Longing for an island escape? Jamaican resorts can deliver, whether you’re looking for adventure, a romantic trip with your partner, a fun family getaway or a group vacation with friends. The island country in the Caribbean Sea is the perfect spot for a tropical vacation. Some resorts in Jamaica have an active social scene with volleyball tournaments, plenty of bars and themed nights, while others provide secluded, quiet stays by a cliffside.
If you want to experience the ultimate luxury, stay in a Jamaican resort that offers butler service for top-tier rooms. Adventure seekers can enjoy sailing, water skiing, snorkeling and tubing, and couples can stay in a cottage and have private dining experiences. Families are sure to have a blast at the resorts in Jamaica with water parks and activities designed for kids.
Take a look at our list of the best resorts in Jamaica and start planning your next vacation.
1. Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 AAA Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Wireless internet, unlimited dining at seven restaurants, unlimited premium liquors at five bars, four pools, three whirlpools, fitness center, airport transfers
- Activities: Scuba diving, water skiing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, snorkeling, tennis, croquet, all-day entertainment and live shows
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Romantic getaways and honeymoons
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa is a laid-back, all-inclusive resort in Jamaica on Seven Mile Beach. The elegant Caribbean destination is for adults only and offers 226 rooms with dreamy surroundings, soaring ceilings and luxurious sofas.
The higher-category rooms feature amenities such as soaking tubs with ocean views, while rooms with pools come with butler service. Some rooms have several floors. Seven eateries offer cuisines that range from Jamaican to Italian and Japanese.
Daily entertainment and plenty of activities can keep you busy during your stay. Room packages include scuba diving and access to equipment for kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding and more. For the times when you would rather be on dry land, beach volleyball, bocce ball, croquet and shuffleboard are among the activities offered.
2. Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Hopewell, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 AAA Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Two restaurants, three bars, private in-villa dining, an award-winning spa, fitness center, open-air yoga pavilion
- Activities (not included): Tennis, rafting, ziplining, pickleball, water skiing, tubing, snorkeling, kayaking, pedal boarding, Hobie Cat sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, sport fishing, scuba diving, afternoon tea, beach barbecues, live music, dedicated children’s activities
- Ages: All
- Best For: Travelers looking for understated luxury
Round Hill Hotel & Villas is a unique resort located in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The place has existed since the 1950s and was a vacation spot for celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock and Adele Astaire. Today it retains its relaxed glamor, offering beautiful villas and guest rooms designed by Ralph Lauren. The villas have enough space for two to six guests, which is great for a romantic getaway or a family vacation.
Round Hill isn't an all-inclusive resort, but it offers meal plans that you can add to your stay. Dine at any of the two restaurants and three bars on-site. The sprawling resort lies on 110 tropical acres, full of beaches, grassy areas and pristine vegetation. Every Friday, the head gardener leads a tour of the property. For an additional fee, you can arrange scuba diving excursions, speedboat trips, sportfishing charters and windsurfing lessons with the hotel.
3. Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Rose Hall, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: 10 restaurants, six bars, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, 24-hour room service, fitness center, spa, swim-up suites, unlimited dining and drinks
- Activities: Kayaking, catamaran rentals, boogie boarding, snorkeling, daily fitness classes, dance lessons, cooking classes, volleyball, live entertainment
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Luxury relaxation and romance
- AAA Discount: Members save up to 10 percent and earn World of Hyatt points when booking AAA rates
Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall is the adults-only companion resort to Hyatt Ziva Rose Hill. It has 344 rooms with light and airy décor and a balcony or terrace. The higher-category rooms include oceanfront suites and swim-up suites with direct access to the pool. Butler suites are more than 1,000 square feet and, as you probably guessed, include butler service.
The centerpiece of this resort is the pool that flows from the swim-up suites to the main pool area. Here you can enjoy daily exercise classes, lounge, swim or get a drink at the swim-up bar.
4. Sandals Montego Bay
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: 12 restaurants with unlimited dining, unlimited premium liquors, six bars, seven pools, three whirlpools, fitness center, airport arrival lounge, airport transfers, free Wi-Fi, access to Sandals Royal Caribbean amenities
- Activities: Scuba diving, water skiing, wakeboarding, Hobie Cats, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, tennis, all-day live entertainment
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Couples looking for romantic fun
Sandals Montego Bay sits along Jamaica's famous white sandy beaches and features poolside, beachfront and garden view luxury suites. At this adults-only, all-inclusive resort, you can dine at 12 on-site restaurants or the nine restaurants at nearby Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island (30704), which also makes its amenities available to guests of Sandals Montego Bay. The restaurants serve a variety of authentic regional cuisine as well as Italian and Japanese dishes.
