How to Compare Resorts in Jamaica

The island nation of Jamaica is home to dozens of resorts catering to a wide variety of interests, from family-friendly to couples-only. Most resort locations in Jamaica offer water sport activities for the outdoor enthusiast, including snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, wind surfing. The island also has a number of non-water activities, including hiking, biking, golf and tennis. To select from among the many available resorts, narrow your search criteria by available activities or amenities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Choose the type of resort you would like. All-inclusive resorts offer lodging, dining, drinks and an array of outdoor activities all in one place, but make it somewhat inconvenient to visit other parts of the island. Most all-inclusives are located in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, and include brands such as Sandals, which caters to heterosexual couples only, and Hedonism, where nudity is quite common. Family-friendly resorts include Beaches and Pebbles.

Step 2

Specify the activities you would like to pursue while on vacation. Montego Bay is an ideal location for golfers, boasting several major courses, including Wyndham Rose Hall, Tryall Club Jamaica and Ironshore. Prime hiking locations include the Blue Mountains, Rio Grande Valley and Maroon Country. Scuba diving excursions are available at all major resorts, but Negril is best known for this activity. Those interested in snorkeling will want to visit Negril or Ocho Rios.

Step 3

Select an airport. The country has two major airports, one in the northeast in Montego Bay and one in the southwest in Kingston. Jamaica is a small island, only 145 miles long, and can be crossed in a few hours, but road conditions are often poor and riding a shuttle for any length of time is a sometimes harrowing experience. Resorts dot the entire coastline, but the most luxurious locations are concentrated in Negril on the west coast and Montego Bay.

Step 4

Research consumer reviews. Official resort websites are a good place to obtain general information about available activities and amenities, but unbiased reviews from visitors are much more useful for narrowing resort choices. Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews provides general overviews as well as user-submitted reviews for most Jamaican resorts.

Step 5

Compare the resorts on your short list. You now have a list of resorts that cater to your interests, and you have eliminated resorts with poor reviews. Visit the official resort websites to obtain information on services, amenities, activities and special events. Use this information to make your decision about which resort to book for your Jamaican vacation.

Resources

Frommer's Jamaica Online

Article Written By Layne Wood

Layne Wood began writing in 1990. Her work has appeared in publications by the Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium and Appalachian Writers Heritage Symposium. Wood specializes in articles on Appalachia, literature, dogs and relationships. She has a Bachelor of Science in English from Radford University.

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