BookIt.com Verified Traveler Karen Roberts from Thomaston, GA

"Very good experience! Great food, staff fantatic and very clean. Night club was great and NO kids was a big plus!!! Would go back in a heart beat."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Alan Daniel from Loganville, Georgia

"It was an outstanding trip. Food,weather,staff ,ocean and accomadation couldnt have been much better.Already recommended it to a friend who will be booking a trip to this resort."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Tatiana from Cincinnati, Ohio

"Overall, it was a great place to stay. It was our Honeymoon so we stayed in a Diamond room with an Oceanview with a butler. Our room was always very clean, everything was new, and in working order. The only minus about the room was the jacuzzi bathtub didn't really bubble up as much as I anticipated which was a little disappointing but it didn't deter from the trip. The staff was great, always friendly and accomodating. Our Butler was great, the turn down service was cute too. Sometimes the room service would get our order incorrect, but it would be quickly resolved. Not exactly sure if the extra $ for a Butler is worth it, it just pretty much takes away the room service charge, but we didn't need room service that often. Overall food was good. The pizza was great, the other restaurants were fun. I did like that the resort was smaller. There is public beach next door, with a market and jet ski rentals. Be sure to bargain prices on everything because they super over quote the price! Had a wonderful time!"

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Chad from Marshfield, Wi

"My wife and I went by ourselves for our 15th anniversary. This was our 3rd trip to Jamaica in 3 years. Extremely nice well kept older resort. Food was very good in our opinion with plenty of choices. The Platinum was our favorite, but others very good as well. Got stuck with an extremely drunk group at the Jade on our 2nd night which was a little annoying. The majority of the staff were great with a few exceptions. We did meet some very nice other couples that we hung out with frequently. The size of the resort is a big plus, not to big or small. We were in the Sapphire building on the 3rd floor and were very happy with the room. Hope to return again."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Lorraine

"This place was excellent food and service was excellent, and place was spotless. Would return"

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Casey from New York

"The resort is great - it's clean, the staff is beyond friendly and courteous, and the facility is just what we were looking for in a getaway. It's not TOO big, but big enough if you're looking to socialize and meet new people, and small enough if you're looking for a more personal/private trip. Would definitely go back!"

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Scotty from Ny, Ny

"Excellent experience, you have to live it to understand how i feel. great food, drinks, staff always kept a smile on your face and everything you could think of was great. If i had to say something negative it would be the part that you have to pack your stuff and go home, i guarantee you'll not want to leave this paradise. I WILL BE BACK! LOL"

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Melissa from Trussville, Alabama

"This was the best vacation my husband and I have ever taken. the hotel was beautiful and the staff was amazing. Everyone made you feel like one big happy family. We didn't want to come back home. Everyday something new was going on and it was wonderful. I will recommend to anyone that I know."

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"This was my second experience at an all inclusive resort and we really enjoyed it. The people was great, room was very, very clean the entertainment and activities was great and we had a lot of fum. One thing that I liked is that most Alcohol on all the bars were premium liquor (for an all inclusive). Absolute, Jack Daniels, Jonnie Walker, Great jamaican Rum (On my previous all inclusive experience in Cancun Mexico ,they were using vodkas and tequilas out of plastic bottles and the cheapest licquor which gives yoiu a horibble hangover).

If you are going to Jamaica You should definitely do the CHUKA catamaran Tour (AKA Booze Cruise).


One thing that I noticed is that the staff was too casual. While Im not really complaining as I was there on vacation and they were super friendly but I visited another hotel (The Sandals Grand Riviera) and could notice the difference as they were polished and had a feeling of upscale service.

Another concern I had is that sicne we were on vacation our times were all over the place and the restaurants only open on specific hours (I wanted to have dinner at 5:30 pm and all the dinner restaurants would only open after 6:30 pm with no other option but natchos and hamburguer at the pool bar. We woke up at 11:30 am one day and missed breakfast and there was no other option as all the restaurants were closed until lunch (12:30pm). I would reccomend having a buffet open all day and it would solve this problem.

If you are going to the Jewel Dunns, you have to make reservations to the Japanease restaurant (Benihana Style) Its Included on the all inclusive.. The cook was nice but too casual using slangs and it did not feel like an upscale experience but the food was amazing. The Italian restaurant was also great. And The Piano Man at 11PM was awesome.

Lastly It took me 3 days to get my laudry done. I arrived on Wednesday night and I had to call for laudry sheet as my room did not have one, so I ended up leaving for the evening. They told me to fill it out and they would pick it up in the morning. Next day I arrived back in the room at 4PM and the room was made but the laudry was siting on a chair (They told me to place on top of the bed which I did but it was never done). So I called back told them I needed it done ASAP and they asked for me to bring it to the front desk and it would take at least 24 hrs and said it would be done by 4PM on Friday. I came back to the room at 5pm on the next day and it was still not there. Went to the pool again and returned at 7Pm and nothing. I Called them and they said I had to hold for the hosekeeping manager who told me they forgot to do it and it would take a while. I called the fornt desk manafger which was not availabel and waited for him to call me bacl 10 minutes later. He called me and told me it would not be done until later that evening. I ended up not having nice clothes and to reuse underclothes for dinner. FD Manager wanted to to stop by to discuss it at the desk but I was on Vacation and did not want to waiste any more time.

