Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica – All Inclusive

There were eight of us travelling in February 2023 and the group included 3 children -- all aged under 10. From check-in, through the seven days, to check-out, the Bahia Principe was great! Don't believe the negative reveiws or any haters; the resort is clean, the staff is always friendly and helpful, there is lots of food and its great, and the rooms are spacious and cool under a hot Caribbean sun. The only negative thing that I can think of (and this is NOT the resort's fault in any way), is the time it takes to transfer from Sangster Airport in Montego Bay (MBJ) to the resort: about an hour. Just be aware. This resort is huge! With an adults-only section next door, it can take quite a while to walk from one end to another, but its well worth it for some great pictures. There's always staff maintaining the grounds and plenty of lifeguards around the pools and beaches. There are multiple points for meals, but we had good service at the beach-side buffet for breakfast and lunch, so we went there for two meals every day (and snacks -- its open most of the day and night), and the buffet for dinner each night. The buffet has a theme each night for dinner and its pretty good with lots of choices! There are specialty restaurants, as well, but we didn't try those because we have a picky 8-year old, but my brother-in-law and his fam tried the Japanese restaurant and loved it!! Btw, the coffee served at the Bahia is incredible! We brought two bags home and can't wait to get into them. The only thing I missed in our room was a book or binder that some hotels provide with the hotel's amenities and local attractions such as restaurants, a gym location, and options for kids. Such information readily available in a hotel room might be a good reference. There are lots of amenities at the Bahia Principe and on the island but one has to inquire. After a long journey, it may not be at the top of mind. I would definitely recommend asking if you want to book excursions as they're quite popular and fill up. Also, for safety, don't just hire a taxi to take you somewhere. We were warned by multiple employees that, because of the current crime situation on the island, its strongly recommended to book excursions/tours with actual companies, such as Air Canada Vacations - even if you don't fly to Jamaica with that airline. Some travel companies also offer insurance in case something happens during your excursion. The housekeeping staff is amazing! They're very pleasant and always happy to answer a question. These people have a tonne of work everyday picking up after us messy tourists and do it professionally and with great respect. Whenever we travel, we leave gratuities for housekeeping because of the great work they do. I'm not preaching that everyone should do that, but I'm sure its appreciated. With everything damp from the ocean and covered in sand at Caribbean all-inclusives, the Bahia Principe cleaning staff was happy to leave extra towels and did a fantastic job at clearing away sand that gets trekked in. Kudos! The kids activites were a huge hit, too. I'm sure its not easy to entertain children in any situation, but these folks do it properly! So much so that my son and two nieces asked to go back to the kids club for an extra couple of days. The staff is very welcoming and professional. They have really fun activities for the kids and even put on a show and outdoor market in an off-the-beaten-path part of the resort one night! Everyone was very entertained! We only had one issue with our room and that was the air conditioning; it didn't seem to be blowing cold air into the room. I had to ask the front desk and someone from maintenance was at the room very quickly. It turned out that it was my fault, but it was dealt with very quickly. I have to recognize Marsha at the front desk for her professionalism and exceptional customer service skills. This woman knows what she's doing! Also, Orlando in entertainment needs recognition. Us adults were in the lobby bar one night and the kids were playing cards at a nearby table. Orlando strolled by, spoke with the kids, and got in on their game immediately. Within 30 seconds, he had them laughing and totally entertained. My wife and I were very impressed! Its quite a skill to strike up a conversation with strangers (especially children) and have them in near-hysterics in under a minute. He is definitely an asset to the organization. Lastly, the hotel has a gym in the main building and, although small, its very clean with new equipment. Well done, Bahia!!

This place was amazing! Jerk chicken and sauce is the best I have ever had!!! But when it comes to dessert and authentic cuisine I'd skip the "fancy book restaurant" although Brazilian bbq was good!!! The dirty banana was freaking amazing and look for rashawn by the beach he is the best cocktail maker around! Oh and Carlisle

Wonderful hotel for young kids. Our boys are 4 & 6 and they loved their stay at the hotel - thanks to the kids club, kids entertainment and all the great amenities the hotel has to offer (waterpark, pool & beach). They didn't want to leave. There's so much to do. The kids club staff are fantastic - so engaging, warm, caring and fun. Nyoka and Odeen, in particular, stood out. Our boys always had a great time when they were participating in the activities which were varied and fun (e.g. cooking class, tie-dye t-shirts, crazy games, arts & crafts). Every evening there's kids' entertainment from 8-9 pm too which is a lovely way to end the day.