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Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Montego Bay 01/14/03
Reviewers Rating:  Fair
Arriving at the hotel & the check-in Process Transfer from the airport to the hotel was quick and painless. As we exited the customs hall, someone asked us as to where we were staying. We advised of our hotel, and were directed to the hotel desk there at the airport. From there the agent confirmed our reservation, had us sign some paperwork, and walked us to the hotel shuttle bus. When we arrived at the hotel, the driver insisted that we give him a tip. I'm not sure if he was a direct employer of Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, or just a random driver, but this was silly and unecessary. Anyway, checking in was a bit of a headache. The agent at check in named Latoya seemed stressed out. There was a problem with one of our credit cards, as it would not swipe, and had to be entered manually. This caused an enormous fus amongst Latoya, her collegues, and her managers. After about 20 minutes of waiting she finally decided to use the manual swiper! After that we were assigned a room number and were told that it was 5 buildings down from where we were. We were offered no assistance with our baggage. If your a first time visitor here, walking to the other end can be a bit of a headache, as there are many pathways in between the buildings. After a few wrong turns, aching legs, and sweaty foreheads, we finally got to our room! (sigh) The room itself The room itself was okay. With the exception of an uncarpeted floor (which is ideal for this type of place), a few lamps that were not working (and never changed during our stay), and an old and decrepid bathroom, the room was generally comfortable. The shower itself was horrible. Every time I would take a shower, there was very little water pressure. This is very frustrating, especially after a long walk from the reception desk with no help, or after a long day at the beach! The room also boasted a balcony with a view of the garden. I would have opted for an ocean view room, but when I asked Latoya at the front desk, she advised me that I had a side view of the ocean. Anyways, if you like horticulture, this view is perfect for you! The ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT experience During our stay, the weather wasnt that great, so our options were limited. The hotel was packed with tourists mainly from the United Kingdom and Canada, with a few Americans here and there. Trying to get a drink at the hotel can be a bit of a headache. You are not acknowledged at a bar unless you waive your hands or yell out a drink to the bartender. When they finally do get around to giving you a drink, it is as if you are asking them to part the red sea. No smile, no thank you, no small talk. I guess this is there style? Eating at this place is another adventure in itself. I believe the most easiest and practical places to eat are the MoBay Food Festival, which is buffet style in the main building. Note that you dont have to deal with any of the staff, this is why its so easy and practical. Another place I would recommend is the Barefoot Bar & Grill which is right near the main pool. This is where some of the staff are actually a bit friendly and talkative (except for the bar on the other side). They have burgers, fish & Chips, grilled cheese. I think I enjoyed this place the most. Other places we ate at were the Sea Breeze restaurant, located on an isolated corner of the resort. They had very few things on the menu, but the food did taste good, and the staff there were pleasant. The two fancy-pancy dress code restaurants on the resort are Vista's and Casa Veranda. Vista's is Italian, Casa Veranda is Jamaican. Getting a reservation at one of these places is like getting on a next day flight to Delhi, India on Air India. After 2 nights, we found out the secret. At 12:00 noon, the Guest Services Desk begins taking reservations for these restaurants. At 12:00 noon, you will see a huge line in front of that desk. When we first saw this, we thought they were all on line for a tour or something. Little did we know they were just making reservations for these restaurants. Anyway, we only got a chance to eat at Vista's. The food was great, service was good, staff were pleasant. This is the only place in the hotel where I was more than happy to tip the waiter, since I was pleased with his service. The Beach & The Pools If there are only 2 of you, and if you want peace and quiet, FORGET the main pool. The main pool is ideal for families or people who like alot of noise. The 4 days that we were there, this place was always packed. The adults-only pool was very nice. It was smaller, but ideal for people who like peace and quiet (with the exception of a rowdy group of people sitting in the whirlpool and sipping there drinks). Both the adults pool and the main pool are no deeper than 5 ft, which is not good after you read about the beaches here. I was not to impressed with the beaches. They stretched along the whole length of the resort, but there was only a small section of sand enough to fit a row of beach chairs. The water was shallow, not really much you can do if you are an avid swimmer. What I did to enjoy myself is I sat on the beach, lied down, and imagined myself on a tropical island. (pretty sad,huh!) Entertainment The evening entertainment varied from night to night. It was good, but it didnt last long enough (usually no longer than an hour). We witnessed a children's fashion show, karaoke, a local live band, and other games. The witches nightclub is a place where we walked in and made a 360 degree turn and walked right out again. I wouldnt recommend it. It had a bar, a dancefloor, and on one side a few rows of chairs as if you were in a movie theater. Definately not club-like. Outside the resort The only place we visited outside the resort was the small shopping center directly across the street. They boast duty free prices, but we were charged 15% tax on everything we bought! I think someone needs to explain to them what duty free is. This was a nice little adventure, and a good escape from the resort. We met a lot of very friendly Jamaican vendors. This gave us a different feel of Jamaicans. The people at the hotel unfortunately gave us a very negative view of there country and people. It wasnt even the shopping that we enjoyed. It was talking to the locals, the vendors, that made us feel welcome in there country. After this little adventure, I decided that I would come to Jamaica again, but next time definately not lock myself up in a resort. Summary! I would not come to this hotel again. For the money we payed, we could have stayed at a much better place and recieved much better treatment. In general, the staff all seemed as if hey had a chip on their shoulders (with the exception of 2 or 3 staff who were really great). I have to admit, the food was good, and this is one of the things I enjoyed most. Anyways, I was happy to leave the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, but I will not be happy when I see the bill at the end of the month. Good luck if you stay there
Bekim Xhaferi
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