Want to party the night away? Entertainment includes live bands, themed nights and a piano bar. Water sports include scuba diving, water skiing and kayaking. While on land, you can play beach volleyball, shuffleboard and tennis.
5. Excellence Oyster Bay
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Falmouth, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Fitness center, five swimming pools, four independent hot water jacuzzis, nine all-inclusive restaurants, 11 bars, unlimited alcoholic beverages
- Activities: Snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, fat bikes, dance lessons, cooking lessons, beach sports, table tennis, board games, archery, bocce, all-day live entertainment
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Travelers looking for high-end luxury with a personal touch
Excellence Oyster Bay is located on a private peninsula just 30 minutes from the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. This adults-only, all-inclusive hotel is the perfect place for a relaxing and romantic getaway.
Excellence Oyster Bay has stunning interiors marked by modern spaces with marble flooring in public areas and calming colors and textures in guest rooms. In-room amenities include rain showers and whirlpool tubs. Some rooms feature a rooftop terrace with a plunge pool.
Your room package includes access to bicycles, cooking lessons, dance lessons and archery. Dining at the restaurants is also a treat with delicious Jamaican, Asian, French and Italian cuisines.
6. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Rose Hall, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: Swim-up suites, 24-hour room service, unlimited drinking and dining, seven restaurants, six bars, kids pool, oceanside fire pits, free Wi-Fi, fitness center
- Activities: Sailing, boogie boarding, snorkeling, activities pool, boot camp, beachfront yoga, aquatic workouts, daily fitness classes, arts and crafts for kids, PJ parties for teens, dance lessons, cooking demonstrations, family games, live entertainment
- Ages: All
- Best For: Busy families who want to relax together
- AAA Discount: Members save up to 10 percent and earn World of Hyatt points when booking AAA rates
Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall is the family-friendly companion resort to Hyatt Zilara Rose Hill. It has 277 modern rooms with ocean, pool or garden views, and there are swim-up suites as well as suites that come with butler service. A prominent characteristic of the hotel is the swimming area between the Zilara and Ziva hotels. The private beach has plenty of chairs and umbrellas.
The restaurants serve Asian, Italian and Jamaican cuisines, and the cafe has cookies, pastries and ice cream for you and your kids. Adults will enjoy the coffee bar that features plush seating.
7. Jamaica Inn
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: TV-free rooms, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, private beach
- Activities: Kayaking, Sunfish sailing, paddleboarding, snorkeling, croquet, garden tours, tennis, weekly Manager’s Cocktail Party
- Ages: 10+
- Best For: Travelers who want an intimate and peaceful getaway
What the Jamaica Inn lacks in size, it makes up for in elegance. At only 55 rooms, the hotel is one of the smaller lodgings on this list, but it offers a peacefulness that the larger resorts cannot. You'll find that the rooms have no TVs, so come here with the intention to relax and unwind. The hotel has cottages if you are looking for even more privacy and seclusion than you can get in a guest room.
Jamaica Inn isn't an all-inclusive resort, but you can add a meal plan to your room package. Indulge in their breakfast, lunch and dinner options, and have afternoon tea at least once during your stay. You also can request to have lunch on the beach.
8. Secrets Wild Orchid Montego
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Four pools, spa, fitness center
- Activities: Scuba lessons, live entertainment, board games, water polo/pool volleyball, ping-pong, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball, darts, tennis, bicycle tours, cooking and dance classes, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Couples looking to be active on vacation
The waters of Montego Bay surround Secrets Wild Orchid Montego, making this a gorgeous location. The all-inclusive resort has 350 rooms with soaking tubs and private terraces or balconies.
Those looking for decadence will find it here. You can try international cuisine at the seven on-site restaurants, dine at the open-air restaurants that overlook the ocean, grab a coffee and a pastry any time of day or have a quick bite at the buffet.
9. Beaches Negril Resort & Spa
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: 10 restaurants, Pirates Island Water Park, unlimited premium liquors, all-day live entertainment
- Activities: Kayaking, windsurfing, hydro bikes, snorkeling, Hobie Cats, paddleboarding, water skiing, kneeboarding, water sports, land sports, Kids Camp, Xbox play lounge, arcade
- Ages: All
- Best For: Travelers looking for a family-oriented vacation
Beaches Negril Resort & Spa located on Seven Mile Beach is an enjoyable family getaway packed with amenities. Rooms and apartments blend traditional and modern décor. You can book a room that fits your needs, with options ranging from standard rooms for two people to three-bedroom suites that can sleep 12 people. Butler's suites offer private butler services.
