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Star Fish / Trelawney Beach Hotel 10/08/02
Reviewers Rating:  Fair
Travel Agent: Travel Deals Direct (UK) Tour Operator: Airtours (UK) Flights: MyTravel (Chartered Holiday Carrier) Hotel: StarFish Resort/Trelawney Beach Hotel, Trelawney, Jamaica Travel Itinerary: 18 Aug ñ 01 Sep 2002 Cost: GBP 4,716.50 for two adults and two kids aged three and two Comments: Holiday started on a bad at the point of reservation - agent spent our names incorrectly on the tickets but got it right on my credit card details! Threatened us that we had to pay GBP 40 to change names retrospective to ticket issue. But I explained the address was wrong too, so we never got the required letter of confirmation, to which we had to respond. Things got worse. We had arranged wheel chair support and appropriate seating on departure, by calling up the airline a couple of weeks before departure. They said ëno problemí. We got there and it was not done, so the check in desk tried to remedy. Went through to do a bit of shopping, called up for the airport pick up at the customer desk at Gatwick, and the support group said ëhard luckí. I had to hobble to the gate some30 minutes away! So much for Gatwick BAA support services for the handicapped. On landing the Montego Bay support services were excellent. They had my wheelchair pick at the plane, helped me through passport and baggage pick up. They were very helpful and deserved the tip I left ñ well done JAMAICA! Got to the hotel ñ Star Fish, and things went down hill. Handicapped and families with kids lose out, as rooms are allocated on a first come first serve basis. So after waiting at reception for an hour to be served I was not surprised to be told that we did not have a reservation. Luckily I had brought with me all the paperwork! They did not know we had booked a COTTAGE room (booked for ground floor access due to my damaged back) Hence, we got the ëruntí cottage ñ next to mangrove (mosquitoís ate the kids the first night!), close to the music bandstand (read on!) and in need of decoration. Complained the next day and got moved to another cottage in much better dÈcor and away from the mangrove, after waiting for about half a day for the baggage handlers and support services to move us. Luckily the family could spend time at the pool while I suffered in silence. Things went well for a couple of days, until the electronic keys failed on three separate occasions. Which meant trapping backwards and forwards to reception to get recode keys which failed. End result each time was maintenance coming out to recode the door. Moreover the maid could not get in to clean the rooms for the entire two weeks we were there, she had to arrange with us to pop back in the afternoon to get the room cleaned ñ yes, frustrating and annoying but it worked! The best things about the hotel ñ the maid service, gardens and pools were excellent. The worse things ñ the food, pool bar facilities, and the loud music (24 ñ 7; which for a family with young kids is too much!) The maid service was thorough and they tried incredibly hard to please. They of course lacked training but the demonstration of effort simply won me over. The hotel gardens were well maintained, appropriate and clean. The swimming pools were excellent for the variety of people holidaying. Couples could hand out in one zone, and families with kids in the kids pool area ñ well thought out. The food was simply unimaginative. There was only one all-inclusive restaurant. Yes, you pay for the others two: Italian and Japanese (which were not worth it either). The main restaurant reminded me of a colorful school canteen ñ sold international dishes and rarely local dishes (they should be ashamed of themselves). The ancillary pool side bar sold food (hamburgers, hotdogs, and rice plus stew dish ñ the same thing every day). Again a rarity to see local dishes on offer. Moreover, the food quality was so bad it was not a joke. We complained, and the temporary food manager spoke with us and accepted there was a food problem and he was going to try pick things up for us, and even took a few suggestions on board. To his credit things did improve, the staff became friendlier, and the food started to taste better. The music was so loud it was not a joke ñ morning, noon and night. It reverberated through our cottage. Kids could hardly get to sleep let alone us the parents. My ears still ring from the sounds. The entertainment was fine, the volume just too loud. The other good thing (in retrospect) was that we never once met or spoke with our Airtours representative for the 14 days. He/she must have avoided us because their ears were burning. Or possibly, they had no record of us at all. That is a thoughtÖ. Will I go back? NO Will I recommend it to a friend? NO Instead I am going to Asia, Cuba, or Latin America. It cost me less, the room quality much superior, as is the service. I have been to Jamaica every 2 ñ 3 years, partly because I have family there. But from now on NO WAY! It has lost its local touch, not trained its staff to keep up with International Standards and is losing its niche. The resorts are just not equipped to cater for ëcouplesí that have married and got kids but love the island for its uniqueness. There are plenty of places to spend the equivalent of half a car each year where the hotel service is A1 and you feel truly relaxed and at ease. It saddens me to say Jamaica is not that place. I hope these comments help.
Bill Campbell
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