamaica. Jamaican-owned Sunset Resorts can always be counted on to offer the latest in fun for families, romance
for couples, and practical amenities…at rates that are solid value.

Sunset Beach Resort & Spa's major renovation gives a fresh new look to this lively spot minutes from Montego Bay airport, just beyond the cruise port. A host of all-inclusive dining options include a new Caribbean Fusion restaurant, the super-casual pizza/burger counter, or indoor elegance at the Italian restaurant. A new swim-up bar plus a large seaside deck and pool add to the more spacious look of public areas. Both little ones and those hard-to-please teens are catered to in their own clubs. Kids, teens and the biggest ‘kids’ (their parents) flock to Pirate’s Paradise Water Park, one of the most complete of its kind in Jamaica on hotel grounds.

At the property's quieter western end, weddings take place on an expanse of green lawn or in the seaside gazebo.

On a personal note, one of the best hot stone massages I’ve had took place at this resort’s first-class spa. Treatments are extra, but after all the freebies enjoyed here, a splurge is worth it.

Sunset at the Palms defines ‘hideaway’ at its jungle-like well-landscaped location on the main highway in Negril. Weatherboard cottages on stilts hide among the treetops, affording privacy both inside and outside the rooms, decorated in Thai silks and cotton curtains that flow in the breeze. A large balcony with its sunbed lounge adds more space to the standard size. Bathrooms boast an ultra-modern shower system that comes at you from all angles, much like a Swiss Needle Shower…very invigorating.

Nestled among the trees and wooden buildings are three restaurants, three bars including the lobby Martini Bar, spa and fitness center, tennis courts and paths for nature walks. The free-form pool has a swim-up bar, accessed by a curved wooden bridge on the 'dry' side. Across the street, the beach is equipped with bar and grill, picnic tables, showers, changing rooms, and a variety of water toys.

Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa, the flagship property, occupies a long stretch of beach at the entrance to the cruiseport harbor in Ocho Rios. The resort has its own impressive dock for sport fishing vessels, visiting yachts and water excursions.

lighthousesunsetoch

On the beach side, a winding river blends into waterfalls, Jacuzzis and ponds while passing through plunge pools and hot tubs in a lazy stream. Overseeing all this is the gigantic new Lighthouse Waterslide (pictured here), architecturally designed to resemble a traditional structure complete with beacon. From its top reaches, adventurers plunge down 340-foot covered and 330-foot open water slides that twist, turn and dip their way around the lighthouse in a dizzying descent...finally entering the pool with a mighty splash. Inside the lower level is an air-conditioned arcade featuring a variety of video games.

Among 730 rooms in two towers, the Grande refurbished twelve suites...each combining two regular rooms into a bedroom and living room with a foyer entrance...plus double baths, closets, balconies, televisions and telephones. The sofa opens to a bed, making this room category an ideal choice for families.

Club Mongoose supervises younger guests indoors and out, including climbing toys, a splash pool and water jets. The all-important tweens are served at Jamstone, where pool tables, foosball and video games preside. Older teens have their own hangout over the cabaret theater, and the disco “Jamaican Me Crazy” throbs into the night. All-inclusive dining at all Sunset properties means access to a la carte specialty restaurants with no limitations. Aside from these five venues, a huge roofed buffet restaurant at poolside, a self-serve coffee bar and a café serving Jamaican fare are also available.

For the ultimate romantic experience, opt for a candlelight dinner on the beach. Just prior to sunset, waiters rake the sand at water’s edge and set up a table for two under a framework of gauzy drapes. Although three or four couples may be taking advantage of this intimate option at the same time, ‘cabanas’ are set apart for privacy, and each has its own attentive waiter. The supplement to capture this romantic moment is minimal, and I noticed from my balcony that couples stayed at their tables for several hours into the late evening. It appeared to be quality time well worth that little extra.  www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com