I still had tons of fun and great memories. Thanks Jewel dunns staff for making us feel welcome.

"

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"Restaurant staff was extremely welcoming and pleasant at all times.However, their seems to be no connection between the front desk staff and the accounting department as upon arrival we were asked to provide proof of payment for a vacation that was finalized as far back as August! So we had to spend the time completing the job of someone who forgot to update the sytem.Secondly, at an all inclusive hotel, why are they charging $20 for beach beds!!

The property was clean indeed, however the entertainment was very 'blah' and the experience was not worth the cost at all. Overall a very 'normal' hotel."

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"The Jewel was a wonderful place to vacation. I would recommend it to anyone traveling in pairs or a group. It did not seem like a place for single adults (without friends) to go to, as most of the people were coupled up already. Our stay was as nice as it could be. Food was excellent and we ate a lot. Drinks and coffee, that WONDERFUL BLUE MOUNTAIN coffee, were abundant. Service was also wonderful. Most everyone was smiling and very friendly at the Jewel. Tipping not necessary but we felt it was appropriate as it offset what we believed to be great service for minimal wages. For the price we paid, it was a fantastic trip and lacked nothing. We would go again in a heartbeat. Both my husband and I loved the Jewel.
The Jewel was very clean and on top of our service needs. Maid service was very good...not bothersome but always taking care of details a guest would need. The housekeeping service seemed very trustworthy also. Very high quality staff in general at the Jewel.
The Jewel was too not wild nor too quiet either. Just the right mix of both. We tried most everything there was to do there on the property except for the tennis and found we did not get bored, nor did we come home exhausted. We added at trip to Dunn's Falls to round out this perfect trip. This was a great vacation and we would recommend it to anyone going to Jamaica with older family or friends.
In our book, the Jewel is the place to stay."

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"Nice hotel..older, but renovated recently....The food was OK...The bar service was sometimes slow, but the bartenders were all nice, and some had personality over the top. My main complaint was my room was on the side of the RIU main eating area, and they played annoying bird sounds all day to keep the birds away, and annoying bug sounds all night...I will return, but will not stay in the Diamond for fear of getting on that side...."

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"In regards to resorts, this was a smaller one and I have stayed a ton of all inclusive resorts. Overall the resort was nice and the staff was friendly. The pool deck activities were lacking and I spend the day on the beach, which was small but clean. The spa services were GREAT and extremely relaxing. I would go back to Jamaica but I am used to more selecions, that smaller resorts do not offer. All and all it was a great get away..."

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"We had the BEST experience at The Jewel. Right as we were dropped off by the bus, we were greeted in such a nice manor, and brought a nice drink with fresh smelling cold towelettes to cool down. The food was wonderful and the staff were always happy and made you feel like a friend. Our room was always cleaned while we were out by the pool or on the beach. The security guards also made sure to keep the 'townies' away from bothering you on the beach. The Jewel always has things planned thru-out the day which they didnt force you to do at all. The only thing that did bother us was the spa staff....one day they just walked around and we were constantly bothered to go get a massage or to make an appointment....we really could have done without that. We were supposse to get a brownie for our honeymoon after the turn down service from house cleaning, but we never got one....so i went to the front desk and mentioned that we had written that on our check-in paper and she appologized and said somthing would be there later (since we were leaving the next day) but all that was left was a small bag of candy rocks? Not sure if everyone got that or if that was our 'Congrats Honemooners' treat?



Another thing to note, if you go off the resort for excursions....you will be HOUNDED for tips from the tour guides etc. So just be prepared, we didnt think we would need to tip considering how expensive the excursions were, but after everyone we did....the guides always made that comment and held out their hands. Especially at the Dunns River Falls (really annoying with the guides and the people trying to get you to buy things) BUT just an FYI The Jewel staff NEVER asked us once for a tip and that made us feel very nice and more willing to offer them some extra for their kindness. (Ps. they prefer american money vs. Jamaican....or so we were told....so for our future trip to The Jewel we arent during a currency exchange since it is not needed anyways!)



All in all, our time there was GREAT. The weather was sunny everyday and we couldnt have asked for a better time. We will def. be back to celebrate an anniversary in the future. Thanks everyone at The Jewel for making our first time in Jamaica very memorable!! :)"

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"I was born in Jamaica and have been to many resorts in Jamaica. By far this is one of the best i have been to. Not only was the staff efficient and friendly but the management was easily accessible. My husband and i are looking forward to taking another vacation at the Jewels Dunns River. (Couples and a few of the Sandals resort are the only resorts in Jamaica that i would compare the Jewel's to.)"

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"There is so much good to say about the Jewel. We had a great time. This was our first experience with an all-inclusive and the fact that we don't think we really care for this type of vacation is why we would not return but for those who like this type of vacation, the Jewel is a beautiful place.



First the great things:

1. The staff is fabulous. Very friendly and helpful at all times. Always asking if we needed anything or offering drinks.