Family-friendly features at this all-inclusive resort include a waterpark with slides, a lazy river and an ice cream machine. The kids camp has programming for children up to age 17, and guests ages 8 and over can take sailing lessons. Among the other fun activities are water skiing and tubing.
10. Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Eight restaurants, two pools, swim-up bar, Kids Club, Teen Lounge, spa, unlimited food and drinks, free Wi-Fi, room service, pool concierge service, fitness center
- Activities: Kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, yoga retreats, wellness programs, golf
- Ages: All
- Best For: Relaxed family trips
The intimate Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa is an excellent and luxurious resort located about a 15-minute drive from Sangster International Airport. The rooms at this all-inclusive resort feature a private terrace or balcony, and the décor, a mix of dark wood and neutral shades, exudes calming beach vibes.
The eight restaurants include casual beachfront dining, teppanyaki, a steakhouse and a coffee shop that serves espresso and pastries. Your children will love the arcade games in the kids club, and the whole family will enjoy playing in the water in either of the two pools and in the ocean.
11. Royalton Negril Resorts & Spa, An Autograph Collection
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Negril, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Nine restaurants, seven bars, multiple swimming pools, splash park, unlimited dining and alcohol, fitness center, Hangout Teens Club, Clubhouse Kids Club
- Activities: Daily live entertainment, dance lessons, nonmotorized water sports, ping-pong, trivia competitions
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families wanting to de-stress in luxury
This luxury waterfront Royalton Negril Resorts & Spa, An Autograph Collection hotel is situated just north of Seven Mile Beach in Negril on a beautiful portion of the coast. Spend the day wandering on beaches or snorkeling in the crystal clear water.
There are 407 rooms, and all have rain showers and soaker tubs. Among the dining options are teppanyaki, Italian and Caribbean restaurants and a steakhouse. The on-site cafe serves cakes, pastries and gelato.
12. The Caves
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Negril, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Three restaurants, one bar, an award-winning spa, outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, free Wi-Fi
- Activities: Snorkeling, fishing, swimming, kayaking, yoga
- Ages: 16+
- Best For: Travelers looking for a unique Jamaican resort
The Caves Hotel in Negril consists of 12 cabins — with thatched roofs and domed ceilings — on a 10-acre estate. The views of the clear, blue ocean from the lush clifftop are spectacular and distinguish this resort from the others on this list.
Guests here must be 16 and older. The room packages include three meals per day and access to nonmotorized water sports. To up the romance factor, schedule a private, five-course dinner in a candlelit cave that overlooks the ocean.
13. IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Rose Hall
Resort At-a-Glance:
- Location: Rose Hall, Jamaica
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: Five restaurants, four bars, spa, airport transfers, butler service with select rooms, fitness center, unlimited food and alcoholic beverages, outdoor pool
- Activities: Unlimited golf with certain packages, daily live music, daily live evening entertainment, workshops, kayaking, snorkeling, parasailing, ecotours
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Travelers looking to spoil themselves
The IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Rose Hall lies about a 20-minute drive from Sangster International Airport and is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort. The rooms feature oceanfront views and butler service.
Have your pick of five restaurants that feature French, Italian, Jamaican and Japanese cuisines or buffet-style meals. You also have unlimited access to the spa baths, and golfers get a special rate at Cinnamon Hill Golf Course.
Where To Stay in Jamaica
Jamaica is roughly the size of Connecticut, and it’s packed full of gorgeous beaches and stunning cities. Deciding whether to stay on the beach or in the middle of it all in a bustling city can impact the overall vibe of your trip. Even individual beaches have different vibes — some are more laid back, while others are more social.
There are three main areas to stay in Jamaica:
- Montego Bay: This is the most popular destination, located on the island’s northwest coast. It’s famous for its beautiful beaches, but is also close to energetic urban areas. If you’re looking for a luxury vacation that’s just a short distance from the airport, Montego Bay is the place to stay.
- Negril: Located on the western coast of Jamaica, Negril has a small-town feel with white sand beaches. It’s more laid-back than Montego Bay but still has an amazing nightlife scene. Visitors often describe it as charming and romantic, and many consider it a great spot for first-time visitors.
- Ocho Rios: If you want an outdoor adventure, stay in Ocho Rios. It’s the busiest cruise ship port on the island, but that’s because it’s surrounded by forests, gorgeous waterfalls and cliffs with spectacular views.
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