Jamaica and The Ritz Carlton. The two should make you smile instantly, right? I mean, both are synonymous with warm people, genuine service and a good time....well if you are still on the fence on whether you should stay here or not, please read on.
Let me start with full disclosure. I booked a package thru Expedia and it was a steal. $700 Air/5 nights at the Ritz the week before Christmas. What's there to think about, right? I mean, it's the Ritz. I didn't even check tripadvisor (as I ALWAYS do) because of the name - Let's just say, I have learned my lesson.
Our group was comprised of 4 twenty/thirty somethings that were looking for relaxation and a little adventure. We arrived to the hotel after checking in at the airport and were greeted by a nice lady that escorted us to our very colorful and nicely appointed rooms. Because we knew that the hotel was empty (published rate that day was $167) we asked if they might upgrade us to an ocean view, but no such luck...instead we got was we ordered and still had a pretty good view of the nicely kept grounds. The room was a nice size and was decorated in bright colors that we liked. The bathroom was fantastic. Marble, Bvlgari products, Robes. We headed to the beach where we found lots of chairs, towel booths and a nice but very rocky beach - not the end of the world as it was still very nice. After that we headed to the Jerk Centre. Food was fantastic, in fact it was the best Jerk we ate after venturing out every day. The sides were pretty ridiculous though. We ordered plantains and literally 3 slivers of plantian and prices were $15 for order of jerk chicken, $3.50 per side and $10 drinks. The problem I had with the place wasn't the prices but the service. The waiter probably said 3 words to us outside of the ordering conversation - we thought this might be a fluke, so we head to the pool. We ask for help with adjusting a canopy, the response was the closest thing to an eyeroll possible, I was waiting for a sigh. Later at Mango's restaurant after ordering $150 worth of mediocre food (range $25-40 entrees), the waiter was incredibly cold and disinterested. I started to suspect that perhaps we were getting this treatment because we booked a bargain rate through expedia or something?? This happened over and over during our 6 days there....it ranged from, no eye contact when speaking to you and annoyed pool staff when we tried to order food, to bartenders that spoke Patois while preparing my drink while I stood there. At one point I had to stop the server and ask her if it was a problem for me to order from her. It was VERY disapointing. We began to think all Jamaicans were this way...until we did the smartest thing possible...hopped in a cab and left the property. Once we headed out we found great food ( full meals under $20), friendly people and much nicer beaches. The Hip Strip in Downtown MoBay has a good number of offerings The Pork Pit, The Pelican, The Jamaican Bobsled Cafe and Margaritaville (I know, I know, but its got a nice view and $6 drinks). We befriended a cabbie and booked him for a day trip to Negril for $150 and had an AMAZING day. We discovered that Negril was what were looking for all along....Idyllic powdered sugar beaches, friendly locals, walkability and a fun vibe. Once we experienced this we wondered why the Jamaicans at the Ritz were so unhappy.
The bottom line (IMHO) is that this Ritz is NOT for younger singles (or couples) that are looking for a fun time in Jamaica. At times I felt like I could have been at a stuffy hotel in Newport beach. There isn't much about this hotel that represents Jamaica...its very unfortunate. However, if you are a golfer, spa-addict, and/or have the budget to spend about $150 per day on meals and never plan to leave the property, than this could be for you, but I wouldn't personally recommend it to anyone.
Pros:
Nice Grounds
Nice Room/Bathrooms/Good products
Good food at Jerk Centre and Breakfast Buffet
Housekeeping - nice & efficient
Free Sailing/Kayaking
Cons:
Hit or miss service (my experience 70/30)
Incredibly expensive/mediocre food
No appealing activities on property
$20 cab ride in to town each way
Rocky Beach
You don't feel like you are in Jamaica
- Ritz Carlton Jamaica
- Ritz Carlton Hotel
- Ritz Rose Hall
- Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall
- Ritz Carlton Montego Bay
- Rose Hall Ritz-Carlton
- Rose Hall Ritz
- Ritz Carlton Rose Hall