2. The food was delicious. We at all the restaurants and buffets and the food was always very good. The Platinum is the place to go if you want great food and a refined atmosphere. The wait staff there are fabulous. Best service we have ever had in any dining place.

3. The rooms were clean and as described.

4. Great pools and plenty of bars/snack places. The pizza place has very good pizza. We got one to share for an afternoon snack every day.

5. Sailing the little Hobi Cats was fun. We had never sailed before but took the little 10 minute lesson on the beach. It was simple and we had a blast.

6. You can borrow snorkeling gear from the towel hut to use in the swim area. We saw quite a few things and it allows you to get used to snorkeling before you head out to the reef.



What we did not like and this may be applicable to us due to not liking this style of vacation as much as others.



1. The beach area is very small. Maybe a 1/4 mile wide. We like to stroll down the beaches like we did in Zanzibar or Mombasa and you can't do this at the Jewel. I heard you can do this in Negril. It made us feel captive. That said, the beach area is very nice. Clean, plenty of chairs and cabanas for those who dont' want to fry in the sun.

2. The evening entertainment may be good if you are in your 20's. Zapata the snake man and the other things were of no interest to us. We found it immature and obnoxiuos.

3. The food at the Japanese Grill was fabulous but the humor of the chef again was crude most of the time. If you are into high school boy's locker room jokes than you will love it. If you have grown up, you may find obnoxious.

4. We had a 2:30pm flight home but had to leave the resort at 9:20am to catch our free transport to the airport. That was disappointing as I had booked a later flight so we could enjoy our last morning at the resort. Not a big deal but we would have rather been at the resort than the airport.

5. Dunn's River Falls is great. I would do it again but I would not stick with the guides. They slow you down and are not needed. We would have climbed up twice but no time as it takes too long to do it as a group. They want to keep you all together because that is how they make a living (off tips)and I don't fault them for that but you can do it on your own. Be sure to get there in the morning like we did. The place was packed when we left.





Overall, it was a great vacation. If you like all-inclusives and just want to hang out at the resort and soak up rays, eat great food, and drink, it is a perfect place. If you tend to feel trapped if you can't leave the grounds of your hotel, you may not like it here. If we liked to just stay in one place, we would go back again. There are plenty of day trips, etc. to get you off the grounds but it is quite expensive.



Also, you do not need to exchange currency. Everywhere (even the grocery store) in Ocho Rios accepts US cash or credit cards so don't bother with exchanges. Just take plenty of US cash for shopping, tips, etc. We ran out and could not get any from the resort. We would have had to go town for that.









"

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"The resort was beautiful; not as big as the one next door (Rio) but still extremly nice. The grounds were well kept and the food was above average. We loved that it was adults only, but it seemed a little too mature, meaning they lacked a variety of entertainment. We could of used as much entertaining as possible because it rained ~excuse me~ THUNDERSTORMED every single day we was there. Obviously that's not the resorts fault but it would of been nice to hear some reggae music daily or some other form of activities. When it didnt rain my guy and I enjoyed basketball, outdoor jacuzzi & spa. Overall this place is lovely, the rooms, staff and all. Its extremley relaxing with or w/o rain so no regrets. But please, just get rid of the cats on the resort yards."

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"This was my first experience with an All-Adults-Only hotel. I had a great experience. It is very had to please me. I must say the grounds were breathtaking as well as the restaurants and service. My room was extremely clean. I will be back and also recommend to others. I so appreciated the beach party, etc........Outstanding is the word."

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"The Jewel Dunn Resort was amazing. We had the best honeymoon. The staff was always there for whatever we needed, and had us laughing the entire trip!! We will definitely be back to this resort again very soon. I can not say enough good things about this place and our trip!!!"

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"We LOVED everything about our stay at the Jewel. It is the perfect combination of luxury and fun all in one. The staff and 'Jems' make you feel right at home. The dining options were excellent. This was a great place to escape and enjoy paradise!"

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"This was the first time my boyfriend visited JA and I must say he was totally taken away thanks to The Jewel. We were both breathless by the service, the beauty of the resort and friendly staff. The staff was awesome, always providing service excellence. The food was awesome. It reminded me of my grandmother cooking and that is a true compliment The Jewel is worht every dollar we spent. We absolutely loved the Jewel and its staff. I am not a easy person to impress and I was totally impressed by everything at the Jewel. We are already planning our trip for next year and have are planning to bring another couple to experience the wonders of the Jewel.'"

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"The Jewel is the most breathtaking experience I've ever had. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous, very romantic, especially at night. The staff was amazing. They made sure we had no wants or needs, no matter how small. I couldnt have asked for a better experience. This was definitely paradise, I felt spoiled beyond belief. Planning a trip back next year!!!!!"

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"Was a great Christmas and Newyears we spent there. Staff was fantastic,also food and drinks were great."

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"Jewel is by far the best resort in Jamaica.. Enjoyed the trip very much.. I recommend checking out downtown Ocho Rios and using Courtney AKA Rusty as guide and taxi....

We will def going back.."

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